The Porter McNeil Public Service Foundation awards annual scholarships to students who embody Porter’s commitment to education, public service, and community. This scholarship supports young leaders who are using their voices, studies, and actions to create a better world — one built on compassion, courage, and integrity.

Porter McNeil dedicated his life to public service and to the power of the written and spoken word with a purpose. He viewed public service as a noble profession, and inspired many others to enter the field. A 1978 graduate of Moline High School, Porter went on to earn his bachelor’s degree from Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota, and later completed a master’s degree in Public Affairs Reporting at the University of Illinois at Springfield. Over the course of his career, he worked in the Illinois Statehouse, served on the Rock Island County Board, and became a trusted political consultant and commentator. He also wrote extensively on politics and history, always with the conviction that ideas, when communicated clearly and authentically, could shape the future. He was also passionate about economic development in the Quad Cities, including the Western Riverfront campus. 

We are proud to launch the inaugural Porter McNeil Public Service Scholarship in 2026. This one-time scholarship honors the legacy of Porter McNeil by supporting high school seniors who demonstrate an interest in exercising civic leadership, learning or promoting public policy advocacy, work in and around government to serve the public good, or reporting. 

For its inaugural year, the Foundation will award two (2) scholarships of $2,500 each to graduating high school seniors from Moline High School planning to enroll in a college, university, trade school, or post-secondary training program.

⏰ Timeline

• Applications are open 

• Deadline: April 30, 2026

• Recipients Announced: May 30, 2026

Recipients will be notified by email and announced on our website and social media.