Celebrating the Power of Community: Thank You to Our 2024–2025 University Center Scholarship Sponsors

At the University Center of Lake County, we see every day how education transforms lives. We meet students who are balancing full-time jobs, raising families, switching careers, navigating transfer pathways, or returning to school after many years. Their determination is inspiring and for many of them, the difference between dreaming of a degree and earning one comes down to a simple yet powerful act: someone believing in them.

Our scholarship sponsors are those people.

They believe in potential.

They invest in opportunity.

They change lives.

This year, we extend our deepest gratitude to the generous partners, organizations, businesses, and community leaders who helped make higher education more accessible for students across Lake County. Their support not only alleviates financial burden—it affirms that students’ goals, stories, and futures truly matter.

Thank You to Our 2024–2025 Scholarship Sponsors

We proudly recognize the following sponsors for their commitment to educational equity and workforce development in our region:

American Place Casino, College of Lake County, Complement Consulting Group

Consumers Credit Union, DeFranco Plumbing, DePaul University

Donna & Gordon Grace, Eccezion, First Bank of Highland Park

Gals Inc., HACES, Heather Patay, Julie Shroka

Kathleen Weinstein Portrait Art, Kevin Considine, Law Office of Mayra Prado-Pagan

Strategic Advocacy Partners, Lynne Reynolds, Mano a Mano

Mary Clarke Jakes, Martina Rocha, Mary Byrne, Melinda Bush

National Louis University, Northeastern Illinois University, Old National Bank

Pastor Hector Carrasquillo, RJ Galla Co. Inc., Rotary Club of Grayslake Foundation,

Russell Wartalski, Senator Adriane Johnson, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Lewis University, State Bank of the Lakes, Waukegan Park District, Wysocki & Ressler, Healthcare Foundation of Northern Lake County, and other Anonymous Donors.

A Community That Believes in Students

Every scholarship awarded represents more than financial assistance—it represents a student who now walks into the classroom with confidence. It represents a parent who can pursue a bachelor’s degree without sacrificing their family’s stability. It represents a first-generation student who feels seen and supported. Your generosity helps cultivate a stronger workforce, a more vibrant Lake County, and a more equitable future for all.

Together, We Help Students Go Far

Sponsor list

American Place Casino

College of Lake County

Complement Consulting Group

Consumers Credit Union

DeFranco Plumbing

DePaul University

Donna & Gordon Grace

Eccezion

First Bank of Highland Park

Gals Inc.

Haces

Heather Patay

Julie Shroka

Kathleen Weinstein Portrait Art

Kevin Considine

Law office of Mayra Prado-Pagan

Strategic Advocacy Partners

Lynne Reynolds

Mano a Mano

Mary Clarke Jakes

Martina Rocha

Mary Byrne

Melinda Bush

National Louis University

Northeastern Illinois University

Old National Bank

Pastor Hector Carrasquillo

RJ Galla Co. Inc.

Rotary Club of Grayslake Foundation

Russell Wartalksi

Senator Adriane Johnson

Southern Illinois University edwardsville

Lewis University

State Bank of the Lakes

Waukegan Park District

Wysocki & Ressler

Healthcare Foundation of Northern Lake County

and other Anonymous Donors

To our sponsors: thank you for standing with us. Thank you for believing in the power of education. Thank you for opening doors that will impact not just students today, but families and communities for generations. The University Center is proud to partner with you—and proud to continue championing access, opportunity, and upward mobility for the region we serve.

University Center of Lake County

1200 University Center Drive, Grayslake IL

847-665-4000

ucenter.org