FEC has been distributing college scholarships to East Chicago residents since 1998. That year, the organization gave out scholarships totaling $20,000. Since then, FEC has been awarding more and more scholarship dollars each year and in 2014, the organization broke records.
The year 2014 has been the best year to date for the FEC scholarship program. In that year, 62 East Chicago residents were awarded with college scholarships totaling $190,000.
In 2014, FEC had the most scholarship applicants it has ever recorded. That year, FEC also gave a record scholarship dollar amount which was awarded to the most recipients the organization has ever selected.
In 2014, FEC distributed American Honors scholarships in the amount of $6,400 each and Ivy Tech scholarships in the amount of $3,400 each. The FEC high school scholarships for 2014 were awarded in the amount of $1,500, $2,500, $4,000 or $6,000 each and the non-traditional scholarships were awarded in amounts up to $1,000 each.
These scholarships ranged from one year, nonrenewable awards to awards renewable for up to four years. They were distributed to East Chicago residents starting at Ivy Tech, adults returning to college for post-baccalaureate degrees and all educational endeavors in between.
FEC scholarship recipients over the years have used these funds to attend 108 various schools across the country.
Since its inception in 1998, the FEC scholarship program has awarded over $2.3 million in college scholarships to East Chicago residents. The program has also given a total of $5.5 million for books and building improvements at schools in the city. The awards given in the year 2014 have added to these numbers but, what’s more is that they have contributed to the educational and future success of 62 East Chicagoans.
