A FOUNDERS COMMISSION PROGRAM
Administered by the Founders Commission, DIAMONDS Scholar youth scholarships are eligible to high school seniors from Boone, Ogle, Stephenson and Winnebago counties. For the 2024-25 cycle, at least one scholarship will be awarded to a graduating high school student who is pursuing college, university, junior college, or technical/trades post-secondary education. In alignment with DIAMONDS as a vehicle for showcasing exemplary achievement, applicants must embody excellence in the classroom, demonstrate an ability to thrive under pressure, and show a commitment to volunteerism in the Rockford region.
2024-25 APPLICATION GUIDELINES
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
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Applicants must be a high school graduating senior residing in Boone, Ogle, Stephenson or Winnebago counties
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Applicants must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0/4.0
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Applicants must have a demonstrated ability to thrive under pressure while embodying excellence
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Applicants must showcase a commitment to volunteerism in the Rockford region
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Applicants must submit a completed application by the due date
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Note: Scholarships may endure on annual basis for up to four years of the winning applicant’s post-secondary education if the student (1) maintains a minimum post-secondary grade point average of 2.5/4.0 and (2) completes at least 10 hours of volunteer community service work per semester
APPLICATION CYCLE
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September 19, 2024: Applications Open
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January 31, 2025: Applications Due
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February-March 2025: Review Period
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April 2025: Scholarship winner(s) finalized
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Spring/Summer 2025: Scholarship Winner(s) Recognized at DIAMONDS
THE DIAMONDS SCHOLAR STORY
As a flagship program of Founders Commission, DIAMONDS is an annual storytelling gala that honors the Rockford region’s long lineage of exemplary brands and people. DIAMONDS: TOPGUN marked the year-one event theme produced June 15, 2023, at the Emery Air North Hangar in Rockford, where Lieutenant Commander Michael Andrews (U.S. Navy TOPGUN instructor and Rockford native), Nicole Briscoe (ESPN SportsCenter anchor and Roscoe native) and CAPT Deborah Davis McIvy (U.S. Navy Supply Corps Officer and Rockford native) attended and shared their success stories to more than 200 attendees. Net proceeds from the inaugural DIAMONDS benefited the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Blackhawk Life Chapter 29 and helped seed the DIAMONDS Scholar program. Founders Commission honored its first DIAMONDS Scholar, Faith Offermann (Winslow, IL), during the second annual DIAMONDS on July 17, 2024.
For more information about the DIAMONDS Scholar program, email Info@FoundersCommission.org.