December 8, 2023 – Thirty-seven members of the Collinsville High School Class of 2023 have earned recognition as 2023-24 Illinois State Scholar Finalists.
Illinois Student Assistance Commission ISAC announces State Scholar Finalists each year. The designation is described on their website:
Students from nearly every high school in Illinois compete in the program. State Scholars can be found on the campuses of nearly 200 public and private institutions of higher education in Illinois. The combination of students’ exemplary college entrance examination scores and record high school achievement indicate an especially high potential for success in college. To be named an Illinois State Scholar is an outstanding accomplishment that will be a highlight of the recipient’s academic record.
Selection for the honor is based on ACT/SAT scores and sixth semester GPA (typically end of junior year of high school). In any academic year, approximately 10% of all Illinois high school graduates are named State Scholars.
To be named an Illinois State Scholar, a student must:
- Be a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen or meet the “undocumented student” criteria of the RISE Act
- Be a resident of Illinois
- Attend an approved high school
- Take the ACT or SAT between August 1 and June 30 (by the end of the third semester before high school graduation*)
- Perform in the top one-half of your high school class at the end of the third semester prior to graduation*, and/or score at or above the 95th percentile on the ACT or SAT
- Graduate from high school during the academic year in which you were selected as a State Scholar
Note that meeting the requirements listed above qualifies the student to be considered for this program, but does not guarantee State Scholar designation. Each year, a specific formula is established to select State Scholars.
Collinsville High School’s 2023-24 Illinois State Scholars:
Peyton Beeles
Zachary Blaha
Isabella Brand
Brandon Campbell
Breana Campbell-Westbrook
Gavin Chrisman
Isabella Cotton
Georgia Cox
Mckayla Despain
Adam Doebber
Madeline Eversmann
Matthew Falbe
Olivia Frawley
Eli Garkie
Lucas Geisen
Maleah Gilliland
Jacob Gregory
Adelyn Johnson
Aubrey Kohler
Jared Lundak
Brandon Malter
Alicia Markovich
Elizabeth Martin
Kathleen Martin
Eliza Martinez-Canseco
Grace Nagel
Brandon Nygard
Cole Patrick
Joseph Rauk
Jonathan Sewell
Jackson Smithe
Julianna Sotelo
Samuel Stuckey
Alicia Swartz
Andrew Tienes
Amber Vargas
Keira Winterich
ISAC is the state’s college access and financial aid agency. It recognizes academic achievement by exceptional Illinois high school students annually. This year, more than 16,700 honorees join the other outstanding students who have been honored since the designation was first introduced in 1958.
“On behalf of ISAC, congratulations to all of the outstanding students selected as 2023-24* Illinois State
Scholars,” said ISAC Executive Director Eric Zarnikow. “Students and families faced numerous challenges over the last two years with remote learning, among other financial and personal difficulties. As we continue to recover from the pandemic, these academic achievements are a credit to the hard work and dedication of the student scholars and their families, and to the support provided by teachers, mentors, counselors, and communities in helping students meet their goals and find success as they advance on their education and career paths.”
*Note that the Illinois State Scholar Program announces honorees based on the year they would begin any postsecondary education, not based on the year they graduate from high school.
The Illinois State Scholar designation is a non-monetary award. Each State Scholar receives a
congratulatory letter and a Certificate of Achievement from ISAC. Additionally, awardees can download
an official Illinois State Scholar Program badge to display on their online profiles, social media platforms,
and share with their high school counselors, colleges, employers, family members and others.
Students can also utilize the ISAC Student Portal for free tools and resources to search for colleges and
scholarships, explore careers, find internships and summer jobs, apply for ISAC financial aid programs,
get quick tips about college planning and financial aid from ISAC College Minute videos, connect with First Generation Scholars Network mentors, and more. The ISAC College Q&A free text messaging service allows students and families to get answers to their college and financial aid questions sent directly via text from ISAC experts. ISAC also offers free assistance through the agency’s call center, 800-899-4722 (ISAC), and its Online Chat service.