Bright Stars Scholarship Program Changes Overview
The Bright Stars Scholarship Program was created in 2018 by the John and Deborah Gillis Foundation. The foundation exists to provide scholarship opportunities to amplify, strengthen and empower Hopkins County students so they will be career ready to be highly competitive in a global society.
Foundation’s NEW Scholarship Goal
- Provide a minimum of seven (7) annual education scholarships to eligible graduating seniors who would benefit from financial support and that are renewable for up to eight consecutive semesters
In May of 2019 the John and Deborah Gillis Foundation began to annually award minimally ten (10) Bright Stars Scholarships in the amount of up to $5,000 a semester for up to 8 semesters to graduating Hopkins County seniors who meet criteria established by the foundation’s Board of Directors. As of October 13, 2026, the foundation’s Board of Director’s established a change in the scholarship program to award seven (7) Bright Stars Scholarships and increasing the amount of each scholarship to $48,000. These criteria reflect the foundation’s mission and goal of supporting students who would benefit most from financial support to increase the potential of achieving their post-secondary education and career goals. The Bright Stars Scholarship application deadline is Friday, March 5, 2027, at 5 pm. All required documents MUST be submitted through the Online Application System on our website by this time and date. No exceptions.
ABOUT US
Congratulations to our 2025 Bright Star Scholars!
For a decade a dream of Hopkins County natives John and Deborah Gillis has been to give back to their hometown and extended communities by providing scholarships to students who otherwise might not have the opportunities to attend post-secondary educational institutions of their choice.
Thus, the John and Deborah Gillis Foundation was created and formed as a result of that dream and exists to do just that – provide Hopkins County graduates with opportunities to realize THEIR own dreams of furthering their education so to become competitive in the world of work and career advancements!
Click here to download a handout explaining the program in detail.
In Memoriam 1961-2022
