Twenty-five District 202 graduating seniors earned college scholarships in May recognizing their academic achievement and community service from the Plainfield Foundation for Excellence and the C.A.P.E. organization.
The Foundation for Excellence is a private fundraising organization that has been supporting District 202 schools, students, staff and the community since 1983 with grants, scholarships and financial support for special programming. It awards its own Community Service scholarship.
The Foundation also administers the Rey Cervantes Memorial Scholarship on behalf of Cervantes’ family; the Dr. Richard Davis Science Scholarship on behalf of Dr. Davis; the Chief John Eichelberger Public Safety Scholarship on behalf of the Plainfield Fire Protection District; and the Dr. Ali K. Reiter (Nelson) STEM Scholarship.
C.A.P.E. (the committee for the Coordination of Administration and Parents Groups for Educational Efficiency) is a district-wide group representing all District 202 parent and booster organizations. It includes parents, district administration, staff, elected officials and community leaders.
REY CERVANTES MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
The Rey Cervantes Memorial Scholarship is given by the family of the late Plainfield Academy teacher Rey Cervantes, who passed away in December 2020 from COVID-19. One $1,000 scholarship is awarded to a graduating District 202 senior.
This year’s recipient was:
Plainfield North High School
• Marissa Steben
COMMUNITY SERVICE SCHOLARSHIP
The Foundation for Excellence Community Service Scholarship is given to graduating seniors based on their involvement and active participation in school and volunteer community activities. This year’s winners each received $1,000.
This year’s recipients were:
Plainfield High School – Central Campus
• Lia Di Cola
• Ellianna Gashi
Plainfield South High School
• Molly Stephens
• Taylor Warren
Plainfield North High School
• Toleen Abdelrahim
• Sydney Pavlik
• Maira Salim
• Marissa Steben
Plainfield East High School
• Rachel Banjo
• Alexander Wettergren
DR. RICHARD DAVIS SCIENCE SCHOLARSHIP
The Dr. Richard Davis Science Scholarship awards $1,000 to each of three Plainfield High School – Central Campus students pursuing STEM-related science careers. Recipients were chosen based on grades, financial need and acceptance and proof of full-time enrollment at an acceptable institution.
This year’s recipients were:
Plainfield High School – Central Campus
• Piper Colantone
• Emma Cowden
• Bella Swanson
CHIEF JOHN EICHELBERGER PUBLIC SAFETY SCHOLARSHIP
The Chief John Eichelberger Public Safety Scholarship awards $1,000 to each of four students who live in the Plainfield Fire Protection District (regardless of the applicant’s home high school).
Students must plan to major in the fire service, public safety, medical or emergency services at an accredited state or private university or college (preferably in Illinois).
The Plainfield Volunteer Fire Department gives the scholarship to honor former Fire Chief John Eichelberger who retired in 2015 after 40 years of dedicated service to the fire department.
This year’s recipients were:
Plainfield High School – Central Campus
• Quinn Krueger
• Addyson Teufer
Plainfield North High School
• Samantha Wylie
• John Sullivan
DR. ALI K. REITER SCHOLARSHIP
Dr. Ali K Reiter (nee Nelson) was a member of the Class of 1994 – the first graduating class from the new Plainfield High School. Her PhD was in Cellular Physiology focusing on Human Performance. She passed away in 2019 at 42 years old from complications related to Type 1 diabetes. This scholarship is given in her memory.
This year’s recipients were:
Plainfield High School – Central Campus
• Yostina Fawzy
• Kayla Garcia
THE C.A.P.E. SCHOLARSHIP
The C.A.P.E. organization presents $500 scholarships to one student from each District 202 high school and Plainfield Academy to well-rounded students who have demonstrated academic achievement, leadership and community service.
This year’s recipients were:
Plainfield High School – Central Campus
• Tiffany Radaker
Plainfield South High School
• Julia Rozalowski
Plainfield North High School
• Toleen Abdelrahim
Plainfield East High School
• Sophia Sanchez
Plainfield Academy
• Uzziah Thomas
Since 1983 the Plainfield Foundation for Excellence has raised and contributed about $1.2 million to support District 202 students and staff through grants, scholarships, and special funding.
The Foundation also has supported special programs including a District Art Gallery and high school leadership programs.
For more information about the Plainfield Foundation for Excellence or to donate, please visit: www.d202foundation.org.
For more information about CAPE, please visit www.psd202.org/page/cape.