The MacMurray College Foundation and Alumni Association held its annual scholarship recipient reception on June 1 at Twisted Tree Music Hall in Jacksonville.
Thirty-nine college students received scholarships this year, representing 8 states and having students from both Springfield and Jacksonville. All but two recipients have a direct connection to the college. The foundation has distributed more than $63,000 in scholarships for the upcoming school year.
The recipients are as follows:
Louise Rintelmann Thompson “I Believe in You” Scholarship—$3000 – Briana Chavez, Oneida, IL, currently Carl Sandburg Community College, Illinois State University or Monmouth College, Elementary Education with E.S.L.
Class of ’72 Scholarships—$2000 each – Amelia Bordean, Hannibal, MO, previously Jacksonville, IL, Hannibal LaGrange University, BS in Sport and Recreation Management; and Kaelyn Mitchell, Auburn, IL, Illinois College, BS in Elementary Education
William Stanton Scholarship for Future Educators—$1500 each – Bella Evans, Jacksonville, IL, Illinois State University, BA in Early Childhood Education; andAddelyn Thomason, Cape Girardeau, MO, Hannibal LaGrange University, BA in Early Childhood Education
Baker Family Scholarship—$5000 – Edward Proffitt, Lancaster, PA, Yale University, BA in Economics & Global Affairs
Jacksonville Promise Scholarship—$1500 – Griffin Martin, Jacksonville, IL, Illinois College, BSN in Nursing
Class of 81 Scholarship—$1500 – Evelyn Scheel, Batavia, IL, Western Kentucky University, BSN in Nursing
The Maggie Scholarship—$1500 each – Kyle Deal, Goshen, IN, Ball State University, Muncie, IN, BS in Music Media Production; Gabriela Rushton, West Branch, IA, Southeastern Community College, West Burlington, IA, AA/BS in Radiological Technology; Tyler Tortorich, Plainfield, IL, Drake University, Des Moines, IA, BA in Business/Finance; Jillian Toth, El Paso, IL, Monmouth College, BA in Psychology and Sociology/Anthropology; and Kellen Creviston, Jacksonville, IL, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, BA in Pre-Physical Therapy/Biology
Richard and Judith Dozier Hackman Scholarship—$1500 each – Ruth Losey, Alma, MI, 48801, Alma College, BA in Sociology
Cathy Horn Randall Scholarship—$1500 each – Cole Meyer, Winchester, IL, Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville, BS in Criminal Justice/History; Anderson Decker, Jacksonville, IL, Millikin University, Decatur, IL, BS in Accounting; Page Mushaney, Dupo, IL, University of Evansville, IN, BS in Pre-Professional Exercise Science/Physical Therapy; and Alana Ritgers, Cottleville, MO, has applied to many institutions, BS in Molecular and Cellular Biology
Nancy Potts Rapier Memorial Scholarship—$1500 each – Daxton Baptist, Jacksonville, IL, Illinois College, BS in Nursing; and Gracie Darr, Shipman, IL, has applied to many, BS in Nursing
Nancy Boehm Witthoeft Scholarship—$1500 each – Josephine Leibfried, Gurnee, IL, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, BS in Elementary Education; Abbi Jett, Hillsboro, IL, Whitworth University, Spokane, WA, PhD in Physical Therapy
Russ Patton Memorial Scholarship—$1500 each – Isabella Dossett, Springfield, IL, Colorado State University, Colorado Springs, CO, BS in Chemistry; Joseph Runkle, Springfield, IL, applied to many, PhD in Music Performance; and Emma Kulak, Crown Point, IN, Marquette University, BS in Nursing
Michael Zimmers Memorial Scholarship—$1500 each – Chase Heyen, Springfield, IL, University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, IL, BA in Education; and Charlotte Burchill, Saline, MI, Calvin University, BA in English
Nancy J. Croessmann Memorial Scholarship—$1500 each – Maya Proctor, Bourbonnais, IL, Univ. of MO/Columbia, BS/MD in Biology; and Quinn Lewis, St. Joseph, IL, Butler Univ., BS in Accounting
Rich Laren Kilted Highlander Scholarship—$1500 – Maximilian Fuhrig, Arlington, VA, Miami University, BA in Russian, Eastern European and Eurasian Studies/Data Analytics
Simons Family Scholarship—$1500 – Addy Reisdorfer, River Falls, WI 54022, St. Thomas University, BS in Biology
MacScholars Scholarships—$1500 each – Grayson Douglas, Springfield, IL, University of Mississippi, BS in Business Administration; Alexander Fuhrig, Arlington, VA, Christopher Newport University, BS in Computer Science; Bailey Morris, Springfield, IL, University of Illinois Springfield, BS in Nursing; Owen Nehrt, Springfield, IL, University of Nebraska Lincoln, BS in Professional Golf Management; Jaidyn Rueter, Jacksonville, IL, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, BS in Nursing; Nora Villeneuve, Bethel, ME, considering several, BS in Business Administration; Savannah Wuitschick, Fargo, ND, (MacScholars Scholarship in Honor of Nancy Scofield Mason), University of Dubuque, BS in Psychology; and Ella Yawitz, St. Peters, MO, Lindenwood University, BA in Art & Design/Education
Of note is the new Rich Laren Kilted Highlander Scholarship this year. Laren, a 1983 graduate of MacMurray, was known at alumni gatherings for wearing the kilt. He served generously on the Alumni Board for several years. Laren passed away peacefully at his home in Franklin Park on December 17, 2024 leaving behind a legacy of giving to the college and a storied career in special education. The first recipient of the scholarship, Maximilian Fuhrig, is the grandson of long-time MacMurray College professor of political science Wolf Fuhrig.
The MacMurray College Foundation and Alumni Association is now gearing up for their annual reunion September 12-14. The weekend will celebrate all the classes that end in “5” as well as the 50th anniversary of the Holy Fools. Registration can be found on the association’s website, macalumfoundation.org.
