First Lady Patricia Blagojevich awards college scholarships to Illinois adoptees, youth in state care

CHICAGO - First Lady Patricia Blagojevich today joined the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) and the Walter & Connie Payton Foundation to present 48 full-ride, four year scholarships to high achieving Illinois youth entering college this fall who have been adopted or are in state care.

 

"A college education is the key to opportunity for our children, and these scholarships help open the door to adult success. While many of these students honored today have seen adversity, they have triumphed over their roadblocks and have now succeeded in making it to college," said First Lady Patricia Blagojevich.  "I am honored to join these exceptional young people and their families on this day of celebration, and I thank the Walter and Connie Payton Foundation for their generosity."

 

The Youth In Scholarship competitive scholarships, awarded to the "best and brightest" DCFS youth, were given to students from across Illinois and will allow them to attend an Illinois state university or community college of their choice.  These students receive a four year waiver of tuition and fees, as well as a monthly stipend to support their living expenses while in college.  Four of the 48 scholarships were awarded to children of veterans. Patricia Blagojevich was joined at the event by DCFS Director Erwin McEwen, Brittney Payton of the Walter & Connie Payton Foundation, youth receiving scholarships and their families.

 

"There are some who consider an award like this one, to be a validation of what they have accomplished; I would much rather see it as a vehicle to be used toward greater accomplishments," said Jacqui Batts of Chicago, a scholarship recipient who will attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in the fall.

 

"I can't begin to express how honored the Payton family is to be hosting this wonderful event recognizing the achievements of such self driven and accomplished young adults. Everyone knows my father loved football, but he loved children even more and for the first time my mom, Jarrett and I will all be attending to not only celebrate the graduates but also my dad's birthday." Brittney Payton said.  "We couldn't think of a better way to celebrate his life and birthday, than with the children he has helped for so many years, giving back is dad's true legacy."

 

"We applaud these hard-working youth and the strong, loving families who have supported their success," said DCFS Director Erwin McEwen.  "DCFS is proud to encourage the future achievement of these young scholars."

 

As First Lady, Patricia Blagojevich has worked tirelessly to promote initiatives that help Illinois families bring up happy, healthy, and successful children. To promote early childhood literacy throughout Illinois, she has championed initiatives to encourage children to read, including the Children's Reading Club. The First Lady also spearheaded the Illinois Pediatric Vision Awareness Initiative, the first state sponsored campaign in the U.S. to specifically target Amblyopia, or ‘lazy eye', in children. Most recently the First Lady launched "Ask Before You Eat," a statewide education campaign designed to prevent unintentional and potentially-life threatening harm to children with food allergies.

 

Students receiving scholarships and awards include (Former IL DCFS wards that have been adopted and moved out of state are scholarship eligible):

 

Jeffrey Bakken, 18, Batavia, to attend DePaul University

Yesenia Barzaga, 18, Chicago, to attend Northeastern University

Jacqui Batts, 18, Chicago, to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Jaquta Box, 18, Chicago, to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Christine Caffey, 18, Lawrence, KS to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Sherell Cannon, 18, Cahokia, to attend Eastern Illinois University

Celetha Chatman, 18, Lombard, to attend Augustana University

Milton Colbert, 18, Oakbrook Terrace, to attend Michigan State University

Donald Curry, 19, West Olive, Michigan, to attend Grand Valley State University

Jody Danna-Hoehne, 18, Elgin, to attend Northern Illinois University

Rose Davis, 17, Chicago, to attend Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville

Shaayna Day, 18, Chicago, to attend Northern Illinois University

Robert Dodd, 18, Manteno, to attend Eastern Illinois University

Heather Eckart, 18, Decatur, to attend Richland Community College

Andrew Ehrich, 18, Frankfort, to attend Eastern Illinois University

Ryan Fagerson, 18, Cary, to attend Southern Illinois University at Carbondale

Ann Fitzpatrick, 17, Elk Grove Village, to attend Harper College

Renee Fix, 20, Springfield, to attend Lincolnland Community College

Yesenia Gonzalez, 18, Chicago, to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Jomyron Graham, 18, South Holland, to attend Northern Illinois University.

Nathaniel Griffi n, 18, Gurnee, to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Vesta Hall, 18, Sugar Grove, to attend Northern Illinois University.

Martell Halloran, 18, Palatine, to attend Eastern Illinois University.

Ashley Hawkins, 17, Sauk Village, to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Brittany Helfrich, 18, Fairview Heights, to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Zehabu Herd, 17, Naperville, to attend Hope College

Betty James, 18, Riverdale, to attend Loyola University

Osiris Johnson, 18, Chicago, to attend Eastern Illinois University

Gregory Keller, 18, Bradley, to attend Illinois State University

Lindsey Flowers, 18, Perry, to attend Western Illinois University

Jennifer Logan, 19, Arlington Park, to attend Quincy University

Jason Lopez, 18, Granville, to attend Illinois Valley Community College

Sheila Manns, 18, Chicago, to attend University of Illinois at Chicago

Felicia McAllister, 18, Sauk Village, to attend Northern Illinois University

Robert McAuliff, 18, St. Charles, to attend Elgin Community College

Erin McErlean, 18, Chicago, to attend Illinois State University this fall

Danielle Moon, 18, Chicago, to attend University of Southern California

Victoria Nelson, 18, Glenwood, to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Melisa Ori, 18, Antioch, to attend College of Lake County

John Phillips, 18, Oblong, to attend Belmont University

Joshua Rademaker, 19, Mapleton, to attend Western Illinois University

Ladiedre Rugen, 18, Flossmoor, to attend Southern Illinois University at Carbondale

Nicole Sikora, 18, Fox Lake, to attend Harper College

Nickolas Steele, 18, Bellwood, to attend Southern Illinois University at Carbondale

Kimberly Tracewski, 18, Bloomington, to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Marian Trella, 18, Des Plaines, to attend Bradley University

Shantaye Wonzer, 20, Peoria, to attend Bradley University

Desiree Woodson, 18, Champaign, to attend Eastern Illinois University