Farmers-Merchants Scholarship
One of the Sponsored Scholarships administered by
the PBL Education Foundation is an annual $8,000 scholarship
provided by the Farmers-Merchants National Bank of Paxton and
Scholarship Information
The Farmers-Merchants National Bank, with offices in Paxton and Melvin, has provided financial services to the area since 1914. In keeping with its tradition of community service and commitment to the education of future civic and business leaders, the Farmers-Merchants National Bank of Paxton established an educational scholarship. This scholarship was first established for the 1999-2000 school year.
The intent of the award is to assist a graduating high school senior living within the Paxton-Buckley-Loda and Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley school districts to continue his/her education beyond high school at a university, college, or trade/vocational school. The Paxton-Buckley-Loda Education Foundation administers the application and selection process for the award of one $8,000 scholarship, which consists of up to four $2,000 annual award payments made to the institution of higher education where the student is enrolled. To be eligible, an applicant must have maintained a minimum of a 3.0 grade-point average based on a 4.0 system through the seventh semester of high school. Applicants are evaluated on three criteria: academic achievement, participation and leadership in school and community activities, and a written essay.
Applications are available at GCMS and
FMNB Scholarship Information & Fact Sheet (Click to Download)
FMNB Scholarship Application (Click to Download)
Applications for the 2011-2012 school year must be mailed directly to the following address and must have a postmark dated no later than February 15, 2012:
PBL Education Foundation
Farmers-Merchants Scholarship
Any application not postmarked by February 15, 2012, will be ineligible for consideration for the scholarship. For more information concerning this scholarship, please contact pbl@pblfoundation.org
THIS YEAR'S FMNB WINNER...2011: Samantha Tone, GCMS
Farmers-Merchants National Bank of Paxton presented the bank's 12th annual $8,000 scholarship to Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley (GCMS) senior Samantha Tone. Ms. Tone was selected from a total of 16 quality applicants, 11 from PBL and five from GCMS. "We appreciated the effort put in by all seniors that applied for this scholarship. There were a number of truly outstanding applicants. Our hearty congratulations to Samantha who excelled both in and outside the classroom," said Farmers-Merchants National Bank CEO Tom McCabe.
Samantha maintained a 4.0 GPA and was the top
of her GCMS class. She has been involved in numerous school and
community organizations including Prairie Fire 4-H, Student Council,
FFA, Freshman Mentor, Yearbook and Meals on Wheels. She also
participated on a number of athletic teams and was captain of the
GCMS Tennis Team. Her academic achievements include being named a
member of the National Honor Society and an Illinois State
Scholar. Her current plans are to attend the
PREVIOUS SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS:
2010: Tom Pacey, PBL
2009: Tara Frichtl, PBL
2008: Lauren Heap, GCMS
2007: Todd Epps, GCMS
2006: Mark Frichtl, PBL
2005: Jessie Niewold, PBL
2004: Emma Hanford, PBL
2003: Robert Unzicker, GCMS
2002: Casey Pulley, GCMS
2001: Hannah Diedrich, PBL
2000: Chris Nelson, PBL