Scholarship Awards
IAHA has been awarding financial scholarships to individuals that are residents of our housing authorities. The three geographic Councils within IAHA have an application process and they determine who the qualified recipient is.
In 2023 the following scholarships were awarded:
Aleigha Taylor is a recipient of the 2023-2024 Central Council Education Assistance Grant. Ms. Taylor resides with her mother and brother at Jersey County Housing Authority.
Ms. Taylor is a freshman at Greenville University with a GPA of 2.8. She is majoring in Elementary Education. She is considering added social work as secondary major. Ms. Taylor is activity band, theater and project LEAD. She also activity in her church’s youth group.
In Ms. Taylor’s essay she wrote the following:
“I recently observed 4th-grade English in East St. Louis. It solidified my intention that elementary education in low-poverty school districts is my calling. As I have recently learned, the world needs more teachers, especially minority teachers. I believe that taking the steps to reach my goals will not only get me where I want to be, but it will also encourage other minorities to step up into the education profession.” Ms. Aleigha Taylor
Jasmine Finley is one of Jersey County Housing Authority’s 2023-2024 Central Council Educational Assistance Grant recipient.
Jasmine is currently attending the University of Illinois where she will be considered a senior due to having so many credits from the AP classes she completed in high school. She could graduate a year early, but has chosen to continue on and graduate in 2025. Her overall GPA at U of I is 3.57. She participates in several extracurricular activities of U of I, including Director of the Illinois Union Board Illinites, Co-Chair of the Student Health Insurance Advisory Committee for the McKinley Health Center, secretary of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society at the U of I, Member of Alpha Kappa Delta Honor Society for Sociology. Along with numerous community activities off campus to including volunteering to organize gathered donated supplies for the members of “Mothers on a Mission – Stop the Violence Chicago”.
Jasmine has recently been accepted to study aboard at the University of Sydney in Sydney Australia over the summer. This opportunity will help build her resume and experience for achieving her main goal of attending graduate school.
CICHO has granted Jasmine Finley a scholarship in the amount of $2000.00.
In 2022 the following scholarships were awarded:
Ms. Melissa Winters received a $1,000 ECHO scholarship and is from Hardin County Housing Authority. She attends Southeastern Illinois College and is currently enrolled in the LPN nursing program. She will graduate from the LPN program in May. Ms. Winters plans to continue onto the RN program in the fall. Ms. Winters stated the scholarship money came at a perfect time to help her pay for her gas back and forth to class. The round-trip drive is over 60 miles. Not including days, she has clinicals at various locations.
Ms. Alexis Shock, a resident of Clay County Housing Authority, was the recipient of a $500 scholarship. Ms. Shock will be completing the RN program at Frontier Community College this spring and plans to continue her education at Chamberlain University this fall to attain her Master’s in Nursing and a Nurse Practitioner degree.
Ms. Roni Persinger also received a $500 scholarship and is a resident of Clay County Housing Authority. Ms. Persinger is pursuing her goal of receiving her degree and becoming an elementary teacher.
In 2021/2022 the following scholarships were awarded:
Ms. Abby Horton was very excited to receive the $1,000 scholarship. when she received the check she smiled from ear to ear. She said she will use the money for nursing school expenses and gas. Currently, Abby is attending Southeastern Illinois College (SIC) and working on her Associate Degree in nursing.
In 2020/2021 the following scholarships were awarded:
Ms. Dana Spiesz graduated a semester early from Pekin Community High School in 2011. Dana was part of the Soccer team until she had an injury that would not allow her to play any longer. After High School Dana then went on to Heartland Community College to obtain her Associate’s Degree in Art. Aspiring to further her education, Dana transferred to University of Illinois-Springfield where she is now pursuing her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration. She also hopes to continue on to complete her Master’s Degree in Business Administration as well. Dana now has 2 sons, Rylan who is 4.5 years old and Jalyn who was born in the last month. Dana is very family oriented and notes that her Children are what keeps her motivated to do her very best.
Mr. Ben McKennon graduated from Jersey Community School District 100 in May of 2020 with a cumulative GPA of 4.593. He was awarded the Illinois State Scholarship and the Psychology Award. Ben is an active member of First Baptist Church in Jerseyville and active in BSA Troop 59. Ben is attending the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign this fall pursuing a degree in English/Political Science. Ben received a $750.00 educational grant from CICHO.
