Mrs. Grace Brorstrom Oakley dedicated much of her time to encouraging women and economically disadvantaged persons to achieve a secondary education. Before terminal illness claimed her life in January 2000, Mrs. Oakley had been instrumental in establishing several Student Aid for this target population. The Grace Brorstrom Oakley Scholarship was established in 2003, by her son, UIS Research Professor Burks Oakley, II. This is a scholarship for online students. As a continuance of Mrs. Oakley's life mission, preference is given to single mothers who have returned to college after being out for a period of time.