Farmers-Merchants National Bank Scholarship

• Scholarship Information
• Previous Scholarship Winners
• This Year's Scholarship Winner

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 PBL High School guidance offices and at the Farmers-Merchants National Bank branches in Paxton and Melvin.  Scholarship information and Application forms are also available through the following links:

Scholarship Information (printable version)

FMNB Application Form as a PDF file

FMNB Application Form as a Microsoft Word Document

Applications for the 2009-2010 school year must be mailed directly to the following address and must have a postmark dated no later than February 11, 2010:

PBL Education Foundation
Farmers-Merchants Scholarship
P.O. Box 192
Paxton, IL  60957

Any application not postmarked by February 11, 2010, will be ineligible for consideration for the scholarship.  For more information concerning this scholarship, please contact pbl@pblfoundation.org.

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Previous Scholarship Winners

2009:  Tara Frichtl, PBL (see story below)
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

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This Year's Winner

Farmers-Merchants National Bank and the Paxton-Buckley-Loda Education Foundation presented the bank’s tenth annual $8,000 scholarship to PBL senior, Tara Frichtl.  She maintained a straight A average at PBL and was an Illinois State Scholar.  She was involved in cheerleading (captain), student council (president), National Honor Society, FFA, Cross-Country, and track.  During the year, she was an Exchange Student of the Month.  Tara plans to attend Eastern Illinois University where she will major in journalism and also be involved in cheerleading.

Tom McCabe, Farmers-Merchants National Bank CEO, congratulates Tara Frichtl after being selected the bank's tenth annual $8,000 scholarship recipient.  "I would like to congratulate Tara on her achievements demonstrating a high level of talent and focus throughout high school."

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