The Drew Cousins Memorial Football Scholarship
This fund was started in May of 2005 by Sue and Jeff Cousins in memory of the sudden passing of their late son Drew. The established purpose of the fund is to provide annual scholarships to graduating MHS Senior Boys' Football players who have played high school football at MHS and who will be attending college.
Brayden McMillan
MHS Senior, winner of the 2023 Drew Cousins Memorial Football Scholarship
Established in 2004 by his family in loving memory of their son and brother, the Drew M. Cousins Memorial Scholarship is intended to help deserving young men at Morton High School continue the pursuit of football. The scholarship has been in the amount of $2500 and it is the family’s intention to endow the fund for at least that amount.
Born in Sterling, IL, and raised in Pekin, IL, Drew moved to Northern Oaks Lake in Groveland, IL, in 1994 and attended Morton Junior High school as well as Morton High School.
His interests had always included sports starting with Union Mission baseball at age four, basketball and track. He was encouraged to go out for football during his freshman year at Morton by Coach Hal Chiodo. He played on the offensive and defensive line throughout the rest of his high school career. The friends he made at Morton and the athletic discipline he developed served him throughout his academic career and remain a fond memory for family and friends.
““Football became the definition of his goals, the discipline he needed. It changed the way he approached high school and college.””
Drew graduated from MHS in 1999 and was awarded a NCAA football scholarship by Illinois State University where knee injuries ended his pursuit of football. He was awarded a Bachelor’s Degree posthumously by ISU six weeks after his death on October 29, 2003, from complications recovering from knee surgery..
Drew’s family wanted to keep his love of football alive with this scholarship. “Football became the definition of his goals, the discipline he needed. It changed the way he approached high school and college,” Jeff Cousins said about his son. A perpetual memorial plaque has been placed at Morton High School to include each year’s new recipient of this award.
Qualifications for this Scholarship:
Must be a senior at MHS who will be attending college or a university and enrolled in at least 12 credit hours.
Must have participated in and demonstrated a commitment to football at MHS.
Must have had a positive attitude, must have shown excellent teamwork, must have been charitable and must have been a role model to underclassmen.
Financial need will be considered in the selection process.
Please address the following question in a paragraph: How has football impacted your life? Please also discuss how you plan to finance your education.
Contact the MHS Counseling office for information on this and other MHS scholarships.
If you would like to make a tax deductible donation to this endowment fund, please click the button below for online donations. Or, you can mail a check to 135 S First Ave, Morton, IL 61550.
