IHSA Foundation Announces 2026 Scholarship Award Winners

The Illinois High School Activities Foundation (IHSAF) is proud to announce its fourth class of recipients in the IHSAF Scholarship Program:

2026 IHSA Foundation Scholarships
Division 1 | Lawrence Benson | Sullivan High School
Division 1 | Carmine Fallara | St. Ignatius College Prep | Chicago
Division 2 | Jake Buckley | Kaneland High School | Maple Park
Division 2 | Vince Strada | St. Charles East High School
Division 3 | Allison Coppersmith | Willowbrook High School | Villa Park
Division 3 | Munya Yasin - Oak Lawn Community
Division 4 | Ben Browning | Stark County High School | Toulon
Division 4 | Morgan Hart | Metamora High School
Division 5 | Rylan White | Heritage High School | Broadlands
Division 5 | Tanner Nolin | Normal West High School
Division 6 | Alyvia Mulvaney | South Fork High School | Kincaid
Division 6 | Bella Duckworth | East Peoria Community High School
Division 7 | Caroline Simmons | Carmi-White County High School | Carmi
Division 7 | Lela Springvloed | Marion High School

Each of the 14 winners are currently seniors at IHSA member high schools and will receive a $1,000 scholarship toward their future education. To be eligible for the scholarship, the candidates must be seniors at IHSA schools who plan to:

A) Major in Education in college (or)
B) Intend to get involved in the coaching profession after high school (or)
C) Are currently licensed and actively working as an IHSA official.

"The goal of the IHSAF is to support the mission of the IHSA, and that mission cannot be achieved without the next generation of educators, coaches, and officials," said Dr. Robert Nolting, the Superintendent of District 230 and President of the IHSAF Board of Directors. "We are incredibly proud to be able to present scholarships to these 14 deserving young people who will positively impact high school students in the near future, as well as those already making a difference as licensed IHSA officials."

In 2024, the IHSAF began accepting public donations to help support its scholarship program. Honorees will have their scholarships funded in part by the family and friends of Ron McGraw and Mike Nissen. McGraw, who passed away in 2023, was a lifelong educator who concluded his career as an administrator at the IHSA. Nissen is a retired high school teacher and golf coach, who has coached in or worked at every IHSA Boys Golf State Final Tournament since 1965. Learn more about McGraw and Nissen here.

The Illinois High School Activities Foundation (IHSAF) is a private 401(c)3 non-profit organization that works in conjunction with the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) to support and advance the mission of the IHSA. In addition to the generosity of those associated with the McGraw and Nissen families, the IHSAF raises funding via its annual golf outing, named in honor of former IHSA Executive Director Dr. Marty Hickman, as well as other initiatives.

The 14 scholarship winners told their stories via a video submission, reflecting on how high school participation has impacted their lives, as well as why they have been inspired to teach, coach, or officiate.

The IHSAF is governed by an independent Board of Directors comprised of personnel from IHSA member schools. To learn more about or contribute to the IHSAF, click here.