Johnstone Supply recently awarded $85,000 in scholarships to students as part of the John M. Shank Memorial Scholarship Fund, which was started in 2004 to honor the legacy of John Shank, founder of Johnstone Supply.

“Mr. Shank was a strong believer in giving back to the people who contribute to the success of the company,” said Kim Cafferty, Johnstone owner and member of the scholarship fund’s Board of Directors.

For the 2018-2019 academic year, 17 scholarships of $5,000 each were awarded to students who are employees or children of employees of Johnstone Supply, studying in a variety of fields. For more than 14 years, the scholarship fund, through donations by the Johnstone Supply membership, has supported students in easing the financial burden of higher education.

Anna Tulley, a scholarship recipient who will be starting her first semester at Illinois State University this fall, remarked that the scholarship not only helps financially, but also inspirationally.

“Thank you for your kindness and generosity," Tulley said. "But, most of all, thank you for this contribution to my future.”