Ms. Hali Stewart is currently attending Lewis and Clark Community College pursuing a degree in education. Hali currently has a GPA of 3.5. Hali has a real passion for helping children with special needs succeed. Hali is the proud mother of one daughter. She is currently unemployed due to the Covid 19 pandemic. Hali received a $750.00 educational grant from CICHO.
Ms. Morgan Williams is a three time recipient of the CICHO scholarship. In May she graduated with her associate’s degree in applied science as well as her certification for Medical Assisting. Morgan is continuing her education at Lewis and Clark Community College pursuing a degree in Nursing. Morgan has been on the President’s list at Lewis and Clark Community College for the past two semesters all while maintaining a job. Her current GPA is 3.2. She contributes her success to hard work and the generous help from CICHO. Morgan received a $500.00 educational grant from CICHO.
In 2019/2020 the following scholarships were awarded:
Miss Devyn Buttry is a 2018 graduate from Jersey Community High School. She is currently preparing to start her last semester of pre-requisites for the associate degree nursing program at Lewis and Clark Community College. She has passed her HESSI placement test. Ms. Buttry has been able to maintain a 3.5GPA while going to school full time and working. Miss Buttry was a 2018-2019 recipient of the IAHA-CICHO educational grant. She is grateful for the generous assistance that she has received through the IAHA-CICHO educational grant.
Miss Morgan Williams is a 2017 graduate from Jersey Community High School. She was 2018-2019 recipient of the IAHA-CICHO educational grant. She is currently attending Lewis and Clark Community College. She will be entering into the Medical Assisting program this fall. She currently has a 2.755GPA. Miss Williams is a hard working student and put forth every effort to excel in her studies along with working. She also is very grateful for the assistance from the IAHA-CICHO educational grant.
Miss Arianna Miller is a 2016 graduate from Jersey Community High School and is attending Lewis and Clark Community College. She is pursuing a degree in nursing. Miss Miller current GPA is 2.644. She is working full time, going to school and also co-parenting her boyfriend’s young son. She is a remarkable lady that has overcome so many obstacles in her young life. She is admired by all whom know her. She is extremely grateful for receiving the 2019-2020 IAHA-CICHO educational grant.
In 2018 the following scholarships were awarded:
Jersey County Housing Authority is pleased to announce the following recipients of the IAHA-Central Division Educational Grant (CICHO) for 2018-2019. The housing authority is extremely proud of each of these young ladies and all of their accomplishments.
Miss Devyn Buttry will be graduating this month from Jersey Community High School. Her current GPA is 4.623. She is a member of the National Honor Society, volunteers in the Panther Pals program at the high school and participated in track and field, while holding down a job for the past two and half years. Ms. Buttry will be pursuing a degree in nursing through Lewis and Clark Community college. Ms. Buttry received a $1,500.00 educational grant from CICHO.
Ms. Cierra Howell graduated from Jersey Community High School in 2005 with a 4.9 GPA and was a member of the National Honor Society. She received her associate’s degree from Barton Community College in Kansas in 2015 and just recently graduated from SIUE with a Bachelors of Exercise Science with a 3.62 GPA. Ms. Howell has been accepted into the Physical Therapy program at Southwestern Illinois College. Ms. Howell has accomplished all this while being a wife and mother of two children. Ms. Howell also received a $1,500 educational grant from CICHO.
Miss Ashley Long, will be graduating this month from Jersey Community High School with a 4.585 GPA, she is a member of the National Honors Society and also volunteered in the Panther Pals program. Ms. Long plans to attend Lewis and Clark Community College to receive her associates degree and then transfer to either SIUE or Monmouth College to major in child psychology. Miss Long received a $1,500.00 educational grant from CICHO.
Miss Morgan Williams is a 2017 graduate from Jersey Community High School with a 3.61 GPA. She is currently a student at Lewis and Clark Community College obtaining her prerequisites for the nursing program at Lewis and Clark Community College. Miss Williams received a $1,000.00 educational grant from CICHO.
Ms. Gaberial Rabich is the daughter of JaiLynn and Bradley Perrine. Gabby will graduate from Staunton High school in May of 2018 and plans to attend Indiana State in the fall where she will be majoring in Psychology. Gabby has been a member of Exhale youth group at St. Paul for two years and plans on going on mission trip for the second time this summer. She has also been a member of girl scouts for 12 years, choir for 7 years, art honors society for 4 years, and scholastic bowl for 1 year. She has been in the school yearbook club for 3 years and recently made yearbook editor. She has also been involved with the school homecoming, spring, and fall plays as well as the musicals.
