PRINCETON, Ill. — The Clay Skinner Memorial Scholarship Committee is proud to announce that 83 Princeton High School graduates received more than $500,000 this summer through the inaugural Clay Skinner Memorial Scholarship awards.
The awards mark the first distributions from the $25 million scholarship endowment established through the estate of PHS alumnus Clay Skinner ’46. The fund was created to carry out Skinner’s desire to provide financial assistance to “needy and deserving” PHS graduates pursuing further education.
The scholarship’s impact was significant in its first year. Collectively, the $549,280 distributed provided funding equal to approximately one-third of the recipients’ demonstrated financial need, based on FAFSA information.
Recipients are pursuing a wide variety of educational paths, including undergraduate and graduate degrees, part-time programs, and trade and vocational education. They are attending institutions throughout Illinois and across the country.
Schools represented include Illinois Valley Community College, the University of Illinois, Illinois State University, Northern Illinois University, Iowa, Iowa State University, Wisconsin, UW–Whitewater, UW–Platteville, St. Ambrose, Augustana, Monmouth, North Central and many others.
In determining awards, the scholarship committee followed Skinner’s wishes by considering applicants’ financial need, educational costs, other financial assistance, academic performance and individual circumstances.
The Clay Skinner Memorial Scholarship Committee is grateful for Skinner’s extraordinary endowment and the opportunity it provides to continue supporting the further education of Princeton High School graduates. The inaugural awards represent the beginning of a lasting legacy that will provide educational opportunities for PHS graduates for generations to come.
The scholarship is not limited to current seniors or recent graduates. All Princeton High School graduates remain eligible to apply while pursuing qualifying postsecondary education, including community college, four-year colleges and universities, accredited trade and vocational programs, and graduate or doctoral programs. Recipients may also receive scholarship assistance in multiple years.
Previous recipients seeking renewal for the 2027–28 school year must reapply by March 1, 2027. The deadline for new applicants is June 15, 2027.
Applications, renewal materials, and questions should be submitted to CSscholarship@phs-il.org.
