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As high school seniors graduate this month in Waukegan, North Chicago and other parts of Lake County, scholarships small and large remain available for those trying to lessen — or even eliminate — the financial burden of going to college.
Bari Schwartz, the college and career counselor at Waukegan High School’s Washington Campus, said even students who receive a full ride with tuition, room and board, find they still have expenses related to their post-secondary education.
“We call it stacking scholarships,” she said. “They play a huge role in filling the gap and eliminating (or reducing) the need for loans. An extra $500 here, or $1,500 there, can help with books, fees and supplies.”
Scholarships large and small, some of which may go unclaimed, remain available for graduating seniors in Lake County, allowing them to more completely finance their education, from community colleges to elite private universities.
As a Title 1 district, all students at places like Waukegan, North Chicago, Zion-Benton and Round Lake high schools qualify for financial aid. Schwartz said 100% of those going to college from Waukegan are receiving some form of relief from the costs of college.
When students start looking at college, whether at a four-year university or a community college like the College of Lake County (CLC), Schwartz said there is an online platform to educate them about their options. It helps find the best fit in terms of schools and available scholarships.
Schwartz said the cost of a four-year university can range from slightly less than $30,000 a year at state schools like Northern Illinois, to more than $40,000 at the University of Illinois. The expense of an elite private institution like Northwestern University can exceed $90,000 per year.
Though some schools will cover all costs, including incidentals like books and fees, she said often there is a gap between the total cost and the financial aid a school offers. A gap can mean repaying loans for years, or obtaining smaller scholarships available from a variety of places.
“We call that stacking scholarships from places like the Lions Club or the (Waukegan) Township,” Schwartz said. “They can add up for a number of needs like books, fees, supplies or a computer. A lot go unclaimed. People should really look for them.”
Waukegan Township is offering 10 scholarships this year. Township Supervisor Marc Jones said that the deadline to apply has not passed for any of them. Some requirements are the same, and some are more specific.
College-bound students who live in Waukegan Township have until May 30 to apply for five $1,000 Waukegan Township scholarships. Applicants must be township residents, supply three letters of recommendation, a 500-word essay on the role of the township in today’s society and a letter of acceptance from the school.
Along with the township scholarships, Jones said four $1,000 grants are available to students attending a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) and either went on the annual tour of HBCU schools or the township’s HBCU Experience. The deadline is June 30.
“They must show proof of enrollment and write a 400-word essay on why they are attending a HBCU and what they hope to gain from the HBCU experience,” Jones said.
Lake County residents seeking a degree in criminal justice, psychology or human services can apply for the township’s $5,000 Coalitions to Reduce Recidivism scholarship. Jones said it requires three letters of recommendation, a 250-word essay on the importance of recidivism in the community and how the degree will enable them to better serve the community.
Jones said the current coalition scholarship is for the 2026-2027 school year, and the deadline is Oct. 14.
Though the Waukegan Park District’s five $1,000 scholarships were already awarded, Josue Pasillas, the organization’s communications manager, encouraged students to apply next year. He said they can be a supplement to other financial aid. They go to people interested in a career in parks and recreation.
Waukegan to College, an organization that helps students as young as middle schoolers navigate the path to a higher education, will send 37 participants to college in the fall. Executive Director Aaron Arnold said all have some sort of financial aid.
“Our goal is that 80% of our students will have less than a $3,500 gap,” Arnold said. “We had 37 seniors apply to 373 colleges. They were accepted to 184, and more than $27 million in financial aid was offered.”
Arnold is also a believer in stacking. While the goal is 80% of students have a gap of $3,500 or less, he said he wants to see all of them get the gap number to zero. The less the financial burden, the easier it is to focus on education, he said.
“Every little bit helps because something can always come up,” Arnold said. “It can help with meal planning. There is a percentage of college students who experience food insecurity. It can be the difference at times between eating or not eating,” he added, noting not all meal plans are alike.
North Chicago School District 187 has its own plan to help college-bound North Chicago Community High School graduates. This year, 23 seniors are receiving a Warhawk-Lancer scholarship, and three more are part of the early childhood apprenticeship program.
District 187 Superintendent John Price said Warhawk-Lancer recipients receive tuition, books and fees at CLC for three years, a $3,500 annual stipend and a laptop computer. In its sixth year, 103 people have received the award.
High school graduates in North Chicago who want a career in early childhood education can become employees of District 187, which includes union membership. Price said tuition toward an associate’s degree in early childhood education is for eight semesters and is included as well.
“They can go on to a four-year school or become paraprofessionals in District 187,” Price said. “As union members, they get a nice pay bump.”
Schwartz said some scholarships remain available besides the ones offered by the township. They are both local and national. For students attending one of nine colleges through the University Center of Lake County in Grayslake, there are $2,100 grants available through June 30.
Applicants for the University Center scholarships need recommendations and must write an essay. They are good for those going to the University of Illinois at Champaign, the University of Illinois at Springfield, the University of Illinois Chicago Circle, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, University of Southern Illinois at Edwardsville, Northern Illinois University, Northeastern Illinois University and National Lewis University.
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