Tag: scholarships

USF News

USF Joins Forces with TheDream.US to Support Students

USF and TheDream.US

Joliet, Ill. – The University of St. Francis (USF) has launched a new partnership with a national organization to provide scholarships to undocumented students who came to the United States as children. The partnership is expected to draw more than 50 applicants to USF this fall.

USF is now working with TheDream.US to enroll students and provide National Scholarships to undocumented youth — sometimes referred to as Dreamers — who are looking for access to higher education, but cannot access federal financial aid.

“The National Scholarship provides a student with up to $8,250 per year in tuition, with USF covering the remaining cost,” said Eric Ruiz, admissions director at USF.

“Providing students from any background or culture, including the children of immigrants, with access to a college education is strongly aligned with USF’s mission,” Ruiz said. “This is who we are and how we serve.”

USF has a tradition of serving first-generation college students (students who are the first in their family to attend college). Half of this year’s freshman class is comprised of first-generation students. Over the past ten years, approximately 58% of USF’s freshman classes have been comprised of first-generation students.

The new partnership is similar to USF’s Will County Access grant, which provides full tuition to students who live in Will County and who went to a Will County high school, but who also have significant financial need.

The National Scholarship was created for students with or without DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) or TPS (Temporary Protected Status) who came to the United States before the age of 16 and before November 1, 2017. The scholarship is renewable annually and is worth up to $33,000 toward a bachelor’s degree.

Eligible students can visit thedream.us to apply for the National Scholarship at the same time that they are applying to the USF (apply to USF free of charge at stfrancis.edu/apply). Note that the application window for the current round of National Scholarships is open and will close on February 28, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. (final notifications will be sent via email in late April 2023). Applications to USF are accepted on a rolling basis for fall and spring semesters. Contact Alejandro Campos, USF associate director of undergraduate admissions, at ACampos1@stfrancis.edu or 815-740-5028 with questions or for more information.

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The University of St. Francis, in Joliet, Ill., serves close to 4,000 students nationwide and offers undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and certificate programs in the arts and sciences, business, education, nursing and social work. There are over 53,000 USF alumni across the globe. For information, call 800-735-7500 or visit stfrancis.edu.

University of St. Francis: Bigger thinking. Brighter purpose.

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USF Pivots Annual Caritas Scholarship Ball to Virtual Format

Joliet, Ill. – For over 60 years, the annual Caritas Scholarship Ball has served as the University of St. Francis’ primary fundraiser for student scholarships. This year’s 65th annual event, originally planned as an in-person event on Saturday, January 29 at USF’s Sullivan Recreation Center, is pivoting to a virtual format out of an abundance of caution in response to a large and still-growing number of COVID-19 cases in the Will County area.

“Our Caritas Planning Committee, along with our Board of Trustees, unanimously felt that pivoting to a virtual format for this year’s event was necessary. Last year’s Caritas was our first-ever virtual event of its kind, and it was largely successful because of the generosity and support that is consistently demonstrated by USF alumni, friends and employees, especially when it comes to supporting our students. We are confident that this year’s event will see that level of support for our students, as well,” said USF President Arvid C. Johnson, Ph.D.

This year’s event, hosted by Arvid & Anne Johnson, will honor the University of St. Francis Board of Trustees and will feature many of the characteristics of annual Caritas events, including a special message from the University President, a student scholarship testimonial, silent and live auctions featuring wine baskets, travel experiences, golf packages and much more.

Virtual access to the event, which will begin at 6 p.m. (with the live program beginning at 6:30 p.m.), costs $100 per device/household and can be registered for now at stfrancis.edu/caritas. If you are looking for a way to create a group experience, consider a Friends Sponsorships for $1,000, which allows you the opportunity to participate in a watch party either in your home or via Zoom. All participants who have already registered will be contacted by a USF staff member who will provide details regarding virtual access.

