Ryhanna Merrifield of Virden, Illinois, has been admitted to the University of Illinois Springfield for the fall semester of 2026 and awarded a $10,000 Star Scholar Award for tuition over two years. At UIS, she will major in pre-nursing.

The scholarship is awarded based on high school GPA and can be renewed if the student maintains college GPA requirements.

In high school, she was involved in track and field, cheerleading and drama club.

“I am choosing UIS to brighten my future and join a wonderful community,” Merrifield said.

Following graduation from the UIC College of Nursing Springfield Campus, located at UIS, she plans to pursue a career in nursing and help provide a better quality of life to others.  

All undergraduate first-year students are automatically eligible for Star Scholar First Year Scholarships. To receive $10,000 over two years, the student must have an unweighted GPA of 3.50-3.74.

For more information on scholarships, contact the UIS Office of Financial Assistance at 217-206-6724 or finaid@uis.edu. View a full list of scholarship opportunities.

Students can apply online for admission to UIS. Contact the UIS Office of Admission at admissions@uis.edu or 217-206-4847 with questions.