Eleanor Kong Memorial Endowed Scholarship in Education
The Eleanor Kong Memorial Endowed Scholarship in Education was established in 2011 by the family of Eleanor Kong who wanted to make sure that her life and commitments were remembered and honored in perpetuity. Eleanor came to the U.S. with her family in 1991. Eleanor became a Golden Apple Scholar in 1993 and completed her life-long dream of becoming a teacher when she earned her undergraduate degree in elementary education from Illinois State University in 1997. She taught in the Chicago Public School System before she returned to Illinois State University to teach and to complete her graduate degree. Her life ended in September 1999 at the young age of 24. Even though she was unable to fulfill her ultimate goal of completing a doctoral degree in education, this scholarship will allow her dream to continue to help others to become teachers who impact the lives of their students.