Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – Midwest Technical Institute (MTI) has announced the 2025 High School Scholarship Program winners. This year, the program awarded 80 scholarships totaling $269,000 across the four MTI campuses.

“Every year, we look forward to hearing students share their stories, passions and excitement about pursuing a career in the skilled trades,” said Louie Schonauer, Director of High School Admissions at MTI and DTC. “We want to congratulate each of these seniors for taking the initiative to create a brighter future.”

Each MTI campus awarded several scholarships for various amounts for numerous programs. The following students received the highest scholarship awards:

  • Moline, Ill. Campus
    • Jazimine Eckmann-Allred, Rock Island High School, Cosmetology, $10,000 scholarship
    • Lucas Kirgan, Moline High School, Welding & Pipefitting, $10,000 scholarship
  • East Peoria, Ill. Campus
    • Max Wilson, Eureka High School, Welding & Pipefitting, $8,000 scholarship
    • Evan Hansen, Prairie Central High School, Welding & Pipefitting, $8,000 scholarship
  • Springfield, Ill. Campus
    • Brooke Angel, Athens High School, Welding & Pipefitting, $10,000 scholarship
    • Payton Hellman, Illini Central High School, Medical Assisting, $8,000 scholarship
  • Springfield, Mo. Campus
    • Jessica Orum, Pleasant Hope High School, Cosmetology, $8,000 scholarship
    • Lauryn Queen, Lockwood High School, Cosmetology, $8,000 scholarship

MTI’s High School Scholarship Program was created to provide an opportunity for local high school seniors to help reduce the cost of their training in pursuit of a career in skilled trades. Scholarship winners are selected through a multi-step application process that includes a video submission and interview with campus leadership.

Across MTI’s four campus locations in Illinois and Missouri and sister school DTC’s two Mississippi locations, 241 high school seniors will receive approximately $714,400 in MTI and DTC scholarship funds. MTI’s Moline, Ill. Campus awarded 34 scholarships totaling $106,000, East Peoria, Ill. Campus awarded 12 scholarships totaling $45,000, Springfield, Ill. Campus awarded 21 scholarships totaling $70,000 and Springfield, Mo. Campus awarded 13 scholarships totaling $48,000.

MTI is a trade school that provides hands-on training in mechanical trades, allied health, cosmetology and trucking. These are skilled trades industries that can offer opportunities for long-term career paths. MTI prides itself on changing the lives of students through hands-on workforce training.

For more information about MTI, please visit the MTI website or call your local MTI campus.

(Contributed news release)