The Illinois Sheriff’s Association is accepting applications for associate members throughout the end of this month said Roger Scott, DeKalb County sheriff.

For a $25 fee, associate members receive a membership card, bumper sticker, window decal, quarterly magazine about law enforcement and a $250 life insurance policy, Scott said.

All money raised will go to the Illinois Sheriff’s Association, which uses the funds for scholarships and other worthwhile projects, in addition to upgrading, professionalizing and training sheriffs throughout the state.

Scott said, “No money goes to our local sheriff’s office.”

A high school student from each county in Illinois will receive a $500 scholarship from the association to be used at an Illinois college or university. Scott said that in DeKalb County, a panel, which consisted last year of a school superintendent, the county clerk, and a private businessman, chooses the student they believe is most qualified to receive the scholarship.

“We use a series of guidelines including need and scholarship to decide who will get the money,” he said. Students also must write an essay to be judged by the panel.

Different projects also are funded each year with some of the money raised. In DeKalb County last year, local teenagers learning about law enforcement were given $1,200 to attend the National Conference of the Illinois Sheriff’s Association in Boston.

“We’re anticipating 3,500 to 4,000 people will become associate members this year,” said Don White, executive director of the association in Springfield. If they reach their goal, the association will raise about $87,000 this year.

White said the association has a membership renewal rate of about 75 percent from applications mailed out to past members. Anyone interested in becoming an associate member can pick up an application at the sheriff’s department in Sycamore, or can send their name, address, and a check for $25 to the Illinois Sheriff’s Association, 413 Monroe St., Springfield, Il., 62704.