BLOOMINGTON - Matt Wright, who received a 2006-2007 scholarship from Mentoring and Providing Scholarships, gave current scholarship recipients Saturday some insight into how the MAPS program will help them throughout their lives.

"MAPS is more than mentoring and providing scholarships. It's mentoring and providing lifelong goals, opportunities and skills. But I guess that doesn't sound as good," he said.

Wright, an Illinois State University sophomore majoring in theater, said the MAPS program taught him college survival skills that he uses when he wakes up at 8 a.m. and doesn't want to go to class; resume-building skills for seeking employment; and communication skills he uses as a business manager.

Eighteen students received a total of $32,500 in scholarships Saturday from 10 organizations, including MAPS, fraternities, sororities and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People at the 7th annual Joint Scholarship Reception at Mount Pisgah Baptist Church.

Michael Harris, a State Farm Insurance Cos. agent, told the recipients, "Do not come back the same. Show some sign that you've had some higher education."

He urged them to expand their personal circle to expose themselves to people of different backgrounds and belief systems.

Keynote speaker Margie Southard, vice president of operations in the human resources department of State Farm Insurance Cos., told the students to dare to dream.

"Don't ever let anybody destroy your dream," she said. She instructed them to "choose your mentors carefully," and not be overly impressed by a potential mentor's wealth.

Southard said that although she meets many people who are worried about the future of our society, she is not worried because she meets many "bright, committed, socially responsible young students," and because there are many "strong mentors here like in the MAPS program."

The following students received scholarships Saturday:

- Charnelle Brinker, Normal Community West High School - Central Illinois of the Links Inc.

- Valerie Byrd, Bloomington High School - Mentoring and Providing Scholarships, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc.

- Han Lam Chau, Normal Community High School - National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)

- Shatia Durham, BHS - Mentoring and Providing Scholarships program (MAPS), Anonymous

- Percy Echols, NCWHS - MAPS

- Kendra Gay, BHS - Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.

- Michael Harris Jr., NCHS - Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc.

- Nicola Hayes, Heartland Community College - Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority

- Travis M. Johnson, NCHS - MAPS

- Coretta Kenfack, BHS - MAPS, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., 100 Black Men Inc., Delta Sigma Theta Sorority

- Marcus Z. McGee, BHS - Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity

- Sachet Montgomery, NCHS - Grambling State Alumni Association

- Anurag Palekar, BHS - NAACP

- Jami Perkins, NCWHS - Central Illinois of the Links Inc.

- Jessica Thornton, Eastern Illinois University - 100 Black Men Inc.

- Rashonda Turner, BHS - MAPS, Anonymous

- Robby Wilburn, NCWHS - MAPS, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., Sigma

Gamma Rho Sorority Inc., 100 Black Men Inc.

- Latrice Wood, NCWHS - Grambling State Alumni Association.