NEWS RELEASES  >  JUNE 13, 2023

Follett Educational Foundation Awards Area Students With Scholarships


New 2023 Scholarship Program Honors High School Graduates in Mayfield, Oak Park

MCHENRY, Ill., June 13, 2023 Nine high school students from two area high schools are receiving scholarships from the Follett Educational Foundation as part of two new scholarship programs for 2023 as approved by the Foundation’s Board of Trustees.

The scholarships are named in honor of the four sons of C.W. Follett, who took over management of Follett Corporation in 1918 and six years later purchased the company along with his wife, Edythe. All four sons worked for Follett Corp. and were integral in helping the world’s largest education solutions provider evolve and grow in the ensuing decades.

Based on the needs of the school communities, full-ride community college and trade school scholarships are being awarded to students at Proviso East High School District 209 in Maywood and scholarships to high achieving, high-need students at Oak Park and River Forest High School District 200 in Oak Park. All scholarships will renew annually.

The Proviso East High School scholarships have been awarded to:

  • Xairo Hernandez | Charles N. “Laddie” Follett Scholarship
  • Angel Zigas | Robert Follett Scholarship
  • Carlos Hernandez-Mancilla | Garth Follett Scholarship
  • Darnell Simmons | Dwight Follett Scholarship
  • Karen Avitia | Jules Follett Scholarship (Note: Based on this student’s pursuit of a photography career, Julie “Jules” Grove Danza Follett, the wife of Kent Follett, a past president of Follett’s used textbook division, was inspired to create a special scholarship.)

The Oak Park and River Forest High School scholarships have been awarded to:

  • Finley Mattes | Charles N. “Laddie” Follett Scholarship
  • Maya Souden | Robert Follett Scholarship
  • Heidi Enger | Garth Follett Scholarship
  • William Wheeler | Dwight Follett Scholarship

“The Foundation wanted to make a difference in the lives of high school students who had a financial need and demonstrated academic achievement, leadership, initiative, and civic involvement during their four years,” said Britten Follett, a fifth-generation Follett family member who is President of the Foundation Board of Trustees and serves as CEO of Follett Content Solutions. “Since the four brothers graduated from Proviso East, it seemed fitting to give back to the school that served as a foundation to the future of Follett Corporation. Many other Follett family members graduated from Oak Park and River Forest High School and some are still living in the community today.”

Founded in 1964, the Follett Educational Foundation annually awards scholarships to students of Follett team members. The Foundation has awarded more than $300,000 per year to anywhere from 150 to 200 students.

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Media Contact: Doug Thompson | Thompson Drake Public Relations | 541.419.4471 | doug@thompsondrake.com

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