MacMurray Foundation & Alumni Association is pleased to announce that 37 individuals have been named MacMurray Scholars and will receive awards between $1,500 – $3,000 towards their college education. In keeping with MacMurray College’s commitment to academic excellence, scholarships are based on academic performance.

In making the announcement, David Ekin, MacMurray Foundation Chair, stated that “due to the generosity of MacMurray College Alumni, including those establishing Endowed and Named Scholarships, we were able to increase the minimum scholarship award amount and the number of scholarships for the 2023-2024 academic year. The Foundation continues to support the local Jacksonville community by awarding an additional scholarship to a recipient of a Jacksonville Promise award. Except for two of its awards that are specifically designed to allow for those without a MacMurray connection, it is extra special that all the rest have a direct connection to MacMurray, either through being a former student, a relative of an alumni or faculty or staff or were sponsored by a MacMurray member. Unfortunately, we did not have enough donations to make awards to all of the more than 50 applicants.”

18 recipients are from Jacksonville or the surrounding area, including Springfield, and recipients come from nine other states. The recipients plan to attend schools in 11 different states, from Vermont to Minnesota to Florida to Colorado and in-between. 25 are first time MacMurray Scholars recipients.

Sandy Watson, Chair of the Scholarship Committee and a Board member, is “pleased that the organization was able to increase the number and amount of dollars awarded from our first two years. We already have commitments to fund scholarships for the 2024-2025 with an increased range of awards from $1500 up to $5,000. Our plans are to continue this for years to come and continue to move the legacy of MacMurray College forward.”

Part of the mission of MacMurray Foundation and Alumni Association is to carry on the legacy of MacMurray College by providing scholarships to individuals with an association to the college (former student, staff, faculty or Board members and their relatives or sponsored by one of these) or wanting to pursue a career in an area the college was noted for.

The Foundation holds the MacMurray College Archives with memorabilia and artifacts displayed in Mac Hall of the Jacksonville Area Museum. The Foundation keeps alumni engaged with each other as evidenced by the recent gathering of alumni in Jacksonville, e-newsletters and the recently created online alumni directory. MacMurray Foundation & Alumni Association is an independent 501(c)3 charitable organization. For more information about the Foundation or their scholarship program please visit www.MacAlumFoundation.org. MacMurray College closed in 2020 after 174 years as an institution of higher education.

Many MacMurray Scholars attended the recent reception of awardees held on June 24 in conjunction the MacMurray Alumni Weekend.

Mac Scholars in Picture include:
Front Row: Julianne Wilson (Jacksonville), Heather Austin (St. James, MO), Gabriella Rushton (West Branch, IA), Madison Woosley (Sherman, IL), Mackenna Baptist (Jacksonville)
Back Row: Daxton Baptist (Jacksonville), Chase Heyen (Springfield), Emily King-Nobles (Normal, IL), Amelia Bordean (Jacksonville), Mega Travis (Kirksville, MO), Jillian Toth (El Paso, IL), Cole Meyer (Winchester)