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Apply for a BFI Scholarship
Congratulations to our 2026 scholarship recipients (listed below). The next scholarship application period will be January 1, 2027 to January 31, 2027. Links to the applications will be made during that time.
Attention scholarship recipients: Be sure to check out the schedule below to make sure you don't miss important deadlines.
2026 Scholarship Schedule
April 27 - Scholarship Recipients Announced.
May 30 - Scholarship Awards Luncheon in Springfield.
June 30 - Fall disbursement requirements are due.
August 31 - Scholarship check sent to schools.
Scholarship funds are awarded in the following amounts:
Seminary Students – $500/credit hour (15 hrs max) up to $7,500
Bachelor/Master Degree – $5,000
Associate Degree – $2,000
Partial scholarships may be awarded based on funds availability or donor restriction.
2026-2027 BFI Scholarship Recipients
2026-2027 BFI Scholarship Recipients
This year, BFI will award $93,000 dollars in scholarship support to the 6 seminary and 17 undergraduate students listed below. Congratulations to our 2026 scholarship recipients! Since 2015, BFI has awarded over $997,000 to more than 400 Illinois Baptist students.
Seminary Students
Logan Barrus - New City Church, Urbana
Joshua Bledsoe - Cornerstone Baptist Church, Savoy
Mackenzie Easter - First Baptist Church, Metropolis
Gerald Higdon - First Baptist Church, Orien
Hannah Howard - First Baptist Church, Casey
John Traux - Charity Baptist Church, Carlinville
Undergraduate Students
Zora Austin - Together Church on North Grand, Springfield
Lizbeth Conkle - First Baptist Church, Metropolis
Rachelle Cox - Joppa Missionary Baptist Church
Jonathan Davis - Delta Church, Springfield
Allison Dennison - Dorrisville Baptist Church, Harrisburg
Isabella Dooley - McKinley Ave Baptist Church, Harrisburg
Heath Ellis - Logan Street Baptist Church, Mt. Vernon
Anna Forbes – Bethel Baptist Church, Vandalia
Toby Gallion - First Baptist Church, Petersburg
Aubri Hollis - Redhill Church, Edwardsville
Bobby Miles - Logan Street Baptist Church, Mt. Vernon
Mark Miller - McKinley Ave Baptist Church, Harrisburg
Alannah Sarclette - First Baptist Church, Carlyle
Emily Smith - First Baptist Church, O'Fallon
Kendyl Sparks - First Baptist Church, Vienna
Ava Tate - Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church, Iuka
Mary Winkleman - First Baptist Church, Harrisburg
The KINGDOM Impact of BFI Scholarships
Because of the generosity of donors who believe in investing in the next generation of Christian leaders, BFI was able to provide over $100,000 in educational scholarships to Illinois Baptist students in 2022.
To learn more about the impact a BFI scholarship can have, watch Josh and Bethany Crisp's testimonial video. Josh currently serves as Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church of Bethalto, IL.
Baptist Foundation of Illinois
3085 Stevenson Drive
Springfield, IL 62703
(217) 391-3116
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