Taylorville Community Credit Union says the ballots are already rolling in for its 12th annual “Stop. Shop. Vote!” scholarship program, but there’s still plenty of time for shoppers to take part. The program, which encourages residents to support local businesses while also helping area high school seniors earn scholarship money, runs through February 28th. Shoppers can cast votes for students simply by shopping at participating local businesses in Taylorville, Pana, Hillsboro and Litchfield.

In all, eight graduating seniors, two from each community, will receive one-thousand-dollar scholarships to help pay for their continuing education at a trade school, community college, or four-year university. Taylorville Community Credit Union President Will Perkins says the concept is simple.
Shoppers receive one vote for every ten dollars they spend at a participating business. There’s no limit to how many stores you can visit — or how many times you can shop. Perkins says the program is designed to benefit both students and small businesses across the region. Voting will continue through February 28th. 

In Taylorville alone, 25 seniors from Taylorville High School are taking part in this year’s competition, all hoping to be named one of the two local scholarship winners. Those students include: 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.

Participating businesses are helping promote the program by displaying large posters featuring the students’ photos in their windows and inside their stores. A full list of participating businesses in all four communities can be found on the credit union’s website at TCCU dot org.

Taylorville Community Credit Union, which has been serving the area since 1956, is a not-for-profit cooperative financial institution serving members in Christian, Montgomery, and Shelby counties.
Anyone interested in learning more about the scholarship program — or about joining the credit union — can visit TCCU dot org or stop by one of their branch locations in Taylorville, Hillsboro, Litchfield, or Pana.