2017-2018 Scholarship Program Winners

Local-Area Winners^‡

In 2018 the Mensa Education and Research Foundation (MERF) continued its mission of providing scholarships to worthy students who are enrolled in a degree program for the following year.

The essay contest prompts applicants, both Mensan and non-Mensan, to detail their academic or career goals in approximately 550 words. Our local group received hundreds of submissions and scored them based on specific criteria for form, content, and impression. Finalists’ essays from our local level were submitted to the regional level for additional judging.

We are thrilled that five of our finalists earned awards this year: three local, one regional, and one national, for a total of $3,400.

Congratulations to all of our winners and finalists! Thank you to all entrants. We wish you the best in your future endeavors.

Simply click/tap on the winner’s name to view the essays.

Benjamin Brantley
Bolingbrook, IL
Degree Major: Bachelors in Software Engineering – Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Terre Haute, IN
Local Chicago Area Mensa Scholarship ^‡ Recipient

Noelle Butski
McHenry, IL
Doctorate in Marketing – DePaul University, Chicago, IL
Local Karen Cooper Memorial Scholarship ^‡ Recipient

Celia Byrne
Glen Ellyn, IL
Masters of Science in Nursing – Benedictine University, Lisle, IL
Local Chicago Area Mensa Scholarship ^‡ Recipient

Courtney Huellen
Cary, IL
Masters in Speech and Language Pathology – Illinois State University, Normal, IL
National J. F. Schirmer Scholarship Recipient

Karolina Koziarski
Des Plaines, IL
Regional Grosswirth-Salny Scholarship Recipient
The essay this winner wrote is not available.

List of 2017-18 Foundation Winners

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‡ - Chicago Area Mensa is in Region 04.