Now the same benefits will be offered in Champaign County. The first Champaign County Scholars — 17 students from Graham and Urbana school districts — were inducted Wednesday.
The purpose of the scholars program is to make higher education a reality, said Mark Ison, manager of the Clark State Scholars Program.
“They have to be first-generation college students, that’s the big eligibility,” Ison said.
Neither parent can have a bachelor’s degree at the time of application. Other requirements of the program are a minimum 2.0 grade point average, an essay, letters of recommendation, interviews, and good behavior and standing at school.
First-generation college students were targeted, Ison said, because national data shows they won’t be as successful as their second- and third-generation college peers who would have help paying for their education. This program helps relieve the financial barrier.
“A full-time student, you are looking at about $1,800 to $2,000 a semester,” he said. “Books are another $500 to $600.”
They will also be matched up with volunteer mentors starting in eighth grade to follow them and ensure success.
The program hopes to grow its numbers and expand to neighboring counties in the future, Ison said.
Clark State is working with Urbana University to allow scholars to transfer and complete their bachelor’s degree there.
Several Champaign County Scholars participants said their dreams couldn’t become a reality until now.
“If this wasn’t available to me, I’d probably end up working at McDonald’s after high school,” said Paityn Dowty, a Champaign County Scholar, said.
The 14-year-old Graham student has dreams of becoming a neonatal nurse. She hopes to graduate from Clark State debt-free, a load off her shoulders.
“My dad passed away when I was 10 and my mom is an addict,” Dowty said.
She and her 12-year-old brother are being raised by her grandmother, who’s retired. The scholars program is a big help to her family, Dowty said.
It also helps Hayden Sotzing, an eighth grader at Graham. He learned about the program from his vice principal, who said he could do great things. He believed him, so he applied.
“I thought it would be a great opportunity for me and I would be the first one in my entire family to go to college,” Sotzing said.
He wants a career in criminal forensics because he’s fascinated by science. His family is excited he was chosen and they said it will open so many doors for him.
He wants to do the program for his father, he said.
“My dad over the summer recently passed away and he always said I should go to college and be the first one,” Sotzing said.
The same goes for Zoey Cahall, a 14-year-old Urbana student. She will be the first in her family to attend college, too.
“I never thought I would be able to attend such a great college and get a good education,” Cahall said. “It’s very important to me because I can set an example for the rest of my family throughout the generations.”
She would like to open an animal rescue or become an animator. She wants to make her mother proud, Cahall said.
BY THE NUMBERS:
17: Students in the inaugural class of Champaign County Scholars
45: Students in the 14th Champion City Scholars program in Springfield
500: Graduates of the Champion City Scholars program
Unmatched coverage
The Springfield News-Sun digs into important stories about your schools in Clark and Champaign counties, including recent coverage of state report cards and efforts to build new schools.
About the Author