INCOMING FRESHMEN -

The deadline for all Marquette Academy incoming freshmen scholarships is Monday, March 2, 2026 by 3pm. You will need a cover form (download below), an essay and 2 letters of recommendation. Everything can be turned into Nikki Speirer at the high school campus, or emailed to nspeirer@marquetteacademy.net.

FINANCIAL AID IN 7 EASY STEPS

DID YOU KNOW ... Marquette Academy offers many scholarships and substantial financial aid. In fact, every family at MAHS that has applied for a scholarship or financial aid this year has received help.

We know applying for Financial Aid and Scholarships can seem a little intimidating, so we will break it down for you in 7 easy steps.

STEP 1 - F.A.C.T.S.
Your first step is FACTS, a firm that will determine the monetary amount that your family needs. We are pleased to offer FACTS Payment Plans and Grant & Aid Financial Needs Assessment on the same platform. To apply for Financial Aid please follow the link and follow the prompts. FACTS financial Aid application process will be closed by August 1st.  Please note that you must file for FACTs in order to receive any financial aid from Marquette Academy.

Download this FACTS FAQ for more information.

If you have any questions help is available at (866)441-4637 or email help@factstuitionaid.com

***If you do not have access to a computer please call, and you can use one of ours!

STEP 2 - SPALDING SCHOLARSHIP
This scholarship is open to any student who is a member of a Catholic Church in the Diocese of Peoria. If this is your family, by applying for FACTS you are automatically enrolled as an applicant for the Spalding Scholarship. 

2025-26 Spalding Scholarship Checklist

2025-26 Spalding Scholarship Protocols & Procedures

For more information please visit: https://www.cdop.org/john-lancaster-spalding-scholarship

If you are applying for the John Lancaster Spalding Scholarship, please know that the deadline is April 25, 2026.  Please make sure once you complete your FACTS application online – contact the rectory at 815-433-0700 and ask Monsignor Merdian (or one of his secretaries) to put you on his letter of recommendation. This would be a scholarship for Catholic families.

** The application process is now underway for the 2026-27 school year for the Spalding Scholarship through the diocese.  The application deadline is April 25, 2026.  The application checklist is online at https://online.factsmgt.com/aid.  You must have all required tax documents - the 2025 tax return and w-2's must be uploaded to FACTS before that date in order for applicants to be eligible for a Spalding scholarship. **

STEP 3 - HOHNER SCHOLARSHIP
The Joseph Hohner Scholarship is due to the LaSalle County Courthouse by April 15, 2026, by 4:00pm. There is a new application form, please download and read it carefully to make sure you are considered. This scholarship is given to Ottawa, IL full-time students who qualify. The Hohner Scholarship application is also available at roe35.org.

STEP 4 - INCOMING FRESHMEN SCHOLARSHIPS
We offer nearly 30 scholarships for incoming freshmen (see the list below). To apply you need to take a few steps. The MAHS incoming freshmen cover form is in your packet. This form plus a brief essay on the value of a Catholic education at MAHS and the positive contributions the student can make as a member of our student body. You will also need 2 letters of recommendation. All of this must be turned into Mrs. Speirer by March 2nd, 2026 by 3pm. Download the Scholarship Application Cover Sheet here.

STEP 5 - MARQUETTE FINANCIAL AID
Once you complete the FACTS process you will be entered into our database and available for all MA scholarships and financial aid. The FACTS application must be completed by March 2, 2026. If you are still waiting on your tax information, you may submit the previous year's tax documents. Marquette Academy scholarships are available for students in grades K-12.

STEP 6 - REGISTRATION
The Final step to Financial Aid is registration. Before registration, you will receive a letter telling you how much aid and or scholarships that have been allotted to your family. If you have any questions or concerns about the amount of aid received please contact the business office at the high school campus.

STEP 7 - APPEALS
If after all the scholarships and the first round of Financial Aid have been distributed you need more help, we suggest you fill out an Appeal form at any of our Registration dates. You will write as to why you need more help. This has been very helpful to a number of our families the past few years to help make MAHS affordable for their families.

Last year MA distributed OVER $300,000 in Financial aid to our students.

Please contact Nikki Speirer (815)433-0125 ext.1022 with any questions. You can download the Appeal Forms here.
Or email: nspeirer@marquetteacademy.net

Marquette Academy
Incoming Freshman Scholarships

The following is a summary of the scholarships offered to incoming freshmen for the 2026-2027 school year. We recommend every family apply for the FACTS grant and aid assistance and for the Peoria Diocese John Lancaster Spalding Scholarship Fund both enclosed in this folder. 