Sponsorship packages, which also play an extremely important role in the success of the annual event, are still available for purchase and range from $1,000 to $10,000. Sponsorship packages include a variety of unique recognition opportunities.

“One of the wonderful aspects of last year’s virtual event was the participation of USF alumni from across the country. This support help USF to provide over $23 million in institutional support to USF students, many of whom are first-generation college students. These scholarships make a difference for many students who may not be able to attend and obtain a college degree. We are confident that this pivot to a virtual event will again draw the participation of USF alumni near and far, as well as friends and other supporters of the University, in a collective effort to support USF students,” said Lisa Sampalis, USF Director of Advancement.

The University of St. Francis would like to thank this year’s Caritas sponsors to date for their difference-making generosity: St. Francis Sponsors: Wintrust Commercial Banking; Old Plank Trail Community Bank; St. Clare Sponsors: Diane & Bill Habiger and Gloria & Edward Dollinger; Brown and Gold Sponsors: Barnes & Noble Booksellers; Anne & Arvid Johnson and Dede & Joe Mallof; Saint Sponsors: Sentinus Wealth Management; Bernie Sponsors: First Secure Bank; Northern Trust; Pepsi-Cola; Quest Food Management Services; Patricia & Robert Wheeler; Busey Bank; Cheryl & Kevin McCarthy; Jose Paramo; Mr. & Mrs. Victor Patterson; Ann & Steve Randich and Daniel Streitz; Friends Sponsors: Piazza & Mannerino Masonry; Silver Cross Hospital; Corey & Steve Carbery; KGG, LLC; Timothy Delrose; Dr. Iman Ellis Bowen; Francis Naal; Wilhelmine & John Vidmar; Regina & George Block; Wallace Landscape; Loretta Spesia; Candice Rosen and Timothy Delrose.

For sponsorship opportunities, auction ideas, or questions, please contact Penny Basso, USF Assistant Director of the Annual Fund-Caritas, by phone at 815-740-3748 or by email at pbasso@stfrancis.edu.

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The University of St. Francis, in Joliet, Ill., serves close to 4,000 students nationwide and offers undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and certificate programs in the arts and sciences, business, education, nursing and social work. There are over 52,000 USF alumni across the globe. For information, call 800-735-7500 or visit stfrancis.edu.

University of St. Francis: Bigger thinking. Brighter purpose.

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Virtual Caritas Event Raises Over $280,000 for Students

Joliet, Ill. – The University of St. Francis spent all of 2020 celebrating its centennial. Even amidst the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, the university found creative ways to carry on the celebration, serving as yet another example of the perseverance displayed by Joliet’s university for the past 100 years. So when it came time to host the 64th Annual Caritas Scholarship Ball, the university’s largest annual fundraiser in support of student scholarships, USF once again creatively pivoted as necessitated by the ongoing pandemic to present the first-ever “From Our Home to Yours” Virtual Caritas Scholarship Ball, on January 30, 2021, and raised over $280,000 in the process.

“We are extremely thankful for the support so many individuals and organizations showed through this year’s virtual event. From the attendees and sponsors to our Caritas Committee chairs, Ann and Steve Randich, and Corey and Steve Carbery, and the entire Caritas Committee, so many people contributed in their own way to create an experience that was both unique and largely successful,” said USF President Arvid C. Johnson, Ph.D.

Although this year’s event required virtual participation by attendees, the event’s organizers ensured that Caritas included aspects of the traditions established through past events. Some of these traditions included a welcome from hosts Anne and Arvid Johnson; toasts made by USF trustees, Caritas Committee members, and alumni; warm wishes of welcome from the Caritas Committee chairs; the musical offerings of the USF Jazz Ensemble; and the stories of students – told by the students, themselves – and their unique educational journeys throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Those traditions, coupled with other event staples such as the silent and live auctions, paddle raise and raffle, combined for an impressive experience that yielded successful results just as past in-person events had accomplished.

