Integrity Scholarships and Grand Prix

The Greater Peoria Chess Foundation (GPCF) will provide scholarships for 3 Central Illinois students the 2026 National High School Championships (K-12) in Chicago, IL March 27-29. Any student in grades K-12 is eligible to play in the National High School Championship. Each section at the event is separated by rating.

Integrity Scholarships:

• 1 National Championships Integrity Scholarship for a K-8 student will be for $1000 intended to pay for the entry fee, lodging at the tournament site or at a nearby US Chess Federation partner hotel, and transportation for the student and accompanying parent. The recipient should expect to travel to Chicago on the 26th of March and to return to central IL on the 29th.
• 1 National Championships Integrity Scholarship for a high school student (grades 9-12) will be for $1000 intended to pay for the entry fee, lodging at the tournament site or at a nearby US Chess Federation partner hotel, and transportation for the student and accompanying parent. The recipient should expect to travel to Chicago on the 26th of March and to return to central IL on the 29th.

Selection Process:

• Student(s) must be nominated by a coach between 26 Jan and 2 Feb and approved by the GPCF Board on 10 Feb to be entered in the Integrity Scholarship Pool.
• The GPCF Board will randomly draw 2 National Championship scholarship recipients from the approved Pool no later than 13 Feb.

Qualifications (K-8 students):

• Students must participate in at least 5 of the qualifying tournament listings designated with a “+” on the GPCF tournament list.
• Students must demonstrate behavioral integrity and good sportsmanship throughout the chess season
• Students must be from Central Illinois
• Nominations must be submitted from coaches or parents
• Students must have an active USCF membership through 31 March 2025
• Parent MUST be available to accompany the student to the National Tournament

Additional Rules

• The student and parent must sign and submit the scholarship acceptance and indemnification form no later than 21 Feb 2025. Any acceptance forms not submitted by 11:59pm 21 Feb may result in immediate loss of the scholarship offer.
• The parent must have a TSA approved ID for air travel for the National Tournament.
• GPCF board members immediate relatives are not eligible for integrity scholarships
• GPCF reserves the right to adjust or update scholarship scope, processes, or qualifications as needed. Any changes will be communicated as soon as possible.

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Grand Prix Scholarship

• 1 National Championship Grand Prix Scholarship for any student competing in the Grand Prix Section will be for $1000 intended to pay for the entry fee, lodging at the tournament site or at a nearby US Chess Federation partner hotel, and transportation for the student and accompanying parent. The recipient should expect to travel to Chicago on the 26th of March and to return to central IL on the 29th.
• Each of the qualifying 7 tournaments will have a section called the Grand Prix Section
• The purpose of this section is to create an advanced section for serious chess students to compete and earn a Scholarship to attend the National Championship. Players MUST be rated at least 900 (USCF Classical) to register in the Grad Prix Section.
• Grand Prix points will be cumulatively earned by the following allocations over 7 tournaments. Grand Prix points will be earned at each tournament per the following: