IEC Memorial Scholarships
Scholarship Sponsored by Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives
Important eligibility note - These scholarships are intended only for students in their final year of high school. - You cannot pause and return to the application later — the form must be completed in a single session. Information you must have ready before you begin Be prepared to provide all of the following when you start the application: - Full name - Mailing address - Telephone number - Email address - Parent or guardian name and contact information - Name of your electric cooperative - Name of the high school you attend - High school GPA reported on a 100-point scale (convert if necessary: multiply a 4.0 scale GPA by 25; multiply a 5.0 scale GPA by 20) - Written legal consent from your parent or guardian permitting you to apply - Brief biographical statement (about 250 words or fewer) describing your educational goals, financial need, and other relevant personal information. Do not mention your name, county, or home location in this statement. - Financial statement (about 250 words or fewer) outlining your financial responsibilities so judges can understand how the scholarship would help. Include household size, any other family members currently in college, scholarships you have applied for or received, and any pertinent family circumstances. - Two essays (each 500 words or fewer) written in your own words responding to the prompts below: - Cooperatives in Community Essay: Electric cooperatives follow seven core principles, including “Concern for Community.” Describe a specific instance when you observed “the cooperative difference” and explain how your electric cooperative had a positive effect on its community. - Character Essay: Describe a time you made a positive difference in someone else’s life (not a family member). What did you do? How did it affect them? How did it make you feel? What motivated you to act? Other optional but available information You will also be able to list the following (do not reference your name, county, or home location in these entries): - Work and volunteer experience — list positions, dates, and whether the role was paid or volunteer (example format: “Volunteer at National Honor Society Events, June 2019, Volunteer”). Up to 15 entries. - Participation in school and community activities — list activities, years of involvement, and any offices held (example format: “High School Soccer, 2019, 2020, Team Captain”). Up to 15 entries. Application preparation recommendations and guidelines - The use of AI or other automated writing tools is strongly discouraged. - We recommend drafting your essays, biographical statement, and financial statement ahead of time in a word processor (for example, Microsoft Word) so you can proofread and revise. You may then copy and paste your finalized text into the application form. Submission deadline - Completed applications and all required materials must be received by DECEMBER 31, 2025.
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