Kendall Opsal, left, and Kiarra King, both 18 and headed to college soon, received money for college Saturday, June 7, 2025, at the Mentoring and Providing Scholarships Program Joint Scholarship Celebration at Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church in Bloomington.
BLOOMINGTON — Nineteen students, headed off to college this coming year, received dozens of scholarships from 14 local organizations at Saturday’s annual Joint Scholarship Celebration at Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church.
The celebration is hosted by the Mentoring and Providing Scholarships Program, a local non-profit that mentors young people as they navigate high school into college.
Partners with the Bloomington-Normal NAACP, local alumnae chapters of the National Pan-Hellenic Council (Divine Nine), prominent individuals and the 100 Black Men of Central Illinois joined MAPS this year to present over $87,000 to help students pursue degrees in higher education.
“It just felt really rewarding, all the hard work … and knowing that my parents were here to support me and clap for me as well was really awesome,” said Kendall Opsal, 18, who is heading to the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana to study animal sciences.
Recent high school graduates pose with the Bloomington-Normal NAACP after receiving scholarships for college Saturday, June 7, 2025, at the Mentoring and Providing Scholarships Program Joint Scholarship Celebration at Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church in Bloomington.
“Just a very great, rewarding experience,” Opsal said, “especially since I knew some of the (other) kids, too, so I got to cheer for them as well and congratulate them.”
Chance French, 18, will be headed to Northern Illinois University to study business administration. These scholarships from the Divine Nine will help him “pursue my dream,” he said.
That is the purpose of the MAPS Program, said co-founder Carla Campbell-Jackson.
“Anytime we’re able to distribute such a wide array of funds, that is significant,” she said. “And we’re letting the students know that we believe in them, and that we’re confident in what they’ll be able to do in life.”
Recent high school graduates pose with members of the local alumnae chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. after receiving scholarships for college Saturday, June 7, 2025, at the Mentoring and Providing Scholarships Program Joint Scholarship Celebration at Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church in Bloomington.
Bradley Ross-Jackson, a student at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, gave advice to the scholarship recipients on how to succeed in higher education.
Jackson, who received scholarships at last year’s event, told his peers, among other things, to remember to phone home, to treat college as a full-time job, make use of professors’ office hours and to stay away from distractions like drugs and alcohol.
Jackson received the NAACP Youth Activist of the Year Image Award in 2023.
Teresa Haley, recipient of the NAACP Activist of the Year Image Award in 2020, reminded the scholarship recipients that community helps them succeed.
“It took a village to raise a child, and, at college, you will need another village,” she said.
She advised them to visit home, to help around the house and to volunteer their time.
“Practice, grace and dignity,” Haley said.
Recipients of scholarships for college stand for recognition Saturday, June 7, 2025, at the Mentoring and Providing Scholarships Program Joint Scholarship Celebration at Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church in Bloomington.
Such a large community presence left an impact on the scholarship recipients.
Benedicte Diamonika, 18, will be going to Loyola University in Chicago to study health care administration.
The MAPS Program “definitely opened my eyes to how different organizations come together and can help, not just high school students, but college students,” she said. “And it’s also given me the inspirations of one day coming back and hopefully donating.”
French said he was inspired to leap at every opportunity. “Don’t miss out on anything. If you see the application, sign up for it. You may not know what you get,” he said.
Kiarra King, 18, is headed to San Diego University to study computer science. Though she received a full-tuition scholarship from the university, she was moved by the community’s willingness to rally around their young people and give back.
In fact, that is the main lesson she took from Saturday’s event. “Give back, 1,000% yes,” King said afterward. “That room of people, incredible people, accomplished people, giving people. Love them so much.”
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After 46 years on Bloomington’s west side, Beningo’s Restaurant closed in August 2016 when owners Denny and Janet Whitworth retired. The location is now Crawford’s Corner Pub.
Downtown Bloomington’s Crazy Planet Kitchen, a casual gourmet eatery with an eclectic menu, opened in 2000 and closed in 2006. Today, the space is home to Reality Bites.
