Scholarships

The Illinois Retired Teachers Association Foundation awards six $1,500 scholarships to incoming juniors or seniors in college that are pursuing a degree in education. Thanks to a very generous private donation from one of our members, Areas 4 and 6 each have the opportunity to award a second scholarship of $3,000. This years’ winners were chosen through competition with other applicants from their own area of the state.

In December, information regarding the Illinois Retired Teachers Association Foundation Scholarship program is sent to all the major State Universities in Illinois, all Community Colleges in Illinois as well as all IRTA Unit Presidents and Unit Foundation Chairs.

2021 Area Foundation Scholarship Recipients

The Area 1 recipient is Danielle Hagens of Aledo, IL. Danielle will be an incoming junior at Monmouth College where she is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Teacher Education. Her future plans are to be a Mathematics Teacher.

The Area 2 recipient is Tony Nicolalde of Aurora, IL. Tony will be an incoming senior at Illinois State University. His major is Special Education/Specialist in Deaf and Hard of Hearing. He is also minoring in Spanish and Latin American and Latino Studies. As an Ecuadorian American Child of Deaf Adults, he aspires to promote the Deaf community and advocate for cultural awareness.

The Area 3 recipient is Hanna Andrews of Tilton, IL. Hanna attended Danville Area Community College where she received her Associates degree. She will be an incoming senior at Illinois State University where she is majoring in Early Childhood Education.

The Area 4 recipient is Alexis Carroll of Carrollton, IL. Alexis is attending Lincoln Land Community College, and in the Fall will be an incoming junior at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. She is enrolled in the College of Agricultural Sciences and Agricultural Education. Her goal is to educate people on the importance of agriculture.

The Area 4 recipient of the additional scholarship is Janessa Knapp of Normal, IL. Janessa will be an incoming senior at Illinois State University where she is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education with endorsements in English as a Second Language and Reading.

The Area 5 recipient is Madisyn Dickens of Sullivan, IL. Madisyn attended Lake Land Community College where she received an Associates in Arts degree. She will be an incoming senior at Illinois State University where she is pursuing her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education.

The Area 6 recipient is Brianna Thornton of Marion, IL. Brianna will be an incoming junior at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale where she is pursuing a degree in Agricultural Systems with a specialization in Agricultural Education. Her goal is to teach Agriculture upon graduating from college.

2021 Moler-Austin Recipients

The Moler-Austin Scholarship is available through the Illinois Retired Teachers Association Foundation. Two scholarships of $4,500 are awarded to Kendall County high school graduates pursuing a degree in education. This scholarship is available because of a generous gift from IRTA member Identa Austin. Identa donated 80 acres of land to the Illinois Retired Teachers Association, and the profits from the sale of that land are used to fund the Moler-Austin scholarship.

This scholarship is advertised in all the local papers in Kendall County. The ad runs the last week of December and the first week of January so students that are home for Winter Break will see the advertisement.

The 2021 recipients are:

Kaylee Kosulic of Yorkville, IL is attending Lewis University and is an incoming sophomore. She is pursuing a degree in Secondary Education and Biology. Upon graduation with her bachelor’s degree, Kaylee would like to teach in a high school of need as a Biology teacher.

Flavio Rodriguez of Montgomery, IL will be an incoming senior at Illinois State University pursuing a degree in History-Social Sciences Teacher Education. Flavio gives tours as a docent at the David Davis Mansion in Bloomington, IL 12 hours a week. He helps to inform the public about one of Bloomington’s most historic sites. He feels that as someone who wants to be a history teacher, any opportunity to inform the public is a great privilege and an excellent opportunity to find his teaching voice.