From farm roots to paying it forward: Jim & Ellen Holmes invest in Illinois students

Jim and Ellen Holmes have devoted their lives to service — first to their country and now to the next generation of students. Thanks to their generosity they have established the James A. and Ellen C. Holmes Family Scholarship Fund to support students with financial need in the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering in the College of ACES at the University of Illinois Urbana‑Champaign.

Through their new scholarship, the Holmeses are extending their legacy of service — opening doors for Illinois students, strengthening agriculture through STEM education, and carrying forward the land‑grant promise of discovery, practical solutions, and stronger communities.