Marquette Bank Awards 64 Scholarships to Local Students

Release date: 5/20/2025

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The Marquette Bank Education Foundation awarded 64 scholarships of $2,500 to graduating high school seniors. Since 1968, the program has awarded over $4 + million in scholarships helping over 2,000 students from Chicagoland neighborhoods. View individual recipient photos here!


Orland Park, IL (May 20, 2025) – Marquette Bank, a locally-owned neighborhood bank, continued their tradition of awarding scholarships to local graduating seniors. This year, the Marquette Bank Education Foundation awarded individual scholarships of $2,500 to 64 graduating seniors from Chicagoland schools.

“As Marquette Bank celebrates our 80th Anniversary, we’re pleased to support students who have shown a strong commitment to their communities through their volunteer service,” said Betty Harn, Executive Vice President.  “As a neighborhood bank, it is our hope that that these students become the business and civic leaders of tomorrow.”

The scholarship program is funded by the Marquette Bank Education Foundation (MBEF) and scholarships are awarded to students chosen by their school’s guidance counselors and principals.

Since 1968, more than $4 million has been awarded to over 2,000 high school seniors from Chicagoland neighborhoods. Students were selected based on financial need, scholastic achievement and a record of volunteer service in their communities. The scholarship can be used for any post-secondary education program, including: four-year universities, community colleges and vocational training schools.

Listed are the 2025 Marquette Bank Education Foundation Scholarship recipients (note: information is listed by Student’s hometown/location and includes student’s name, high school and the institution they will attend):

Bridgeview

•    Gezlaan Alzweiy of Bridgeview; Universal School; University of Illinois - Chicago

Bolingbrook

•    Jesus Velazquez Garcia of Bolingbrook; Bolingbrook High School; North Central College

Burbank

•    Samantha Abad of Burbank; Reavis High School; University of Illinois – Chicago

Calumet Park

•    Silvia Castaneda of Calumet Park; Eisenhower High School; University of Illinois – Urbana Champaign

Chicago

•    Tony Gardner Jr. of Chicago; Air Force Academy High School; North Park University

•    Cynthia Antonio-Garcia of Chicago; Back of the Yards College Preparatory High School; Undecided

•    Katia Mayorga of Chicago; Benito Juarez Community Academy; Loyola University Chicago

•    Gabriel Harris of Chicago; Bogan College Prep High School; Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville

•    Robert Raphael-McElroy of Chicago; Brother Rice High School; Undecided

•    Giselle Vasquez of Chicago; Catalyst Maria High School; University of Illinois – Urbana Champaign

•    Janea Johnson of Chicago; Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences; Florida A&M University

•    Ethan Thompson of Chicago; Chicago Hope Academy; Lake Forest College

•    Lizbeth Tirado of Chicago; Christ the King Jesuit College Prep; DePaul University

•    Julitza Rodriguez of Chicago; Curie Metropolitan High School; Saint Xavier University

•    Zoe Blackmon-Felder of Chicago; De La Salle Institute; Louisiana State University

•    Maurissah Harris of Chicago; Englewood STEM High School; Louisiana State University

•    Ma'Krya Collins of Chicago; Farragut Career Academy; School of Art Institute of Chicago

•    Alyson Martinez-Sanchez of Chicago; Gage Park High School; St Augustine College

•    Jacqueline Roman-Martinez of Chicago; Garcia High School; University of Illinois - Chicago

•    Juan De Dios Mora of Chicago; Goode Stem Academy High School; Valparaiso University

•    Camila Rosales of Chicago; Hancock High School; Loyola University Chicago

•    Alina Bautista of Chicago; Hubbard High School; University of Illinois Urbana Champaign

•    Michelle Cerritos-Ibarra of Chicago; Infinity Math, Science and Technology High School; North Central College

•    Marie Lewis of Chicago; Johnson College Prep; Illinois State University

•    Sha'Maire Caldwell of Chicago; Julian High School; Savannah State University

•    Liliana Flores of Chicago; Kelly High School; Augustana College

•    Iveth Barcenas of Chicago; Kennedy High School; University of Illinois Chicago

•    Gavin Donald of Chicago; Leo Catholic High School; Jackson State University

•    Valeria Ruiz of Chicago; Lindblom Math & Science Academy High School; Saint Xavier University

•    Irma Roman of Chicago; Mansueto High School; Northwestern University

•    Madison Olimene of Chicago; Morgan Park Academy; Cornell University

•    Erin Connolly of Chicago; Mother McAuley Liberal Arts High School; University of Illinois - Urbana Champaign

•    Alexandra Jalomo of Chicago; Our Lady of Tepeyac High School; Saint Xavier University

•    Lanyra Jones  of Chicago; Perspectives/IIT Math & Science High School; Alabama State University

•    Jarrod Coleman of Chicago; Phillips Academy High School; Clark Atlanta University

•    Gabrielle O'Brien of Chicago; Saint Ignatius College Prep High School; Tulane University

•    Cherish Thurman of Chicago; Simeon Career Academy; Jackson State University

•    Alyssa Aviles of Chicago; Solorio Academy High School; Eastern Illinois Univrsity

•    Shakyra Cerda of Chicago; Soto High School; University of Illinois - Urbana Champaign

•    Madisyn Pudowski of Chicago; St. Laurence High School; Saint Xavier University

