DuPage County awarded scholarships totaling $25,000 to eight residents through its Community Services Block Grant Scholarship program on Oct. 15. Individual awards ranged from $1,000 to $7,000. Recipients were awarded based on financial need, academic achievement, community and school involvement, and interest in high-demand employment sectors.

"The CSBG scholarship is one of the most impactful ways the County helps residents achieve their goals and improves their lives," 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 first-generation college students, single mothers returning to complete their degree, and a recent high school graduate who immigrated to the United States three years ago.

"Receiving the CSBG Scholarship over the last couple of years has been life-changing," wrote Nania Chol, a Carol Stream resident, studying Film and Television at Columbia College. "The CSBG scholarship has empowered me to explore my potential, contribute to art that makes a difference, and grow as an individual."

West Chicago resident Kary Hernandez, who is studying at Loyola University, said, "With the help of DuPage County and the Community Services Block Grant Scholarship, I will be granted the opportunity to achieve my goals, hopes, and dreams of becoming a social worker."

"The scholarship has bolstered my confidence and motivation, affirming that hard work and dedication are recognized and valued," wrote Cynthia Figueroa, a Lombard mom who returned to school to study Radiography at Lewis University. "I envision myself not only obtaining my degree, but also leveraging my education to uplift my community and create positive change."

For a complete list of scholarship recipients and their stories, please visit www.dupagecounty.gov/scholarship.