The Diane and Shawanda Hunter Memorial Scholarship

The Diane and Shawanda Hunter Memorial Scholarship is a $3,000 award ($1,000 for each award recipient) aimed towards assisting three (3) deserving high school seniors residing in a single parent household who are pursuing a bachelor’s degree.

Mother, Shi-Shi (Grandmother), partner, life coach, mentor, motivational speaker, and executive leader are just a few of the titles Shanel Williams possesses. On the other hand, compassionate, loving, empowering, kind-hearted, dedicated, and benevolent are the characteristics that describe her best.

Shanel was born and raised in Maywood, IL. and is a class of 1999 Proviso East High School alumna. Post high school plans became delayed once Shanel accepted the grand opportunity to become a teen mom. After a few years into her career with the potential for upward mobility, she took advantage of her company’s tuition reimbursement program that allowed her to obtain her Bachelor’s Degree in Business from the University of Phoenix, debt free.

Shanel has always been passionate about helping others recognize their potential, discover their passion, and realize their dreams. Having gone through her own process of personal development, growth, healing, and empowerment, Shanel is a living testament of what it looks like to conquer adversity and beat the odds. Because she knows the struggle, she dedicates her life to her family, uplifting the community, and helping make the world shine a bit brighter. 

In the spirit of uplifting the community and giving back, Shanel would like to honor her late mother Diane Hunter and her late sister Shawanda Hunter with this award to commemorate their impact on their family and community as former Maywood residents and alumnae of Proviso East High School.