“It the midst of the great uncertainty of the past year, one thing remained certain: our donors’ support of USF students. Since 2014, Caritas events have raised over $2.5 million in USF student scholarship support. In its 64-year history, Caritas events have raised over $6 million in USF student scholarship support. These examples not only demonstrate the importance of this annual event, but also the impact it has in helping to make a USF education possible for so many students,” Johnson added.

With the 64th annual event now in the books, USF’s sights have already been set on laying the foundation for next year’s event.

“We are delighted to announce the 65th Annual Caritas Scholarship Ball will return to campus on Saturday, January 29, 2022, in the Pat Sullivan Center on our main campus in Joliet. More details will be forthcoming this summer, but we are already looking forward to welcoming everyone back to campus in 2022,” Johnson said.

For more information on Caritas, visit stfrancis.edu/caritas.

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The University of St. Francis, in Joliet, Ill., serves close to 4,000 students nationwide and offers undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and certificate programs in the arts and sciences, business, education, nursing and social work. There are over 51,000 USF alumni across the globe. For information, call 800-735-7500 or visit stfrancis.edu.

University of St. Francis: Bigger thinking. Brighter purpose.

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USF News

Scholarship Opportunity Supports Students of Color Who Aspire to Become Teachers

Joliet, Ill. – Local data has shown that there is a sharp contrast between student and teacher demographics. In fact, a large gap currently exists between the percentages of students of color and teachers of color in Joliet’s schools. A scholarship opportunity offered by the University of St. Francis (USF) for qualifying students of color who aspire to become teachers is helping to address this gap.

The Multicultural Education Recruitment in Teaching (MERIT) Scholarship at USF provides a four (4) year scholarship up to $8,000 per year for eligible seniors applying to USF as a first-year freshman, as well as a two (2) year scholarship up to $2,000 per year for eligible students applying to USF as a junior-level transfer. Awards are offered in conjunction with other scholarships/grants and will apply to the direct cost of USF full-time undergraduate tuition and fees. This scholarship opportunity is open to all eligible high school and community college students.

Scholarship requires that applicants are:

  • a student of African American/Black, Hispanic/Latino American, Asian American, or Native American origin;
  • a U.S. Citizen or eligible non U.S. Citizen with demonstrated financial need;
  • a high school or transfer student with a GPA of 3.00 or higher, and
  • able to commit to teach in Joliet public schools for either two or four years upon graduation from USF.

Scholars are selected based on qualities that indicate their potential to become exemplary teachers. Visit stfrancis.edu/merit to apply today or to request additional information. Review of applications will begin March 1, 2021 for the 2021–22 academic year.

The MERIT project is a partnership between the University of St. Francis (USF), Joliet Township High School District 204, Joliet Public Schools District 86, Joliet Junior College, and the surrounding community.

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The University of St. Francis, in Joliet, Ill., serves close to 4,000 students nationwide and offers undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and certificate programs in the arts and sciences, business, education, nursing and social work. There are over 51,000 USF alumni across the globe. For information, call 800-735-7500 or visit stfrancis.edu.

University of St. Francis: Bigger thinking. Brighter purpose.

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MERIT Scholarship
USF News

Caritas Auction Offers Clinic with WNBA’s Quigley and Vandersloot

Joliet, Ill. – The University of St. Francis (USF) is celebrating its 64th Caritas Scholarship Ball virtually on Saturday, January 30, 2021. Each year, the Caritas Committee solicits unique, outstanding live and silent auction items from community members. This year is no different with many opportunities to support student scholarships!

One auction item for the event is extremely unique and has strong ties to the Joliet area and to USF. What is the item? More importantly, how much is “bigger thinking” and a “brighter purpose” worth to you?

WNBA Chicago Sky stars Allie Quigley and Courtney Vandersloot, along with members of the University of St. Francis women’s basketball team, will host a clinic at USF’s Pat Sullivan Center in the summer of 2021. The clinic will be designed to meet the needs of the attendees. Because the number of participants for the clinic can be as many as 30, you are invited and encouraged to go in with a group of friends on any bid.

