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Partnership presents 13 graduates with scholarships

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Awarded $6,700

“Once again The Partnership for Educational Excellence is proud to award academic tuition scholarships to approximately 20% of a Gillespie High School graduating class: 13 of 68 graduates,” said John Fassero, Jr., president of the education foundation.

“We are entering our 20th (academic) year of existence and are thrilled to have awarded nearly 300 scholarships totaling more than $150,000 to GHS grads who have gone on to 2-year and 4-year colleges and universities as well as technical schools.”

“Every one of those dollars was donated by alums, residents, and foundations that agree with us that ‘only on the foundation of education can our children build useful lives and a stable society’”, said Fassero.

“We offer special thanks to the W. E. Schmidt and the Lon and Lucille Barton Charitable Trusts, which have been our mainstays since day one. In addition, the Tebbe Family Foundation, the Employees Charitable Foundation of Boeing St. Louis, the estate of Lucille Adams, the Bertetti Foundation, the Kuklis family, the family of Carol Enrico-DeLucca, the Carroll-Keupper family, and the Mike and Perina Verticchio Perpetual Scholarship fund have made major contributions. But our lifeblood is the small and routine donation sent by our hundreds of supporters as memorials or gifts to honor someone on a special occasion. Warm thanks to all!”

This year’s scholarship winners are:

Michael Bussmann, child of Beth and Craig Bussmann of Gillespie IL, was awarded the Denis McGrady Memorial Scholarship for $500 to be paid directly to Millikin, Augustana, or Westminster Colleges where he will study undecided.

Abbie Cline, child of Joe and Teresa Cline of Sawyerville IL, was awarded the Carol Enrico DeLucca Memorial Scholarship for a Top Girl Graduate of Gillespie High School for $500 to be paid directly to Austin Peay State University where she will study pre-physical therapy.

Dallas DeMartini, child of Jim and Leeann DeMartini of Benld IL, was awarded the Travis Semplowski Memorial Scholarship for $500 to be paid directly to Massachusetts Institute of Technology or Washington University where he will study physics and engineering.

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Kim Dunn, child of Jack and Connie Dunn of Gillespie IL, was awarded the Matt and Marge Turcol Memorial Scholarship for $500 to be paid directly to Lincoln College where she will study physical therapy assistant.

Alexander Greff, child of Charles and Virginia Greff of Benld IL, was awarded the Carroll-Keupper Family Scholarship for $500 to be paid directly to McKendree University where he will study chemistry and pre-med.

Cort Hellmann, child of Tracy and Phillip Hellmann of Gillespie IL, was awarded the Elinor Davies Memorial Nursing Scholarship for $500 to be paid directly to Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, Southwest Illinois College or Lewis and Clark Community College where he will study nursing.

Loni Nicole Manalia, child of Lon and Rhonda Manalia of Plainview IL, was awarded the Joe Libbra Memorial Scholarship for $500 to be paid directly to Illinois College where she will study psychology or environmental science.

Laura Halpin, child of William and Tammy Halpin of Gillespie IL, was awarded the Mike and Perina Verticchio Memorial Scholarship for $500 to be paid directly to Maryville University where she will study physical therapy.

Ricky Mock, child of Scott and Linda Mock of Gillespie IL, was awarded the Tebbe Family Foundation Scholarship for $500 to be paid directly to University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where he will study engineering.

Elise Newman, child of Mary and Harold Newman of Gillespie IL, was awarded the Betty Olive Memorial Scholarship for $500 to be paid directly to Lewis and Clark Community College where she will study nursing.

Adam Schmidt, child of Weye and Nancy Schmidt of Gillespie IL, was awarded the Jim Rosentreter Memorial Scholarship for $500 to be paid directly to Lewis and Clark Community College where he will study civil engineering.

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Austin Semplowski, child of Ron and Tammie Semplowski of Gillespie IL, was awarded the Dick Meno Memorial Scholarship for $500 to be paid directly to Greenville College or Lewis and Clark Community College where he will study criminal justice.

Eric Tiller, child of Thomas and Melissa Tiller of Gillespie IL, was awarded the Michael Valenti Memorial Scholarship for $500 to be paid directly to Luther College where he will study pre-chiropracty.

The Partnership was also pleased to administer two music awards on behalf of the estate of Evaline Boehmke. The band and choral faculty of GHS chose Michael Taylor for band and Alli Branham for chorus; each received a $100 check for excellence in music.

The Partnership (a 501c3, IRS-chartered, not-for-profit foundation) has invested nearly $400,000 in classroom mini-grants from pre-K through grade 12.

