The daughters of Paul and Edith Sancken have established a $1500 scholarship to be awarded to a Henry-Senachwine High School senior in honor of their parents. As long-time residents of Henry, the family wishes to acknowledge and recognize a deserving student from the community. Their three daughters graduated from Henry-Senachwine High School.

Paulette Sancken, Urbana, graduated from Iowa State University with a major in journalism and an art minor; she retired from her position at the University of Illinois in 2010. Judy Rothermel, St. Joseph, graduated from Illinois State University and received her graduate degrees from Bowling Green State and Eastern Illinois University; she retired from teaching at St. Joseph-Ogden High School in 2012. Marcia O'Neal graduated from Arizona State University and received her graduate degree from the University of Illinois; she currently works for the University of Illinois School of Medicine in Peoria.

Paul C. Sancken (1923-2011) was a 1948 agronomy graduate of the College of Agriculture at the University of Illinois. He worked in administration for 37 years for Farm Service, Inc. in four different locations and retired while at Grandview Service Co. in Henry.

Paul and Edith J. Harms married August 3, 1947, in Chenoa. Paul and Edith were members of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Varna, where he served on the church board. He was named a Paul Harris Fellow by the Henry Rotary Club and served as a charter member and director of the Henry Home and Indian Town Home Associations. During World War II, Paul served in the Army Air Corps and was a member of the Henry American Legion.

Edith (1922-2013) was a graduate of Mennonite School of Nursing, Bloomington. As a registered nurse, she supervised the OB floor at Fairbury Hospital and she went on to work in medical offices, as a private duty nurse, and at St. Joseph's Nursing Home, Lacon. At St. Paul's Lutheran Church, she was part of the Lutheran Women in Mission and sang in the choir; she was also a member of the Alumni Association of Mennonite College. Edith was an active volunteer with the American Red Cross Bloodmobile, the American Cancer Society, and was a local election judge. She was an artist and enjoyed playing cards.

Applications must be submitted to Mrs. Self by Friday, April 3, 2020. A committee of faculty and administrators will evaluate the applications and choose the recipient. 

Application requirements: 

• Cover Sheet with name and field of study 

• Essay of 500 words or less "Why did you choose this field of study and how do you envision your future in this field?" 

• Transcript 

• Extracurricular and Community Activities

• Students entering the following fields of study will be given priority: Agriculture, Nursing, Education,  

• Other fields of study will be accepted if no one applies in the above areas 

• Financial Need 

Past Winners:

2021 - Erin Hufnagel

2020 - Kylie LeQuia

2019 - Hunter Schrock

2018 - Taylor Robbins

2017 - Jake Kennedy

2016 - Caroline Downey

2015 - Susan Fox

2014 - Lauren Sendelbach

2013 - Abigail Greider