October 30, 2012

University creates Boys & Girls Club scholarships

by Tom Woolf

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Southern Illinois University Carbondale is establishing two full, four-year scholarships for high-achieving members of the Boys & Girls Club.

The Boys & Girls Club Youth of the Year Scholarship Program stems from the University’s partnership with the Boys & Girls Club of Carbondale.  One scholarship will go to a candidate for the Boys & Girls Club Illinois Youth of the Year, and one will be awarded to a Midwest Youth of the Year candidate.

“The Boys & Girls Club does a wonderful job instilling in its members the value of education and academic success, and the importance of service to others,” Chancellor Rita Cheng said.  “This initiative will reward hard-working, high-achieving students, and it reflects our commitment to attracting the best and brightest students to our University.”

She noted that the Boys & Girls Club of Carbondale is one of the local non-profit organizations served by the University’s Center for Service Learning and Volunteerism.

Each of the 74 Boys & Girls Club sites in Illinois selects a Youth of the Year, who competes for Youth of the Year at the state level.  The Illinois winner then competes with nominees from 12 other states for Midwest Youth of the Year honors.

“Boys & Girls Club Youth of Year recipients nationwide have shown their capacity to excel, even in the face of adversity,” said Randy Osborn, executive director of the Boys & Girls Club of Carbondale.  “Now, thanks to the SIU Carbondale/Boys & Girls Club of Carbondale Scholarship, Youth of the Year winners may earn that special educational opportunity that will change their life.”