The Lake County Federation of Teachers Local 504 offers the annual Joe Hutten Scholarship to any Lake County Illinois public school graduate who is attending an Illinois Public Higher Education school.

The Lake County Federation of Teachers established the Joe Hutten Scholarship to honor the late educator and union activist. Hutten was a business teacher at Zion-Benton High School and he was a key organizer for the Zion-Benton Federation of Teachers. Hutten was thrilled when Zion-Benton became a part of the Union because he felt that Local 504 was teacher-oriented. He was a dedicated Union member who regularly attended Union meetings, IFT & AFT conventions and reported back to the Local 504 Executive Board. Joe loved his family, students and Union.

$2,000 Scholarship awarded one-time per year.

Complete applications will all supplementary materials must be received by the Lake County Federation of Teachers, 248 Ambrogio Drive, Gurnee, Illinois 60031, by 4:00pm on April 8, 2026.

2026 LCFT Scholarship Criteria

2026 LCFT Scholarship Application

  Congratulations to our 2026 Joe Hutton Scholarship Winner: Beatrice Ivut!

We are proud to recognize Beatrice Ivut, a graduate of Grayslake Central High School, as the recipient of this year’s Joe Hutton Scholarship.

Beatrice will be attending Lake Forest College this fall, where she plans to enroll in the Department of Nursing. Her goal is to become a Registered Nurse, with aspirations of advancing her career as either a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner or a Nurse Anesthetist.

Throughout her high school career, Beatrice has demonstrated exceptional dedication and discipline, maintaining an outstanding GPA of over 4.40. In her scholarship essay, she shared that she was raised with high expectations—both in her academic work and in how she treats others.

As a first-generation American, first-generation college student, and the oldest sibling in her family, Beatrice’s accomplishments are especially meaningful. She credits her parents for their selfless support, always putting the needs of their children first to help them achieve their dreams.

The LCFT is honored to support such an inspiring student and future healthcare professional.

We wish Beatrice continued success in her college journey and beyond!

The Illinois Federation of Teachers annually offers scholarships to its members and the dependents of its members. Applications and details about the Mengel Scholarship and the Porter Scholarship can be found by clicking the website below. 

https://www.ift-aft.org/scholarships

The AFL-CIO offers scholarships through its Union Plus Scholarship Program to current and retired members of participating unions, their spouses and their dependent children. These scholarship amounts range from $500 to $4,000. Details and the application can be found by clicking the website below.  

https://www.unionplus.org/benefits/education/union-plus-scholarships

The CLC - Adjunct Faculty Council Scholarship offers the annual $500 scholarship to any College of Lake County CLC-AFO union member, spouse, child, or guardian attending an Illinois Public Higher Education school.

Application can be found here. Scholarship Requirements can be found here.

Two $500 Scholarships are awarded once per year.

Application Deadline is March 2, 2026.

Scholarship Award will be awarded in person on May 12, 2026.

Recipient Requirements

• Must intend to or be attending an Illinois Public Higher Education Institution (2 or 4 years).
• Must provide proof of applying and/or acceptance to an Illinois Higher Education Institution.
• Must be a child or spouse of a CLC-AFO Union member.
• Attach a one-page essay describing your educational and career goals.  Feel free to include any other information you would like the committee to know about you.
• Must submit a complete application and meet all deadlines.
• Must provide a current High School Transcript and College Transcript (if applicable).
• Provide at least two, but no more than three letters of recommendation.
  • At least one letter of recommendation must not be a personal recommendation.
• Provide a resume including extracurricular activities, community service, and job experience.