The Aaliyah Rose Scholarship

School was never easy for Aaliyah. Before finding stability, she faced suspension, expulsion, and academic failure at multiple schools. She struggled with insubordination, skipping classes, fighting, and a lack of motivation — all signs of a child carrying more than her share of trauma.

​

That all began to change when she moved to Newman, Illinois, and enrolled at Shiloh CUSD #1 in Hume. It was there that Aaliyah found something she hadn’t had before: support, consistency, and people who believed in her.

​

In 7th grade, Dr. Morgan Wilhoit, then Junior High Principal (now Superintendent of Shiloh and a founding board member of our foundation), became one of Aaliyah’s strongest advocates. When Aaliyah was at risk of expulsion for substance use, Dr. Wilhoit stepped in — not with punishment, but with compassion. She welcomed Aaliyah into her office during moments of frustration, offered steady guidance, responded patiently to daily emails filled with concerns and unusual requests — even something as simple as a cup of hot tea — and, most importantly, helped her rediscover a sense of purpose.

​

Aaliyah’s transformation was remarkable. She went from failing grades and frequent disciplinary action to earning High Honors with straight A’s, being inducted into the National Junior Beta Club, joining the volleyball team, and being elected to Student Council by her classmates.

​

She began to take pride in her education and dreamed of a future in criminal justice, psychology, social work, or forensic science — careers rooted in helping others, just like those who helped her.

​

Within the walls of a school that chose to lift her up instead of write her off, Aaliyah found her place — and the belief that she could build a better future.