The DeKalb County Community Foundation is pleased to announce the creation of the Samardzija-Gutesha Family Fund. The Fund reflects the Samardzija-Gutesha family’s values and interest of giving back and supports education and hands-on experiences in farming and soil and water conservation, with a focus on FFA members and associate-level college students.

Fund creator Militsa Samardzija was born and raised in DeKalb, Illinois. She graduated from DeKalb High School, earned a bachelor’s degree in music education from Illinois Wesleyan University, and later completed a master’s degree in historic preservation planning from Cornell University. Militsa came from a family with deep local roots. Her father, Milosh “Mike” Samardzija, immigrated from the former Yugoslavia, and her mother, Mildred Gutesha Samardzija, was born and raised in DeKalb. The Fund’s name honors both sides of Militsa’s family: Samardzija and Gutesha.

Militsa worked in publishing and communications as an editor and project coordinator. She lived in cities on both coasts and traveled throughout Europe and the Middle East. One of her proudest accomplishments was leading the 1994–95 effort to save DeKalb’s historic Old Post Office from demolition. Militsa passed away in February of 2023.

Danielle Rankin, a 2025 graduate of Somonauk High School, receives a Samardzija-Gutesha Family Fund scholarship during an awards night. She plans to study agricultural education at Illinois State University.

While Militsa contributed assets from her estate to the Fund, it was made possible largely through the estate of her sister, Mary Samardzija. Mary earned a doctorate in adult education and worked as a corporate trainer and instructional designer, most recently with the FDIC in Washington, D.C. Together, the sisters’ legacy reflects a strong commitment to education, hard work, and community service.

 “It’s an honor to help carry the Samardzija-Gutesha family legacy forward through a Fund that supports the land, values and people they cared about,” said Dan Templin, executive director of the DeKalb County Community Foundation.

The Samardzija-Gutesha Family Fund provides scholarships for post-high school students pursuing education in agriculture or conservation, as well as paid internships with local farmers, and conservation professionals. It also supports educational seminars on topics such as sustainable farming and agricultural business, and provides grants to local organizations that align with the donor’s values.

In its first year, the Fund awarded $65,000 in scholarships to eight graduating seniors from DeKalb, Genoa-Kingston, Indian Creek, Somonauk, and Sycamore high schools (pictured above). Each student attending a two-year college received a $5,000 scholarship, while students planning to attend a four-year university received $10,000.

Donations of any size are welcome to grow the impact of the Samardzija-Gutesha Family Fund. To give online or explore giving options, visit dekalbccf.org/donate.

To learn more about creating your own named Fund or to discuss your charitable interests, contact Dan Templin at 815-748-5383 or dan@dekalbccf.org.