New Rural King Scholarship Creates a Pathway to Success

This entire scholarship is just a great opportunity. The fact that Lake Land and Rural King were able to work together to support education is really special. It’s a great way to help people out and create more opportunities for students who may not qualify for other scholarships.

After choosing Lake Land as her college destination, first-year student Abby Warman began searching for local scholarships. In this process she came across a familiar opportunity: the Rural King scholarship program. Abby remembered learning about the scholarship from her mom, who works for the locally-headquartered retail chain, and decided to apply. Now, several months later, she’s thankful she did.

The Rural King program is one of the newest scholarship opportunities available to eligible Lake Land College students. Established in October 2023 through a partnership with Lake Land and first made available to students in Fall 2024, the scholarship supports Rural King associates and their dependents who are pursuing higher education.

“We are thrilled with the success of our partnership with Rural King in launching this scholarship program,” Christina Donsbach, Executive Director for College Advancement, said. “Together, we’re helping create opportunities for Rural King employees and their families to pursue higher education and achieve their goals.”

The Rural King scholarship program is one of many strategic partnerships between Lake Land College and area businesses. A key area of emphasis for Lake Land, these collaborations between industry and education support local communities with a strengthened workforce and create pathways for student success. For a student like Abby Warman, the Rural King scholarship means unique support as she pursues her dream career in early childhood education.

“This entire scholarship is just a great opportunity,” Abby said. “The fact that Lake Land and Rural King were able to work together to support education is really special. It’s a great way to help people out and create more opportunities for students who may not qualify for other scholarships.”

Abby is one of 13 Lake Land students currently supported by the Rural King scholarship. All 13 possess a direct connection to Rural King and hope to capitalize on a unique opportunity to achieve their educational goals. Among these students is Andrew Lodes, a recent graduate of Mattoon High School and son of a Rural King employee. Andrew applied for the Rural King scholarship during his senior year of high school, and since then, he has quickly discovered benefits that far outweigh the tuition savings. As a scholarship recipient, he’s enjoyed making connections and expanding his network with both Rural King and Lake Land.

“It’s always good to have less tuition to pay, but the connections you make through this scholarship are what’s really priceless,” Andrew said. “That’s what tends to lead to new opportunities and open doors you didn’t even think were possible.”