23 Rich Township Students Surprised With SIU Scholarships

CHICAGO HEIGHTS, IL — Almost two dozen students from Rich Township High School were met with the surprise of a lifetime while visiting Southern Illinois University last month.

A group of over 30 students attended the Carbondale university for a field trip in late October. When they arrived, 23 RTHS students were surprised with admission and scholarships to SIU. Awards ranged from $1,500 to $5,500 for a total of $284,000 in scholarship money.

The other 10 students on the trip were also offered admission to the university pending the completion of a few more pieces of documentation. School officials told Patch the documentation varies per student.

"I am extremely excited to go to school here," said student Whitney Hawkins, who earned one of the highest scholarship amounts awarded during the trip. "After seeing all the resources available here on campus, I know my education will be supported."

Whitney told officials she plans to attend SIU on a pre-medicine track. Other accepted students ranged in intended majors from art to biology.