Bec’s Far East Texas Grill opened in 1992 in what was then downtown Normal and closed four years later after business declined. A downtown Bloomington outpost, which had been open less than two months, closed about the same time.
The popular Italian restaurant in The Parkway shopping center in Bloomington opened in 1991 and closed four years later when owner Richard Kurtz opened Richard’s in downtown Bloomington.
Bloomington’s Divino and The Fishmarket Bar & Grill opened in 1998 and 1999, respectively, and closed in 2001. The site, 400 N. Veterans Parkway, later became Valentino’s.
Carlos O’Kellys closed its Bloomington eatery in 2014 after 18 years in business. The site is now being developed into The Burger Joint and an Oberweis Ice Cream and Dairy Store.
The Brandtville eatery known for its wood-fired pizza opened in 1994 and closed six years later after struggling with dinner business. It was replaced by Famous Dave’s Bar-B-Que.
The Mexican restaurant opened in 1987 in Bloomington’s Lakewood Plaza and closed 11 years later. It was replaced by Shell’s Seafood Restaurant.
The Ground Round, at 502 IAA Drive, closed in 1996 after 17 years in Bloomington.
Gracious Affairs restaurant and catering business, 1328 E. Empire St., Bloomington, closed in 1998 after nearly 10 years at that location. The closing was a result of a decision by the building’s owner, Peoria-based Cohen Furniture Co., to renovate the structure for office space.
Kip’s Family Restaurant General Manager Steve Kiper stood at a phone stand outside the longtime Bloomington eatery, 805 Morrissey Drive, shortly before its closure in 2003. It had been open 32 years.
The Double Nickel Drive-In, with seating for 54 and a 1950s theme, opened in 1988 at the northwest corner of U.S., 150 and Veterans Parkway. It closed in 1997and today the location is a Starbucks.
Hayashi opened at 7 Currency Drive, Bloomington, in 2005. The Japanese restaurant moved to Normal in 2012 and closed the following year.
Pumpernickel’s Deli and Eatery opened in downtown Bloomington in 2004 and closed the following year. The site is now Scout’s Downtown Cafe.
After 14 years in business, Aleta Jane Nord closed her restaurant, Aleta Jane’s Cafe, 803 Morrissey Drive, Bloomington, in 2016.
A popular spot for breakfast, Le Peep Restaurant, 909 N. Hershey Road, Bloomington, opened in 2002 and closed in 2009.
The popular Bloomington restaurant, in the Eastland Commons shopping center, closed in 1995 after nearly a decade in business. The 130-seat eatery specialized in seafood and was located south of what was then Cub Foods.
Bloomington’s Tien Tsin restaurant, 1500 E. Empire St., Bloomington, closed in 2004 after 28 years in business. The eatery specialized in Mandarin, Szechwan and Hunan dishes.
The downtown Bloomington diner, run by Susie King, closed in 1997 after more than 40 years in business.
Henry Wellington, a Brandtville eatery, opened in 1997 and closed two years later. It was replaced by Jerry’s Grille.
Contact D. Jack Alkire at (309)820-3275.
Twitter: @d_jack_alkire
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Kendall Opsal, left, and Kiarra King, both 18 and headed to college soon, received money for college Saturday, June 7, 2025, at the Mentoring and Providing Scholarships Program Joint Scholarship Celebration at Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church in Bloomington.
Recent high school graduates pose with the Bloomington-Normal NAACP after receiving scholarships for college Saturday, June 7, 2025, at the Mentoring and Providing Scholarships Program Joint Scholarship Celebration at Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church in Bloomington.
Recent high school graduates pose with members of the local alumnae chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. after receiving scholarships for college Saturday, June 7, 2025, at the Mentoring and Providing Scholarships Program Joint Scholarship Celebration at Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church in Bloomington.
Recipients of scholarships for college stand for recognition Saturday, June 7, 2025, at the Mentoring and Providing Scholarships Program Joint Scholarship Celebration at Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church in Bloomington.
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