SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Illinois lawmakers handed out hundreds of college tuition waivers in the past decade to children of campaign donors or state workers, according to a published report.

And while the roundly criticized legislative scholarship program ended Sept. 1, some members of the General Assembly maneuvered during its last gasps to reward the politically connected, according to a report Friday in the Chicago Tribune.

The century-old program allowed legislators to grant the equivalent of two, four-year scholarships each year to be divided as they chose to students who live in their districts. It was abolished as of Sept. 1 after years of media scrutiny and federal subpoenas being served to at least three current and former legislators.