ILLINOIS DADS ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES 2025 SCHOLARSHIP AND GRANT WINNERS

Illini CHAARG - $1000 awarded. A wellness group on campus whose mission is to show everyone that working out can (+ should!) be fun.

MedLaunch - $1000 awarded. A student-led organization at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with a focus on making our community a more accessible place. Coming from all different majors and perspectives, they work with individuals with disabilities in the Champaign-Urbana area to design, build, and deliver devices that improve their independence and quality of life. 

Illini World Taekwondo (IWT) - $250 awarded. IWT is a non-profit, registered student organization at UIUC. As one of the oldest and the longest-standing martial arts club on campus, we strive to preserve the traditional aspects of taekwondo while also pursuing taekwondo as a modern sport everyone can participate in and enjoy.

Women's Resource Center - $750 awarded. The WRC is committed to enhancing campus climate and advancing gender equity at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign for students of ALL genders through a variety of programming and services, including identity and career development initiatives, sexual and relationship violence prevention and awareness programming, confidential advising, and survivor advocacy and support.

Illinois Solar Decathlon - $250 awarded. A student organization that participates in competitions sponsored by the Department of Energy (DOE). The competition involves conceptualizing, designing, and building a home.

Engineers in Action Bridge Program - $250 awarded. A group which designs and construct footbridges over impassable rivers with rural communities worldwide to strive for a world with equal opportunity. We believe a river should not be a barrier to someone getting an education, a farmer accessing their crops, or a parent getting their child proper healthcare.

Liquid Rocketry Initiative - $250 awarded. They are building the future of collegiate rocketry.  By developing rocket test infrastructure, we are building our own means to produce advanced rocket engines. We strive to be the first collegiate team to launch an advanced pump-fed liquid rocket!

Chicago Mutual Aid Scene and Climate Crisis - $500 awarded. A crew of 3 students in the process of making a film based in Chicago about the mutual aid organizations present, their history, and why they will be so important as the climate crisis persists.

Pre-Dental Club - $250 awarded. Pre-dental club provides alternative social programming to create community on campus and among ministry membership, providing a space for clean fun for students who aren’t interested in the typical campus party environment.

Illini Solar Car - $500 awarded. Illini Solar Car is comprised of a group of over 150 students from across the University with the goal of building and racing the world’s best road-legal solar electric vehicle.

Illini 4000 - $1000 awarded. The Illini 4000 is a student run non-profit organization. Every year we fundraise money for cancer research and patient support through a cross country bicycle ride from New York City to San Francisco. In addition we collect stories from those who have had experiences with cancer and create a series of video interviews called the portraits project.

Kesem at Illinois - $1000 awarded.  Kesem is committed to creating a world where every child who has a parent with a cancer diagnosis or has lost a parent to cancer is never alone. We support these children through and beyond their parent’s cancer with free, fun-filled creative programs and a lasting community.

Habitat for Humanity Campus Chapter - $1000 awarded. established in 1992 by a group of motivated students who recognized the need to end substandard housing in Urbana-Champaign. Working closely with our Champaign County affiliate, our goal is to raise awareness about housing insecurity among students and fundraise for an annual sponsorship towards an affordable home in the surrounding community.

Squirrel and Bird Watching Club - $250 awarded. A group dedicated to the observation and appreciation of squirrels and birds on the UIUC campus. These important creatures are a vital part of the local ecosystem, and we hope to share our admiration of both these animals within the Squirrel and Bird Watching Club as well as with the university and local community. We believe Squirrel and Bird Watching should be open to all UIUC students, regardless of personal identity or views, and to that end we seek to provide a space for any squirrel or bird enthusiast at UIUC.

Illinois Women's Fastpitch Softball Club - $500 awarded. 

Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers - $500 awarded. IISE provides leadership in developing industrial and systems engineering. We are a student-run organization providing professional, social, and service opportunities for Industrial and Systems Engineers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

The Cheese Club at UIUC - $250 awarded. The Cheese Club at UIUC promotes the cultural significance of cheese, introduces students to global cheese-making traditions, and fosters appreciation through tastings and collaboration, all in the belief that cheese has the power to connect people across cultures and deepen our understanding of the world!

Healthcare Book Club - $250 awarded. The mission of the book club is to cultivate a community for some of the pre-health students with the most painstakingly difficult academic lives where they can go to unwind from the stress. With this opportunity these students will be given guidance on balancing the weight of many of the pre-health pathways and hope to give them the security and peace of mind in their next steps or their  next page.

Illinithon - $750 awarded. A Children's Miracle Network Dance Marathon program. The Illinithon is a year long movement that raises money and awareness for our local Children's Miracle Network Hospital, HSHS St John's Children's Hospital. They work throughout the year to ensure the miracle kids receive the best medical care available and create a future free of pediatric illness and injury

Illinois Triathlon Club - $250 awarded. Illinois Triathlon Club is a group of athletes and friends who swim, bike, run, and have a good time together. We are open to any students in the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign Community.

Global Medical Training - $500 awarded. A group dedicated to equipping UIUC students with valuable skills that will set them up for success in the medical field. These skills are then put to use on medical mission trips which our offered during breaks in the school year.