Ashleigh Smith of Petersburg receives a University of Illinois Springfield scholarship

Ashleigh Smith, a Petersburg resident and senior at PORTA High School, has been admitted to the University of Illinois Springfield and awarded a $12,000 Lincoln Scholarship for tuition over 4 years.

Smith plans to major in nursing at UIS and wants to work in a hospital emergency room following graduation. She says there are two main reasons she chose UIS.

“UIS really felt like the right fit for me,” she said. “The new nursing program sounds really exciting.”

At PORTA, she played volleyball, ran track, and was a cheerleader. She was also a member of Key Club, History Club, FACS Club, National English Honor Society, and played in the band.

All incoming UIS freshmen are eligible to apply for Lincoln Merit Scholarships. The amount awarded is based upon the incoming student’s ACT or SAT score. In order to receive $12,000 over four years, students must earn a 21 on their ACT and hold a 3.5 GPA.

For more information on scholarships, contact the UIS Office of Financial Assistance at 217/206-6724 or email finaid@uis.edu. For a full list of scholarship opportunities, visit www.uis.edu/financialaid/scholarships/.