The "Stay 4" Project®
School Districts Currently Participating in the "Stay 4" Project®
"Stay 4" is a program designed to identify, help, and retain students who demonstrate the ability to succeed, yet are considered to be at risk of dropping out of high school. Upon completion of the "Stay 4" criteria, high school graduation, and enrollment in a trade school, community college, or four-year university, students will be awarded a minimum $1,000 grant from Great Plains LIFE Foundation to support their continuing efforts.
What is "Stay 4?"
The "Stay 4" Selection Process

  • The school district will be responsible for selecting those students who have the potential to succeed but could also benefit from additional encouragement and motivation through a structured mentoring program and utilizing community volunteers
  • Students selected must qualify for the National School Lunch Program (Free & Reduced Price Meals)
  • Students will be chosen in their junior year of high school
  • Following the student's selection, the Great Plains LIFE Foundation will meet with the student, mentor, counselor, and parent/guardian to discuss the "Stay 4" Project® criteria.
Program Criteria

For students to remain eligible, they must fulfill the following requirements throughout their junior and senior years of high school:

  • Plan their final two-year program with their counselors
  • Meet with their counselors twice during the school year to ensure they are staying on track
  • Retain a minimum grade point average of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale or a 3.0 on a 5.0 scale
  • Participate in at least one extracurricular activity during each school year
  • Provide 10 hours of community service annually
  • The Great Plains LIFE Foundation will select mentors to correspond with and encourage students during their high school tenure
  • Upon fulfillment of the criteria, and upon graduation from high school, the Great Plains LIFE Foundation will award students with a minimum $1,000 grant to be used as needed
  • The grant will be awarded when students have enrolled in any advanced educational program. This could include community college, trade schools, or four-year university
  • Attend 1 or more of the 2 Successful Student Workshops at Illinois State University (Transportation & all expenses will be provided)
  • Meet with the Illinois Student Assistance Corps (ISAC) representatives in their school at least once per semester
  • Students who are unable to fulfill all criteria will be declared ineligible to receive the grant.The individual school district will be responsible for final approval of the award or making any special exceptions
  • All criteria must be completed by graduation
Bloomington District #87
Bloomington High

McLean County Unit District #5
Normal Community West High
Normal Community High

McLean County Alternative

Champaign Unit  District #44
Centennial High
Central High

Decatur District  #61
Eisenhower High
MacArthur High

Peoria District #150
Manual High
Woodruff High

Rockford District #205
Auburn High
East High
Guilford High
Jefferson High

Riverton Unit #14
Riverton High

Springfield District #186
Lanphier High
Southeast High
Springfield High

Urbana District #116
Urbana High
See the front-page article of the Pantagraph  on the "Stay 4" Project® here, published Tuesday, April 6, 2010.
Staying. . . IN
Dropping. . . OUT
Why "Stay 4"
Be Part of the IN Crowd
  • IN School
  • IN line to graduate
  • INvolved
  • IN control
  • INdependent
  • INcome
Apart from the IN Crowd
  • INsecure
  • IN debt
  • INeffective
  • INcompetent
  • INcompatible
  • IN trouble