Hoyleton Youth and Family Services Hosts Awards Dinner for Scholarship Winners

Hoyleton Youth and Family Services, based in Fairview Heights, Ill., recently honored six scholarship recipients at its Second Annual Career Assistance Scholarship Dinner, held Oct. 24 in O’Fallon, Ill. The dinner was attended by six scholarship winners and their invited guests, members of the Hoyleton Board, and Hoyleton staff who worked directly with the honorees.

Hoyleton Board Chair Dr. Tron Young presented each recipient with a $1,000 scholarship and a new Chromebook to assist them on their career path.

“The Career Assistance Scholarship Dinner was a great way to honor and recognize our recipients,” Young said. “The program is an example of how Hoyleton continues to give support to the students and families that we serve.”

The six recipients included:

• Autumn Cox-Arnold, who graduated from O’Fallon Township High School and is now attending Southwestern Illinois College to study Law.
• Hannah Goodwin of Collinsville, Ill., a mother of two, who is working full-time while taking online classes to become a social worker.
• Ma’Kyla Bradford-McNeely, a graduate of Belleville East Township High School, who plans to attend Southwestern Illinois Community College in January to obtain an Associate’s degree in Art.
• Jaime Taylor of Centralia, Ill., recently graduated from Kaskaskia College, and will be studying Psychology at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.
• Jeremiah Tipler received the Leadership Award from the Black Affairs Council at his high school, and he plans to take his leadership skills with him when he attends Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, where he will be working towards a Master’s Degree in Accounting.
• Gwenyth Turner from Evansville, Ill., attended Christ our Savior Lutheran High School, and is now enrolled at Southwestern Illinois College to pursue her dream of becoming a Registered Nurse.

Each scholarship recipient expressed their gratitude towards Hoyleton for the services they received and the funding that will be used for everything from tuition to transportation. The Hoyleton Career Assistance Scholarship was created to support their clients’ ability to reach their full potential. Any client who is actively pursuing a career and has received services from Hoyleton Youth and Family Services or Puentes de Esperanza is eligible to apply.

Funds for the scholarship program were donated by The Hildebrand Family, in memory of their parents who were lifelong educators, and by the estate of Laverne A. Doeling to further the education of Hoyleton clients. Scholarships were awarded based on the applicants’ plan and desire to continue their education or pursue a career. The funds can be used for education or training as well as expenses that support that process. Applications are accepted throughout the year with a deadline in August.

Learn more about the career assistance program.