The Collinsville Education Scholarship Foundation has announced the 2020 recipients of their award. Each of the seven Collinsville High School students selected this year will receive a $1,000 scholarship.
The purpose of the foundation is to “provide educational scholarships for high school seniors living within the Collinsville, Illinois, city limits.” The Collinsville Educational Scholarship Foundation (CESF) was established in 2010 for the purpose of “raising funds and accepting and disbursing contributions, gifts, and bequests from individuals, groups or businesses to support educational scholarship opportunities and experiences for high school students who reside within the corporate limits of the City of Collinsville.”
The foundation is governed by a board of directors which includes representatives of local business, City of Collinsville and Collinsville Community Unit School District #10. The application is available each Spring through the Counseling Department at Collinsville High School and through the City of Collinsville/Collinsville Education Scholarship Foundation. To date, the foundation has awarded 51 scholarships to graduating seniors.
2020 Collinsville Education Scholarship Foundation Award Recipients
Mitchell Harris will be attending St. Louis College of Pharmacy in the Fall of 2020. He accumulated more than 100 hours of community service through National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta Math Honor Society (Secretary) and Student Council. He was a tutor for the Homework Help and Hoops program and and advocate/tutor for Collinsville Middle School students for whom English is a second language. He was a member of the CHS Soccer Team, serving as captain of the JV team, and earning an Academic Athlete Excellence Award. In addition, he volunteered with the Special Needs Soccer Association (SPENSA). Mitchell was also an Illinois State Scholar and a member of Spanish Honor Society.
Melanie Johnson will attend Murray State University in the Fall of 2020 majoring in Civil Engineering with an emphasis in Environmental Engineering. Melanie was the treasurer of the CHS Drama Club and worked extensively to raise money for the Miner’s Theatre in Collinsville through the 2019 CHS production of Dracula. She served as Historian for the Class of 2020 and participated in Latin Club, Scholar Bowl, Math Team, International Thespian Society, Latin Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta Math Honor Society. She was also a competitive dancer at Heavenly Rhythm Dance Studio from 2008-2020.
Faith Liljegren will attend Southeast Missouri State University in the Fall of 2020 majoring in finance, entrepreneurship and interior design. She will be a member of the SEMO Women’s Soccer Team. After graduation, she plans a career in real estate investment and community development. At CHS she was a board member of KAHOKstrong, taking an active role in helping the club raise over $40,000 and help more than 100 families. Faith was ranked at the top of the Class of 2020 and an Illinois State Scholar. She was captain of the Girls Basketball team and three-year captain of the Girls Soccer Team. She was a member of Mu Alpha Theta Math Honor Society, National Honor Society, and a Student Council board member. She received All-Southwestern Conference honors four times on both the soccer and basketball teams.
Grace Crowe will attend Illinois State University in the Fall of 2020 majoring in Neuroscience. She plans a medical career to assist people with Parkinson’s Disease. As a Grand Gesture Project in her CHS Leadership Class, she helped raise money for the Tote Me Home program of the Collinsville Food Pantry. She served as a Peer Juror for the St. Clair County Teen Court. She was active in KAHOKstrong, Multicultural Kahoks, Spanish Club, Spanish National Honor Society, Saturday Scholars and Student Council. She is a recipient of the Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizenship Award. She has been a competitive dancer at Heavenly Rhythm Dance Studio for 13 years.
Brittany Bettorf will attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in the Fall of 2020 majoring in Science and Spanish. Her goal is to become a bilingual pharmacist. She was a four-year member of the Marching Kahoks. Brittany was a member of the CHS Honor Band and Modern Music Masters Honor Society. She has a first degree junior black belt from Premier Martial Arts. She volunteered at the library, soup kitchen and Stockings for Soldiers.
Gabrielle Smith will attend Southwestern Illinois College for two years and transfer to Eastern Illinois University to major in Early Childhood Education. She volunteered at Willoughby Farm, Collinsville Food Pantry and Miner’s Theatre. Gabrielle was a member of Key Cub and volunteered with Kiwanis Club to purchase gifts for children in need. She was in the CAVC Preschool program and volunteers as a preschool teacher at Discovery Family Church. She was a CHS Cheerleader, and member of Student Council and National Honor Society.
Jacob Holten will attend Southeast Missouri State University in Fall 2020 and major in Marketing and Business Entrepreneurship. He will be a member of the SEMO Football Team. Jacob was Football Team captain his sophomore, junior and senior years, receiving multiple team recognitions. He was a member of the CHS Varsity Baseball team. Jacob was Student Council Attorney General, a member of National Honor Society and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He volunteered in community events including Raiders and Junior Kahoks Football camps, Italian Fest, Willoughby Farm and Prairie Farms Basketball Tournament.