The Collinsville Area Community Foundation recognized the 2025 recipients of the Stan Schaeffer Memorial Scholarship at the May 27 meeting of the Collinsville City Council.
In the early 2000s, then Collinsville Mayor Stan Schaeffer, a retired educator, was inspired by “Promise” organizations in other communities that provided scholarships for local graduates. Following Schaeffer’s sudden death in 2008, City leaders made the Collinsville scholarship program a reality and set the course for its community-based focus.
The Stan Schaeffer Scholarship is a $1,000 non-renewable award for Collinsville High School graduating seniors who live within the corporate limits of Collinsville, Illinois.
The 2025 Stan Schaeffer Scholarship Recipients are:
Devin Habermehl
Devin was a four year member of the varsity football and track teams. He was a charter member of the Kahok Football Leadership Council, and helped restart the Fellowship of Christian Athletes program at CHS where he participated as an officer for four years. He was a member of KAHOKStrong for two years, and one of the Kahok Krazies his senior year.
He earned numerous statewide and CHS football and track honors; and broke a 55-year-old school record in discus.
Devin will be attending Northern Illinois University and will be playing fullback for the Huskies. He will major in physical/health education, with the intention to return to CHS to teach PE, and coach both football and track.
Tyler Harmon
Tyler was a member of the CHS Varsity Trap team for four years, the Honor Roll, and National Trade Honor Society. He was also a member of the Metal Arts Club. Tyler took second place in the 2025 SWIC Welding Competition and 16th Place in a 2025 American Welding Academy Competition. He has been an assistant boat mechanic at VC Marine since 2022.
Tyler will be attending the American Welding Academy to earn multiple certifications, including welding, OSHA training, forklift and blueprinting. He plans to become a welder on power plants, pipelines, or possibly offshore oil rigs. He hopes to have an opportunity to work internationally.
Nora Johnson (not pictured)
Nora was president of the Future Teachers Club at Collinsville High School, and a student preschool teacher at CAVC preschool. She served as vice-president of the CHS Gay-Straight Alliance. She is passionate about the arts, especially theatre, and was active in the CHS Drama Club throughout high school.
She has been accepted into the SIUE CODES program. Community-Oriented Digital Engagement Scholars, or CODES, is a program to replace general education coursework with hands-on learning experiences for credit. CODE Scholars take their education beyond the walls of the classroom and into the St. Louis region. CODES is a first-of-its-kind program, supported by the Mellon Foundation and the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Nora will attend SIUE in the Fall to become an elementary school teacher.
Solomon Talbott (not pictured)
Solomon graduated in the top 3% of the Class of 2025, and his SAT score was in the top 4% nationally. He played varsity basketball and volleyball. Solomon was a Huddle Leader for the CHS Fellowship of Christian Athletes, devotions leader for the First Priority Club, and a member of Student Council. He has received numerous honors as a scholar/athlete. This year, he earned the Illinois State Seal of Biliteracy for Spanish.
He will be attending Maryville Baptist University in the Fall to play basketball and major in business/finance with an entrepreneurial focus.
Support Local Scholarships
The Stan Schaeffer Memorial Scholarship is supported through the
Collinsville Area Community Foundation. CACF is a public charitable organization as defined by Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. All contributions and gifts are tax deductible. Donations and bequests are accepted from and disbursed to individuals, groups or businesses. To learn more and to make a donation to the scholarship fund,
visit the foundation website.
Additional settings for Safari Browser.
