Open Enrollment: Jul-09-2020 Deadline: Jul-31-2020 G.E.D. Renewable Application Closed

The Diane Siemer Scholarship Fund was established to perpetuate higher education scholarship opportunities for General Equivalency Diploma (GED) and Pathway graduates in Effingham County. The scholarship fund was established by Diane’s family in honor of her long career in education.

In the early 1980’s Diane Siemer was hired by Lake Land College as a contract teacher for the GED Class. Diane passionately taught the class until her retirement in 2007. During her 25 years of teaching, she worked with approximately 500 students working to obtain their GED certificate.

Several scholarships up to $2,500 each are available.

Requirements

1. Applicant must have received a General Equivalency Diploma (GED certificate).
2. Applicant must reside in Effingham County.
   
3. Applicant must be planning to enroll or be enrolled as a full-time college student at a two-year college, four-year college or university, or vocational/technical school. Scholarship is not available for graduate or other higher education.
   
4. Applicant who has never received this scholarship must submit a letter of recommendation from their GED instructor and/or current employer.
   
5. Applicant asking for continuation of the scholarship must attach a letter of reference from a college or program instructor. Scholarship will not be renewed more than three times.
   
6. Previous scholarship recipients that remain qualified and apply, will receive preferential funding.
   
7. Applicant must submit a written essay describing their education and career goals.
   
8. Applicants must agree to an interview by the scholarship committee if requested.
   
9. Applicant who is or will be attending Lake Land College, Mattoon, Illinois, will be given preferential funding.
   
10. Scholarship can be received no more than four years and is not available for education higher than a bachelor (four-year) degree.
    
11. Application deadline is Tuesday, March 8, 2015, by midnight.
    

Selection Criteria

• Education and career goals: 50%
• Financial need: 30%
• Community leadership/activities: 10%
• Work experience: 10%
• Total: 100%

Our News Articles

• Three recipients selected for Diane Siemer Scholarship

  6/20/2018 9:14:00 AM

  Kobey Workman, Hailey Marsh, and Kalina Dunn have been selected as recipients of the 2018 Diane Siemer General Equivalency Diploma (GED) Scholarship.

• Diane Siemer Scholarship names two recipients

  7/17/2017 11:07:00 AM

  The purpose of the Diane Siemer Scholarship is to perpetuate higher educational opportunities by providing scholarships to GED graduates in Effingham County.

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  Diane Siemer Scholarship names two recipients

  5/31/2016 10:58:00 AM

  The scholarship was established by Diane’s family in honor of her long career in education working with individuals to earn their high school diploma by completing the GED test.

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  Siemer Scholarship awards two scholarships

  6/30/2015 3:16:00 PM

  The Effingham County Community Foundation recently named Tiffany Beccue and Maria Carrillo-Quijano as the 2015 recipients of the Diane Siemer GED (General Equivalency Diploma) Scholarship. This is the second year both recipients received the scholarship.

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  2014 Diane Siemer recipients announced

  7/21/2014 3:22:00 PM

  The Effingham County Community Foundation recently named Tiffany Beccue and Roccio Carrillo as the 2014 recipients of the Diane Siemer Scholarship.

• 2012 Diane Siemer Scholarship recipient named

  6/18/2012 3:24:00 PM

  Kennedy Brummerstedt has been named as the second recipient of the Diane Siemer Scholarship Fund.