The Illinois State Scholarship Commission has named 61 recipients for their annual scholarship award. Eligibility requirements are U. S. citizenship, Illinois resident, high school graduate between 1‑1‑79 and 9‑1‑79, ranking in top half of their class, and of good moral character as determined by the high school. Also, a weighed selection score of 415 or higher was required for a student to become a scholar.

Each State Scholar will receive a Certificate of Merit either directly from their high school or from the commission. Scholars who wish to be considered for a monetary award can submit a 1979‑80 Monetary Award Application.

The recipients are seniors David Ahlman, Richard Baron, Ann Barton, Kathleen Bashem, Linda Benton, Susan Berner, Richard Bistany, Susan Blessing, Keith Boeckenhauer, Bradford Briskey, Nancy Brock, Michelle Carpentier, Flint Collier, John Defenbaugh, Joanne Denk, Michael Dsida, Melissa Dunavant, Mary Duntedawn, Melinda Einfalt, Karen Eschenback, Lori Furmanski, Holly Hamilton, Stephen Hodges, Kathleen Jacobson, Kori Jones, Christine Kadlec, David Karling, Eileen Kramer, Christopher Kron, and Lisa MacCrindle.

Thomas McClaughry, Jamie Minor, Amy Morrison, Bernadett Murphy, Richard Neidardt, Janice Nelson, Julie Nolan, Colleen O'Donnell, Deborah Oller, Linda Olsen, Laura Paulin, Vicki Pierog, Scott Pippen, Yvonne Pytilk, Sally Ranft, Robin Richey, Susan Rieck, Vincent Schulz, Jeff Skinner, Carol Smoody, Donald Sniezek, Cathleen Stein, Thomas Stone, Victoria Stone, James Swanson, Ellen Tolstad, Donna Vilkaitis, David Warner, Michael Wurster, Robert Zurawski, and Edwin Zychowski were other qualifiers.