HomeStar Customer Scholarship

The deadline for the current HomeStar Education Foundation Scholarship Program has passed. Applications for the 2013-2014 academic year will be available for download next fall.

Background:

HomeStar Bank & Financial Services has provided financial services to the area since 1946. In keeping with its tradition of community service and commitment to the education of future civic and business leaders, HomeStar Bank & Financial Services established the HomeStar Education Foundation, Inc. in 2001. The HomeStar Education Foundation offers a HomeStar Customer Scholarship, an academic scholarship for children or grandchildren of HomeStar Bank & Financial Services customers. The scholarship is established to assist a graduating high school senior to continue his/her education at a university, college, trade or vocational school.

Over its life, the Foundation will award millions in scholarship money to deserving high school students. The scholarship amount awarded to each recipient shall be $8,000 ($2,000 per year for up to 4 years).

This award will be based on positive leadership and character exhibited in both school and community activities. A scholarship selection committee of the HomeStar Education Foundation, Inc. will administer the application and selection process for the scholarship.

Eligibility and Selection Criteria:

• Eligible applicants include any high school senior whose parent or grandparent is a customer of HomeStar Bank & Financial Services, HomeStar Insurance Services, HomeStar Investment Services or HomeStar Trust Services.
• Applicants must have maintained a minimum of a 2.5 cumulative grade point average (based on 4.0) through the seventh semester of high school.
• Applicants must plan to enroll full-time at an accredited two- or four-year college, university or trade/vocational school in the United States. (Proof of enrollment will be required for release of scholarship payment after the award is announced.)
• The recipient will be selected based on the following criteria:
  
  1. Positive leadership and character exhibited in both academic and extracurricular school activities.
  2. Positive leadership and character exhibited in community and/or religious activities.
  3. Positive impact the applicant has had on others.
  4. Financial Need.

NOTE: To continue to receive annual $2,000 scholarship installments, award winners must supply proof of "C" or better grades while maintaining full-time student status and proof of continuing enrollment.

HomeStar NAACP Scholarship

Applications for the current Acedemic year are available to download. Click the image on the right to download and print out the application.

Background:

In 2004, the HomeStar Education Foundation partnered with the Kankakee County Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) to help graduating high school seniors continue their education by creating the HomeStar-NAACP Scholarship Program. The HomeStar-NAACP Scholarship Program awards scholarships based on positive leadership and character exhibited in school and community activities and financial need. A scholarship selection committee of HomeStar employees and members of the Kankakee County Branch of the NAACP administer the application process and selects the scholarship recipients. The name of each scholarship applicant is concealed from the scholarship selection committee to ensure that the recipients are selected entirely based on merit.

The amount of the HomeStar-NAACP scholarship is $2000 ($500 per year for up to 4 years) per student. The committee awards up to 4 scholarships per year.

Eligibility and Selection Criteria:

• Any high school senior who resides in Kankakee County, Illinois and is a member of the Kankakee County Branch of the NAACP is eligible for the HomeStar-NAACP scholarship. Scholarship recipients must remain members of the Kankakee County Branch of the NAACP to receive scheduled scholarship payments.
• Applicants must have maintained a minimum of a 2.5 cumulative grade point average (based on 4.0) through the seventh semester of high school.
• Proof of enrollment in an educational program is required for release of scholarship payment after the award is announced.
• The recipient will be selected based on the following criteria:
  
  1. Positive leadership and character exhibited in both academic and extracurricular school activities.
  2. Positive leadership and character exhibited in community and/or religious activities.
  3. Positive impact the applicant has had on others.
  4. Financial Need.

Kankakee County Hispanic Partnership

Applications for the current Acedemic year are available to download. Click the image on the right to download and print out the application

Background:

HomeStar Bank & Financial Services, the HomeStar Education Foundation and the Hispanic Partnership of Kankakee County have partnered to help graduating high school seniors continue their education by establishing the HomeStar-Hispanic Partnership Scholarship Program.

The HomeStar Bank & Financial Services-Hispanic Partnership Scholarship Program awards scholarships based on positive leadership and character exhibited in school and community activities and financial need. A scholarship selection committee of HomeStar employees and members of the Hispanic Partnership administer the application process and selects the scholarship recipients. The name of each scholarship applicant is concealed from the scholarship selection committee to ensure that the recipients are selected entirely on merit.

The amount of the HomeStar-Hispanic Partnership scholarship is $2000 ($500 per year for up to 4 years) per student.

Eligibility and Selection Criteria:

• Any high school senior who resides in Kankakee County or Iroquois County, Illinois and is of Hispanic or Latino heritage is eligible.
• Applicants must have maintained a minimum of a 2.0 cumulative grade point average (based on 4.0) through the seventh semester of high school.
• Proof of enrollment in an educational program is required for release of scholarship payment after the award is announced.
• The recipient will be selected based on the following criteria:
  
  1. Positive leadership and character exhibited in both academic and extracurricular school activities.
  2. Positive leadership and character exhibited in community and/or religious activities.
  3. Positive impact the applicant has had on others.
  4. Financial Need.