To keep up with our activities or to make a donation: www.thepartnershipcusd7.org or write to us at P.O. Box 125, Gillespie IL 62033. All donations and memorials are acknowledged by mail when names and addresses are provided.

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Gillespie teen wins drive safe Chicago video contest

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Wins $2,000 Prize and Video She Created will Air on 160 TV Stations Nationwide

CHICAGO – Emily Bergen, 16, a student at Gillespie High School in Gillespie, has won the annual Drive Safe Chicago public service announcement contest.  Antonio Knott, 15, of Merrillville High School in Merrillville IN, placed second in the voting, and Noelani Elizalde, 17, also from Merrillville High School, was third. 

Sponsored by the National Road Safety Foundation in partnership with the Chicago Auto Show, teens from Illinois and surrounding states were invited to submit ideas for a 30-second PSA about sharing the road with other passenger vehicles, trucks, motorcycles and pedestrians.

Three finalists were selected and each worked with an Emmy Award-winning producer to transform their PSA submissions into 30-second TV public service announcements.  The public was then able to vote for their favorite online.  More than 1,400 online votes were cast.

The winner received $2,000 and will be featured on nationally-syndicated Teen Kids News, reaching more than 160 TV stations across the country. The first runner-up got $1,000 and the second runner-up won $500.  All three finalists’ teachers received $100 gift cards.

Bergen’s winning PSA shows a young driver starting her car and pressing a “share the road” button.  As she drives, an AI voice warns her of a bicyclist, a pedestrian and children in a school zone. The voice then reminds her, “Cars don’t come with devices like me, which is why you need to know how to share the road.”

“The carnage on our roads can be reduced if drivers remain aware of others who share the road,” said Michelle Anderson of The National Road Safety Foundation, a non-profit organization that promotes safe driving. “We think the creative ideas about sharing the road from our Drive Safe Chicago winner and runners-up convey that message effectively.”

“Although today’s new cars are safer than ever, with technological advances that are proven to help avoid crashes,” said Chicago Auto Show Chairwoman Kelly Webb Roberts, “drivers must still be aware of others they are sharing the road with, whether it’s a car, truck, motorcycle, bicycle or pedestrians.”

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The National Road Safety Foundation says driver error accounts for 94 percent of all fatal crashes, with speeding and driver distraction among the leading factors.  The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that 40,990 people died on U.S. roads and highways in 2023, with hundreds of thousands of injuries and an estimated annual cost of more than $340 billion.

View Bergen’s winning video below:

Bergen’s video is also featured center on the National Road Safety Foundation’s website with the runners-up videos to the right and to the left: https://m.shortstack.page/NLxMqT

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L&C announces fall 2024 honors lists

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Lewis and Clark Community College

Students earning a cumulative grade point average of 3.75 or higher out of a possible 4.0 are named to the President’s List. Those students earning a grade point average between 3.25 and 3.74 are recognized each semester on the Dean’s List.

Further requirements are listed in the college’s online catalog at http://catalog.lc.edu. All questions should be directed to the Enrollment Center at (618) 468-2222. Below is an excerpt containing students residing in Macoupin County.

President’s List

BENLD – Ryleigh L. Phillips; Zander E. Rieffer; Emily R. Schoen; Tristen B. Wargo;

BRIGHTON – Brandon M. Adams; Ike D. Austin; Lainie L. Behrends; Reagan Beilsmith; Ian C. Brantley; Tina M. Brass; Lane Cox; Madison P. Fenstermaker; Hunter D. Gillis; Hailey Gula; Alexis R. Harrop; Gavin Humm; Thomas D. Kunz; Nicholas O. McGee; Audrey A. Perkins; Ava J. Pulley; Alyssa J. Schuchman; Addison Strohbeck; Sydney A. Valdes; Abby Van Doren; Piper L. Voorhees; Madelyn E. Zarges;

BUNKER HILL – Alex Betts; Grant J. Burch; Kayleigh K. Butler; Abigayle L. Collins; Denise Deias; Braden T. Fulton; Dillon M. Guess; Maya R. Henfling; Hannah J. Herrmann; Madalynn Hilyard; Madelyn Landreth; William Manar; Kaylee L. Richert; Andrew Sanner; Abby N. Spraggs; Noah A. Thyer;

CARLINVILLE – Jack E. Beard; Matthew J. Eldred; Jack Goby; Stephanie K. Harding; Gabriel R. Henson; Alexsis A. Kalaher; Weston E. Kuykendall; Lillian McCurley; Emerald Ondrey; Joanna M. Roemer; Jessica N. Strubbe; Karleina J. Tipps; Samuel L. Wilson;

