6 local students receive full tuition scholarship to Bradley University

PEORIA (25News Now) - Six high school seniors in the Peoria area now have a free ride to Bradley University, which is worth more than $100,000.

Two of the students were surprised Tuesday afternoon at Richwoods High School with the ‘Hometown Scholars’ scholarship.

The students will get a full tuition scholarship and also up to 75% of their room and board covered.

Both Richwoods seniors, Kaizon Davis and Amber Lempesis say they would have needed loans or to apply for more scholarships if they did not receive the award.

Davis plans to study psychology in the fall and Lempesis plans to go down the path of pre-med. The seniors say they were extremely grateful and felt blessed to receive the scholarship.

Bradley says the students who qualified have the financial need and are part of an underrepresented population at Bradley.

“This helps make that educational experience possible for those students,” said Peoria Public Schools Superintendent Sharon Kherat.

The scholarship program began in 2020 and students from East Peoria Community High School, Limestone Community High School, Manual High School, Quest Charter Academy High School, Pekin Community High School, Peoria High School, and Richwoods High School are eligible.