The Community Foundation offers a variety of scholarships and educational enrichment grants. The list below explains each award and its eligibility requirements. Click on the name of the scholarship to view application instructions and download forms where available.

College Scholarships

Scholarship: 19th Century Club Scholarship
Amount: $1,000 four-year, renewable college scholarships
Description: The Nineteenth Century Club promotes social responsibility and life-long learning as it serves our community.
Elgibility: Female graduating seniors at Oak Park and River Forest High School

Scholarship: Kathy McMahon Adams Scholarship Amount: $1000 college scholarships Description: The Kathy McMahon Adams Fund provides college scholarships to graduates of Ascension School in Oak Park, or parishioners of Ascension Church. Special consideration is given students considering the teaching profession. Eligibility: Open to graduates of Ascension School or Ascension Church parishioners. (teaching focus receives extra consideration)

Scholarship: Bolin-Cooper Scholarship
Amount: $1,200 four-year, renewable college scholarship
Description: The Bolin-Cooper scholarship honors the memory of former Hockey Club players Kevin Bolin, who died in 2001, and John Cooper, who died in 1979.
Eligibility: Open to members of the Oak Park-River Forest Hockey Club.

Scholarship: Catherine Devereux Brandstrader Scholarship Amount: $1,000 college scholarship. Description: Mrs. Brandstrader's grandchildren established this scholarship to honor their grandmother who raised eight children with her husband Frederick in Oak Park. All three sons attended college, but the family did not have the funds to send their daughters. Eligibility: Female graduating senior from Oak Park and River Forest, Fenwick or Trinity High Schools.

Scholarship: Chicago Musical Arts Club Scholarship Amount: $600 college scholarship Description: The Chicago Musical Arts Club Fund provides a scholarship each year to a student or students nominated in alternating years by the Merit Music School and the Chicago Academy for the Arts. Eligibility: Students at Merit Music School or the Chicago Academy for the Arts.

Scholarship: Farr Brothers Technical Scholarship (Rotary Club)
Amount: $1,000 technical school scholarship
Description: The Oak Park-River Forest Rotary club was founded in 1919 and is dedicated to the Rotary mission of service above self.
Eligibility: Person entering or completing training in a vocation, trade, or other than a four-year college program. Resident of Oak Park, River Forest, Forest Park, Elmwood Park or Austin.

Scholarship: Bernard "Duke" Gawne Scholarship
Amount: $1,500 college scholarship
Description: The Bernard "Duke" Gawne scholarship was established in memory of Mr. Gawne, a long-time Oak Park resident whose children attended Oak Park and River Forest High School.
Eligibility: Graduating senior at Oak Park and River Forest High School.

Scholarship: Oak Park-River Forest High School Scholarship Foundation Scholarships
Amount: Various scholarships
Description: The Oak Park and River Forest High School Scholarship Foundation Fund provides a number of scholarships and awards to graduating seniors at Oak Park and River Forest High School. Criteria depend upon the individual scholarship awarded.
Eligibility: Students of Oak Park and River Forest High School.

Scholarship: Rotary Club Scholarship Amount: $1,500 college scholarship Description: The Oak Park-River Forest Rotary club was founded in 1919 and is dedicated to the Rotary mission of service above self. Eligibility: Graduating seniors who are residents of Oak Park or River Forest and are active in community service.

Scholarship: Elizabeth Snow Memorial Scholarship Amount: $500 college scholarship Description: Elizabeth Snow was a much loved, respected and active leader in the civic and cultural life of Oak Park. Eligibility: Graduating senior at Oak Park and River Forest High School planning to pursue the study of French.

Scholarship: John C. Swanson Scholarship
Amount: Various scholarships
Description: Named for the former superintendent of Oak Park and River Forest High School, this fund provides awards for enrichment programs for both students and staff at the high school.
Eligibility: Students and faculty of Oak Park and River Forest High School.

Scholarship: Tibensky Family Scholarship
Amount: $2,000 four-year renewable college scholarship
Description: The Tibensky family established this scholarship to provide mentoring and opportunities like those their family received through similar programs.
Eligibility: Oak Park and River Forest High School students.

