SYCAMORE – The DeKalb County Community Foundation recently named four area students as recipients of the 2024 Spinoso Masters Scholarship.

Four students pursuing graduate degrees will share a $30,000 scholarship: Abigail Krull, Jennifer Kuo, Ashley Peterson and Misty Villagomez, according to a press release.

The scholarships were made possible by donors John and Vivian Spinoso to the Foundation’s Spinoso Masters Scholarship Fund.

Individuals receiving a Spinoso Master’s Scholarship must be a graduate of a DeKalb County high school and be enrolled in an accredited educational institution pursuing a master’s degree or higher in any field of study.

The four prize winners pursue different educational goals.

Krull graduated from Sycamore High School in 2020 and is pursuing a master’s degree in genetic counseling at the University of Minnesota.

Kuo graduated from Sycamore High School in 2016 and is pursuing a juris doctorate at the University of Chicago Law School.

Peterson graduated from Genoa-Kingston High School in 2019 and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in communication sciences and disorders at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Villagomez graduated from Genoa-Kingston High School in 2018 and is pursuing a master’s degree in international relations at American University.

“I went to college thinking I would be a speech therapist in schools and help children of all ages,” Peterson said in a press release. “I love the schools and the kids, but when I started exploring the field, I took my first medically focused speech therapy class and completely fell in love. I knew then that working with adults with acquired disabilities in medical settings was my calling. I am extremely grateful to have been selected as a fellow. This scholarship will help me fund the final year of my master’s degree, during which I will complete full-time internships and complete my specialized courses.”

Donors John and Vivian Spinoso want to support further education. In the 13th year of the scholarships, the Spinoso Masters Scholarship has awarded over $390,000 to local graduates.

If you are interested in giving the gift of education, please consider donating to an existing fund at dekalbccf.org/donate or mailing to DeKalb County Community Foundation, 475 DeKalb Ave., Sycamore, IL 60178.

If you have any questions or would like more information about the scholarship, please contact the Community Foundation at 815-748-5383 or [email protected].