Sam Rodriguez of Waukegan admitted to the University of Illinois Springfield

Sam Rodriguez of Waukegan, a senior at Waukegan High School, has been admitted to the University of Illinois Springfield for the fall 2019 term.

At Waukegan High School, Rodriguez participates in various art programs including the school’s Card Board Club.

He said he chose UIS because of its proximity to home.

“I wanted to go to a school that was away from home, but not too far away,” he said.

Rodriguez will major in the visual arts and hopes to someday become an art teacher.

“I intend on becoming an art teacher to show young adults how to express themselves through art,” he said.

The University of Illinois Springfield is proud to be one of three universities in the world-class University of Illinois System.

Nearly 5,000 students enroll each year at UIS seeking a U of I degree in the friendly learning environment of a smaller university.

Located in the state capital, UIS has a special mission in public affairs and has produced thousands of leaders in the public, private, and non-profit sectors.

For more information on the University of Illinois Springfield, contact the Office of Admissions at 888/977-4847 or go online at www.uis.edu/admissions.

Marissa Gooch of Springfield receives a $6,000 scholarship from the University of Illinois Springfield

Marissa Gooch of Springfield, a senior at Springfield High School, has been admitted to the University of Illinois Springfield for Fall Semester 2019 and awarded a $6,000 Lincoln Merit Scholarship for tuition over four years. She plans to major in visual arts 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 Springfield High, she is a member of the choir and the Anime Club.

She says she chose UIS because “it's a small campus, close to home.”

Following graduation, she plans to become an animation artist.

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 $6,000 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 3.25.

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/.

Abigail McKinnie of Morrisonville awarded a University of Illinois Springfield scholarship

Abigail McKinnie, a resident of Morrisonville and visual arts major at the University of Illinois Springfield, has been awarded the J. Porter and Alyce V. Coble Family Scholarship for History for the 2017-2018 academic year.

McKinnie said that when she chose to major in visual arts, she met with skepticism from people close to her. But after a successful college career that includes a semester at the esteemed Art Institute of Chicago, McKinnie is on track to graduate in 2018 and hopes to use her degree and talents to make a business more successful.

“I’m excited for the opportunity to combine and transform various ideas into work that potentially holds the power to widen perspectives, spark imaginations and create communities,” she said. “I believe my experience, especially with graphic design, makes me a valuable addition to any company or organization. I can now confidently assess the effectiveness of a brand’s identity and make improvements to further the company’s success.”

The J. Porter and Alyce V. Coble Family Scholarship for History was established to assist a deserving student majoring in visual arts at UIS.

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 www.uis.edu/financialaid/scholarships/. The deadline to apply for institutional scholarships is February 15, 2018.

If you are interested in creating a scholarship, please contact the UIS Office of Advancement at 217/206-6058 or giftinfo@uis.edu.