May 06, 2022 –Anthony and Linda (Price) Nunn have made a multi-year commitment to provide an annual $30,000 scholarship to a Collinsville High School graduate who displays high academic achievement, school involvement and a strong work ethic in and out of the classroom. They want their financial support to enable the student to “take an experience they might not have had the chance to take.”
Linda (Price) Nunn is a 1983 graduate of Collinsville High School. She has fond memories of her years at CHS where she was a four-year member of cheerleading (basketball, football and soccer), a Thespian, member of Latin Club, Student Council and Science Club. She also participated on the soccer and track teams.
“Collinsville High School was very impactful for me,” she said, “My husband and I want to help change the life of one senior. The scholarship is for students that work hard, have good grades, and are active participants in school activities and clubs.”
Mrs. Nunn intends for the scholarship to help a student reach for their dream school by providing additional financial support that helps make their goals more attainable.
The Linda (Price) Nunn scholarship is to be awarded before May college commitment deadlines, to help the student in their choice of school. The money will be available for tuition and room and board, and will be administered by the Collinsville Area Community Foundation. The funds may be used over four years as needed.
“CHS was one of the things that helped me set a great path for my life. It led to many other positive decisions later. My husband and I raised our family in Collinsville for the first 15 years after we met at the University of Illinois. My family has many deep roots in Collinsville. I grew up there my entire life and have many fond memories,” said Nunn.
“I have been very blessed in life with a wonderful family. We are lucky to have the financial means to give something back. We can help, so we shall,” she added, “It is our hope that we may encourage others to follow this same path to help [CHS] seniors seek their dreams. We often look back at the people that helped us. We are just paying it forward. We hope others join us.”
The Nunns have also created a scholarship for a graduating senior at Anthony’s former high school, Beecher High School in Beecher, IL.
Mr. and Mrs. Nunn worked with Collinsville Community Unit School District #10 Superintendent Dr. Mark B. Skertich and CHS Counseling Department Chair Karen Olsen to create a scholarship to fulfill their vision and identify potential candidates. They reviewed applications independently and both chose the same recipient without conferring: CHS senior William “Willy” Grieb.
The Nunn’s recently visited Collinsville High School to meet Grieb and surprise him with news that he would be the first recipient of the Linda (Price) Nunn Scholarship. Following the announcement, Grieb took them on a tour of CHS and discussed his future plans.
“William’s application jumped out at us as a person who has done the kind of things we were looking for: great grades, involvement in the bands, leadership positions, outside work…and when we met him, we saw he is a great person, too!” said Mrs. Nunn.
Willy has been active in CHS Bands throughout his high school career. He’s currently trumpet section leader of Marching Kahoks, principal trumpet of the CHS Wind Ensemble, and president of the Tri-M Music Honor Society. Local residents also know him as the current bugler who announces the Call to Post prior to races at Fanduel Sportsbook & Horseracing at Fairmount.
He is a member of the National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta Math Honor Society and Rho Kappa Social Studies Honor Society. In addition, he’s part of the technical crew for CHS Drama productions, and a member of the International Thespian Society. Since August 2020 he has worked at St. Louis Bread Company in Collinsville.
“I plan to study aerospace engineering and was choosing between the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the University of South Carolina (USC). I’m honored to be the first recipient of this scholarship. It allows me to do everything I want to do.” said Grieb, “My selection enables me to continue my education at USC – the school that checks all of the boxes for me.”
Willy plans to be part of the Air Force ROTC at USC and serve in the U.S. Air Force after graduating from college. He has wanted to work with airplanes or spacecraft since he was very young. He also wants to explore ways to nourish his passion for music.
“This will launch me in the direction I need to go in order to pursue my dreams of working with the planes I’ve dreamt of working with, and serving the country I’ve dreamt of serving since I was five-years-old,” he said.
“Our advice to Willy is to keep working hard and experience everything you possibly can.” said Linda Nunn, “Life is meant to be lived, don’t hold back. People that work hard and perform well get choices. They get to choose where they go to college. They get to choose the job they wish to take. They are the ones that choose life, not have life make the choice for them.”
“You hear about people giving back to their former school,” said Grieb, “I’m experiencing that firsthand and am grateful for their generosity. They are really nice, awesome people. I appreciate that they want to see me succeed and hope I can turn around and help others someday.”
“I cannot say thank you enough to Mr. and Mrs. Nunn for the commitment they have shown to Willy and future graduates. Unit 10 is a special place because of our students and the support they are shown by our staff, community members and our alumni. Mr. and Mrs. Nunn are a shining example of the commitment and generosity shown to our students that never ceases to amaze me,” said Collinsville Superintendent Dr. Skertich.
Support Local Scholarships
To support or create a scholarship for Collinsville High School students, visit the Collinsville Area Community Foundation website. CACF is a public charitable organization as defined by Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. All contributions and gifts are tax deductible. Donations and bequests are accepted from and disbursed to individuals, groups or businesses.