GILLESPIE – Lauren E. Bertagnolli; Ean L. Davis; Lanie G. Doty; Kennedy G. Helmkamp;

MEDORA – Aubrey M. Reno; Anneliese M. Shatley; Haleigh Sinclair;

SHIPMAN – Alyssa L. Beck; Gracie B. Darr; Addison A. Jeffers; Tyson Kahl; Josiah A. Schuette; Bailee A. Sorgea;

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SOUTH ROXANA – Lyndsey M. Johansen; Caden O. Lara; Savanah M. Stogsdill;

STAUNTON – Julie A. Aloisi; Samantha R. Anderson; Zane P. Anderson; Shane Baker; Lilly M. Bandy; Grace Bekeske; Gianna Bianco; Carson G. Buffington; Kiersten L. Carlson; Karla J. Castillo; Izabella Claussen; Lillian Dothager; Olivia M. Favre; Eli J. Henke; Alexis A. Hester; Samantha D. Hoffman; Harold I. Irvin, III; Dylan Jarden; Korryn O. Keehner; Nicholas L. Raphael; Alexis P. Schaaf; Brady Seelbach; Carli L. Skinner; Cole Sternickle; Tyler J. Thompson; Lilly Trettenero; Lillyan S. Troeckler;

Dean’s List

BENLD – Ridge A. Braundmeier; Kaitlynn E. Conner; Elizabeth M. King; Alyssa S. McCollum; Marria D. Middleton; Alyssa F. Schuette;

BRIGHTON – Garrett R. Beuttel; Troy J. Brooks; Emily Y. Cambron; Jacob G. Carpenter; Lucy Childress; Olivia Cody; Logan T. Crane; Tristyn N. Ditterline; Kaylin G. Gerard; Cooper J. Hagen; Ashlyn K. Hall; Evan Hanold; Samuel J. Harshbarger; Amelia R. Hines-Pattan; Ella J. Kadell; Daylin M. King; Kayla A. Lemarr; Tucker Mayhew; Elizabeth L. Milford; Stacey M. Mynatt; Blythe E. Roloff; Jordan R. Short; Shiann Vinson; Grace A. Wylde;

BUNKER HILL – Cole T. Burch; Hanna N. Heeren; Madelynne K. Heflin; Taylor Miklavic; Katelyn J. Miller; Abigail G. Scott;

CARLINVILLE – Boedy E. Baker; Emily A. Barbre; Zachary Chapman; Ella R. Clevenger; Alana N. Dixon; Alison J. Dixon; Nathan Dyer; Addison Eldred; Saralynn I. Joiner; Henry S. Kalaher; William G. Meyer; Chloe A. Payne; Amy L. Pocklington; Jack Rives; Lanna P. Vanderpoel; Ella C. Wise; Braley M. Wiser;

GILLESPIE – Reese E. Bussmann; Regan E. Bussmann; Addie M. Hayes; Karter Mix; Adrianne B. Niemeyer; Grace J. Vandoren; Shannon L. Wright;

MOUNT OLIVE – Libbie M. Nowell;

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PIASA – Anna C. Fink;

SHIPMAN – Kaden G. Cottingham; Rocky Darr; Kathryn M. Mueller; Sayuri Owada; Rocky J. Rose;

STAUNTON – Rylee K. Baugh; David S. Dann; Belle M. Darte; Jacob A. Dillon; Vivienne Dothager; Sean T. Fleming; Kennedy L. Legendre; Zander MacHota; Savannah M. Missey; Nicholas Monahan; Nicole M. Narup; Kelley Perrine; Christopher S. Pritchett; Alivia Royer; Katie N. Schalk; Lakesi Settles; Priya E. Siegfried; Justin A. Smith; Kylie A. Tomso; Whitney Weller;

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Gillespie to host blood drive on Feb. 17

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Gillespie Community will host a Community Blood Drive with ImpactLife, the provider of blood components for local hospitals. The blood drive will be from 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm on Monday, February 17 at 900 Broadway, inside Gillespie Methodist Church Gym.

To donate, please contact Brenda Lowe at (217) 710-1336 or visit www.bloodcenter.org and use code 60020 to locate the drive. You may also call ImpactLife to schedule at 800-747-5401. Appointments are requested.

Potential donors must be at least 17 years of age (16 with parental permission form available through www.bloodcenter.org) and weigh more than 110 pounds. A photo I.D. is required to donate.  For questions about eligibility, please call ImpactLife at (800) 747 5401. Donors who last gave blood on or before 12/23/24 are eligible to give at this drive.

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