Jocelyn Nelson of Olympia Fields receives a $10,000 scholarship from the University of Illinois Springfield

Jocelyn Nelson of Olympia Fields, a recent graduate of Marian Catholic High School, has been admitted to the University of Illinois Springfield and awarded a $10,000 Lincoln Scholarship for tuition over four years.

The scholarship is awarded based on GPA and ACT/SAT scores and can be renewed for a total of four years if the student maintains college GPA requirements.

At UIS, Nelson will major in biology with a focus in pre-medicine. She hopes to become a pediatric trauma doctor/surgeon.

“I chose UIS because of the small, close knit community,” she said. “When I toured UIS everyone I asked said they loved the school and the community.”

At Marian Catholic High School, Nelson was a member of the track and field team for four years and the cross country team for two years. She was involved in Generation Green, Girls Night Out (a female empowerment group), student council and Varsity Club.

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. To receive $10,000 over four years, students must earn a 21 to a 23 on their ACT or a minimum of 1060 SAT and hold a minimum high school GPA of 3.0.

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/.