The Dirksen Congressional Center and Pekin Public School District 303 award scholarships each year to students to attend the CloseUp  program in Washington, D.C., to get a firsthand look at American government. 
 
The CloseUp Foundation is a not-for-profit organization in its third decade of bringing students to the nation’s capital to study the democratic process.  High school students from across the country spend a week visiting legislative sessions, meeting with members of the House and Senate, visiting historical sites, and attending seminars.
 
The Dirksen Center donates from $2,000 to $3,500 per year to support Pekin High's participation in CloseUp.