For Immediate Release
Announcing awardees for the 2025 Del Willison Scholarship
(MATTOON, Illinois – June 23, 2025) Southeastern Illinois Community Foundation is pleased to announce awardees for the Del Willison Scholarship. This scholarship is open for current seniors and graduates of Mattoon High School pursuing higher education.
The awardees are as follows:
- Makalie Buxton is a 2025 graduate pursuing a pre-medical degree at Washington University.
- Isabella Smith is a 2022 graduate pursuing a secondary education degree from Milikin University.
- Kailyn Tracy is a 2024 graduate pursuing a social sciences degree from Lake Land College.
- Alexandra Walsh is a 2025 graduate pursuing a pre-medical degree from the University of Missouri.
Delbert Willison was involved in the Mattoon School district from 1964 – 2019 in various ways and numerous associations. He taught high school, was an adjunct professor at EIU and assisted in writing and administering an alternative education program for certifying teachers. The Del Willison Scholarship honors his legacy in Mattoon, Illinois.
The Del Willison Scholarship, a Southeastern Illinois Community Foundation fund, provides financial assistance for Mattoon High School seniors pursuing higher education. Southeastern Illinois Community Foundation manages more than 250 funds for the immediate and long-term benefit of communities in southeastern Illinois. For more information, contact Alex Pleasant, President/CEO of Southeastern Illinois Community Foundation, at 217.342.4988 or alex@southeasternillinois.org.
