Children of vets urged to apply for U of I scholarships
<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn is urging the children of veterans throughout the state to apply for full-tuition scholarships to the University of Illinois.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></font>
<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></font>
<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">"The General Assembly first created these scholarships to benefit the children of Illinois' Civil War veterans," Quinn said Wednesday. "Today, we still honor our veterans and their families by offering this educational benefit to Illinois residents whose mothers or fathers served our country in the military during wartime."</font>
<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt">
<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">Under state law, the U of I tuition waivers are available for up to six children of veterans in each of Illinois' 102 counties, with top priority given to the children of deceased veterans.</font>
<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial"> </font>
<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">According to a press release, the full-tuition scholarships can be used at any of the three U of I campuses, in Urbana-Champaign, Springfield or Chicago, for graduate or undergraduate study.</font>
<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt">
<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">"Although up to 612 tuition waivers are available statewide, only 300 were awarded to students this (school) year. Officials from the University of Illinois Office of Student Financial Aid said the drop in recipients was caused by a decrease in the number of students applying," Quinn said.</font>
<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt">
<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">The scholarship application deadline is March 1, and the application form is available online at http://www.standingupforillinois.org.</font>