Chancellor's and Provost's Scholars pictured with Chancellor Lane.

Chancellor Austin A. Lane (center) and other university officials celebrate SIU Carbondale’s 2026-27 Chancellor’s and Provost’s Scholars joining the Saluki family. (Photo by Russell Bailey)

September 16, 2026

SIU Carbondale awards 64 full-ride Chancellor’s and Provost’s Scholarships for 2026-27

CARBONDALE, Ill. — Exceptional efforts in the classroom and in their communities helped this year’s Chancellor’s and Provost’s Scholars at Southern Illinois University Carbondale stand out from their peers as they join the Saluki family this fall.

The Chancellor’s Scholarship, SIU’s largest first-year award, covers tuition, mandatory fees, on-campus housing and meals for four years. The 41 students this year were selected from a pool of 565 applicants.

The Provost’s Scholarship, SIU’s largest transfer student award, covers tuition and mandatory fees for two years. The 23 recipients were among 113 applicants.

In addition to high academic credentials, the awardees have a record of leadership in their communities and participation in numerous extracurricular activities. All scholarship recipients are invited to join the University Honors Program, a community of high achieving students involved in intellectual explorations and campus leadership and service to SIU and the Carbondale community.

The scholarship recipients were honored by SIU Carbondale Chancellor Austin Lane and other university officials at a luncheon Sept. 15 at Apple Creek Golf Club in Makanda.

The 2026-2027 Chancellor’s Scholars, listed by hometown, high school and major, are as follows.

ILLINOIS

  • Anna: Foster Needling, Anna-Jonesboro Community High School, biological sciences.
  • Belleville: Max Manges, O’Fallon Township High School, civil engineering.
  • Benton: Hunter Irvin, Benton Consolidated High School, mechanical engineering.
  • Calumet City: Julissa Valdivia, Thornton Fractional Township North High School, animal science.
  • Carbondale: Catherine Duckworth, Carbondale Community High School, mechanical engineering.
  • Carbondale: Ibrahim Makhdoom, Carbondale Community High School, physiology.
  • Carbondale: Reese Povolish, Carbondale Community High School, nursing.
  • Carterville: Anhhuy Hayden Nguyen, Carterville High School, civil engineering.
  • Carterville: Marlee Rosenbery, Carterville High School, elementary education.
  • Du Quoin: Reagan Rodely, Du Quoin High School, mechanical engineering.
  • East St. Louis: Christian Johnson, Cahokia High School, health care management.
  • Fairview Heights: Kamden Hearn, Belleville Township East High School, aviation flight.
  • Flossmoor: Akayla Ross, Homewood-Flossmoor Community High School, marketing.
  • Goreville: Cash Davis, Goreville High School, aviation flight.
  • Harrisburg: Rosalily Robinson, Harrisburg High School, accounting.
  • Herrin: Nolan Gentile, Herrin High School, civil engineering.
  • Makanda: Nadya Jayawardene, Carbondale Community High School, biochemistry.
  • Marion: Kharloz Hernandez, Marion High School, architectural studies.
  • Marion: Samuel Sellars, Marion High School, history.
  • Metropolis: Zachary Maurer, Massac County High School, finance.
  • Mulkeytown: Landon Sveda, Christopher High School, engineering, undecided.
  • Murphysboro: William Falkenburry, Murphysboro High School, mechanical engineering.
  • Murphysboro: Reece Mileur, Murphysboro High School, physiology.
  • Nashville: Isabelle Schmale, Nashville Community High School, physiology.
  • Park Forest: Serenity Lopez, Crete-Monee High School, finance.
  • Pinckneyville: Jonathan Kuhnert, Pinckneyville Community High School, aviation flight.
  • Thompsonville: Braden Stanley, Johnston City High School, electrical engineering.
  • Richton Park: Aaliyah Benitez, Rich Township High School, STEM, pre-dentistry.
  • Richton Park: Dainelle Ellington, Rich Township High School STEM, accounting.
  • Riverdale: Melody Martin, Thornridge High School, business analytics.
  • Rockwood: Rylie Myers, Chester High School, electrical engineering technology.
  • Sesser: Rowen McCubbins, Sesser-Valier High School, finance.
  • Simpson: Gracyn Horn, Vienna High School, elementary education.
  • Joseph: Adalyn Jannusch, St. Joseph-Ogden High School, exercise science.
  • South Holland: Austin Anderson, Thornwood High School, cybersecurity technology and information technology.
  • West Frankfort: Kailyn Kahl, Thompsonville High School, radiologic sciences.

MISSOURI 

  • Louis: Cassidy Bellew, Collegiate School of Medicine and Bioscience, radiologic sciences. 

TEXAS: 

  • Houston: Keyri Hernandez, Alief Taylor High School, animal science.
  • Houston: Brayam Mendez, Yes Prep North Central Secondary, accounting.
  • Dallas: Natalia Farias Flores, Kathlyn Joy Gilliam Collegiate Academy, psychology.
  • Little Elm: Julissa Lopez, Little Elm High School, management. 

The 2026-2027 Provost’s Scholarship recipients, listed by hometown, previous college and major are as follows.

ILLINOIS 

  • Arenzville: Wade Swan, John A. Logan College, aviation management.
  • Benton: Henry Meinert, Rend Lake College, agribusiness economics.
  • Bolingbrook: Alexander Macha, Joliet Junior College, automotive technology.
  • Carbondale: Nurfarhana Mohamad Ali, John A. Logan College, journalism.
  • Carrier Mills: Hannah Wenzel, Southeastern Illinois College, elementary education.
  • Chicago: Demetrious Jackson, City Colleges of Chicago, cybersecurity technology.
  • Creal Springs: Levi Tanner, John A. Logan College, agribusiness economics.
  • Cypress: Ethan Hartline, Shawnee Community College, political science.
  • Dieterich: Ruby Westendorf, Kaskaskia College, radiologic sciences.
  • Dunlap: Alexandria Morgan, Illinois Central College, mortuary science and funeral service.
  • Du Quoin: Ethan Sargent, John A. Logan College, mathematics.
  • Herscher: Sophia Brozis, Lake Land College, radio, television, and digital media.
  • Lake in the Hills: Hailey Gorzelanczyk, McHenry County College, social work.
  • Mahomet: Coehn Steenbergen, Parkland College, mechanical engineering.
  • Marion: Kamaura Miller, John A. Logan College, criminology and criminal justice.
  • Mascoutah: Lilianna Barnes, Southwestern Illinois College, cybersecurity technology and information technology
  • Olney: Piper Knox, Illinois Eastern Community Colleges,
  • Oswego: Justin Winters, Waubonsee Community College, automotive technology.
  • Sesser: Hannah Utlaut, Rend Lake College, biological sciences.
  • Staunton: Michael Matesa, Lincoln Land Community College, agribusiness economics.
  • Western Springs: Olivia Sikes, College of DuPage, linguistics.
  • Zion: Jacqueline Johnson, College of Lake County, criminology and criminal justice.

FLORIDA

  • Cocoa: Sasha Zayas Rivera, Valencia College, anthropology.

SIU Carbondale offers various scholarships to high school seniors and transfer students. For more information on the university’s scholarships and financial aid, contact Amber Rivers, associate director of scholarships in the Financial Aid Office, at scholarships@siu.edu or 618-453-4628.