Samantha Thompson of Eagle, Wisconsin, has been admitted to the University of Illinois Springfield for the spring semester of 2027 and awarded a $24,000 Star Scholar Award for tuition over four years. At UIS, she will major in criminology and criminal justice.

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

In high school, she played soccer and flag football.

“I am choosing UIS to have the opportunity to play soccer and flag football,” Thompson said.

Following graduation, she plans to continue her education by attending law school.   

All undergraduate first-year students are automatically eligible for Star Scholar First Year Scholarships. To receive $24,000 over four years, the student must have an unweighted GPA of 3.75-3.99.

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.