What if you love this auction item, but don’t have anyone that can use it?  Consider donating it to your favorite Joliet-area non-profit agency!

So how can you bid on this unique experience? Bidding, which is open to the public, will open Monday, January 25 and close on Saturday, January 30 at 3 p.m. Because this item is being auctioned through a closed bidding process, please email your bid to Regina Block at rblock@stfrancis.edu. She will confirm receipt of your bid. The winner will be announced during the Caritas program on the evening of January 30. All proceeds will directly support USF scholarships. With all the uncertainty that this year has brought, there is one thing that USF students know they can count on, and that is your support.

For more information on this program, email rblock@stfrancis.edu.

About Allie Quigley and Courtney Vandersloot

USF holds a special meaning for Allie and the Quigley family. Allie’s father, Pat, and her mother, Chris, are both inductees of the athletic department’s Hall of Fame.  The basketball floor at USF is also named Pat Quigley Court in memory of her father.  Allie’s stepfather, Don Strle, also played basketball for the Fighting Saints and was a teammate of Pat, while Allie’s sister, Sam, coached the USF women’s basketball team for five years.

Allie is a three-time WNBA All-Star, and both a two-time WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year and All-Star 3-Point Contest champion. Courtney, meanwhile, holds many WNBA assist records and has been named an All-WNBA selection three times and an All-Star twice in her career. Both women have had great basketball careers both in the United States and internationally.

Even more than their professional talents, both Allie and Courtney demonstrate the University of St. Francis’ core values of Respect, Integrity, Compassion and Service through their gift of this clinic.

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The University of St. Francis, in Joliet, Ill., serves close to 4,000 students nationwide and offers undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and certificate programs in the arts and sciences, business, education, nursing and social work. There are over 51,000 USF alumni across the globe. For information, call 800-735-7500 or visit stfrancis.edu.

University of St. Francis: Bigger thinking. Brighter purpose.

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USF News

Caritas Centennial Scholarship Gala Raises Almost $300,000 for Students

Joliet, Ill. – The University of St. Francis (USF) brought one of the Joliet area’s longest-running black tie events back to campus as it celebrated the Caritas Centennial Scholarship Gala on Saturday, Jan. 25 to raise scholarship funds for USF students. The event, which was part of a yearlong celebration of the university’s centennial, was chaired by Gloria and Edward Dollinger, and Diane ‘77 and Bill Habiger and hosted by USF President Arvid and Anne Johnson.

“From our attendees and sponsors to our chairpersons and Caritas committee, we are extremely thankful to everyone who supported this year’s Caritas with their time, talent, and treasure. For the seventh year in a row, the event raised over a quarter million dollars in scholarship funds that will go on to help make a USF education possible for so many students. In fact, the event has raised over $2 million in scholarship support in just seven years and over $5 million in its history!  This is a wonderful affirmation of support for the University of St. Francis’ mission from the communities we serve,” Johnson said.

Kristin Short, USF Vice President for Advancement, was also extremely pleased with the event.

“More than 400 guests attended. We so appreciate the support from the community.  The evening was extra special because we celebrated 100 years of providing a Catholic, Franciscan education. We celebrated our rich history, our founding sisters and all members of the USF community. Seeing our beautiful campus and all the students, community leaders, alumni, faculty, and staff come together in support of USF was truly inspiring,” she said.

The gala, which took place in USF’s Pat Sullivan Center, featured cuisine by Jewell Events Catering and included a wide variety of live and silent auction items, while guests enjoyed the music of the USF Jazz Ensemble and the Gentlemen of Leisure Band.

The University of St. Francis, in Joliet, Ill., serves over 4,000 students nationwide, offering undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs in the arts and sciences, business, education, nursing and social work. There are over 49,000 USF alumni across the globe. For information, call 800-735-7500 or visit stfrancis.edu.

University of St. Francis: Bigger thinking. Brighter purpose.

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