All applicants should submit a cover form, a brief essay on the value of a Catholic education and the positive contribution the student can make as a member of the student body and two letters of recommendations. Scholarships for students entering from all schools:
 

Download the Freshman Application Cover Sheet here

Bill and Margaret Butzen Scholarship is a monetary scholarship of $800 for the freshman year and $500 for the remaining three years presented to an incoming freshman student.  This scholarship fund was established in May of 2000 by their daughters to honor Bill and Margaret Butzen on the occasion of their 50th wedding anniversary. The scholarship is funded by the family and administered by Marquette Academy in a trust.  The recipient should be a practicing Catholic and involved in regular attendance at their church.  The student should be currently enrolled in a Catholic school or CCD program.  Financial need is considered but that is not the only criterion.  The principal of Marquette Academy or a committee he appoints will select the recipient.  Mr. and Mrs. Butzen will be advised as to the name of the recipient.
 

Betty Hughes Peddicord ’32 Scholarship consists of a total monetary scholarship award of a full year of tuition to awardees that are incoming freshmen.  Betty Peddicord is a 1932 graduate of St. Xavier Academy.  This scholarship was established in February of 2000 by her children, their spouses and her 12 grandchildren to commemorate her commitment to Catholic education and her devotion to St. Xavier Academy, and Marquette Academy.  The scholarship is intended to give young people opportunities to grow, learn and prosper in the Catholic faith in the same manner in which Mrs. Peddicord and her children were given.  The endowment is maintained by Marquette Academy. The incoming freshmen recipients will be chosen solely by Mrs. Betty Peddicord and/or her family and is based on financial need, character and desire of the student to receive a Catholic education.  

Julie Caruso Memorial Foundation Scholarship consists of a monetary scholarship of $3,000 given to an incoming freshman that is a member of a supporting parish and is renewable as long as the student remains in good social and academic standing.  Julie Caruso was a member of the Class of 1988 and is the daughter of Lucien and Kathy Caruso, who are long time Marquette supporters.    She was an exemplary student who was involved in many activities at MHS and exhibited strong family values and high morals. Julie’s life was tragically taken in October, 1986. Julie’s family established the foundation in her memory. Selection is based on the student’s character and academic achievements.  The recipient’s name is placed on a plaque, which remains at Marquette Academy.  The selection is made solely by the family of Julie Caruso.

The “Boots” Memorial Scholarship - Dave, Don, and Kathy Wisniewski are providing a $1500 high school scholarship to a Marquette freshmen, sophomore, junior or senior to be used toward tuition. The scholarship is given to honor the memory of their mother/aunt Charlene Just- Wisniewski-Eike who believed in the value of small school community and a faith based high school education. Charlene known as “Boots” to all was a 1957 graduate of Marquette High School where she participated in various school events including cheerleading, tennis, and Catholic Daughters of America. After graduating from Marquette, Boots attended St. Xavier University where she received her education degree. She went on to teach at Wallace Grade school for 30 years. Boots always saw the best traits in her students and made it her mission to get her students to see those traits in themselves. Boots was proud to be inducted into the Marquette Hall of Fame based on her distinguished career in education. This scholarship is need based, and open to all, but special consideration will be given to students who graduated from Wallace Grade School. 
 

The Tina Dittmer Scholarship - Tina Dittmer Scholarship is a monetary scholarship given to an incoming freshman and is renewable as long as the student remains in good social and academic standing.  Tina was a member of the Class of 1981.  She exemplified the true Catholic spirit of Marquette.  She was known for her radiant personality and infectious smile but she was beloved because of her sincerity, integrity, and kindness.  Tina’s life was cut short in 1983 but her compassion, warmth, and sparkle endured.  Her family, classmates, and friends established this scholarship to share Tina’s life with those who never knew her.   
 

The Bob Guyette Scholarship is a monetary scholarship for incoming freshmen. Bob Guyette was a graduate of Marquette High School class of 1971. Bob was a standout athlete at MHS and is a member of the Marquette Academy John Pocivasek Athletic Hall of fame. He has a high level of commitment to Catholic education and love and dedication to his alma mater.  Mr. Guyette has established this scholarship to further the education of a future Marquette Academy High School student. This scholarship will enable an incoming freshman to receive the same Catholic education he received. The student must be in good standings academically and socially, and the student should be involved in extracurricular activities. The student will be chosen by the Principal of Marquette Academy.
 

