Recently, Alisyn choked back tears as a group of casino workers ran into a room where she was just “interviewed” for the chance to receive a scholarship, her mom at her side, with one person in the group holding a large pretend $20,000 check and another a bouquet of flowers.

“I was a transfer from Harrah’s Joliet,” said Risner, of Wheatfield, who said she had a young son at home and was pregnant with her daughter, Alisyn Risner, at the time. Michelle Risner came soon after, when Showboat became Harrah’s. Its pavilion was more than 100,000 square feet, according to the Indiana Gaming Commission report. When it opened, Showboat had 53,000 square feet of gaming space, 1,699 slot machines and 82 table games. For example, we’ve given out more than $16 million in scholarships and were able to give out more than twice that amount in grants to nonprofit organizations,” Weems said. “Because of the casino we’ve been able to do so much for our community in terms of scholarships and donations. Twenty-five years later, the Foundation’s board president, George Weems, described its relationship with the casino, its only donor, as excellent. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune) (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune) Alisyn Risner, left, wells up with emotion upon being surprised with the news on Friday, April 29, 2022, as her mother Michele Risner looks on. The children of three employees at the Ameristar Casino in East Chicago, IN, were each given $20,000 by the casino to be used towards college expenses.

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