Spring Break
McHugh's offers scholarship
$3,500 to be awarded to local student
Stephen Di Benedetto/City Editor
Issue date: 11/6/09 Section: News
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And at least 500 students in Charleston and Mattoon have taken unique action to try and ease those concerns.
Confused? Don't be.
Tom McHugh, owner of McHugh's Restaurants in Charleston and Mattoon, is providing the opportunity for one local college student to win up to $3,500 in tuition for the spring semester.
McHugh was compelled to offer the deal after the General Assembly cut MAP grant funding in half from last year. The cut left enough funds for the fall semester, but not enough for the spring.
Thousands of Illinois students rely on the need-based grant to ease tuition costs.
"We are trying to show our appreciation and gratitude for living in these two towns," McHugh said.
Interested Eastern and Lake Land students simply need to ask for an application at either the Charleston or Mattoon sites, located at 4 Lincoln Ave., and 801 Charleston Ave., respectively.
One winner will be selected during a drawing at 2 p.m. Dec. 11 located outside of the Charleston restaurant.
During the veto session in mid-October, lawmakers agreed to authorize funding for the MAP grant in the spring. The authorization signified a commitment, but still left lawmakers the task of finding the money to fulfill the commitment.
McHugh said he decided to continue with the tuition deal after the veto session because he felt it would be wrong to rescind the offer. He said if a student wins the money and jeopardizes his or her grant money, they could give their winnings to some other student.
The point of the contest is to help students ease their financial costs, McHugh said.
He said students have been receptive to the idea of a local company trying to make a strong commitment to students.
Even Eastern's Registrar's Office was surprised, McHugh said. He said when he contacted the office as he was brainstorming for the contest, the office seemed to be stunned that a local restaurant would offer such a generous deal.
McHugh said students need to be enrolled in the coming spring semester to participate, and a parent or relative can enter their student into the contest.
"It's the right thing to do," McHugh said.
Stephen Di Benedetto can be reached at 581-7942 or at sdibenedetto@eiu.edu.
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