For Immediate Release --- October 26, 2012 Contact: Randy Osborn, Executive Director Boys & Girls

Club of Carbondale 250 N. Springer St.; P.O. Box 3092 Carbondale, IL 62902 Phone: 618-457-8877 ext. 21 Fax: 618-457-7939 Email: Rosborn@bgc-cdale.org

SIUC and JALC Announce Scholarships for Boys & Girls Club Members SIUC Provost, Dr. John W. Nicklow, announced SIUCs creation of two four-year scholarships to be dedicated to Boys & Girls Club Youth of the Year winners from Illino is and Midwest Regional Clubs. The announcement came during the Boys & Girls Club of Carbondales 8th Anniversary Dinner Thursday evening at Giant City Lodge. Inspired by SIUCs decision and by years of Boys & Girls Club exposure in Bethalto, IL, John A. Logan College President, Dr. Mike Dreith announced a two-year scholarship for the Youth of the Year winner from the Boys & Girls Club of Carbondale. These educational opportunities will be scheduled to start in 2013. The Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) has featured the Youth of the Year Program for over 65 years. All Club sitesover 4000 in allare eligible to select a Youth of the Year (YOY) between the ages of 14 and 18 who then goes on to compete for the State, Regional, and National titles. Finalists from each of the five BGCA Regions traditionally meet the President in Washington DC, and are eligible for awards and scholarships from various sources. In a few states, major Universities have stepped up to honor the accomplishment and talent shown by YOY award winners, most notably, Marquette University in Milwaukee which now provides three full-ride scholarships available to YOY winners from any Boys & Girls Club in America. SIUC Chancellor Rita Cheng and Boys & Girls of Carbondale (BGCC) Executive Director, Randy Osborn began discussing this initiative in 2011 and forged the agreement in the summer of 2012. Familiar with Marquette University and the work of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Milwaukee, Dr. Cheng welcomed the idea of extending SIUC educational opportunities to regional youth. Current plans are to provide one SIUC Scholarship to Illinois B&G Clubs and one for Clubs within the BGCA Midwest Region. The Midwest Region includes 13 states, 590 Club sites, and serves approximately 550,000 young people per year. said Kristin Allen, Director of the Illinois Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs. SIUC will join a very select group of Universities to honor these amazing young people.

Youths of the Year from the Boys & Girls Club of Carbondale have struggled to move on to college after high school said Randy Osborn, BGCC Director. The mission of Boys & Girls Clubs is to serve those who need us most. What many Club members need most is a chance for higher education. These scholarships will change peoples lives. Scholarship Development Committees will begin immediately to arrange the details for these opportunities at both schools. Youth of the Year Events begin at Clubs in January and culminate with state selections being made in April. ###