•    Francisco Juarez of Chicago; St. Rita of Cascia High School; Villanova University

•    Mya Rios of Chicago; Tilden Career Community Academy High School; Northeastern Illinois University

•    Adamari Hernandez of Chicago; Trinity High School; University of Illinois - Urbana Champaign

•    Nasir Poole of Chicago; Urban Prep. Academies High School – Urban Prep; Purdue University Northwest

Chicago Ridge

•     Helen Huang of Chicago Ridge; Richards High School; Yale University

Cicero

•    Celene Diaz of Cicero; Cristo Rey Jesuit High School; University of Dayton

•    Julian Rodriguez of Cicero; Mount Carmel High School; Elmhurst University

Crestwood

•    Caylie Lyons of Crestwood; Shepard High School; Loyola University Chicago

Evergreen Park

•    Joseph Brandt of Evergreen Park; Evergreen Park High School; Saint Xavier University

Frankfort

•    Ashanti Shelton of Frankfort; Lincoln-Way East High School; University of Kansas

Hickory Hills

•    Fatima Suhail of Hickory Hills; Argo Community High School; Illinois State University

•    Isabella Vargas-Medina of Hickory Hills; Stagg High School; University of Illinois - Chicago

Hometown

•    Charvelle McLain of Hometown; Oak Lawn Community High School; Midway University

Lemont

•    Emilija Matukaite of Lemont; Lemont High School; Loyola University Chicago

Midlothian

•    Kamaya Johnson of Midlothian; Bremen High School; Howard University

New Lenox

•    Kayla Jaskula of New Lenox; Lincoln-Way Central High School; Lewis University

Oak Forest

•    Jozef Progri of Oak Forest; Oak Forest High School; University of Illinois Urbana Champaign

Olympia

•    Philisha Prevolt of Olympia; Morgan Park High School; Illinois Wesleyan University

Orland Park

•    Allyson    Haran of Orland Park; Sandburg High School; Miami University - Oxford

Orland Hills

•    Nyariah Carmack-Hines of Orland Hills; Andrew High School; Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville

Palos Heights

•    Seth Summers of Palos Heights; Chicago Christian High School; Trinity Christian College

Palos Park

•    Sophie Skertich of Palos Park; Marist High School; Marquette University

Plainfield

•    Madison Drust of Plainfield; Providence Catholic High School; University of Mississippi

Tinley Park

•    Samantha Hesse of Tinley Park; Tinley Park High School; Lewis University

The Marquette Bank Education Foundation Scholarship Program is part of the Marquette Neighborhood Commitment, which is an initiative that performs service projects in the areas of shelter/housing, hunger, education and health/wellness. For more information on the Marquette Neighborhood Commitment or scholarship program, call 1-888-254-9500 or visit emarquettebank.com/neighborhood.

2025 Scholarship Program Award Photo Gallery:
https://emarquettebank.com/2025scholarship

About Marquette Bank:
Marquette Bank is one of Chicagoland’s largest remaining independent neighborhood banks. The bank has helped neighbors, families and businesses since 1945. Marquette Bank offers a full range of digital and in-person banking services including: consumer banking, business banking, home financing, commercial lending, trust services, student loans, investment, insurance and wealth management services. Marquette Bank is a subsidiary of Marquette National Corporation (MNAT), a diversified financial holding company, and has $2 billion in assets along with a local lending portfolio of $1 billion. Marquette Bank is a national leader in community development receiving twelve consecutive ‘Outstanding’ Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) performance ratings from its bank regulator the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. The bank has been recognized with two Excellence and Innovation Awards from the Community Bankers Association of Illinois (CBAI) and the Community Commitment Award for Volunteerism by the American Bankers Association (ABA) Foundation.

Marquette Bank has banking centers in Chicago, Bolingbrook, Bridgeview, Evergreen Park, Hickory Hills, Lemont, New Lenox, Oak Lawn, Oak Forest, Orland Park, Summit and Tinley Park Illinois. Marquette Bank is an Equal Opportunity Lender, Equal Housing Lender and Member FDIC. For more information visit: emarquettebank.com or call 1-888-254-9500.
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About Marquette Bank:

Marquette Bank is one of Chicagoland’s largest remaining independent neighborhood banks. The bank has helped neighbors, families and businesses since 1945. Marquette Bank offers a full range of digital and in-person banking services including: consumer banking, business banking, home financing, commercial lending, trust services, student loans, investment, insurance and wealth management services. Marquette Bank is a subsidiary of Marquette National Corporation (MNAT), a diversified financial holding company, and has $2 billion in assets along with a local lending portfolio of $1 billion. Marquette Bank is a national leader in community development receiving eleven consecutive ‘Outstanding’ Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) performance ratings from its bank regulator the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. The bank has been recognized with two Excellence and Innovation Awards from the Community Bankers Association of Illinois (CBAI) and the Community Commitment Award for Volunteerism by the American Bankers Association (ABA) Foundation.
 

Marquette Bank has banking centers in Chicago, Bolingbrook, Bridgeview, Evergreen Park, Hickory Hills, Lemont, New Lenox, Oak Lawn, Oak Forest, Orland Park, Summit and Tinley Park Illinois. Marquette Bank is an Equal Opportunity Lender, Equal Housing Lender and Member FDIC. For more information visit: emarquettebank.com or call 1-888-254-9500.