Fike family establishes scholarship fund

The Fike family has established a $60,000 fund to provide scholarships to students participating in IVCC’s Center for Accessibility and Neurodiversity.

The Donald Fike Family Scholarship honors Fike’s advocacy for people with disabilities. Fike was the first executive director of Horizon House of Illinois Valley, and later launched a business in Galesburg that developed housing for people with disabilities and for senior citizens.

He remains a leading advocate for zoning laws for housing for people with disabilities, advocacy which led to the first federal test case regarding amendments to The Fair Housing Act.

During nine years at Horizon House, Fike established a work activity center, a sheltered workshop, various residential programs, and a summer program for kids. He also worked with LaSalle-Peru High School to establish the first program in the state in which people identified as Trainable Mentally Handicapped (a term used at the time) received regular high school diplomas.

“This scholarship will honor and continue Don’s lifetime work to improve the lives of people with disabilities. IVCC students who participate in The Center for Accessibility and Neurodiversity will receive support for years to come,” said Tracy Beattie, Executive Director of the IVCC Foundation. =

The scholarship will help strengthen The Center for Accessibility and Neurodiversity’s mission of empowering diverse learners. “Awards that are dedicated to this group of students help them see that diversity is valued and difference is embraced,” said Coordinator Tina Hardy. “Being awarded a scholarship is a vote of confidence that can help students see their possibilities, increase their motivation, and encourage them to move more readily toward their dreams.”

Annually, between 150-200 students receive services -- accommodations, coaching, strategy instruction, and resource referrals -- that help them find support and encouragements for reaching their academic and personal goals. Students with physical, sensory, cognitive, and mental health diagnoses that create barriers to the educational process are served through the office.

Fike is a native of Tonica and a graduate of IVCC.