Fatima Velasco of Waukegan receives a $16,000 scholarship from the University of Illinois Springfield

Fatima Velasco of Waukegan, a recent graduate of Waukegan High School, has been admitted to the University of Illinois Springfield for fall semester 2019 and awarded a $16,000 Lincoln Merit Scholarship for tuition over four years. She plans to major in accountancy at UIS.

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 Waukegan High School, she was a member of the National Honor Society; student council; plant/environmental club; The Thirsty Elephant, a literary magazine; and New Global Citizens, which conducted fundraisers to donate to charity.

“UIS offered me a good amount of financial aid,” she said. “It’s also in my state of residency, which was something I wanted. It’s accessible, welcoming and willing to help all of its students. I know I will be part of a good program for my career.”

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 $16,000 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 4.0 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/.