Community News
Blackburn guarantees free tuition with Macoupin Promise
By Tom Emery
CARLINVILLE – A bold new program at Blackburn College will guarantee free tuition to students from Macoupin County high schools, while a separate program will meet financial needs of students from around the nation.
The Macoupin Promise will provide free tuition to Blackburn for qualifying students from all high schools within Macoupin County. A second plan, the Blackburn Promise, will fully meet the financial needs of students from anywhere in the United States.
“It goes to the heart of the College mission,” said Peter Oswald, the Director of Marketing and Publications at Blackburn. “The cost of a college education is a concern to many people. These plans provide the opportunity to receive a high-quality education to prepare students to become leaders in the workplace and in their communities.”
The Macoupin Promise is open to first-time Blackburn students who are graduates of Macoupin County high schools and have a family household income of under $60,000. The student must meet Blackburn’s standard admission requirements and file the Fee Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by December 1, from which most of the tuition will be paid. The remainder will come from money raised in the Macoupin County Scholarship Auction, an annual tradition at Blackburn.
The plan covers only tuition, not room and board, and requires the student to participate in the Student Work Program, which was formerly optional for commuting students.
Oswald notes that Blackburn has always drawn heavily from Macoupin County, and has a large alumni base in the area. “It’s a great way for Blackburn to give back to the local areas,” he said. “It provides the opportunity for Macoupin County students to earn a college degree and remain here, in their local communities.
[pullquote]There’s no reason why the best and brightest students in our area have to leave[/pullquote]
“There’s no reason why the best and brightest students in our area have to leave,” continued Oswald. “We want them to stay here, and become future leaders in the communities of Macoupin County.”
The Macoupin Promise was unveiled in a ceremony on the lawn of McKinley House, the Blackburn president’s home, in late September. The program has been enthusiastically received by area high school principals, who laud the importance of Blackburn in the area.
The school is also generating nationwide publicity for the Blackburn Promise, which is open to students from around the U.S. Under that program, students will file the FAFSA, which calculates the Estimated Family Contribution, or EFC. Blackburn will then recognize the EFC as the only cost for the student.
“Because of escalating costs, students at most schools have to come up with more money out of pocket, because their financial aid packages don’t cover the difference between tuition and their EFC,” said Oswald. “The Blackburn Promise provides a simple and equitable way to assign costs for a college education here, and will completely fulfill each student’s financial need.
“If the student’s EFC is zero, then the student won’t have to pay anything for tuition at Blackburn,” continued Oswald. “If the EFC is $8,000, then that’s all the student will have to pay.” The difference in tuition costs will be covered from Blackburn’s endowment and other funding sources.
Less than six percent of schools nationwide offer a similar plan and only two, Northwestern University and the University of Chicago, are in Illinois. Others on the list include several Ivy League schools and some of the nation’s finest liberal-arts schools, such as Amherst, Bryn Mawr, and Williams.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity for young people to obtain a top-quality education at a low cost,” remarked Oswald. “The mission of the College throughout its 180 years of history has been to provide affordable access to higher education, and these programs address that goal.
“We have a rigorous academic program at Blackburn, and the Work Program gives students the tools they need to advance in their careers,” concluded Oswald. “Now, Blackburn is providing more opportunities for a great education to students both from Macoupin County and around the nation.”
Tom Emery is a freelance writer and historical researcher from Carlinville, Ill. He may be reached at 217-710-8392 or ilcivilwar@yahoo.com.
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Community News
County marks 250th Anniversary of Declaration with reading and archive projects at Spring Festival on May 23
The Macoupin County Historical Society (MCHS) is hosting the first in a series of local celebrations & activities on May 23, 2026, 11:00 a.m. at the Spring festival highlighting the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The public is encouraged to attend a reading of the Declaration aloud at the Red Barn Pavillion.
Following the reading, participants and the public will be encouraged to have a conversation about what’s important to them, their families and to America examining the past and looking at the future.
Attendees may also enter a Birthday Wish for America & sign the America @ 250 Macoupin County Time Capsule book. The book will become a permanent archive of the Macoupin County Historical Society.
Individuals, families, & friends can also be a part of “Community Conversations” recorded by Illinois Voices 250, a Story Telling group affiliated with Illinois Humanities. The recordings will take place in all 102 counties in Illinois. Illinois Voices 250 will be on site most of the day at the Historical Society Spring Festival. The stores recorded will be digitalized and become a permanent part of the Library of Congress.
Those interested in participating are welcome to bring family and friends into a casual conversation about their life story. Both projects were made possible through a grant from Illinois Humanities to Carlinville Winning Communities, a local non profit organization that supports activities in the community. It’s a very successful partnership between Carlinville Winning Communities, Illinois Humanities and the Macoupin County Historical Society, said Mary Tinder, who is coordinating the activities.
This year, 2026, is also a time to “Bring Back the Strawberries”, a specialty desert from the Red Barn Kitchen. For many years, strawberry shortcake was the signature desert at the festivals. The MCHS Board of Directors and Red Barn Kitchen Crew chose this historic occasion to put them back on the menu.
“Fifty Years of Festivals” has helped finance operations for MCHS and we are working towards another fifty years, said board member Patty Ambrose, Vendor and Outreach Coordinator for MCHS. These activities are free, open to the public and accessible. The two-day festival is May 23, 24, 2026 at the Macoupin County Historical Society, 900 West Breckenridge Street, Carlinville, Il.
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Community News
Benld prepares to celebrate 72nd annual Italian American Days over Memorial Day weekend
A beloved community tradition returns this Memorial Day weekend as the 72nd Annual Benld Italian-American Days brings three days of food, music, and family fun to Benld City Park from Friday, May 22 through Sunday, May 24.
Hosted by the Italian Club of Benld, the long-running festival celebrates the area’s rich Italian heritage while welcoming visitors from across the region for a full slate of activities.
Festivalgoers can expect a wide variety of homemade Italian favorites served throughout the weekend, including salami and meatball sandwiches, tortellini soup, bagna cauda, and cannoli. A daily fish fry featuring cod and whiting will also be available, along with classic festival fare such as hamburgers, hot dogs, Italian beef, and carnival treats. Beer, wine, and soda will be available for purchase.
In addition to the food, the event will feature carnival rides provided by Conner Family Amusement, Inc., with unlimited ride sessions offered throughout the weekend. Bingo will be held nightly at 7:00 p.m., and festival-themed shirts will be available for purchase.
Live music and dancing will take center stage each evening. Friday night entertainment includes a performance by Flip the Frog from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m., with the park open from 4:00 to 11:00 p.m.
Saturday highlights include the Italian Club Car Show, with registration from 8:00 a.m. to noon and judging beginning at noon. The park opens at 11:00 a.m., and live music will feature Pat Jones in the afternoon followed by Borderline in the evening.
Sunday kicks off with the “Meatballs on the Run” 5K at 9:00 a.m., sponsored by the Gillespie Cross Country Boosters. You can sign-up to participate online here. The day continues with free spaghetti served from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., a bocce ball tournament beginning at noon, and a full lineup of live music throughout the day, including performances by Unbroken, Syner-Gee, and B&B Strings.
Connors Family Amusements will provide carnival armbands for $30. Armbands will be valid Friday (May 22) from 6:00 to 10 :00 p.m. and again on Saturday (May 23rd) and Sunday (May 24th) from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. and again from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m, Advanced armband sales will be available from May 4th through May 21st at the Frank Bertetti Public Library and Benld City Hall for $25. Debit and Credit Cards will NOT be accepted.
Organizers note that no outside beverages are permitted in the park or at club events.
With its mix of tradition, entertainment, and community spirit, the 72nd Annual Benld Italian-American Days promises to once again be a highlight of the summer season in Macoupin County. For more information and updates, follow the festival on Facebook at Benld Italian American Days.
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Gillespie will host a Community Blood Drive with ImpactLife, the provider of blood components for local hospitals. The blood drive will be from 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm on Monday, May 11 at 900 Broadway, inside Gillespie Methodist Church Gym.
To donate, please contact Brenda Lowe at (217) 7101336 or visit www.bloodcenter.org and use code 60020 to locate the drive. Appointments are requested. You may also call ImpactLife at 800-747-5401 to schedule.
Potential donors must be at least 17 years of age (16 with parental permission form available
through www.bloodcenter.org) and weigh more than 110 pounds. A photo I.D. is required to donate.
For questions about eligibility, please call ImpactLife at (800) 7475401. Donors who last gave blood on or before March 16, 2026, are eligible to give at this drive.
Blood donation is a safe, simple procedure that takes about 45 minutes to one hour. Individuals with diabetes or controlled high blood pressure may be accepted as eligible donors.
ImpactLife is a nonprofit community organization providing blood products and services to more than 100 hospitals and emergency medical service providers in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, and Wisconsin, as well as researchers and resource sharing partners across the country.
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