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John Cahill Community Service Scholarship

Lincolnwood School District 74, supported by PALS (People Active with Lincolnwood Schools), will award five (5) John Cahill Community Service Scholarships in $1,000 denominations to graduates of Lincoln Hall Middle School.

The scholarship was created to recognize those students in Lincolnwood who most embody the spirit of service and community that former superintendent John Cahill (1983-1998) believed so deeply in. 
 
Eligibility:
Applicants must:
  • be graduating from high school in the scholarship year and be a graduate of Lincolnwood School District 74’s Lincoln Hall.
  • be continuing their education at a two- or four-year college or university, trade school, or vocational school.

This scholarship is merit-based; grade point average or financial need is not considered.

 
Application procedures:
  1. Complete and submit the online application: 2025 John Cahill Community Service Scholarship Application. 
  2. All applications must be submitted no later than 11:59 p.m. on Monday, March 31, 2025.
  3. The John Cahill Community Service Scholarship Application Review Committee will review and rank applications. Committee members will not know applicant identities during this process. 
  4. Scholarship recipients will be announced at the 2025 Cahill Scholarship Reception on April 17, 2025 at Lincoln Hall, and recognized at the Board of Education Regular Meeting on May 1, 2025.
 
For more information, please contact:
Jackie McGoey, Director of Communications and Community Relations
847-675-8234

2024 Cahill Scholarship winners

Asma Patel (Niles West)
Jesal Patel, Jr. (Loyola Academy)
Daniel Woo (Niles West)

About John Cahill

John Cahill was the superintendent at SD74 for 15 years, from 1983 to 1998. John stood for service and working together to give back to the community. 
 
John also believed in the children of Lincolnwood. He was quoted as saying: “Let’s all work together to make the District an even better place for children. When all is said and done, isn’t that the only reason we’re here?”
 
Cahill Drive (the main drive in front of Rutledge and Lincoln Halls) was named in honor of John so everyone who drove by or walked through campus would be reminded of his legacy. 
 
The Cahill Scholarship was created to recognize the students in Lincolnwood who most embody the spirit of service and community that John believed so deeply in.