alumni association Scholarships
The EIU Alumni Association is proud to recognize the academic achievements, community service, university involvement and outstanding potential of current and incoming students by awarding a number of scholarships each year to qualified candidates.
Alumni and friends who have contributed to the Annual Giving Program and/or are dues-paying members of the Alumni Association take great pride in knowing a portion of their gift dollars or membership dues is used to recognize and reward outstanding students.
If you would like to support this initiative, join the EIU Alumni Association or give a gift to EIU.
If you have any questions please contact 800-ALUM-EIU (258-6348).
1895 Scholarship
Eligibility
- The recipient shall have completed at least one semester at EIU.
- The recipient shall be a Junior or Senior Status at the time they receive the award.
- The recipient shall maintain a GPA of 3.0.
- The recipient shall demonstrate a high level of participation in the university with campus involvement in organizations/activities such as student government, registered student organizations (RSO’s), athletics, or Greek organizations.
Apply
Applicants should apply online at https://eiu.academicworks.com/.
If you have any questions regarding the scholarship please contact Koty Gough at 217-581-6616 or dlgough2@eiu.edu.
Deadline
The deadline to apply is no later than 4:30 p.m., October 28, 2024. The award shall be selected in the Fall semester and paid in the Spring semester.
Additional Information
The monetary amount varies from year to year.
Livingston C. Lord Scholarship
Eligibility
- The recipient must be an undergraduate student enrolled in a degree program leading to teacher certification and planning for a career in elementary, middle level or secondary education.
- The recipient must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.6 or higher.
- The recipient must be of junior status and have attained at least 30 hours of credit at Eastern Illinois University by the beginning of the fall semester in which the award is to be given.
- Additionally, nominees must have at least 24 credit hours remaining in their respective degree programs at the beginning of the fall semester in which the award is to be given.
Nominations & Applications
- Nominations may only be submitted by an EIU faculty member/department chair.
- Nominations should be submitted via the form below and should include a written recommendation by the nominating faculty member/department chair as to why the nominee should be considered for the award.
- Students may apply without being nominated. Applications should be submitted via the form below.
Deadline
The deadline to apply through academic works for this award is October 26th. The deadline to nominate for the 2025 award is November 15, 2024.
Additional Information
The EIU Alumni Association requests your assistance in obtaining nominations for the Livingston C. Lord Scholarship. The scholarship was established by the Association in honor of Eastern’s first president and for decades has been considered the University’s most prestigious award for academic excellence. Of particular note, it is the only scholarship for which the recipients are honored annually during the spring commencement ceremony. The monetary award for each of the five scholarships presented in 2024 was $8,518.
Please keep in mind that it is possible for more than one student from a department to receive this scholarship and we would welcome multiple nominations and applications. Thank you in advance for your time and support!
The selection committee will evaluate the nominations on the basis of the individuals’ potential for success in their careers. If the committee determines the qualifications of the candidates are equal, financial need will then be considered.
To nominate a student use this form: click here.
Students can apply for this scholarship on academic works: click here.
Should you have any questions regarding the scholarship, please contact Koty Gough at 217-581-6616 or dlgough2@eiu.edu.
Legacy Scholarship
Eligibility
- The recipient shall be a child, step-child or grandchild of an Eastern Illinois University graduate.
- The recipient shall begin his/her first semester at Eastern Illinois University in the fall of the calendar year in which the award is given.
- The recipient shall have a minimum of a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale. (4.0 GPA on a 5.0 scale)
- The recipient shall demonstrate enthusiastic and outstanding leadership as evidenced by his/her involvement in extracurricular activities.
Apply
Applicants should apply online at https://eiu.academicworks.com/.
If you have any questions regarding the scholarship please contact Koty Gough at 217-581-7053 or dlgough2@eiu.edu.
Deadline
The application deadline is March 15, 2025.
Additional Information
Any student who is the child or grandchild of an EIU graduate and will be enrolling at EIU for the first time in the Fall of 2026 is eligible to apply for the $1000 Legacy Scholarships, which are funded through the proceeds of the collegiate license plate program offered by the Illinois Secretary of State. In conjunction with this, the EIU Alumni Association offers two $2500 awards annually to recipients whose parents or grandparents are members of the Alumni Association. Membership in the Alumni Association is not a factor in the awarding of the $1000 scholarships.
TC High/Eastern State High School Alumni Scholarship
Eligibility
- The recipient shall have a minimum 4.0 GPA on a 5.0 point scale (3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale) upon completion of 3 1/2 years of high school.
- The recipient shall demonstrate integrity (incorruptible uprightness), as evidenced by submitting three letters of recommendation from community leaders.
- The recipient shall demonstrate enthusiastic and outstanding leadership, as evidenced by his/her involvement in organizations whose purpose is to foster consideration and service.
- The recipient shall be a graduate of Charleston High School or a relative of a Teachers College/Eastern State High School alumnus.
Apply
Applicants should apply online at https://eiu.academicworks.com/.
If you have any questions regarding the scholarship please contact Koty Gough at 217-581-6616 or dlgough2@eiu.edu.
Deadline
The deadline to apply is no later than 4:30 p.m., March 15 2025.
Additional Information
The monetary amount varies from year to year.