Twelve college students were named as recipients of the 2019 Farm Credit Illinois Family Scholarship, administered by the Community Foundation of East Central Illinois. Each scholar receives $3,000 to use towards their college education. The selection criteria emphasizes scholastic achievement, leadership and community contributions, and career vision and goals.

Applicants for the Family Scholarship are 26 years of age or younger, the children or grandchildren of Farm Credit Illinois employees, and will be enrolled as full-time college students in the fall of 2019.

Recipients of the 2019 Farm Credit Illinois Family Scholarship include:

Damian Adams, of Decatur, is pursuing a degree in history education at Illinois State University. He graduated from St. Teresa High School and is the son of Dana (FCI Decatur sales and service specialist) and Brian Adams of Decatur.

Cassidi Collins, of Mahomet, is pursuing a degree in public health in the pre-physician's assistant program at University of Kentucky. She graduated from Mahomet-Seymou High School and is the daughter of Tammi (FCI crop insurance service specialist) and Ted Collins of Mahomet.

Ellie Detmer, of Breese, is pursuing a master’s degree in school counseling and professional counseling at Lindenwood University – Belleville. She graduated from Central Community High School and is the daughter of Chris (FCI Highland sales and service specialist) and Jeff Detmer of Breese.

Britni Gortner, of Monticello, is pursuing a degree in business at University of Missouri. She graduated from Monticello High School and is the daughter of Niki Moore (FCI credit assistant) and Mark Gortner.

Annie Heinz, of Tuscola, is pursuing a degree in accounting at Illinois State University. She graduated from Tuscola Community High School and is the daughter of Brad Heinz (FCI Highland senior certified appraiser) and Fran Heinz.

Jacob Henning, of Milford, is pursuing a degree in accounting at Butler University. He graduated from Milford High School and is the son of Nicholas (FCI Watseka regional manager) and Danielle Henning of Milford.

Jennifer Lookabaugh, of Anchorage, Ala., is pursuing a degree in criminal justice - criminal psychology through Liberty University. She graduated from Paxton-Buckley-Loda High School and is the daughter of Barbara (FCI scorecard credit assistant) and Timothy Hess of Paxton.

Andrew Rhode, of Mahomet, is pursuing a degree in material science and engineering at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

David Rhode, of Mahomet, is pursuing a medical doctorate at the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago. Andrew and David graduated from Morton High School and are the sons of Bob (FCI senior vice president and general counsel) and Rebekah Rhode of Mahomet.

McKenna Steineman, of Effingham, is pursuing a degree in english and music at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn. She graduated from St. Anthony High School and is the granddaughter of David Ragan (FCI Effingham senior certified appraiser) and the daughter of Angela and Daniel Steineman of Effingham.

Alex Waldinger, of Naperville, is pursuing a degree in finance at Indiana University. He graduated from Neuqua Valley High School and is the son Corey (Capital Markets vice president) and Laura Waldinger of Naperville.

Lauryn Wright, of Mount Carmel, will pursue a degree in speech-language pathology at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville in the summer after earning an associate’s degree from Wabash Valley College. She graduated from Mount Carmel High School and is the daughter of Mark (FCI Lawrenceville regional manager) and Kristi Wright of Mount Carmel.

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About the Community Foundation of East Central Illinois:

The Community Foundation of East Central Illinois is a publically-supported 501(c)(3) tax-exempt philanthropic organization created in 1972 to encourage and receive contributions establishing endowments for the long-term benefit of east central Illinois. Because the funds are endowed, they are permanently invested to produce income that is used to meet charitable needs of the community. The Community Foundation is independently governed by 15 Trustees serving without compensation and chosen for their knowledge of the community and their expertise in the areas of management necessary to carry out the functions of the Foundation. For more information, visit www.cfeci.org.

About Farm Credit Illinois:

Farm Credit Illinois is a farmer owned and directed agricultural lending cooperative serving 11,000 farm families, agribusinesses, and rural landowners in the southern 60 counties of Illinois with competitive and flexible financing and crop insurance expertise. The Association manages a $4.34 billion loan portfolio, sells 1.2 million acres of crop insurance coverage, and employs 220 staff based in the Mahomet central office and 14 regional office locations. The U.S. Farm Credit System supports rural communities, farm families, and agriculture with reliable, consistent credit and financial services today and tomorrow.