July 25, 2006

Parker wins $2,000 scholarship from SIUC

by K.C. Jaehnig

 CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Centralia resident Lisa Parker (20357 N. Prairie Lane), a graduate of Rend Lake College, has received a $2,000 scholarship through the Southern Illinois University Carbondale Illinois Community College Scholarship Program.

Created by SIUC Chancellor Walter V. Wendler in 2004 to enhance the relationship between SIUC and the state's two-year colleges, the program aims to reward these institutions' academic stars. Scholarship recipients must have at least a 3.5 grade-point average on a 4-point scale. Colleges may nominate as many as five candidates in ranked order. Scholarships, renewable for a second year, go to the top two.

During her college years, Parker played tennis and belonged to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. She also was a member of Phi Theta Kappa. At SIUC, she plans to major in elementary education.

Parker is the daughter of Joe and Connie Parker of Carbondale.

Strengthening the undergraduate scholarship program is among the goals of Southern at 150: Building Excellence Through Commitment, the blueprint for the development of the University by the time it celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2019.