Each year the Sauk Valley Area Chamber of Commerce awards scholarships to assist area students in pursuing their dream of a college education. This year the organization is awarding 23 scholarships to local students to continue their education for the 2023-2024 academic year.
Funds for the scholarships come from fundraisers held throughout the year. The Chamber’s Agri-Business committee awarded $1500 scholarships to Gracie Prose, Iowa State University; Marisa Folkers, University of Wisconsin Platteville; Sean Fitzpatrick, Iowa State University; Emily Brooks University of Illinois; Andrea Buhrow, University of Illinois; and Alice Sotelo, North Central College. Additionally, the committee awarded five scholarships in the amount of $750 to Emma Foster, Sauk Valley Community College; Eric Ebersole, Lakeland College; Larissa Miller, Blackhawk Community College East Campus; Brieann Spoerlein, Blackhawk Community College East Campus; and Paul Sturtevant, Highland Community College.
All are invited to be guests at the Chamber’s Annual Steak Fry in the Country on August 3 which is a fundraiser for the agri-business scholarship fund.
The Chamber also awarded the Charles A. Farnham Scholarship which was established in 1968 and honors the late Mr. Farnham who was an active member of the Chamber. Mr. Farnham’s professional background was focused on industrial relations, serving in this capacity at Northwestern Steel and Wire. This year two scholarships in the amount of $1000 were awarded to Megan Gingrich, Northwestern University, and Makenna Arickx, University of Wisconsin, Whitewater.
Six scholarships were also awarded to students pursuing an education in manufacturing. Each student will receive $500. Keegan Hicks will attend Morrison Institute of Technology, while William Friedrich, Brady Wolber, John Paul Schilling, Michael Jenkins, and Logan Malmberg will attend Sauk Valley Community College.
The inaugural year of the Hispanic Business Leaders Committee scholarship will be awarded to four recipients. The following students will receive $1,000: Abraham Gallardo, Sauk Valley Community College; Alice Sotelo, undetermined; Angelina Lopez, University of Illinois; and Raul Reyes Zamora, Milwaukee School of Engineering.
Sauk Valley Area Chamber of Commerce Board President, Dr. Jon Mandrell shared, “Providing scholarships is the most rewarding work we do at the Chamber. We are proud to support workforce development in the Sauk Valley and provide educational opportunities for our local students.”
The Sauk Valley Area Chamber of Commerce represents more than 400 area businesses in more than 20 cities in northwestern Illinois and in Clinton and Davenport, Iowa. For more information on the Sauk Valley Area Chamber of Commerce, its members or for a schedule of events please go to the website at saukvalleyareachamber.com or call 815-625-2400.
