2026 Scholarship Winners

We are delighted to announce the recipients of the 2026 Friends of Moraine Hills Environmental Studies/Natural Science Scholarships. It is exciting to see another group of young people so passionate to study and protect the natural world. Each recipient received a check for $3,000 to put towards their college endeavors.

The 2026 Scholarship Committee consisted of Sharon Lane, John Chuey, John Black, and Chantel Jenrette.

Congratulations to this years winners, Kelsey Reilly and Julia Valaintis!

Kelsey Reilly

Kelsey, seen here with her proud parents, is from Lake Villa, Illinois, and is currently studying at Northern Illinois University. She is majoring in Earth, Atmosphere, and Environment, with an emphasis in Geospatial Studies. Kelsey expects to graduate in December, 2026. You can read Kelsey's essay here.

Julia Valaintis

Julia, pictured with her proud grandparents, is a recent graduate of Cary Grove High School. Julia intends to pursue a degree in Biology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign this fall. You can read Julia's essay here.