ISAC Announces Illinois State Scholars - Agency salutes “the best and the brightest” of Class of 2009

SPRINGFIELD, IL – The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) announced its recognition of 19,331 high school students as “Illinois State Scholars 2009”. The students hail from 798 schools in every corner of Illinois.

Illinois State Scholar winners rank in the top ten percent of high school seniors. Selection is based on SAT, ACT and/or Prairie State Achievement Exam scores, and/or class rank at the end of the junior year.

At least a half million Illinois State Scholars have been recognized by ISAC in the past 50 years. For the first time, ISAC is listing every State Scholar by county and high school on its website. To view the complete list of Illinois State Scholars: http://www.collegezone.com/407_11520.htm.

“This is the Hall of Fame for Illinois students,” said ISAC Executive Director Andrew Davis, whose agency has overseen the Illinois State Scholars program since 1958. “Illinois State Scholars are among the best and the brightest in our state’s high schools. We salute them, along with their partners in reaching for the stars - their families and teachers - for this stellar achievement.”

While the prestigious recognition does not include a monetary award, winners are encouraged to cite the award on applications for college admission and scholarships. And, to celebrate the Golden Anniversary of the Illinois State Scholars program, ISAC is giving each awardee a free, 18-month subscription to Encyclopedia Britannica Online. With more than 75,000 articles and 23,000 biographies, Encyclopedia Britannica Online is a valuable research tool.

“Competition for college admission and financial aid is tough and getting tougher. These Illinois State Scholars have shown that they take their education seriously and can hit the books, so I urge every Illinois college president to put Illinois State Scholars at the top of the list for admission,” Davis said.

Davis also noted that despite the global credit crisis, Illinois students may apply for low-interest loans through ISAC’s lending arm by clicking on: http://www.idapp.com/.

About ISAC
The Illinois Student Assistance Commission is the State’s centralized provider of financial assistance aimed at helping students and families access postsecondary education and/or training. Each year, the Commission awards an estimated $400 million in scholarship and grant aid to nearly 185,000 qualified students, and also provides an additional $740 million to borrowers through its student loan programs. The agency offers credit-based alternative loans, a 529 prepaid tuition program known as College Illinois!, and a broad array of outreach and informational services to ensure that families have access to the information they need to pay for a college education. More information is available by calling toll-free 800.899.ISAC (4722) or visiting the agency’s Web site at www.collegezone.com.