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/.