The Kelly Sobotta Monti Memorial Scholarship - In loving memory of Kelly Sobotta Monti, a cherished alumna of Marquette High School, the Sobotta family is proud to establish the Kelly Sobotta Monti Memorial Scholarship. Kelly, a member of the Class of 2000, was a vibrant and dedicated student known for her enthusiastic participation in the Crusaderette Pom team. Her unwavering spirit, leadership, and commitment to her school community left a lasting impact on all who knew her. Kelly was a dedicated wife, mother and sister and is dearly missed by so many. 
This $500 scholarship is awarded annually to an incoming Marquette Academy freshman who exemplifies the same dedication and passion that Kelly embodied during her time at the school. Eligible applicants should be actively involved in extracurricular activities, demonstrate leadership qualities, and have a good academic record. The recipient of the Kelly Sobotta Monti Scholarship will be chosen by the administration of Marquette Academy. 
Through this scholarship, Kelly’s legacy continues to inspire and support future generations of Marquette Academy students, honoring her memory and the positive influence she had on her peers and community.
 

The James Michael “Mikey” Czech Memorial Scholarship - Stephen and Jennifer (Anderson) Czech have established this scholarship in memory of their only son James Michael “Mikey” Czech, who passed away on September 7, 2008 at age 11, from a diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (“DIPG”), the most aggressive and deadly form of pediatric brain cancer diagnosed in children between the ages of 3 and 16.  Mikey’s mother, Jennifer (Anderson) Czech was a member of the Marquette Academy High School Class of 1979. This gift was established in 2007 in an effort on the part of the Czech family to preserve the memory of their beloved son and to provide opportunities for deserving students to receive a value-based, Catholic education and assist students who do not have the financial resources to pay for it.  It consists of a varied monetary amount based on the success of the interest amount of the fund. The recipient must have and maintain a B+ grade point average. 

 

The Chris (Kuhn) Miller Memorial Scholarship is a monetary scholarship for an incoming freshman to Marquette Academy High School. This scholarship was started by the class of 1972. Chris (Kuhn) Miller was a member of the Class of 1972. On October 9th 2019 Chris, a beloved member of the community passed.  Chris was best known for her kind words and loving smile. Chris was the most giving person and if there was a group that needed volunteers whether at the Academy or in the community Chris was there.  Chris was true Blue & Gold and loved and supported her Cru and Knights you would always see her in the front row at Bader gym cheering on the kids.  Chris embodied three things:  Kindness, Faith and Respect for all. Her spirit was unlike anyone else and she is dearly missed by her family friends and our entire community.  The Chris (Kuhn) Miller scholarship recipient will be chosen by the Class of 1972 Scholarship committee.

The Sandy Kotek Memorial Scholarship is a monetary scholarship given to an incoming freshman. Sandy Kotek was a lifelong Crusader. Sandy was a graduate of the Class of 1964, married her high school sweetheart Ray Kotek Class of 1963 and had three children who all attended Marquette High School. Sandy worked at Marquette for 32 years working in the advancement office, main office, athletic offices and was the Athletic Director. Sandy coached the Poms and Cheerleaders for several years and was an assistant in the Volleyball program. Working at Marquette was so much more than just a job to Sandy, it was family. You would always find her on the sidelines cheering on her beloved CRU. Sandy treated every student, staff member and coach like they were her own. The love and support that she showed for Marquette will never be matched.  In April of 2020 we lost our beloved Sandy. This scholarship was started by her family to carry on the legacy that Sandy lived every day. The recipient of this scholarship must possess the characteristics that Sandy Kotek exhibited throughout her life; kindness, loyalty and citizenship. The recipient will be chosen by the administration of Marquette Academy with consultation by the Kotek family.
 

Joseph J Hohner Scholarship consists of a one year scholarship open only to full time students in Ottawa. Award selection is based on both need and merit. The amount of the award will vary depending on the funds available through the scholarship investment, and on the number of qualified applicants. The scholarship is not automatically renewable. You must submit a new application every year.
 

Loretta Graham Marquette Scholarship consists of a $500 one time scholarship to a graduating  Marquette Academy student who has a desire to attend Marquette Academy High School and who is a good representative of Marquette .  The essay should be submitted to Marquette Academy by May 1st and will be read by the Junior High faculty, who will choose the student to whom the scholarship is awarded
 

The Chad Schneider Memorial Scholarship consists of a monetary scholarship of $500 for the freshmen year and $500 for the remaining years. This scholarship is in honor of Chad Schneider who graduated from Marquette with the class of 1992. Chad’s life was tragically ended in late August, 1992. His family, who are long time Marquette supporters, established this scholarship in his memory based on the student’s academic standings, strong moral character and desire to receive a Marquette education. This recipient is chosen solely by the family of Chad Schneider.
 

Friends of Marquette Scholarship is a monetary scholarship given to those that are actively involved with the youth of our community, eligible students must participate in extra-curricular activities, clubs and organizations at Marquette Academy. The recipient must display excellent character, good citizenship and remain in good academic standings. All students interested must fill out the Marquette Academy Scholarship Application. The recipients of this scholarship will be chosen by the Friends of Marquette Committee.

The Bob “Coach” Strickland Scholarship is a monetary scholarship determined by the Coach Strickland Scholarship Committee. All students interested must fill out the Marquette Academy Scholarship application. The Strickland committee will review the essays and chose the recipient(s).

The Garnett Paquette Memorial Scholarship is a monetary scholarship of $1,000 for the year  provided the student remain in good academic and social standings. This scholarship fund was established in 2011 from the memorial donations honoring Garnett Paquette. Garnett was a 1962 graduate of Marquette High School and was a fixture in the front row of Bader Gym supporting her beloved Crusaders. Financial need is considered, but not the only factor in the selection process. The recipient will be selected by the family of Garnett Paquette.

The Richard R. Rogalla Scholarship –This scholarship is in memory of Richard Rogalla, Richard died on March 17th 2004, and he was a 1993 graduate of Marquette High School. This scholarship fund was given to Marquette Academy to be distributed to students. Each year, five hundred dollars will be distributed as scholarship money. It may be divided or given to one student at the discretion of Marquette Academy’s principal. Mrs Rogalla stipulates that the recipients must demonstrate financial need and be an active member of St Joseph Parish in Marseilles. The Rogalla family will be consulted before the final decision is made. This scholarship is available to both high school and elementary students.

The Order of the M Scholarship is a monetary scholarship based off of the funds raised by the Order of the M. This scholarship is to be awarded to an incoming freshman who displays good Christian values and is active in service to his/her community. The student will be chosen by the advisors and leaders of the Order of the M.

The Laila Al-Saleh Memorial Scholarship
This one time $500 scholarship shall be given to a female minority student that wishes to attend Marquette Academy High school. Financial need is considered in this scholarship, and the recipient will be chosen by the administration of Marquette Academy.

Laila Al -Saleh arrived in Phoenix Arizona with her parents, three brothers, and older sister as a result of the 1990 Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. She was an elementary school student at the time. She adjusted to her new surroundings and thrived under the guidance of her parents, caring teachers, and an accepting community. She was a happy, vivacious youngster full of life, keeping busy with school, helping around the house, and with her younger brothers. When she matriculated to Greenway High School in Phoenix Arizona she was elected Freshmen Class President. While at school, Laila was stricken and died suddenly from an undiagnosed heart ailment. As a result of her untimely death she ultimately saved the lives of her siblings and mother who were diagnosed with the same disease. She will be remembered for the gift she gave to her family and for her contributions to her schools and community. It is hoped recipients of this scholarship will be people like her, who help better the lives of those around them. 

RECENTLY ADDED SCHOLARSHIPS:

Jason “Howdy” Jensen Memorial Scholarship
Walsh/Nussbaum Family Scholarship
Student Council Scholarship 
Glen Dougherty/St Francis Scholarship 
Bill Gretencord Memorial Scholarship
Parish Scholarships
Class of 1968 Scholarship
 

The deadline for the above-mentioned scholarships is March 2nd, 2026, to Mrs. Nikki Speirer at Marquette Academy 1000 Paul St. Ottawa IL 61350. Recipients will be named by May15th, 2026.

The scholarships listed above have their funds invested through Marquette Academy. There are also scholarships available through Marquette Academy for those who qualify.

The top four scorers of the Explore Placement Test that are registered Marquette freshmen will be awarded $250 each.

Additional scholarships are available through many local parishes.