Makenzie Case of Macomb has been awarded the Bonnie Stine Spoon River College Faculty Association Scholarship for $500 for the 2020-2021 academic year at Spoon River College.
While a student at Macomb High School, Case was a member of the speech team and the swim team (serving as co-captain of the swim team for one year), and was the CFO of the McDonough County CEO Program’s class business “Roaring Twenties Escape Room.” Case took second place in the Dramatic Duet Acting (DDA) for MHS Speech Team at the MHA Conference, and was inducted into the International Thespian Society for MHS Troupe 465. She has served three years as the video technician for her church, and is an enthusiast of WISK Shotokan Karate, placing first and second in Kata, second in Kihon, and third in Kumite.
Even with her extracurricular activities, Case participated in the dual credit program at Spoon River College. By the time she graduated high school, she had earned 26 credit hours of college course work and had already been inducted into the Nu Delta Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa at Spoon River College.
Case said she had a goal of graduating with no student loan debt, and that being a dual credit student and applying for scholarships were two of the ways she was working to achieve that goal. “I don’t qualify for grants, and taking out a student loan defeats the purpose of graduating debt-free, so any funding from scholarships brings me one step closer to my goal.”
Case wants to work for the FBI as a forensic accountant, and plans to earn both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree after she finishes her associate’s degree at Spoon River College. She is currently deciding between several four-year institutions for the advanced degrees.
“I’ll also continue to work at Rialto 6 Cinemas while living at home to save money for college,” said Case. “Living at home will also allow me to spend time with my family and stay involved in my community and church. Staying connected to Macomb and my family is important to me.”
