GALVA — Hoopeston Area senior Shay Layden was one of three recipients for a $1,500 scholarship from the Illinois Land Improvement Contractor’s Association (LICA).
Layden, the daughter of Eric and Angela Layden, has a 3.51 GPA at Hoopeston Area High School. She is actively involved in marching band, FFA, National Honor Society, drama department, student council, basketball, golf, and softball.
Layden serves as vice President of her FFA Chapter and team manager for the softball team. Outside of school, she attends St. Anthony Catholic Church, where she is a member of the youth group and attends Catholic Heart Work Camp every summer. She also works part-time at a local ice cream shop. Shay’s aspiration is to become a master electrician with a focus on becoming an outside lineman.
Illinois LICA recently established this scholarship program to help its members’ families offset rising costs associated with pursuing post-high school education. Open to high school seniors and upperclassmen pursuing post-high school education (including 2 or 4 year degrees and trade schools) and any course of study, applicants must submit transcripts, an essay, and three letters of recommendation to complete the application process.
For 2026, the selection committee awarded three outstanding individuals with $1,500 scholarships each. The other two are Jessica Dietz of Walnut and Callista Ridgely of Parkersburg.
Illinois LICA is a not-for-profit trade association dedicated to the professional conservation of soil and water resources. For over 65 years, ILICA has been providing contractors construction & conservation education, business & legislative resources, and industry discounts