DRES/DSO Achievement and Leadership Awards

DRES/DSO Achievement and Leadership Awards

Disability Resources and Educational Services (DRES) Achievement and Leadership Awards

All students registered with DRES are encouraged to apply for the DRES Achievement and Leadership Awards. Please read the criteria and description of the awards that follow and complete the application by 11:59 p.m. on January 24, 2024. All of the awards have a monetary gift.

Pamela Borelli & Family Leadership Achievement Award 

This monetary award is presented annually to undergraduate students with disabilities who have maintained a C+ or better GPA while demonstrating leadership in a student organization, with preference toward but not limited to Greek campus social organizations and well-balanced involvement in academics and other campus activities.

Silvio and Loreta Corsetti Scholarship 

This scholarship is for undergraduate students registered with DRES.  Recipients shall demonstrate financial need and continue to make sufficient progress toward their degree program to have the scholarship renewed.

Mary Jo Crihfield Scholarship

The recipient of the Mary Jo Crihfield Scholarship shall be a participant in the Beckwith Residential Support Services Program or a full-time student serving as a personal assistant to a student participating in the Beckwith program. The recipient shall also demonstrate the Honoree’s passions for pursuing a well-rounded academic and extra-curricular experience, as demonstrated by participation in service and social activities, advancing disability awareness and advocacy, achieving academic excellence, and/or supporting fellow students to achieve their goals. Preference may be given to students who display financial need.

Howard Findley Scholarship

This scholarship provides monetary support for undergradate students with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and other learning disabilities who are registered with and utilize the services provided by DRES.

John S. Fine Scholarship

This scholarship will be given to an undergraduate or graduate student with preference given to those in a transitional living environment such as, but not limited to, the Beckwith Residential Support Services Program.

Mark E. and Susan B. Goldhaber Scholarship

This scholarship is for undergraduate students with a mobility disability who are receiving services from DRES and have financial need. Please include a brief paragraph describing your financial need for this award. Please note: This information will be seen by the awards selection committee, but will not be shared during the award presentation or with anyone outside the committee.

Glenn Hebert Scholarships (2)

Glenn Hebert Scholarship For Students With Mobility Impairment

This scholarship provides monetary support for students with mobility impairment registered with DRES at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a preference for students with Cerebral Palsy. This scholarship may be renewable.

Glenn Hebert Learning Cognitive And Psychological Scholarship For Students With Disabilities

This scholarship provides monetary support for students with learning, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, acquired brain injury and/or psychological disabilities who are registered with DRES. This scholarship may be renewable.

Anne Hopkins Scholarship

The recipient of this scholarship shall be an undergraduate student who is affiliated with DRES, either through using services provided by DRES, volunteering at/for DRES, or as a student employee at DRES. Preference shall be given to a student who shows an interest in disability awareness and advocacy. Recipient may or may not have a disability. Consideration shall be given to a student enrolled in the College of Applied Health Sciences.

Carol Ann Kostka Award

This monetary award is given annually to enhance educational opportunities for students with disabilities who utilize the programs and services of DRES. Recipients of the award must demonstrate academic excellence and financial need.

Joseph R. Larsen Memorial Scholarship

This annual scholarship provides financial assistance and merit-based support for students with disabilities who are served by DRES.  It was created in memory of Dr. Joseph R. Larsen who served as the director of the Division of Disability Resources and Educational Services from 1985 until his death in 1989.

Jeffrey I. and Lisa Livovich Scholarship

This award is given to provide monetary support for students who utilize the services of DRES.

Irl H. Marshall Rehabilitation Scholarship

This scholarship is for students registered with DRES who have a demonstrated financial need, who are eager to become self-supporting and of good services to others.

David C. and Ruth K. Mieher Scholarship

This scholarship provides monetary support for undergradate students who are registered with and utilize the services provided by DRES.

Craig H. Neilsen Scholarship

David S. Mundy Scholarship

This scholarship is given to undergraduate students enrolled with DRES and affiliated with the Beckwith Residential Support Services program to help offset the costs associated with hiring personal assistants. Preference shall be given to students in pursuit of achieving independence and responsibility for one’s self.

Mary Jane Neer Scholarship

This scholarship will be awarded to provide financial assistance for students who are working towards fulfillment of their college education at the University of Illinois in association with DRES. An emphasis will be placed on financial need and academic merit.

Craig H Neilsen Scholarship

Qualified undergraduate or graduate students with a spinal cord injury can apply for the Craig H Neilsen Foundation Scholarship. The Neilsen Scholarship provides scholarships at the University of Illinois to create and maintain opportunities for students with spinal cord injury to pursue higher education and lead full lives in and out of the classroom. To reduce socioeconomic barriers to success, these scholarships cover tuition and fees for undergraduate or graduate studies and include supplemental financial support for eligible students. Please use this link to apply: Neilsen Scholarship Application

Timothy J. Nugent Award

In 1970, a special award was established by members of Delta Sigma Omicron, Alpha Chapter, to honor Professor Timothy J. Nugent, founder and director emeritus of the Division of Disability Resources and Educational Services.  The Timothy J. Nugent Award is presented annually in recognition of service performed by a student to the rehabilitation program and to his or her fellow students.  The recipient is judged on the following attributes: personal integrity, human dignity, intellectual endeavor, pride in self, and concern for others. 

Matthew Allan Odelius Scholarship

This monetary award  is given to support a student who is an active participant in the Beckwith Residential Support Services Progam. The student must be in good academic standing and have demonstrated leadership in advancing the involvement  of students with disabilities in all aspects of academic and co-curricular life.

William A. Olson Scholarship 

This scholarshp is for an undergraduate student using services provided by DRES who has a physical disability with first preference going to a student who has Cerebral Palsy.

Herbert G. Schaefer Scholarship (Deaf/Hard of Hearing)

This scholarship is given annually to enhance the educational opportunities for a student with a hearing impairment who demonstrates academic excellence and who uses the programs of services of DRES.

James E. Seybold Scholarship

This scholarship provides financial support to students with disabilities who are pursuing degrees in the College of Media.

Bill Stewart Memorial Award

This monetary award is given to support an undergraduate or graduate student with a disability who demonstrates spirit, courage, and concern for others while fostering student leadership and providing financial support and recognition. The unique aspect of this fund is that the award recipient will “Pass the Baton” by choosing the manner in which a portion of the income from the Fund will be used to purchase services, equipment, or other programmatic enhancements for benefit of other University of Illinois students with disabilities. This gives one student the opportunity to give to another and to help improve the quality of the life for fellow students with disabilities.

Donald W. Swift Scholarship

This annual scholarship provides financial assistance and merit-based support for students with disabilities who are served by DRES.  

If you need the application in an alternate format, please contact Maureen Gilbert at mlgilbrt@illinois.edu.