Twelve recipients of the 2018 Farm Credit Illinois Family Scholarship – administered by the Community Foundation of East Central Illinois – were recently named. Each scholar receives $3,000 towards their college education. The selection criteria emphasize scholastic achievement, leadership and community contributions, career vision and goals, and financial need. Farm Credit Illinois (FCI) serves farm families, agribusinesses, and rural communities in the central and southern 60 counties of Illinois.

Applicants for the Family Scholarship are children or grandchildren of Farm Credit Illinois employees, up to age 26, and registered as full-time college students in the fall of 2018.

Fletcher Bell, of Cerro Gordo, Ill., is pursuing a medical degree at Columbia University’s Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeon – ranked as the 7th leading medical school in the country. He graduated from Monticello High School and is the son of Ellen (Neher) – FCI Decatur vice president of lending – and Jerry Gregg of Cerro Gordo. He is the grandson of Donald M. Neher of Higginsville, Mo.

Cassidi Collins, of Mahomet, will be a freshman at the University of Kentucky in the physician’s assistance program in the fall. In May she graduates from Mahomet-Seymour High School and is the daughter of Tammi (FCI crop insurance service division service specialist) and Ted Collins of Mahomet.

Sisters Ellie and Emily Detmer, of Breese, are two recipients. Ellie will be enrolled at Lindenwood University – Belleville as a graduate student in school and professional counseling this fall after completing her undergraduate education this spring. Emily will continue her studies in mathematics – with an actuarial science emphasis – at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn.  Ellie and Emily graduated from Central Community High School and are the daughters of Chris (FCI Highland sales and service specialist) and Jeff Detmer of Breese.

Haley Giles, of Teutopolis, is attending Maryville University in St. Louis, Mo., in the occupational therapy graduate program. She graduated from Teutopolis High School and is the daughter of Bridgot (FCI Effingham regional manager) and Doug Giles of Teutopolis.

Britni Gortner, of Monticello, is continuing her studies in business and finance at the University of Missouri – Columbia. She graduated from Monticello High School and is the daughter of Niki Moore (FCI credit assistant in the credit services division) and Mark Gortner.

Annie Heinz, of Tuscola, is continuing her studies in accounting at Illinois State University. She graduated from Tuscola High School and is the daughter of Brad Heinz (FCI Highland appraiser) and Fran Heinz.

Jennifer Nigh, of Anchorage, Alaska, is continuing her pursuit of a bachelor’s degree in nursing science at the University of Alaska Anchorage. She graduated from Paxton-Buckley-Loda High School and is the daughter of Barbara (FCI credit assistant in the credit services division) and Timothy Hess of Paxton.

Maclaren Ranstead, of Mahomet, will graduate from Mahomet-Seymour High School in May and pursue a degree in the architecture program at Ball State University in the fall. She is the daughter of Stacy Schweighart (FCI senior sales and service specialist in the commercial lending department) and Paul Ranstead.

Siblings David and Elizabeth Rhode, of Mahomet, are two of 12 recipients. David is pursuing his medical doctorate at the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago. Elizabeth is pursuing a bioengineering degree at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. David and Elizabeth graduated from Morton High School and are the children of Bob (FCI general counsel) and Rebekah Rhode of Mahomet.

McKenna Steineman, of Effingham, will graduate from St. Anthony High School in May and attend St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn., to pursue a degree in literature and music performance in the fall. She is the granddaughter of Dave Ragan (FCI Effingham appraiser) and daughter of Daniel and Angela Steineman of Effingham.

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 employs 210 staff based in the Mahomet central office and 14 regional office locations in agricultural careers in a wide range of fields including lending, underwriting, finance, accounting, sales, communications, audit and review, and appraisal.