Christian McGowan Jerome of Rochester receives a $10,000 scholarship from the University of Illinois Springfield

Christian McGowan Jerome of Rochester, a 2015 graduate of Rochester High School, has been admitted to the University of Illinois Springfield for Fall Semester 2019 and awarded a $10,000 Lincoln Merit Scholarship for tuition over four years. She plans to major in pre-nursing.

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.

Following graduation from high school, Jerome joined the Illinois Air National Guard where she currently serves as a medic with the rank of airman first class.

“My time in the Air Force is what helped me realize that I wanted to pursue a career in nursing,” she said. “I really enjoyed caring for patients and getting to know them during the time I spent doing my clinicals for my medic training.”

Outside of the Air Guard, Jerome has been working as a professional hairdresser for the past four years and attended the University of Spa & Cosmetology Arts.

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 an 18 to a 20 on their ACT or a minimum of 940 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/.