Peoria, IL (August, 15, 2013) Retired State Senator George Shadid is donating his remaining campaign funds to Bradley University. Shadid announced that he will donate $25,000 to the George P. Shadid Jr. Scholarship fund and $11,730 to the Institute for Principled Leadership in Public Service (IPL). Shadid says he chose these programs because they are designed to develop leaders who will have a significant and positive impact on our region in the future.

During his time in the state senate, Shadid was known for his bipartisanship efforts. Brad McMillan, Executive Director of the IPL says the Institute strives to teach the type of bipartisanship that Shadid’s career embodied. “Senator Shadid has a long history of working across the aisle for the good of this region. He worked closely with then Congressman LaHood on the I-74 reconstruction project and other leaders on projects like the UICOMP Cancer Research Center and the Peoria Riverfront Museum. He reached across party lines to make good things happen. That’s the type of leadership the Institute seeks to promote.”

Nathan Thomas, Interim Vice President of Student Affairs at Bradley, says the donation to the George P. Shadid Jr. scholarship fund within the Lewis J. Burger Center for Student Leadership and Public Service will help enhance the education of our students and future leaders. “Senator Shadid dedicated his life to leadership and service within our community. This scholarship models Senator Shadid’s example in allowing our students to focus on their education, while committing themselves, beyond the norm, to leadership and service.”

The scholarship helps support the Bradley University Fellows. In this program 15 freshmen Fellows are selected and commit to leadership, volunteerism and service. “Our goal is to develop student leaders on campus and future leaders for the region and beyond,” Thomas says.

Senator Shadid was first elected to the state senate in 1993 and retired December 2006.