Eleven students earn Howard and Vera Million scholarship at Illinois College

Eleven students from communities across Greene, Morgan and Scott counties received the Howard and Vera Million Endowed Scholarship at Illinois College, a local award that can make the difference between staying enrolled and walking away from college costs.

The scholarship is given each year to students entering Illinois College directly from high school, a point that matters in Jacksonville because many families are weighing tuition, books, housing and the leap into college life all at once. Illinois College said the award preference goes to students from Greene, Morgan or Scott counties, keeping the benefit close to home and reinforcing the college’s role as one of Morgan County’s most visible education anchors.

The 11 recipients follow a similar group of local students recognized in 2024, when five area students received the same scholarship. That continuity shows the Million name is not tied to a one-time gift, but to an ongoing source of support for young people moving from high school to college. Illinois College said endowed scholarships are permanent funds, with investment returns used to provide awards year after year.

The college has also leaned heavily on scholarships as part of its broader affordability strategy. It said 100% of students received scholarships in 2022, and its Inspiring Achievement campaign raised $12.2 million for scholarships while creating 57 new endowed scholarships. In 2023-2024, Illinois College said students received an average of $33,600 in grant and scholarship aid, covering almost 68% of the total cost, with textbooks included in tuition.

Howard and Vera Million’s giving has been a major part of that support. Illinois College said the couple’s estate had provided $2.3 million in scholarship support at the college as of March 2023, and that an additional family gift gave both Illinois College and The Jacksonville Promise $850,000 each. For Jacksonville and the surrounding counties, that kind of money does more than recognize achievement. It helps keep students in the classroom, lowers the strain on families and strengthens the pipeline of local talent headed into Morgan County’s next generation of graduates, workers and civic leaders.