Cobb Memorial Scholarship awarded to two students

MACOMB, Ill. — Two McDonough County students were awarded the Nathan Cobb Memorial Scholarship by the McDonough County Community Foundation(MCCF). The scholarshipwill be of great assistance as they continue their education and pursue their degrees.

Ashanti Strange and Madelyn Thurman will each receive $5,000 that can be used towards tuition, books or room and board.

Strange will be attending Illinois State University and majoring in Food, Nutrition and Dietetics. Thurman is attending Western Illinois University and is majoring in Early Childhood Education.

This special scholarship was created in memory of McDonough County resident Nathan Cobb; a proud team member of WIRC-Community Action Agency (WIRC) known for his kindness and compassion to help others in need.

His parents, Janet and Lee Cobb, provide funding for the scholarship. WIRC staff evaluates all scholarship applications and narrows down the applicant field based upon the following guidelines;

• a McDonough County resident
• completion of a short essay
• meet income guidelines

The WIRC staff then turns this field of applicants to the Cobb Scholarship Review Committee who then makes the final determination. The award funds are distributed by the MCCF directly to the successful applicant’s college or university.

Both awardees attended an award celebration at City Hall to meet Janet and Lee Cobb, board members of the MCCF, members of the Cobb Scholarship Committee and Macomb mayor Michael Inman.

In a press release, Suzan Nash, chair of the Cobb Scholarship Committee, said, “Both students were thrilled when they received notification of this award. They know the impact this will have for each of them continuing their education and reaching their career goals.”

WIRC-Community Action Agency is a nonprofit organization that helps people and communities. To learn more about their free services that help people in need, visit their website at wirpc.org, find them on social media or call 309-837-2997.

The McDonough County Community Foundation is committed to building a permanent endowment that will help ensure there are monetary resources for projects and goals by residents. MCCF works to further philanthropy in a community minded way with a commitment to good stewardship.