Vernon “Butch” Gudat Scholarship Fund

The Vernon “Butch” Gudat Scholarship Fund, administered by the Community Foundation of Central Illinois, supports the families of local first responders. To qualify, applicants must be the child or grandchild of a firefighter who is currently serving or retired. This includes both career and volunteer firefighters who serve or served in Peoria, Tazewell, or Woodford counties in Illinois. Recipients must plan to enroll as full-time students at an accredited two-year or four-year college or university within the United States.

To apply for this scholarship, candidates must submit a completed application along with the required essays. The application process does not explicitly require the FAFSA or a state financial aid application, but students should prepare their academic and personal details to demonstrate their eligibility. The deadline to submit all application materials for this program is December 1, 2026.