Scholarships -- A Proud Tradition

Undergraduate Research Day Presentations.Educational Opportunity at Western Illinois University is defined as "…. welcoming those who show promise and a willingness to work toward achieving educational goals." To help give easier access to this opportunity, Western offers a diverse selection of scholarships to help students achieve their goals … and their dreams.

Janice Owens, who has served as director of Western's Scholarship Programs for 21 years, is most proud of the number of students her office is able to assist each year. More than 600 scholarships – many with multiple recipients – are awarded annually. In the 2007-2008 academic year, more than $2.8 million in scholarships and other financial assistance was awarded to more than 3,500 students.

The Basics

WIU Foundation Scholarship Program - 2007-2008 Academic Year

Owens' advice to students interested in– and in need of- scholarship funding is straightforward: "I always tell students they should not be afraid of the application process; they need to try. And also, they should apply by the deadline date."

While a variety of scholarships are available, Owens said the best time to apply is during the spring semester as those scholarships are often awarded for the following fall semester. And contrary to popular belief, scholarships are NOT just for tuition, fees and the like. There are numerous awards that students can use for basic necessities, just so they can continue in school.

"Name a student financial problem and we've attempted to solve it. We have found money for everything from daycare to buying groceries to paying rent. We see and hear it all. We administer the WIU academic scholarship programs, short-term loans and book vouchers, assist with encumbrances and financial emergencies and put students in touch with Macomb community services when necessary," Owens said.

Gifts and Donors

During her 20-plus years as director, Owens has seen the number of scholarships grow and has seen more diverse scholarships established. Both are essential, due to the increasing financial strain that students and their families face with each new academic year.

"Without these scholarships, many of our students would not be able to start and/or complete their college education," she said.

While it appears from first glance that $2.8 million seems like a lot of money available for students, Owens said one of the biggest challenges she faces year in and year out is to find additional funding and stretch those resources to help as many students as possible.

"As the cost of college increases and state support decreases, our students are in need of scholarships more than ever before," she said. "We encourage those who are in a position to help our students – maybe as they were once assisted – to consider establishing a new scholarship or donating to an existing scholarship. We do our very best to provide funding to as many of our students as possible."