Scholarships and Mentoring
One of our missions is to remember and honor those who have died within our community by helping the families they have left behind. With generous donations and fundraisers, we are able to provide college and trade school scholarships and mentoring programs to students who reside within Lyons Township High School District 204 and have lost a parent. To date, The Legacy Guild has provided over $1.9 million dollars of scholarships to 263 students in La Grange, Countryside, Western Springs, La Grange Park, Burr Ridge, Indian Head Park, Brookfield and surrounding areas.
Beginning with the 2022 school year, we increased our annual scholarship amount. Each Legacy Guild Scholar who is a full-time student is awarded a $3,000 scholarship renewable for up to four years of undergraduate college – a commitment of up to $12,000 per student.
The Legacy Guild is exploring the possibility of offering enhanced scholarships based on financial need. Currently, all Legacy Guild Scholars receive the same scholarship amount regardless of economic need, and we remain committed to providing scholarships to all eligible scholars without consideration of financial circumstances.
By providing your Estimated Student Aid Index (SAI) from your completed FAFSA application, you will help us better understand the economic needs of our Scholar community. This information will guide us in shaping the scholarship program moving forward. You should have received an email with your SAI upon completing your 2025-2026 FAFSA application. Please note that your SAI will be kept strictly confidential and will only be reviewed by the Scholarship Committee.
Participation is optional, and choosing not to provide your SAI will not impact your current or future eligibility for a Legacy Guild Scholarship.
New and returning scholars are awarded their scholarship check during The Legacy Guild’s annual scholar luncheon in June. In 2025, the luncheon will be held on Sunday, June 8 at The LTHS Corral. Click here to RSVP to the luncheon.
Please read below for details/criteria for new and returning Scholars prior to completing the online application. The link to the current application is at the bottom.
Criteria & Application
To be eligible for consideration, one must have experienced the death of a parent and also resided in Lyons Township High School District 204 area while attending high school. Applications typically are available online in January with a deadline in April. Please contact us with any questions about timing.
Graduating high school seniors (or current post-high school students) residing in District 204 area and accepted into undergraduate college or trade school or other higher learning programs may apply. If you are not planning to attend full-time (12 credit hours), we still encourage you to apply and the scholarship will be pro-rated for the number of credit hours. Please contact us with any questions.
New scholars must complete an online application and submit an essay along with providing other pertinent information. We offer three prompt options for your essay. Choose one of these 3 options: 1) describe the impact your deceased parent had on your life and your plans to honor your parent’s legacy or 2) describe your proudest achievement or 3) describe your long-term goals and how your further education will fit into these goals. We also ask that you describe how this scholarship will assist you in achieving these plans/goals.
In addition to the essay, please provide information on the college/trade school /higher education program you plan to attend (if known), your intended major and why you chose that school/major and any other pertinent information that can enable us to assist you in mentorship. If undecided as to college or major, please indicate areas of interest. Although financial need is not a factor, please describe how this scholarship would be of assistance financially.
Lastly, provide a list of your extra-curricular activities including sports, community involvement and part-time jobs during high school so that we may learn a bit more about you.
To receive the full amount of the scholarship , we require that our Scholars be full-time undergraduate college or trade school or higher education program students otherwise as noted above the scholarship will be pro-rated for the number of credit hours you complete.
Once you have received your first scholarship, you must apply for renewal each year up to four years of undergraduate schooling or a maximum of $12,000.. Renewing Scholars must apply during the open application period and must upload their latest college transcript along with their renewal application. Scholars must also maintain a 2.0 GPA.
New for 2025-2026
* New and Returning Scholars are asked to upload a voided check as we are looking into direct deposits for checks
* New and Returning Scholars have option to provide their Estimated Student Aid Index (SAI) . We are trying to better understand our Scholars’ economic needs. We are exploring adding an enhanced scholarship in addition to our current scholarship. To help design this enhanced scholarship we are asking for scholars to provide their Estimated Student Aid Index (SAI) from the FAFSA. Your participation is voluntary, and you won’t be penalized for not providing your SAI. We will hold your SAI information in strict confidence.
Click here for the 2025-2026 scholarship application.
“We, as humans, often find ourselves so busy in our own lives that we forget the importance of supporting something bigger than ourselves, our community. As a Legacy Guild Scholar, I want to thank all those involved with the organization. It is because of their faith, kindness, and recognition of our vulnerability that we are able to push harder in pursuit of our dreams. The Legacy Guild has been a constant reminder that when you lose a parent, you do not lose their Legacy. It is my hope that the guild will continue to build resilient, brave, and bright scholars.”