Calista Cox of Alton receives a full-ride scholarship from the University of Illinois Springfield

Calista Cox of Alton, a senior at Alton High School, has been admitted to the University of Illinois Springfield for Fall Semester 2019 and awarded a Capital Scholars Honors Program Chancellor’s Full-Ride Scholarship. She plans to major in biochemistry and play on the UIS Prairie Stars women’s soccer team.

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 Alton High, she plays on the women's varsity soccer team where she was named first team all-conference, academic all-conference and all-sectional. She is a member of the National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, Biology Club and Spanish Club.

“UIS offers me the opportunity to continue my soccer career while being a part of the Capital Scholars Honors Program and majoring in biochemistry,” she said. “This program will prepare me well for medical school.”

Following graduation from UIS, she plans to attend medical school and work toward becoming either a gynecologist or a pediatric/neonatal surgeon.

The Capital Scholars Honors Program is a selective undergraduate program combining high standards and emphasis on excellence with a small residential college model, enrolling only about 100 first-year students each year. The program brings together intellectually strong students with talented, dedicated faculty to create a unique academic environment within the greater UIS community.

Capital Scholar Honors students participate in an interdisciplinary core curriculum designed to prepare students for their major and provide leadership opportunities.

In order to receive a Capital Scholars Honors Program Chancellor’s Full-Ride Scholarship, the student must earn a 32 to a 36 on their ACT or a minimum of 1450 SAT and hold a minimum high school GPA of 3.5 or above.

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/.