Scholarship: William and Joyce Wartmann Scholarship Amount: $1000 college scholarship Description: Mr. Wartmann honors his mentor, art teacher Arthur Peltz, with this scholarship that encourages students that are inspired by the arts but might not have excelled otherwise academically. Eligibility: Students of Oak Park and River Forest High School, active in the arts, special consideration given to students with mid-level academic performance.

Scholarship: James and Yvonne Wood Scholarship
Amount: $1,500 college scholarships
Description: This scholarship honors long-time community leaders James and Yvonne Wood.
Eligibility: Graduating senior at Oak Park and River Forest and Geneva High Schools.

Educational Enrichment Grants

Scholarship: Carlos Baldoceda Music Enrichment Award
Amount: $1000 for programs, materials, equipment, or instruction that furthers the applicant's musical goals. The award cannot be used for high school or college tuition or fees.
Description: Carlos Baldoceda was an Oak Park resident who loved music but passed away too soon from brain tumor complications.
Eligibility: Chicago area resident, 14-25 years of age, interested in music.

Scholarship: Carlos Baldoceda Senior Music Award Amount: $1500 for programs, materials, equipment, or instruction that furthers the applicant's musical goals. The award cannot be used for high school or college tuition or fees. Description: Carlos Baldoceda was an Oak Park resident who loved music but passed away too soon from brain tumor complications. Eligibility: Oak Park and River Forest High School Senior; overall Grade Point Average of 3.0 or above; interested in music.

Scholarship: Crystal Fund
Amount: Up to $4000 for cultural/educational travel programs
Description: The Crystal Fund was established to support grants for an extended "away from home" cultural or educational experience that provide a skill, knowledge and/or personal value as a means of support.
Eligibility: Scholarships are limited to Chicago area students ages 11 to 19 that are able to demonstrate extreme financial need and have a potential for providing leadership.

Scholarship: Follett Music Awards Amount: $100 achievement awards Description: The Follet Music Award rewards achievement by music students at Oak Park and River Forest High School. Eligibility: Students nominated by Oak Park and River Forest High School faculty.

Scholarship: Laura Southwick Award
Amount: $300-$500 awards to encourage work in the fine and applied arts
Description: This award honors the memory of Laura Southwick who loved the arts and was an Oak Park and River Forest High School graduate in 1986. For more information, please visit: http://laurasouthwick.org/
Eligibility: High School Freshmen-Juniors

Scholarship: Oak Park & River Forest Rotary Club Enrichment Scholarship
Amount: Up to $4,500
Description: The Rotary Club award grants that allow students to participate in educational enrichment programs that enable them to explore new worlds, develop skills, assert their independence, grow their self-confidence, raise their expectations, broaden their horizons and return home as leaders.
Eligibility: Current resident of Oak Park or River Forest, and a freshman, sophomore or junior at Trinity, Fenwick or Oak Park & River Forest High School.

Scholarship: Tom Neumann Summer Learning Scholarship Amount: Up to $4500 toward participation in an academic, cultural or travel enrichment activity between the junior and senior year of high school. Description: The Tom Neumann Memorial Fund honors Mr. Neumann's love for travel, appreciation for all types of culture and respect for the inherent worth of all people. Eligibility: Oak Park and River Forest High School juniors.

Scholarship: Tibensky Academic Enrichment Award
Amount: Up to $2,500 enrichment scholarship
Description: The Tibensky family established this scholarship to provide mentoring and opportunities like those their family received through other programs.
Eligibility: Oak Park and River Forest High School students

Professional Development Grants

Scholarship: James A. Gates Oak Park District 97 Teacher Scholarship
Amount: $1,000 loan repayment
Description: This grant is awarded annually to a teacher who aspires to positively affect the futures of their students, embodies a worthy role model for their colleagues, and enhances the quality and the reputation of Oak Park Elementary School District 97.
Eligibility: Certified teachers in their first or second year of teaching in Oak Park Elementary School District 97.

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