News

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville senior Zachary McGeehon has received a $1,000 scholarship from the Edwardsville/Glen Carbon Chamber of Commerce.

According to Chamber President and Chief Executive Officer Desiree Bennyhoff, funding for the scholarship is made possible through beverage sales at the annual SIUE Block Party. The recipient is chosen through a team of scholarship committee volunteers who evaluate candidates based on their demonstrated commitment to academic excellence, community involvement and extracurricular activities.

“The scholarship committee was most impressed with Zachary's accomplishments and goals,” Bennyhoff said. “We wish Zachary the best as he completes his college courses and works toward a fulfilling career.”

In May, McGeehon applied for the scholarship after being informed of the opportunity through SIUE professors. Receiving the news this fall, McGeehon admitted he hadn’t given the entry much thought since he applied.

“I had forgotten all about it!” he said. “I was excited and surprised when I got the news. It was thrilling to know my hard work in school had paid off.”

The Centralia native spent three years at Kaskaskia College before transferring to SIUE in fall 2013. While at Kaskaskia, McGeehon received the Best Actor Award for a children’s play titled “Pirates to the Rescue” and a Director’s Award for his written play “Through the Pages,” in which he also acted.

David Quinn, professor of speech and theatre at Kaskaskia, speaks highly of McGeehon acknowledging his leadership skills and many achievements while at Kaskaskia.       

 “In theater, he was always a leader in improvisations and everyone in class wanted to be involved in the improvs with Zach,” said Quinn. “He is still one of the best people to ever come through Kaskaskia College

McGeehon will graduate in spring 2016 with a bachelor’s in applied communication studies in the public relations track and a minor in literature. He plans to attend graduate school at SIUE.