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On May 22, 2026, Waubonsee Community College student Justin Winters, of Oswego, received a Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s (SIU) 2026 Provost Scholarship. Winters was selected as a standout student among 30 community colleges nationally.
"What makes our partnership between SIU and Waubonsee so impactful is the seamless connection between our institutions,” said Agnes Szemborski, Assistant Vice Chancellor for External Relations. “Our faculty are so impressed by the state-of-the-art facilities available at Waubonsee’s Technical Education Center. The Automotive Service Technology program is truly a premier program, and because Waubonsee prepares students so well, we are deeply grateful for the partnership.”
Winters is the third consecutive Waubonsee transfer student to be selected for this prestigious award. To qualify as an SIU Provost Scholar, recipients must demonstrate high academic achievement, have a strong record of leadership in their communities, and participate in numerous extracurricular activities. The scholarship is renewable, contingent upon the recipient maintaining a 3.0 or higher GPA. It covers full tuition and mandatory fees for two years.
Having recently graduated from Waubonsee with an Associate in Applied Science in Automotive Service Technology, Winters will seamlessly transfer to SIU this fall. The scholarship sets him on a clear path to earn his Bachelor of Science in Automotive Technology debt-free. For him, the award is a total game-changer, bringing him one step closer to his goal of becoming a field service engineer.
“This award means a lot to me, not only financially, but as the final stamp on my future,” said Winters. “My experience at Waubonsee was incredible because it felt like a family. My professors and my classmates were a massive part of that support system, and they made me excited to come to class every day.”
Housed within the Sugar Grove Campus’ state-of-the-art, 100,000-square-foot Technical Education Center, Waubonsee’s nationally certified and ASE-accredited Automotive Service Technology program has earned nearly 20 accolades from local, regional, and national organizations. Here, students master their craft through rigorous, hands-on training using the industry's most advanced tools and equipment. Learn more at waubonsee.edu/automotive.
Above: Pictured (left to right): Clayton Muhammad, Vice President of Community Engagement and External Affairs; Sarah Kocunik, Graduation and Transfer Coordinator; Tyler Friedland, Assistant Professor of Automotive Technology; Guy Tiberio, Associate Professor of Automotive Technology; Justin Winters; Agnes Szemborski, Assistant Vice Chancellor for External Relations; Sergio Vlahovic, Student Success Coach; and Rey Diaz, Transfer Admissions Representative
