A New Lincoln Hall Legacy

Lincoln Scholars program begins making college more accessible.

Through support tied to the Lincoln Hall renovation, the Lincoln Scholars program has raised $3.5 million of a goal of $10 million for undergraduate scholarships.

The reopening of renovated Lincoln Hall has been the spotlight event on campus this fall. Directly tied to the inspiring new surroundings, however, is the initiation of a growing scholarship program that for the first time is helping students attend the University of Illinois.

Nine LAS freshmen who arrived on campus this fall have received scholarships under the Lincoln Scholars program, which has been gathering steam since the early days of the building’s renovation. The scholarship program was created to open the door to college for students with strong academic records who also have financial need.

Through support tied to the Lincoln Hall renovation, including donations, purchases of courtyard pavers and benches, theater seats, and classroom spaces, and pledges and deferred gifts, the Lincoln Scholars program has raised $3.5 million of a goal of $10 million for undergraduate scholarships. The funds are being placed into an endowment that will continue to provide scholarships without end.

The effort is ongoing. Ruth Watkins, dean of the College of LAS, expressed gratitude to donors for assisting what has become one of the primary concerns of the institution.

“Access to an Illinois education for talented students—independent of financial background—is fundamental to our mission as a land-grant university,” Watkins says. “Scholarships are vital to maintaining our mission of access, given the escalating cost of higher education.”

This year’s Lincoln Scholars are: