In the only instance where people are openly encouraged to ‘vote early and vote often,’ Taylorville Community Credit Union has announced that voting has begun to determine the eight student winners of $1000 awards in its 12th annual ‘Stop. SHOP. VOTE!’ scholarship program.
Twenty five senior students from Taylorville High School are registered in this year’s program. TCCU will present a total of eight $1000 financial awards – two each at Taylorville, Hillsboro, Litchfield and Pana High Schools -- to students who plan to continue their education after high school graduation at a trade school, two-year community college or a four-year university.
TCCU President Will Perkins says the eight winners are determined by votes cast in participating businesses in the four communities and Tri-County residents have through February 27, 2026 to vote for their favorite student(s) at participating businesses. For every $10 they spend they can cast one (1) vote for a registered student with no limit on how many votes they cast. A total of 80 locally owned businesses between the four communities are participating this year, giving people numerous options and opportunities to shop and vote.
Taylorville High School students participating in the 2025-26 program are:
Gabriella Appel, Rye Bliler, Hudson DeMichael, Cash Dye, Brody Garrett, Colton Gatton, Maxx Grieme, Josie Heberling, Kaylie Hendrickson, Ella Hohenstein, Selena Johnson, Madelyn Lamb, Mia Lyons, Ellee Mateer, Emlyn Mateer, Owen Mateer, Gabby Mireles, Olivia Mizeur, Carleigh Owens, Ella Reiss, Karlee Rexroad, Meadow Shinneman, Jaylee Smith, Meredith Spears and Charlotte Stickel.
The complete list of participating businesses in each of the four communities is on TCCU’s web site (www.TCCU.org). Businesses also are displaying large posters featuring the registered students’ photos and a list of all participating businesses in their front windows or inside.
TCCU is a not-for-profit, cooperative financial institution, serving its members’ needs since 1956. Its membership is open to everyone who lives or works within the tri-county region of Christian, Montgomery and Shelby Counties. For more information about the credit union’s range of financial services and products, or how to join, visit www.TCCU.org, or stop in or call any of its local branch locations: Taylorville: 422 W. Main Cross Street (217-824-9658); Hillsboro: 138 E. Wood Street (217-532-5300); Litchfield: 801 W. Union Avenue (217-324-7496); Pana: 101 E. Fifth (217-562-2516).
