2024 Scholarship Winner Announced

Eden Prairie High School student receives the Twin Cities Illini Club's annual scholarship.  The award recognizes outstanding Minnesota students accepted into the University of Illinois.

The Twin Cities Illini Club has named Amar Dani as the 2024 recipient of its annual Jack Carlson Memorial Twin Cities Illini Club Scholarship. Amar, a graduate of Eden Prairie High School, plans to study finance, data science, and financial mathematics at the University of Illinois - Urbana, Champaign this fall.
 

Amar has brought his interests in business and data science to a range of activities. He founded a startup and interactive experience ZooBloo to help young students learn about animals and engage in conservation efforts. In developing ZooBloo, he participated in business plan competitions at the Minnesota Cup at the Carlson School of Management and Startup Weekend Youth, winning third place in each competition.  
 

During high school, Amar took part in DECA, the organization that develops, supports, and recognizes high school and college students, preparing them for business, entrepreneurial, and leadership roles. He entered in the organization's international competitions over three years and won 5th place in the financial consulting event. He also participated in the Science Olympiad throughout high school and won several medals across regional and state tournaments. He developed an interest in finance after learning how to conduct stock analysis and manage a portfolio of stocks. Amar has now been managing a portfolio of stocks and options for the last four years.
 

In addition to being a graduate of Eden Prairie High School, Amar is a graduate of the University of Minnesota Talented Youth Math Program and has earned certificates of completion in introductions to data science research, AI, and quantum computing.
 

Established in 2008, the Twin Cities Illini Club student scholarship recognizes excellence in academics and extracurricular participation and is awarded annually to a Minnesota student accepted into the University of Illinois. Profiles of previous honorees appear on the club’s Past Recipients page.