The Morgan Jayne Hill Scholarship
The Morgan Jayne Hill Scholarship is an annual competition for Illinois high school seniors that is aimed at bringing awareness about Illinois’ Safe Haven Law.
Requirements for applying for the scholarship:
- Open to high school seniors residing in Illinois
- Submit either an Essay (up to 500 words) or Artwork
- Complete the online Scholarship Application by April 1, 2024
All submissions will be reviewed by the Scholarship Committee and voted on for awards in each category. Scholarship winners will be notified if they have won a scholarship by May 1, 2024.
This year, we will be awarding six scholarships: two $1,000 Scholarships for best Essay, two $1,000 Scholarships for best Artwork, one $500 Scholarship for best Essay Runner-Up, and one $500 Scholarship for best Artwork Runner-Up.
By submitting your Essay or Artwork submission you agree to allow the Save Abandoned Babies Foundation to use your essay or artwork for the purposes of promoting the Safe Haven law.
Essay Contest
If you would like to enter the Essay Contest:
- Answer the following question: How did you first learn about the Safe Haven Law and what do you think can be done to raise awareness?
- Use information found on the www.saveabandonedbabies.org website to learn about how the law works in Illinois and current efforts to promote awareness about the law. In your essay, suggest ways awareness about the law can be improved so that everyone knows about the law.
- Attach your Essay, as a .pdf or Word document, up to 500 words, using the attached online Scholarship Application Form.
Art Contest
If you would like to enter the Art Contest:
- Create an artwork that is aimed at promoting awareness of the Safe Haven Law.
- When creating your artwork consider a graphic design that could be printed on a T-shirt.
- Use information found on the www.saveabandonedbabies.org website to learn about how the law works in Illinois and current efforts to promote awareness about the law.
- Attach your Artwork as a high resolution .jpg file using the attached online Scholarship Application Form.
About Morgan Jayne Hill
This annual scholarship program for Illinois high school seniors is sponsored by the Save Abandoned Babies Foundation is named after Morgan Jayne Hill.
Morgan became an advocate for promoting the Safe Haven Law based on her own life experience. As a newborn, Morgan was left in a dumpster to die. Fortunately, a construction worker putting trash in the dumpster heard a faint cry and Morgan was rescued. She was brought up in a loving adoptive family and always knew of the story of how she was saved that day.
Morgan Jayne Hill was a tireless advocate for getting information out about the Safe Haven Law.
As Morgan got older, she took on a mission to reach out to others so that a birthmother knows she has options. She told her story to the news media. She spoke to anyone who would listen. Each time she spoke she became more confident and her message became clearer.
Morgan joined the board of the Save Abandoned Babies foundation and spoke to groups all around the country to get out her message. She connected with kids who had been safely relinquished under the Safe Haven law and became their friend and big sister. She organized social media campaigns and even created a motorcycle ride to raise funds and awareness.
Morgan gained confidence talking about her story and spoke frequently to the news media to spread awareness of the Safe Haven Law.
Her Message: “If I can help one mother know that they have an option to safely relinquish their newborn using the Safe Haven law then my efforts are worth it.
Tragically, Morgan passed away at age 27 after suffering an epileptic seizure. She is missed by all who knew her – and we carry on her message of hope and awareness with this scholarship program.”
