Will County Heroes Nursing and Teaching Scholarship (ARPA Grant)

$10 million of Will County’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding will be used to “prime the pipeline” for teacher candidates and nursing students who live in Will County and expect to work at a Will County education or healthcare institution, respectively, after graduation. This opportunity is called the Will County Heroes Nursing & Teaching Scholarship.

Will County has awarded four higher education partners – Governors State University, University of St. Francis, Lewis University, and Joliet Junior College – funds to generate a pathway for enrollment, education, and employment. Each institution received $2,500,000.  This Monetary Award Program – like (MAP) approach – will award participants $2,500 per semester, or $5,000 per academic year, in college tuition as an education and employment incentive for professionals to stay and work in Will County.

Scholarship dollars will be available through fall 2026 or until funding is exhausted.

Students must complete the Joliet Junior College Student Attestation/ Scholarship Application each semester for which they are requesting scholarship dollars.

  • Student Eligibility

    Students must either complete the FAFSA, or the Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid, or qualify as F-1 International Students.

    • For Summer 2023 eligibility, students must complete the 2022-2023 financial aid application.
    • For Fall 2023, Spring 2024, or Summer 2024 eligibility, students must complete the 2023-2024 financial aid application.
    • For Fall 2024, Spring 2025, or Summer 2025 eligibility, students must complete the 2024-2025 financial aid application (available December 2023).

     

    This scholarship is available to students taking classes at JJC with the intention of pursuing one of the following professions:

    • Elementary education teacher (first through eighth grade)
    • Secondary education teacher (high school)
    • Special education teacher
    • Nurse

     

    This scholarship is available to students who attest to one or more of the following:

    • Low or moderate income households (income at or below 300% of Federal Poverty Guidelines for the size of the household);
    • Households that experienced unemployment as a result of the pandemic; and/or
    • Households that qualify for Medicaid, PELL, SNAP, or WIC.

     

    Students must complete the Joliet Junior College Student Attestation/ Scholarship Application each semester for which they are requesting scholarship dollars.

  • Joliet Junior College Student Attestation/ Scholarship Application

    Students must complete the Joliet Junior College Student Attestation/ Scholarship Application each semester for which they are requesting scholarship dollars.

  • Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

    • Do I have to complete the FAFSA or Rise Act application to be eligible?
      • Applications will not be reviewed until student has completed either FAFSA or Rise Act application, or qualifies as an F-1 Visa International Student.
    • Who can I contact if I have questions about completing the FAFSA or the Rise Act application?
    • Do I need to be a full-time student?
      • No, both part-time and full-time students are eligible to apply.
    • Is there a minimum GPA requirement?
      • No, there is no minimum GPA requirement.  Students who are on Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Termination or Maximum Timeframe are still eligible to apply.
    • Who is eligible to apply?
      • JJC students taking classes with the intention of becoming (1) an elementary education teacher (first through eighth grade), (2) a secondary education teacher (high school), (3) a special education teacher, or (4) a nurse, AND who qualify by meeting one or more of the following financial criteria: (1) student household has a low or moderate income (income at or below 300% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines for the size of the household), (2) student household experienced unemployment as a result of the pandemic, and/or (3) student household qualified for Medicaid, PELL, SNAP, or WIC.
    • What if I am a nursing student but I don't meet any of the financial criteria from the previous question?  Am I still eligible to receive the Will County Heroes Nursing & Teaching Scholarship?
      • While you will not be eligible to receive the Will County Heroes Nursing &Teaching Scholarship, if you are interested in a nursing or allied health program, you may still be eligible for PATH Grant funding.  To learn more, please contact the Center for Academic Success in Healthcare (CASH) at 815-280-2795 or you may email Lisa Cooley, CASH Secretary, at Lisa.Cooley@jjc.edu. 
    • Am I eligible to apply if I intend to be an early childhood educator?
      • If it is your intention to become an early childhood educator, this means you are not eligible for the Will County Heroes Nursing & Teaching Scholarship.  You may still be eligible for the Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity (ECACE) Scholarship.  To learn more, please visit this website, or you may also contact Rebecca Caldwell, Grant Manager, at 815-280-6735 or rcaldwel@jjc.edu.    
    • What will the Will County Heroes Nursing & Teaching Scholarship cover?
      • Scholarship applicants may receive up to $2,500 per semester, and up to $5,000 per academic year (fall, spring, summer) in tuition.
      • This scholarship is a "last dollar" scholarship meaning MAP, PELL, and NESP will be used toward paying your tuition first. In other words, this scholarship will only apply once MAP, PELL, and NESP have been exhausted and if outstanding tuition charges remain on your student account.
    • Do I need to complete this scholarship application each semester?
      • Yes, scholarship application start dates and end dates are posted above under the Joliet Junior College Student Attestation/ Scholarship Application heading.
    • Will this scholarship cover prerequisites to become an elementary education teacher, a secondary education teacher, a special education teacher, or a nurse?
      • Yes.
    • If I receive these scholarship dollars, will I have to pay them back?
      • No, however, if a student drops a course, these scholarship dollars will not be refunded directly to the student.  
      • In the rare case where a student’s file is selected for verification, or a review of conflicting information, after they have been awarded this scholarship, the award would be temporarily unavailable until the student submits the necessary documentation to complete the review. If the student does not comply, or is determined to be ineligible for the award, the scholarship will be removed from their account and they would be responsible for any outstanding tuition balance.
    • If I receive this scholarship, when will the dollars disburse into my account?
      • Applications will be processed weekly.  If you complete the FAFSA or Rise Act in advance of completing the scholarship application, this will expedite the disbursement process.  Applications from students who have not completed FAFSA or Rise Act will not be processed.
    • As an undocumented student, am I eligible to apply?
      • Yes, please complete the Rise Act prior to completing this scholarship application.
    • As an F-1 Visa International Student, am I eligible to apply?
      • Yes, please indicate you are an F-1 Visa International Student when prompted as part of the scholarship application.
    • Who can I contact with questions about this application?
      • Dr. Stephanie L. McIntyre-Braun
        Dean, Academic Intervention and Support
        Will County Heroes Nursing & Teaching Scholarship Manager
        RMB-1008 at Romeoville Campus
        Joliet Junior College
        1125 West Romeo Road (135th Street)
        Romeoville, IL 60446
        Phone: 1-815-280-2824

     

    Last updated May 8, 2023.