2024 - Seigles’ gift offers full-ride, mentoring to ECC students

The Elgin Community College Foundation is dedicated to empowering students and strengthening the local community. This commitment inspired ECC Foundation Board Member and Secretary Robin Seigle and her husband, Mark Seigle, to establish the Seigle Scholar Program this fall. Their gift of $500,000 for the program is one of the largest the college has ever received.

“The recipients will receive not only tuition but also money for books. It’s a full ride,” Mark Seigle said. “The program will be a game-changer for the scholars.”

Three students make up the first cohort. They will receive a full-tuition scholarship for the 2024-2025 academic year and mentoring support. All scholars qualified for the program with a minimum 3.0 GPA, being first-year, full-time students, demonstrating community involvement, and more.

“This will make a huge impact,” Robin Seigle said. “I’m really happy we can keep this local.”

The Seigles’ decision to support ECC students is rooted in their upbringing and strong connection to the local community.

“Giving back is what I know,” Mark Seigle said. “Our families raised us with that belief, and there’s no greater joy than helping others.”

The Seigle Scholar Program is just one example of the ECC Foundation’s commitment to student success. The foundation offers nearly 100 scholarship opportunities to help students achieve their goals.

In December of 2023, the ECC Foundation launched the public phase of its student-centered Bright Futures campaign to help more students achieve their dreams. With the community’s backing, and co-chair Robin Seigle, the campaign successfully exceeded its goal of $3 million.

“When we began our Bright Futures campaign, we knew we would reach our goal because supporting the students of ECC is so important to so many in this community,” said Susan Taylor-Demming, executive director for institutional advancement and the ECC Foundation. “Through each of our scholarship opportunities, we continue to increase access to education and improve people’s lives through learning. And when we help our students, we help our community.”

A key focus of the Bright Futures campaign is addressing the region’s most critical workforce needs in health care, truck driving, automotive mechanics, welding, and other fields. By supporting students pursuing these career and technical degrees, the ECC Foundation helps ensure a skilled workforce for the region.

The Seigles are looking forward to mentoring opportunities with the Seigle Scholars and helping them achieve their goals.

“I feel like this scholarship will make a huge impact on them and change their lives,” Robin Seigle said.