Elevate

Edge Awards

How $5,000 = Your Dream Career

Your Virtual Internship Adds Up to More Than Experience

Illinois Tech wants you to achieve your full potential, and our Edge Award will ensure you get more hands-on Elevate experiences that will land you a great job. We offer the award to prospective students who complete a virtual internship and want to continue their journey at Illinois Tech. Use the Edge Award funding—stackable up to $5,000—for future Elevate experiences: internships, research, study away, and more.

How Will You Use Your Edge Award?

Prospective Undergraduate Students

High school students in the 9th grade and above can use Edge Awards for any upcoming Elevate College Prep experience, including summer programs and dual enrollment courses. Or save the award and use it to fund an Elevate experience as an Illinois Tech student.

VIEW EXPERIENCES IN EXCELERATE

Watch this video to learn how to sign up

How You Can Earn Edge Awards

Opportunities to earn Edge Awards are available throughout the year. A common way to earn an Edge Award is by completing a virtual internship.
To receive updates on future Edge Award earning opportunities, sign up for notifications:

Edge Award FAQs

  • Incoming Illinois Tech undergraduate and graduate students can redeem their Edge Awards that they earned prior to attending Illinois Tech for any qualified Elevate experience listed in the Elevate portal while they are enrolled at Illinois Tech. New students must submit an enrollment deposit to use their Edge Award for an Elevate experience. 
  • High school students can redeem their Edge Awards for any qualified Elevate College Prep experience occurring prior to their high school graduation.

You may request funding using our electronic form: Funding Request Electronic Form. Email elevate@iit.edu with questions.

View policies and procedures
 

Once you earn an Edge Award, you will receive an email from Illinois Tech outlining the amount you’ve earned from your most recent activity. To check your Edge Award balance, contact elevate@iit.edu.

Although there is no limit to the number of experiential learning opportunities you may participate in, students are able to earn a maximum total of $5,000 in Edge Awards, with no more than $1,000 from virtual internships (two per student).

You may use your Edge Award to cover summer course tuition as well as summer housing in our residence halls.

  • Incoming Illinois Tech undergraduate and graduate students must be enrolled at the university to apply their Edge Awards toward Elevate experiences. Edge Awards expire at the time of degree completion.
  • High school students may use their Edge Awards toward any qualified Elevate College Prep experience. If students pursue their bachelor’s degree at Illinois Tech, they may apply any remaining Edge Awards toward qualified Elevate experiences. If a student does not enroll at Illinois Tech, their Edge Awards expire at the time of high school graduation.