Continuing Excellence in Math Education
and Accounting Scholarship

This scholarship was started in December of 2021 by Kim and Tim Gryl of Morton. The fund provides 2 annual scholarships. One award for the purpose of granting a senior at MHS a scholarship to allow said student to attend a college or university to pursue a degree in mathematics education (Jr. High or High School).  And a second award for the purpose of granting a senior at MHS a scholarship to allow said student to attend a college or university to pursue a degree in accounting.

Unlike many scholarships that are set up to honor the life of a loved one who has passed, the Gryls desired to set up these scholarships so that they could enjoy seeing the students receive their scholarships during their lifetime.  Kim served 6 years on the Board of the Morton Community Foundation and still serves on the MCF’s Finance Committee.  Tim is currently serving on the Board of the Morton Community Foundation.

Tim enjoyed a very successful career at Caterpillar based on math and statistics. He attributes much of that success to a few inspiring teachers in high school, and one special math professor in college. He confesses he wasn't much of a student in high school but found his love for math starting with geometry and algebra because of a few teachers who made the subjects exciting and FUN. He is thankful for those teachers. He is also appreciative of the math teachers at Blessed Sacrament and Morton High School who helped his own boys excel in math. He knows all the sciences are important, but believes math is the core. He is adamant that we need more young students who want to pursue mathematics as a career, and knows we need inspiring, dedicated math teachers to make that happen.

Kim also enjoyed a successful career at Caterpillar in Accounting. She attributes her love of accounting to her Morton High School accounting teacher Mr. Bruell. As a Freshman at MHS, she wanted to take accounting, which was usually reserved for upperclassmen. When Mr. Bruell found out there was an underclassman interested in accounting, he intervened on her behalf and accepted her into the class. And that was all it took. Kim took the two courses offered at MHS her freshman and sophomore years, and then Mr. Bruell created two more classes for her and three other students so they could continue learning. Thanks to Mr. Bruell, Kim was well ahead of others in her accounting classes in college. Thanks to people like Mr. Bruell who can instill a love of learning in our students and make learning fun. It's this foundation that allowed Kim to have a successful career in accounting.

HOW TO APPLY:

Morton High School students who feel they may qualify for this scholarship can pick up an application in the Morton High School counseling office beginning in mid-February each year. Applications must be filled out and submitted to the counseling office in mid-March. You may inquire in the counseling office for specific pickup dates and deadlines each year.

Qualifications:

Selection of the recipient of the scholarship(s) will be based on the following criteria:

• Must be a graduating senior at Morton High School;

• Must be enrolled in an accredited, degree-granting college or university (minimum of 12 credit hours) for the following academic year, with intentions of pursuing a degree in Math Education for students applying for the Math Educator scholarship or a degree in Accounting for students applying for the Accounting scholarship;

• Must have demonstrated academic success by having achieved a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0

• Has demonstrated the following attributes:

  • Positive attitude

  • Encourages others

  • Charitable

  • Hard working

  • Compassionate

  • High moral character

  • Role model to underclassmen

• Preference will be given to students who have been involved in school activities and/or who have volunteered in various ways both at school, and in the community.

• Must include an essay of 500 words or less addressing the following:

  • Why I want to pursue a career in Math Education or Accounting.

  • Reasons why this career is important to me.

• Contact the MHS Counseling office for information on this and other MHS scholarships.

Applications for the scholarship(s) will be accepted annually during the months of January, February & March. The advisory committee will determine the winner(s) in April, and the scholarships will be announced in early May.

Past Scholarship Recipients:

2023 - chase sauder and madeline behnke

2024 - jake darcy and jayna jones

If you would like to help us grow this endowment to create more and larger scholarships by making a tax deductible donation to this endowment fund, please click the button below for online donations (fees apply). Or, you can mail a check to 135 S First Avenue, Morton, IL 61550.