CURRENT AND Prior Scholarship Winners...
NEWS! 2025 Scholarship Winner
The Houston Illini Club is proud to award its annual scholarship to Annabel Li, a graduate of the Math and Science Academy at Dulles High School in Sugar Land, Texas. Beginning this fall, Annabel will be attending the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign and majoring in electrical engineering.
A National Merit Finalist and AP Scholar with Distinction, Annabel has a long list of academic and extracurricular achievements, including top placements in UIL, TMSCA, and FIRST Robotics competitions. Additionally, her leadership roles in the Math National Honor Society and Varsity Orchestra have allowed her to organize events such as Math Bash for elementary and middle schoolers and a district-wide high school orchestra social.
Her interest in electrical engineering sparked during physics class and quickly evolved into self-taught circuitry projects using Arduinos and breadboards. Inspired by sci-fi books like Project Hail Mary, Annabel became fascinated by the real-world technologies behind the fiction. Outside of the classroom, she is also a dedicated volunteer at the Houston Food Bank and shares her musical talents at senior and healthcare facilities. Annabel Li embodies a spirit of creativity and curiosity we’re proud to support through the Houston Illini Scholarship. The Houston Illini Club congratulates the 2025 Houston Illini Scholarship Recipient, Annabel Li!
2024 Scholarship Winner
In June of 2024, the Houston Illini Club proudly awarded its annual scholarship to Qimiao (Gianna) Gong, a graduate of William P. Clements High School in Sugar Land, Texas. Beginning in the fall of 2024 Gianna will be attending the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, majoring in electrical engineering. Gianna is the recipient of the largest Houston Illini Club Scholarship to date, $4,000!
The Houston Illini Club congratulates the 2024 Houston Illini Scholarship Recipient, Qimiao (Gianna) Gong! We wish her great success at UIUC.
2023 Scholarship Winner
In June of 2023, the Houston Illini Club proudly awarded its annual scholarship to Hanyang Sha, a graduate of William P. Clements High School in Sugar Land, Texas. Hanyang is the recipient of the largest Houston Illini Club Scholarship to date, amounting to a $3,000 award, paid out over two semesters. Hanyang will begin his studies in Computer Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in fall of 2023. The Houston Illini Club congratulates the 2023 Houston Illini Scholarship Recipient, Hanyang Sha! We wish him great success at UIUC.
2022 Scholarship Winner
The Houston Illini Club is proud to announce that it has awarded its annual scholarship to Yashna Chokkarapu, a graduate of the Math and Science Academy in Sugar Land's Dulles High School. The club is supporting Yashna with $1,000 each semester of her first year at UIUC ($2,000 total), matching our highest ever scholarship award. Yashna will begin her studies in Agricultural and Biological Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in the fall of 2022. The Houston Illini Club congratulates the 2022 Houston Illini Scholarship Recipient, Yashna Chokkarapu! We wish her great success at UIUC.
2021 Scholarship Winner
In June of 2021, the Houston Illini Club proudly awarded its annual scholarship in the amount of $1000 to Dhruv Saligram, a graduate of the Village High School. Dhruv will begin his studies in Computer Science at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in the fall of 2021. The Houston Illini Club congratulates the 2021 Houston Illini Scholarship Recipient, Dhruv Saligram! We wish him great success at UIUC.
2020 Scholarship Winner
In May of 2020, The Houston Illini Club proudly announced that its annual scholarship recipient in the amount of $500 was awarded to Jonathan Song, a graduate of Seven Lakes High School in Katy, Texas. Jonathan will begin his studies in Aerospace Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign beginning in the fall of 2020. The Houston Illini Club congratulates Jonathan and his family for the honor of winning the club’s 2020 scholarship!
2019 Scholarship Winner
In May of 2019, The Houston Illini Club proudly announced that its annual scholarship recipient in the amount of $600 was awarded to Keagan Mirazee, a graduate of The Woodlands High School’. Keagan will begin his studies in Computer Science at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign beginning in the fall of 2019.
The Houston Illini Club congratulates the 2019 Houston Illini Scholarship Recipient, Keagan Mirazee! We wish him great success at UIUC.
2018 Scholarship Winner
In May of 2018, the Houston Illini Club is pleased to announce that it has awarded its scholarship in the amount of $750 to Oak Ridge High School’s Ian Campbell Sloat. Ian will begin his studies in Aerospace Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign beginning in the fall of 2018. The Houston Illini Club congratulates Ian and his family for the honor of winning the club’s 2018 scholarship!
2017 Scholarship Winner
In June of 2017, the Houston Illini Club is pleased to announce that it has awarded its scholarship in the amount of $1,000 to Bellaire High School’s John “Jack” Lillig. Jack will begin his studies in Business at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign beginning in the fall of 2017. The Houston Illini Club congratulates the 2017 Houston Illini Scholarship Recipient, John “Jack” Lillig! We wish him great success at UIUC.
