Cook County Higher Education (CCHE) has received a $65,000 grant from the Lloyd K. Johnson Foundation for the 2019- 2020 school year. The grant is comprised of two components: a $30,000 grant for tuition scholarships for Cook County residents enrolled in long distance post-secondary degree or certificate programs and a $35,000 grant to help fund CCHE’s student support services.
Currently, CCHE is working with over 50 students who are taking on-line or ITV classes while continuing to work and live in Cook County. Long distance students want to continue their education, but often the cost and upheaval of moving to a community with a bricks and mortar school is too daunting. As an alternative, they enroll in long distance education programs. CCHE and the Lloyd K. Johnson Foundation want to support their decision to remain in Cook County while pursuing their dream of higher education. To that end, the Lloyd K. Johnson Foundation has granted $130,000 for tuition scholarships over the past four years and another $30,000 this year.
The tuition grants are administered by CCHE’s scholarship committee, which is comprised of CCHE board members and interested community members. Scholarship applications are accepted until July 1 for fall classes and November 6 for spring classes.
This summer, CCHE received 12 scholarship applications and was able to provide tuition help for each applicant through the Lloyd K. Johnson Foundation, Wes Hedstrom and Nancy and Mike Carlson Scholarships. Lloyd K. Johnson Scholarships were offered to six students: Victoria Marguitova, Carrie Jansen, Mary Edson, Samantha McQuatters, and Mark Buckman. These students are enrolled in five different institutions: Lake Superior College, Itasca Community College, the College of St. Scholastica, Bethel University and Bemidji State University. Their areas of study include RN/LPN, cyber security, graduate teaching licensure, high school administration, criminal justice, and dental hygiene. All of this education can be put to good use in Cook County.
The second half of the scholarships will be distributed in December for the spring term. Residents interested in going back to school via long distance education should consider applying. Students do not need to have a prior relationship with CCHE to access the funds. The scholarship application reads “Eligible applicants must live in Cook County and be enrolled in a degree, diploma or certificate program of at least 14 credits (total credits – not simultaneously). Maximum scholarship is $3,000 per year (max $10,000 cumulative).”
The second component of the Lloyd K. Johnson Foundation’s generous grant funds CCHE’s student services programming. At the Cook County Higher Education building, long distance students have 24-hour access to computers, Internet, study space and ITV equipment. Higher Ed’s student services coordinator, Lenna Stever, provides on site advocacy for any student who needs support. When students are on a physical campus, they can ask questions, get support and rely on college staff to help them navigate the system.
Ms. Stever assists any post secondary student in Cook County with program research, completing applications, course scheduling, filing for financial aid, on-line course orientation and proctoring exams. She connects any student – including high school students – with free mentor services and advocates for them when they encounter difficulties. All of these services are free to the student and supported by the Lloyd K. Johnson Foundation’s grant.
For more information about CCHE services or scholarships, contact Karen Blackburn, executive director at (218) 387-3411.
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