What Illinois scholarships are available for community college students?

I'm currently a high school junior in Illinois and considering starting my college journey at a community college. What scholarships are out there specifically for community college students in Illinois? I really want to minimize my student debt.

In Illinois, there are plenty of scholarships geared toward community college students. Here are a few that you might find interesting:

1. Illinois Community College Faculty Association (ICCFA) Scholarship: This opportunity is available to any student currently enrolled at an Illinois community college who plans to continue their education at a community college or a four-year institution in the state. The student must have completed at least 30 credit hours with a GPA of 3.5 or higher.

2. Illinois Commitment program: As a note, while not strictly for community college students, the Illinois Commitment program covers in-state tuition and fees for students whose families earn $67,100 or less and are attending the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. This could be a major cost saver if you decide to transfer to this university after your community college tenure.

3. Career and Technical Education (CTE) Scholarships: These are available to students attending a community college and studying a CTE field.

4. Minority Teachers of Illinois (MTI) Scholarship Program: If you're planning to teach at a nonprofit Illinois public, private, or parochial preschool, elementary school, or secondary school, where no less than 30% of the students are African American/Black, Hispanic American, Asian American, or Native American, you could qualify for this scholarship.

Remember, you should also explore scholarships at the specific community college you plan to attend, as many have specific scholarships just for their students. Lastly, don't forget to fill out your FAFSA, which can provide access to state and federal grants to offset the cost of your education.