The Austin Academic Achievement Awards is a Rock Island-Milan Education Foundation program rewarding academic excellence. Each year, the Top Ten students of each class are recognized and the top 2 seniors (as determined by teachers) in ten academic areas are awarded scholarships. Those areas receiving scholarships in the amount of $2,000 for 1st place and $1,500 for 2nd place are:

Business
Career & Technical Education
EL - English Learners
English
Fine Arts - Performing
Fine Arts - Visual
Math
Science
Social Studies
World Languages

The awards are presented at the Rock Island-Milan Education Foundation's Austin Academic Achievement Awards and Scholarship Night. Hundreds of students, families, scholarship benefactors and friends attend the event held in the Rock Island High School Auditorium each year in May.

History

The Academic Achievement Awards was originally established by the Illinois Chamber of Commerce in 1980 to recognize academic achievement in all Rock Island County high schools. When the Chamber made the decision to end the program, Rock Island High School teacher and community leader Chuck Austin turned to the Education Foundation to ensure the awarding of academic excellence continued for Rock Island High School students. In 2018, the Education Foundation renamed the awards the "Austin Academic Achievement Awards" to honor Chuck and his determination to insure the continuance of this worthwhile program.

Since 1981 nearly 750 students have received scholarship assistance through the Austin Academic Achievement Awards. Once taking over the program, the RIMEF has awarded $340,780 in scholarships to 271 deserving RIHS seniors. The program and scholarships are made possible by the generosity of alumni, businesses, and members of our community who understand the value of acknowledging the academic achievements of our students and believe in helping them further their education.

For a complete list of all Austin Academic Achievement Award winners, click here. 

Learn More

For more information about the Austin Academic Achievement Awards, please contact us at (309) 581-2154 or rimef@rimsd41.org.