In addition to collecting historical materials, investing in partnerships, and awarding grants, The Dirksen Congressional Center pursues its mission by awarding scholarships.
Ray and Kathy LaHood Scholarships for the Study of American Government
The Dirksen Center sponsors the LaHood Scholarships to promote the study of politics and governance as practiced by the distinguished public servants who have represented Illinois’s 18th district in Congress, a list which includes Abraham Lincoln, Everett Dirksen, Robert H. Michel, Ray LaHood and, currently, Congressman Darin LaHood.
The purpose of the LaHood Scholarships is to provide financial support for tuition, fees, and books to Bradley University juniors who are majoring in a discipline related to The Dirksen Center’s purpose and interest or in a subject related to the study of the federal government. The program is managed by The Institute for Principled Leadership.
The LaHoods endowed the program with a series of donations to The Dirksen Congressional Center beginning in 2005.
IN ORDER TO BE CONSIDERED FOR A LAHOOD SCHOLARSHIP, STUDENTS MUST:
- Be a junior in good standing who will enter their senior year of study in a field related to the study of the U.S. government (e.g., political science, public administration, American studies, U.S. history);
- Attend Bradley University;
- Have a Grade Point Average (on a four-point scale) of at least 3.0 overall and 3.5 in their major;
- Agree to write a 250-word evaluation of the impact of their scholarship before the end of their senior year;
- Agree to meet with Ray or Kathy LaHood during the second semester of their senior year.
Previous Winners
2023 Kaitlyn Morrison and Joanna Franco
2022 Melody Hampton, Natally Jawhar, and Yoana Trendafilova
2021 Loretta Ewert, Josse Ward, and Andrew Wilson
2020 Martina Doytcheva, Erin Allegretti, Lindsay Fischer, and Ben Wagoner
2019 Lorena Chica, Veronica Blascoe, Dan Kaminski, and Devin Servin
2018 Mary Anne “Annie” Carroll, Jacob T. Halstead, and Thomas Bowers
2017 Gerald Regep III, Robert Miller, and Patrick DePinto
2015 No Awards
2016 Rebekah Guderman, Patrick Campbell, and Shannon Schooley
2014 Taylor Soto and Chase Owen
2013 Victoria Berkow and Abby Schierer
2012 Megan Ramlo
2011 Katie Childs and Michael Kittleson
2010 Thomas Carroll and James Pripusich
2009 Kathryn Green and Amy Sickinger
2008 Emily Gesing and Courtney Lynne Wiersema
2007 Amber Huett and Julie Mierzwa
2005 Beau Thomas Underwood, Eureka College
2004 Sarah Anne Cottingham, Millikin University
2004 Janet M. Greenwalt, Eureka College
Beginning in 2007, scholarships were restricted to students at Bradley University
CONTACT THE INSTITUTE FOR PRINCIPLED LEADERSHIP WITH QUESTIONS OR FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Brad McMillan, Executive Director
Institute for Principled Leadership
Bradley University
1501 W. Bradley
Peoria, IL 61625