The Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley accepted a record 1,232 applications for its 2023-2024 scholarship cycle, a nearly 50% increase over last year.
Applicants ranged in age from 16 to 58 years old, an indication of how the Community Foundation offers scholarship opportunities for students of all ages. Sixty-nine percent were high school seniors, while 31% were undergraduates, grad students, and trade school students.
A hallmark of the Community Foundation’s Scholarship Program is how easy it is to apply. Completing just one online application makes students eligible for one of as many as 200 different scholarship funds totaling more than $2 million for the 2023-24 academic year.
“The CFFRV Scholarship application is the Common Application for local scholarship opportunities, representing well over 200 individual scholarships,” said Ryan VanKampen, Director of Counseling, Waubonsie Valley High School, Aurora. ”Each year our school actively promotes the CFFRV Scholarship because it is a tremendous asset to our students. At a time when the cost of college continues to rise, students and families are looking for ways to make college more affordable. Having one application that puts students in contention for so many different scholarships is a game changer.”
This year’s applicants all reside in the Community Foundation’s service area of Kane and Kendall County and the City of Aurora. The geographic split was 67% from Kane County, and 33% from Kendall and surrounding counties. Applicants will receive their award decisions in early May.
Last year’s applicants were from 20 Fox Valley high schools. More than 400 Fox Valley students received nearly $2 million in locally funded scholarships for 2022-23. Since its founding in 1948, the Community Foundation has awarded more than $23 million in scholarships to Fox Valley area residents.
“We are fortunate to have 22 volunteer committee members reviewing this year’s surge of applications,” said Rob Hollis, Scholarship Committee chairperson. “It’s important to remember that this program relies on the support of many Fox Valley residents from different backgrounds who generously give their time and attention to making higher education more accessible to area students.”
Scholarships administered by the Community Foundation are conceived and funded by generous donors, including individuals, families, local businesses, clubs and associations based in the Fox River Valley.
To learn more, visit cffrv.org/scholarship-program.
—The Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley