Building Community for Success
***Update as of 9/11***Due to your overwhelming generous support, we met our initial goal of $10,000. We will continue adding a stretch goal of $500 each time the goal is met. This means even more students will receive scholarships through the Skibo Scholars program. Thank you for your generosity!
The Skibo Scholars scholarship is being established to honor the memory and legacy of Distinguished Professor, Dr. Jim Skibo. Consider a gift to help us launch the Skibo Scholars program and reach our goal of $10,000 to support 8-10 Redbirds.
The goal of Skibo Scholars is to support first-generation college students and underrepresented students with an interest in anthropology or sociology by building community, creating a sense of belonging, and empowering them with the skills, tools, and connections to flourish in the pursuit of their dreams at Illinois State.
A small cohort of 8-10 newly admitted students will be selected based on need to participate in a 2-3 day community-building experience that will include early move-in, targeted skill-building workshops and community-building exercises, a continued cohort experience throughout the first year, and a small scholarship to jump start their educational journey at ISU.
The legacy of Dr. Jim Skibo
Jim was a beloved teacher and mentor and a renowned archaeologist who taught at Illinois State University for 27 years, serving as Department Chair from 2014 -2018. As a scholar, Jim specialized in prehistoric pottery, archaeological theory, and the archaeology of the Great Lakes. In addition to advancing methods in the field of archaeology, Jim trained and inspired generations of students in his archaeological field schools, especially at the long-running Grand Island Field School in Michigan.
Following his retirement in 2018, he championed archaeology in the public interest as State Archaeologist with the Wisconsin Historical Society. Jim was engaged in projects with Native Nations and the descendants of pre-Civil War Black pioneers in Wisconsin at the time of his death in April 2023.
Jim was unwavering in his focus on education for the greater
good. He was passionate about learning
and ensuring that all students had the opportunity to engage in critical
thought and experiential learning to foster an appreciation for the value of
our past and its impact on our present.
Thank you for your gift
Thank you for supporting Rebirds in honor of the legacy of Dr. Jim Skibo. We appreciate your help towards our goal of $10,000 for the first cohort!