2016 Scholarship Winner
In June of 2016, the Houston Illini Club is pleased to announce that it has awarded its scholarship in the amount of $2,000 to Friendswood High School’s Kathryn Kosinski. Kathryn will begin her studies in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign beginning in the fall of 2016. The Houston Illini Club congratulates the 2016 Houston Illini Scholarship Recipient, Kathryn Kosinski! We wish her great success at UIUC.
2015 Scholarship Winner
In May of 2015 the Houston Illini Club is pleased to announce that it has awarded its scholarship in the amount of $2,000 to The Village School's Vikram Seshadri. Vikram will begin his studies in Computer Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign beginning in the fall of 2015.
The Houston Illini Club congratulates the 2015 Houston Illini Scholarship Recipient, Vikram Seshadri! We wish him great success at UIUC.
2014 Scholarship Winner
In May of 2014 the Houston Illini Club is pleased to announce that it has awarded its scholarship in the amount of $2,000 to Memorial High School's Xinyi (Gary) Zhang. Gary will begin his studies in Electrical Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign beginning in the fall of 2014. The Houston Illini Club congratulates the 2014 Houston Illini Scholarship Recipient, Xinyi (Gary) Zhang! We wish him great success at UIUC.
2013 Scholarship Winner
In May of 2013 the Houston Illini Club is pleased to announce that it has awarded its scholarship in the amount of $2,000 to Sugar Land’s David Catalano, a Clements High School senior. David will be pursuing a Vocal Performance degree from the University of Illinois’ School of Music in the fall of 2013. The Houston Illini Club congratulates David and his family for the honor of winning the club’s 2013 scholarship!
2012 Scholarship Winner
In May of 2012 the Houston Illini Club is pleased to announce that Samantha E. Holt, a May 2012 graduate of St. Pius X High School, is the recipient of the Club's 2012 scholarship in the amount of $1,250.
The Houston Illini Club congratulates the 2012 Houston Illini Scholarship Recipient, Samantha E. Holt! We wish her great success at UIUC.
2011 Scholarship Winner
In May of 2011 the Houston Illini Club is pleased to have awarded its 2011 scholarship in the amount of $1,000 to Eric Kuo of Humble, Texas. Eric will attend the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign beginning in the fall of 2011, and intends to study Electrical Engineering. The club extends its sincerest congratulations to Eric and his family.
2010 Scholarship Winner
In May of 2010 the Houston Illini Club is pleased to announce that it has awarded its $2,000 2010 scholarship to Nikhil Kapur of Sugar Land, Texas. Nikhil will attend the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign beginning this Fall, and will study Mechanical Engineering. The club extends its sincerest congratulations to Nikhil and his family.
2009 Scholarship Winner
In May of 2009 the Houston Illini Club is pleased to announce that it has awarded its 2009 $1,000 scholarship to Ryan Kent, a graduate of The Woodlands High School in The Woodlands, Texas. Ryan will pursue a degree in Nuclear Engineering. The club extends its sincerest honors to Ryan and his family.
2008 Scholarship Winner
The Houston Illini Club is pleased to announce that it has awarded its $2,000 2008 scholarship to Aaron Raiff, a graduate of Brazoswood High School in Clute Texas. Aaron will enroll as a freshman at the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana for the fall of 2008. He will pursue a degree in Chemistry with the goal of becoming a chemistry professor and researcher at one of the nation's finest research institutions. The club extends its sincerest honors to Aaron and his family.
2007 Scholarship Winner
The Houston Illini Club is pleased to announce that it has awarded its 2007 scholarship in the amount of $2,000 to Lisa Hasenberg, a graduate of Kingwood High School. Lisa will enroll at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in the fall to pursue a Chemical Engineering degree. We wish her great success and are honored to present her with this year’s scholarship award.
2006 Scholarship Winner
The Houston Illini Club is pleased to announce that it has awarded its 2006 scholarship in the amount of $1,000 to Jun Hong, a graduate of Stratford High School in Houston, Texas. Jun has enrolled at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign as a Freshman in the Fall of 2006 in the Bioengineering Curriculum. The club extends its sincerest congratulations to Jun and his family.
2005 Scholarship Winner
The Houston Illini Club is pleased to announce its 2005 scholarship in the amount of $1,000 to Carrie Nie. The club extends its sincerest congratulations to Carrie and her family.
2004 Scholarship Winner
The Houston Illini Club is pleased to announce its 2004 scholarship in the amount of $1,250 to Bryan Walker. The club extends its sincerest honors to Bryan and his family.
