Faith On the Fairway Sends 29 North Chicago High School Grads to College

On Saturday (May 23) North Chicago Community High School's Class of 2026 walked across the stage at the Genesee Theatre in Waukegan, Illinois, to receive their diplomas. Now, 29 of those new graduates will be heading to College of Lake County on a full-ride two-year scholarship, courtesy of North Chicago Public Education Foundation and the yearly Faith on the Fairway golf outing. The 6^th Annual Faith on the Fairway Golf Outing is on Saturday, September 12, 2026, at Foss Park Golf Course, North Chicago, Illinois.

Every North Chicago public high school student can have a chance to go to college for free. Faith Lutheran Church of Lake Forest, Illinois, hosts the annual charitable golf event to raise funds that help Warhawk Lancer Scholarship Program available to any North Chicago public high student willing to work hard.

This year’s Faith of the Fairway seeks to raise $50,000 to the almost $245,000 raised over the past five years to fund the fully paid College of Lake County scholarships for students in the far north Chicago suburb.

“Faith on the Fairway,” is the brainchild of Rev. James Buckman, pastor of Faith Lutheran Church in Lake Forest, Illinois. He is an enthusiastic supporter of the unique education initiative. “We are thankful for the opportunity to work with others in this effort which will help young people and their families and this community of North Chicago for a long time to come,” Buckman shared.

The Warhawk Lancer Scholars program began with six students from the North Chicago Community High School Class of 2020 and has grown steadily as funding has increased. Along with full tuition, the scholarship includes fees, books, supplies, a new computer, counseling, mentoring and a $3,000 annual stipend to help with expenses they incur during the school year. Some of these students use their two years at College of Lake County as a steppingstone to a four-year university, while many of the young people pursue an associate degree or career certification from among the more than 200 programs offered at the multicampus community college.

Buckman explained that the members of Faith Lutheran Church began Faith on the Fairway as a way to serve their neighbors and positively impact the futures of young people who might not otherwise have the opportunity to continue their education past high school. People from Faith administer, staff, promote, and participate in the annual charity golf outing. They work alongside current students from North Chicago Community High School and alumni who currently receiving Warhawk Lancer Scholarships.

While Buckman and his congregants speak of the blessings they’ve received through serving the young people of North Chicago, the more tangible benefit is that they have been instrumental in helping the North Chicago Public Education Foundation deliver on District 187 Superintendent Dr. John Price’s commitment that, “Every home in North Chicago comes with a promise of cost-free college.”

The late golf great, Ben Hogan, once said, “The most important shot in golf is the next one.” According to Buckman, for the students of North Chicago Community High School, the most important golf shot might be the one that you make at Faith on the Fairway.

About Faith on the Fairway

A charity golf outing created to support college scholarships for the students of North Chicago, Faith on the Fairway is operated by Faith Lutheran Church of Lake Forest, Illinois as a ministry to the community. For more information about Faith on the Fairway, or to register, sponsor, or donate, please visit faithonthefairway.org.

The 6^th Annual Faith on the Fairway Golf Outing is on Saturday, September 12, 2026, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Foss Park Golf Course, North Chicago, Illinois.