Aden Marucco of Taylorville, Illinois, has been admitted to the University of Illinois Springfield for the fall semester of 2025 and awarded a $16,000 Star Scholar Award for tuition over four years. At UIS, he will major in political science.

The scholarship is awarded based on high school GPA and can be renewed if the student maintains college GPA requirements.

In high school, he was involved in FFA and worked as the school’s greenhouse manager.  

Aden Smith of Quincy, Illinois, has been admitted to the University of Illinois Springfield for the fall semester of 2025 and awarded a $16,000 Star Scholar Award for tuition over four years. At UIS, he will major in computer science.

The scholarship is awarded based on high school GPA and can be renewed if the student maintains college GPA requirements.

In high school, he played varsity tennis for four years.  

Mariah Kenter of Indianapolis has been admitted to the University of Illinois Springfield for the fall semester of 2025 and awarded a $10,000 Star Scholar Award for tuition over two years. At UIS, she will major in pre-nursing.

The scholarship is awarded based on high school GPA and can be renewed if the student maintains college GPA requirements.

In high school, she was involved in track and field, basketball and volleyball.

“Even though UIS is in a different state, it’s still close to home,” Kenter said.

Braidyn Phinney of Ottawa, Illinois, has been admitted to the University of Illinois Springfield for the fall semester of 2025 and awarded a $12,000 Star Scholar Award for tuition over four years. At UIS, he will major in computer science.

The scholarship is awarded based on high school GPA and can be renewed if the student maintains college GPA requirements.

In high school, he was involved in the chess club and Dungeons and Dragons club.

Mackenzie Scroggins of Greenview, Illinois, has been admitted to the University of Illinois Springfield for Fall Semester 2025 and awarded an $8,000 Star Scholar Award for tuition over two years. At UIS, she will major in pre-nursing. 

The scholarship is awarded based on high school GPA and can be renewed if the student maintains college GPA requirements.

In high school, she was involved in volleyball, track and field, scholastics bowl, STEM club, yearbook and the National Honor Society.

Lexie Richardson of Greenview, Illinois, has been admitted to the University of Illinois Springfield for Fall Semester 2025 and awarded a $12,000 Star Scholar Award for tuition over two years. At UIS, she will major in pre-nursing.

The scholarship is awarded based on high school GPA and can be renewed if the student maintains college GPA requirements.

In high school, she was involved in volleyball, cheerleading, track and field, yearbook, chorus, scholastic bowl and the National Honors Society.

Janvi Sehdev of Jalandhar, Punjab, India, has been admitted to the University of Illinois Springfield for Spring Semester 2025 and awarded an $8,000 Star Scholar Award for tuition over four years. She will major in computer science at UIS.

The scholarship is awarded based on high school GPA and can be renewed for a total of four years if the student maintains college GPA requirements.

Amanda Swigert of Decatur, Illinois, has been admitted to the University of Illinois Springfield for Fall Semester 2024 and awarded an $8,000 Star Scholar Award for tuition over four years.

The scholarship is awarded based on high school GPA and can be renewed for a total of four years if the student maintains college GPA requirements.

Swigert will major in elementary education. Following graduation from UIS, she plans to teach at a Title I school like Hope Academy in Illinois.

Kiara Hobbs of Riverton, Illinois has been admitted to the University of Illinois Springfield for Fall Semester 2024 and awarded a $28,000 Capital Scholars Honors Program Scholarship for tuition over four years. At UIS, she plans to major in criminology and criminal justice.

The scholarship is awarded based on high school GPA and can be renewed for a total of four years if the student maintains college GPA requirements.

In high school, Hobbs was involved in Key Club, band, choir, and student council.

Justin Castillo of Chicago, Illinois has been admitted to the University of Illinois Springfield for Fall Semester 2024 and awarded an $8,000 Star Scholar Award for tuition over four years.

The scholarship is awarded based on high school GPA and can be renewed for a total of four years if the student maintains college GPA requirements.

Castillo will major in finance. In high school, he was involved in soccer.