DuPage County awarded scholarships totaling $35,000 to five residents through its Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Scholarship program. Individual awards range from $5,000 to $10,000. Recipients were awarded based on financial need, academic achievement, community/school involvement, and interest in high-demand employment sectors.
“Our scholarship recipients have shown an unwavering commitment to their education, no matter the challenges they are facing. We are gratified to support these inspiring students and thrilled to invest in their futures,” said DuPage County Human Services Committee Vice Chair Paula Deacon Garcia, who served on the selection committee.
The CSBG scholarship supplements the cost of tuition, books, supplies, and other school expenses. The scholarship is funded and designed in cooperation with the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for low-income individuals with high academic potential. Recipients include a continuing college student, single mothers returning to complete their degree, and a recent high school graduate.
“Receiving the CSBG Scholarship helped make my college education both possible and affordable. It is no longer an unattainable goal but a realistic next step towards my future,” wrote Zakay Cuevas, a 2026 West Chicago high school grad who is studying Computer Science at the Illinois Institute of Technology.
Naperville mom Dakaria Robinson, who is studying Nursing at Rasmussen University, says: “This scholarship has brought me closer to achieving my career goals and helping me prepare for a successful future, where I can make a meaningful impact in my field.”
“Receiving this scholarship reminds me that others believe in my potential, which encourages me to stay dedicated,” wrote West Chicago mom Flor Luna, who returns to school to study Accounting at College of DuPage. “I aspire to be known as someone who uses education and knowledge to uplift others…I am sincerely grateful for this investment in my education and future.”
For a complete list of scholarship recipients and their stories visit www.dupagecounty.gov/scholarship.