Kayli Ward of Hillsboro awarded $40,000 in scholarships from the University of Illinois Springfield

Kayli Ward of Hillsboro, a May 2020 graduate of Hillsboro High School, has been admitted to the University of Illinois Springfield for Fall Semester 2020 and awarded a $30,000 Lincoln Merit Scholarship for tuition over four years. She is also the recipient of a one-time $10,000 University of Illinois System President's Award Program scholarship.

The Lincoln Merit 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.

The President’s Award Program aims to enroll highly capable students who have been admitted to one of the U of I campuses and are members of historically underrepresented groups and groups that have been less likely to enroll at the University.

At Hillsboro High School, Ward played volleyball and basketball and was a member of the student council and National Honor Society.

“I chose UIS because I wanted a quality education for a reasonable price,” she said. “I like that it is a small campus that makes me feel at home.”

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 $30,000 over four years, students must earn a 27-29 on their ACT or a minimum 1280 SAT score and hold a minimum high school GPA of 4.0 or above.

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

Students may apply for admission to UIS free of charge for the fall 2020 term. Apply online at uis.edu/admissions/applytoday/.