Five $2,500 scholarships will be awarded to high school seniors or graduates in the 17 southernmost counties of Illinois. The scholarship is for students who have lost a parent and are pursuing a career in the trades, vocational or technical fields. Scholarships cover tuition, certification fees and/or required start-up equipment.
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FKSI Mission: To support, educate, and empower children, orphans, students, and families with the basic necessities of food, clothing, shelter, healthcare, and education.In alignment with our mission, we will now provide scholarships to Southern Illinois high school graduates with $2,500 scholarships. In order for this to be a yearly scholarship, we are establishing an endowment with the Southern Illinois Community Foundation. Every $25,000 endowed provides $1,000 towards a scholarship every year.
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Requirements:
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Must be a Southern Illinois graduating High School Senior or completed GED credential, or a post high school graduate or GED credential holder, up to two years after completion.
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Lost one or both parents (due to death, incarceration, abandonment)
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Not currently in the foster care system
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Pursuing a career in the trades, vocational or technical fields
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Award: Each recipient will receive a $2,500 award to be applied to either their trade school tuition and/or the required tools needed to start their trade. Awards will be given each May.
Application open: December 2, 2025 - Feb. 28, 2026
Sponsors
FKSI Southern Illinois Scholarship Award Presentation
May 8, 2025
Scholarship Recipient Stories
Justice
At a young age, Justice’s mother wasn’t able to care for her kids and that loss that left a deep emotional void. Luckily, her father stepped up with love and support, filling the role as best as he could. Justice expressed that her childhood fueled her determination and shaped her resolve to build the life she envisions for herself.
Now a graduating senior at Benton Consolidated High School, Justice has proudly served as captain of both the volleyball and cheerleading teams. She is also Vice President of the Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) and an active member of the pep club. In her free time, she enjoys reading, volunteering at the nursing home, and spending quality time with her dad.
Justice will continue her education at Rend Lake College, where she plans to pursue a career in nursing.