hero image

Prairie State College Foundation

 

The Foundation works to:

  • Increase public awareness of the College’s central role in the well-being of our community and its citizens.
  • Seek financial support to fund student scholarships, attract and retain able faculty and staff, and provide for the College’s growth and development.
  • Identify potential Board members, involving those who bring leadership, insights and new contacts to the Foundation.
Prairie State College has been changing lives in the Chicago Southland since 1958, and the Foundation helps make those changes happen.

Founded in 1973, the Foundation is a philanthropic organization. Dedicated to helping deserving PSC students seeking degrees and certificates through academic achievement, PSC Foundation scholarships encourage the process of lifelong learning. The Foundation bridges the gap between Financial Aid and what a student can afford to pay for college tuition and books. The Foundation Board of Directors are unpaid volunteers. The Foundation’s 501(c)3 not-for-profit status assures tax deductibility for donors.

Foundation Scholarship

 
  • Foundation scholarships are need based.
  • Priority is given to students paying the PSC district tuition rate.
  • An application must be submitted for each semester, once registered, in order to be considered.
  • On average, the scholarship covers up to 30% of a qualifying student’s out of pocket tuition and textbook costs.
  • Funding is limited. Once semester funds have been exhausted - the application window will close.
Applications are reviewed in the order in which they are received. The response time varies, based on the number of applications pending review. Applicants are notified via student email once a decision has been made.

A scholarship applicant must:

  • Be registered for the semester for which they are applying BEFORE completing the application.
  •  Be working towards earning their first degree and seeking that degree from PSC. *Consideration is given to those admitted into a selective admissions program at PSC.
  • Have a minimum 2.0 GPA. *For those who don't meet the minimum GPA requirement, email ssebastian@prairiestate.edu to discuss options.
  •  Have a current FAFSA on file in Financial Aid.
    *If you are not able to complete a FAFSA, please email ssebastian@prairiestate.edu to discuss.
 Demonstrate financial need.

New students must:

New and returning students must:


  1. Go to prairiestate.edu.
  2. Click PSC Foundation/Scholarships.
  3. Review the Foundation Scholarship Facts and Eligibility .
  4. Click Apply Now .
  5. Click Sign In at the top right of the page.
  6. Click Sign In With Your Institution.
  7. Sign in using your PSC username and password provided by the PSC Information Technology Resources Department.
  8. Complete the General Application as directed.
  9. Once completed, DO NOT randomly click on individual scholarships. Based on your application answers, the system will auto match you to any scholarships for which you qualify. Clicking on individual scholarships that you are not eligible for will delay your application’s review.
  10. If you need to stop completing the application before it is finished, be sure to click SAVE.
  11. Click Finish and Submit when completed.
  12. Once the application is submitted, you will receive an email confirmation. You may be asked to answer additional questions for recommended scholarships. Please follow the directions to do so to increase your chances of being offered an award.
  13. Applicants will receive an email notification of the PSCF Scholarship Review Committee’s decision. The response time varies, based on the number of applications in review.

 


Apply Now

Our Team

For information about Naming Opportunities (scholarships, classrooms or facilities), and for other inquiries, please contact:

  • Deborah Smith Havighorst
    Executive Director, Institutional Advancement and the PSC Foundation
    (708) 709-7918
  • Susan Sebastian
    Manager of Scholarships and Alumni Relations, Institutional Advancement and the PSC Foundation
    (708) 709-7879
  • Amy Bloomberg
    Coordinator of Advancement and Foundation Services
    (708) 709-7961

Office Hours:

Mon. - Fri. 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Other Hours: By appointment

Foundation Events

The Foundation offers scholarships to assist eligible students in paying for their education at Prairie State College. Each year, hundreds of students receive assistance with tuition, fees and textbooks. Proceeds from the events listed below support PSC scholarships. Please consider supporting by attending and/or sponsoring these events.

Economic Forecast Breakfast

The Economic Forecast Breakfast is an annual event for community members and business owners. Past guest speakers have included representatives of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. Guests enjoy breakfast, with an opportunity to network, while learning the economic forecast for the greater southland community, the state and the country, all while supporting the Prairie State College Foundation.

More Information on the Economic Forecast Breakfast

Scholarship Classic Golf Outing

The first Scholarship Classic Golf Outing was held in 1993 and continues as an annual fundraiser supporting the Foundation’s scholarship programs. Each year, participants enjoy a day of golf, lunch, dinner and cocktails. Through the generosity of the Scholarship Classic participants and sponsors, hundreds of students have achieved their educational goals at Prairie State College.

More Information on the Scholarship Classic Golf Outing.

Special Event

The Special Event is the preeminent fundraiser that celebrates scholarship donors and student success. This event will offer attendees a memorable experience and typically raises funds to support an entire semester’s worth of scholarships. The Reach for the Stars Award will be presented to honor an individual who’s time, talent and commitment has made a significant impact in the lives of students in the PSC community.

More information on the Special Event.

 

Thanks For Giving
      
Thanks for Giving

      
Thanks for Giving
 
 
 

Donor Appreciation Luncheon 

The Prairie State College Foundation hosted a Donor Appreciation Luncheon on November 3 in the PSC Conference Center giving PSC scholarship recipients an opportunity to say thank you to those who generously donated money for scholarships. Over 75 donors and scholarship recipients were in attendance and given a chance to make one-on-one personal connections during the event. 

Read More

Directors

 

The Foundation Board of Directors is comprised of individuals dedicated to the success of Prairie State College students. Need-based scholarships are awarded to help students cover the cost of tuition and books.

  • André B. Ashmore
    Cook County Government
    President
  • Rebecca A. Nagle
    Old Plank Trail Community Bank
    Vice President
  • Marisela Zambrano
    Secretary
  • Dr. Judy Mitchell
    Prairie State College Interim CFO
    Foundation Treasurer

  • Michael D. Anthony, Ph.D.
    Prairie State College
    President
  • Sam Balark
    AT&T
  • Maria M. Desmond
    Prairie State College Alumna
  • Brent Frank
    Dwight Capital
  • Sonia Gomez
    Iiliana Financial Credit Union
  • Jay Readey
    Prairie State College Board of Trustees
  • Marie Hansel, DNP, RN
    Prairie State College Alumna
  • Kathryn Humecki
    Kathryn Humecki & Associates, Ltd.
    Prairie State College Alumna
  • Kyle Kasperek
    John Kasperek Co., Inc.
  • Joyce Morgan Michael
    Precision Transportation, Inc.
  • Thomas Nicholas
    Prairie State College Federation of Teachers
  • Patrick J. Ormsby
  • Marilyn Kent Tapajna
    Suburban Service League
  • Elighie Wilson III
    Prairie State College
    Vice President
  • Nayeli Zambrano
    Prairie State College
    Student Government Association
  • Deborah Smith Havighorst
    Executive Director
    Institutional Advancement & Prairie State College Foundation