Business & Tech
Simon Youth Foundation seeks applicants for $1 million in scholarships
This year, living near the Chicago Area Simon Premium Outlets could help a graduating senior pay for college.
Simon Youth Foundation seeks applicants for $1 million in scholarships
CHICAGO – This year, living near any one of Simon’s three Chicago-area Premium Outlets centers could help a graduating senior pay for college. Simon Youth Foundation, a national nonprofit that provides educational opportunities for at-risk high school students, has begun looking for graduating seniors who live within 50 miles of Chicago Premium Outlets in Aurora, Ill., Lighthouse Place Premium Outlets in Michigan City, Ind., or Pleasant Prairie Premium Outlets, near Kenosha, Wis.
Each year, Simon Youth Community Scholarships are awarded in every community across the country that is home to Simon, Mills, or Premium Outlets malls. The application period has begun and ends on March 1, 2016.
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Students can apply online by visiting syf.org/scholarships.
SYF will award 25 scholarships to students graduating in the class of 2016 who live within 50 miles of any Premium Outlets mall nationwide. No more than one scholarship will be awarded per property. Recipients will receive up to $1,500 to enroll in an accredited college, university, vocational or technical school.
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In addition, an “Award of Excellence” will be given to the top candidate from among the scholarship applicants that represent the nationwide Premium Outlets locations. That student will receive a $10,000 award ($2,500 for up to four years).
In 2015, the Simon Youth Foundation awarded $1.2 million to 300 students nationwide.
“The cost of college continues to rise, and SYF is proud to partner with Simon Premium Outlets to award scholarships that will remove some of the financial obstacles that could otherwise prevent a student from achieving the dream of a college education,” said Michael Durnil, SYF President and CEO.
The 2016 SYF Community Scholarship recipients will be selected by International Scholarship and Tuition Services, Inc. (ISTS), a third-party administrator. Students are selected based on a variety of criteria, including financial need, academic performance, leadership skills and participation in school and community activities. Those students who are the first in their family to pursue a post secondary education will also be given close consideration.
Recipients will be notified in May.
About SYF
SYF is a national non-profit that partners with public school districts to open dropout recovery academies inside Simon shopping malls. The organization now has 27 Simon Youth Academies in 12 states. In the organization’s 17-year history, more than 13,000 students have earned their diploma and more than $13 million in scholarships have been awarded.
About Chicago Premium Outlets
Recently expanded, Chicago Premium Outlets is the largest outlet center in the Chicago market and ninth largest outdoor outlet mall in North America. Located 38 miles west of downtown Chicago off Interstate 88 at Farnsworth Ave. North in Aurora, Ill., the center is a top destination for unsurpassed everyday savings on fashion and popular brands including Adidas, Coach, Columbia Sportswear, Gap Factory Store, Levi’s Outlet Store, Michael Kors, Movado Company Store, Polo Ralph Lauren Factory Store, Tommy Hilfiger, UGG Australia and Vera Bradley. Among 30 new and expanded stores to open at the popular outlet center within the past six months are anchor Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th and the first Midwest outlets for German luxury coat maker Wellensteyn, eclectic lifestyle designer Robert Graham, high-end Chicago menswear label BOGA, and Clarins luxury skincare.
About Lighthouse Place Premium Outlets
Located in Michigan City, Indiana, just one mile from Lake Michigan, Lighthouse Place Premium Outlets is only 45 minutes from South Bend, Ind., 60 minutes from downtown Chicago and approximately two hours from Grand Rapids, Mich. The 120-store center is home to designer and brand-name retailers including Coach, Columbia Sportswear, Michael Kors, Nike Factory Store, The North Face, Under Armour and Vera Bradley. For additional information, visit premiumoutlets.com/lighthouseplace.
About Pleasant Prairie Premium Outlets
Pleasant Prairie Premium Outlets is located 60 miles north of Chicago and 38 miles south of Milwaukee, off Interstate 94 at Highway 165, near Kenosha, Wis. The 90-store center is home to designer and brand-name retailers including Adidas, Ann Taylor, Banana Republic, Calvin Klein, Coach, Gap Factory Store, J. Crew, Michael Kors, Timberland and Polo Ralph Lauren. For additional information, visit premiumoutlets.com/pleasantprairie.
About Simon Premium Outlets®
The global Simon Premium Outlets portfolio offers exceptional brands at extraordinary savings through a diverse mix of luxury, designer and popular retailers representing the best in fashion, family and home. Eighty-seven Simon Premium Outlets in the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico and South Korea are some of the most iconic and productive shopping destinations for residents and travelers including Woodbury Common (New York City), Orlando, Desert Hills (Palm Springs), Las Vegas and Wrentham Village Premium Outlets (Boston). For more information, visit premiumoutlets.com or follow Premium Outlets on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.
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