By: Ashmar Mandou

The deadline for undocumented students to apply to the Illinois Dream Fund is on Friday, March 1st and Chairman of the Illinois Dream Fund Commission Tanya Cabrera is pushing students to submit their applications to receive financial assistance for the 2013-2014 academic-year. “This is really important for undocumented students to make college a reality,” said Cabrera. “This is a scholarship fund that offers a relatively large amount to students to seek higher education and there is nothing more rewarding than that.”

Illinois Dream Fund is open to undocumented students in their last year of high school or who are current undergraduates attending an accredited institution with a 2.5 GPA, on a 4 point scale. According to Cabrera, students planning to attend a two-year institution will receive $2,000 and students planning to attend a four-year, public or private, in-state or out-of-state institution will receive up to $6,000 in financial aid. “I would like to point out that students can pursue any degree they want as long as it’s at an accredited institution,” said Cabrera.

Students interested in applying to the Illinois Dream Fund can do so online, at www.illinoisdreamfund.org. The application may be downloaded and mailed to Illinois Dream Fund Scholarship, 191 N. Wacker Dr., Suite 3700, Chicago, IL 60606-1698. Or can be submitted in person. Finalists will be announced on April 26th. If you have additional inquiries, students and/or parents are encouraged to call Cabrera at 312-919-9411. “I am here to make myself available to answer any questions or to put students and families in touch with the right people who can help them out.”