The women of the Central Illinois Chapter of The Links, Incorporated are pleased to present the scholarship application for the 2023-2024 school year. We plan to award monetary scholarships to graduating high school students.

The Links, Incorporated is an international, not-for-profit organization, established in 1946. The membership consists of nearly 16,000 professional women of color in 288 chapters located in 41 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, and the United Kingdom. The organization is continuously sharpening its focus and expanding its program dimensions in order to make the name “Links” not only a chain of friendship but also a chain of purposeful service.

Scholarship Criteria:

• Applicant must be an African American graduating senior planning to attend an accredited post-secondary institution for the 2023-2024 school year.
• Applicant must have a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale or a 4.0 cumulative GPA on a 5.0 scale.
• Applicant must reside in the Bloomington/Normal, Champaign-Urbana, Peoria, or Decatur areas.
• Applicant cannot be a relative of any member of the Central Illinois Chapter of The Links, Incorporated.
• Applicant must be a United States citizen.

Instructions:

1.  An official high school transcript of courses must be sent by a school administrator to this link, https://centralillinoislinksinc.org/scholarship-transcript. If you are selected for the scholarship, you will be directed to provide a letter of acceptance and a copy of your official registration of first semester courses before funds are dispersed.

2.  Upload an Essay [maximum of 400 words] addressing the following:

What is the most critical moral, ethical, or social problem facing America, and what role do you plan to play to improve that problem?

Your Essay Statement will be judged on the following:

• The Essay is double-spaced using Times New Roman font size 12.
• The Essay is 400 words maximum.
• Comprehension – The Essay reflects a thorough comprehension of the topic.
• Organization – The Personal Statement should exhibit clarity of thought.
• Writing – Correct grammar, good sentence structure, spelling, and punctuation.

3.  Upload a Personal Statement [maximum of 400 words]

• The Personal Statement is double-spaced using Times New Roman font size 12.
• The Personal Statement is 400 words maximum.
• Organization – The Personal Statement should exhibit clarity of thought.
• Writing – Correct grammar, good sentence structure, spelling, and punctuation.

4.  When completing the DOCUMENTATION section, use the full name of awards, clubs, or organizations (no acronyms).

5.  Applicant is responsible for confirming that a school administrator submitted his/her official school transcript to https://centralillinoislinksinc.org/scholarship-transcript on, or before 11:59 p.m., Friday, March 24, 2023

6.  If you are selected for one of the “Students of Distinction” scholarships, you will need to provide a headshot picture of yourself [jpeg ONLY] by Friday, April 28, 2023, for publication by the Central Illinois Chapter of The Links Incorporated on their social media sites, and by local media outlets in recognizing your accomplishments. Applications must be submitted on or before 11:59 p.m., Friday, March 24, 2023

APPLICATION CHECKLIST

• Completed application – submitted on or before 11:59 p.m. Friday, March 24, 2023.
• Attached essay.
• Attached personal statement.
• Official high school transcript submitted to https://centralillinoislinksinc.org/scholarship-transcript no later than Friday, March 24, 2023.