Twelve students were named recipients of the Tom Tracy Memorial Farm Credit Illinois Family Scholarship, administered by the Community Foundation of East Central Illinois (CFECI). Each scholar receives $3,000 towards their college education. The selection criteria include scholastic achievement, leadership and community contributions, and career vision and goals.

The financial cooperative’s family scholarship was renamed in 2020 to permanently memorialize the late Tom Tracy. Tracy established a family scholarship program early in his career as FCI president and CEO – demonstrating his values of lifelong learning and employee support. His legacy of passionate advocacy for those seeking to better themselves through education endures through a scholarship endowment at the CFECI. Tracy served as FCI’s president and CEO from 2015-2019 until his passing in Sept. 2019.

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 2021.

“This scholarship is a lasting legacy in memory of our late CEO Tom Tracy who demonstrated a passion for continuous learning,” says Eric Mosbey, FCI Board Chair. “Family is one of Farm Credit Illinois’ core values that contribute to our mission of Helping Farm Families Succeed while investing in our FCI team and their families.”

Recipients of the 2021 Tom Tracy Memorial Farm Credit Illinois Family Scholarship include:

• Cassidi Collins, of Mahomet, is pursuing a degree in public health in the pre-physician's assistant program at the University of Kentucky. She graduated from Mahomet-Seymour High School and is the daughter of Tammi (FCI crop insurance service specialist) and Ted Collins of Mahome
• Brayden Freeman, of Winchester, is pursuing a degree in animal science and a minor in ag business with a focus in economics at Iowa State University. He graduated from Winchester High School and is the son of Jessica (FCI loan process specialist) and Nicholas Freeman of Winchester.
• Conner McKinney, of Sumner, is pursuing a degree in business managment at Indiana University. He graduated from Red Hill High School and is the son of Birgit Volk (FCI regional vice president of crop insurance) of Sumner.
• Natalie Mitchell, of Mahomet, is pursuing a degree in interdisciplinary health sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She graduated from Mahomet-Seymour High School and is the daughter of Cory (FCI vice president of lending) and Michelle Mitchell of Mahomet.
• Maclaren Ranstead, of Mahomet, is pursuing a degree in architecture at Ball State University. She graduated from Mahomet Seymour High School and is the daughter of Stacy (FCI process specialist) and David Schweighart and Paul Ranstead, all of Mahomet.
• Katie Reid, of Albion, is pursuing a degree in healthcare administration at the University of Southern Indiana. She graduated from Edwards County High School and is the daughter of Kent (FCI chief appraiser) and Lori Reid of Albion.
• Madison Snow, of Decatur, is pursuing a degree in nursing at Millikin University. She graduated from Saint Teresa High School and is the daughter of Joe (FCI assistant vice president of lending) and Jami Snow of Decatur.
• Mackenzie Snow, of Decatur, is pursuing a degree in elementary education at Illinois State University. She graduated from Saint Teresa High School and is the daughter of Joe (FCI assistant vice president of lending) and Jami Snow of Decatur.
• Brooke Sobkoviak, of Sheldon, is pursuing a degree in psychology at Illinois College. She graduated from Milford High School and is the daughter of Jeff (FCI assistant vice president of crop insurance) and Michelle Sobkoviak of Sheldon.
• Kali Walker, of Cerro Gordo, is pursuing a degree in agricultural education, leadership, and communications, focusing on advertising at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She graduated from Cerro Gordo High School and is the daughter of Jenny (FCI loan process specialist) and Brandon Walker of Cerro Gordo.
• Delaney Wheeler, of Mahomet, is pursuing a degree in nursing at Illinois State University. She graduated from Mahomet Seymour High School and is the daughter of Jeff (FCI vice president of crop insurance) and Becky Wheeler of Mahomet.
• Lauryn Wright, of Mount Carmel, will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in science in May and pursue a master’s degree in communication disorder in science in the fall – both from Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville. She graduated from Mount Carmel High School and is the daughter of Mark (FCI 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 publicly-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: