The Partnership for Educational Excellence raised nearly $4,500 at its “For the Love of Education” Trivia Night on Saturday, February 15 at the Gillespie Civic Center.  The evening’s highlights included a record turnout of 25 tables, great participation in the latest Grand Raffle kickoff, and generous donations from winning teams and absentee “Out to Recess” businesses.

The evening is the Partnership’s one and only fund raiser to support programs for CUSD7 students: district-wide classroom grants and academic tuition scholarships for GHS grads. The current school year marks a three year $90,000 gift to CUSD7 for student computers.  And an all-time record was set last year when 38% of the GHS Class of 2024 won college scholarships.

The winning Hayes family team scored a 94% “grade” and donated back their $150 prize.  The third-place team of Semplowski family and friends, dedicated their $50 prize to the ongoing Travis Semplowski scholarship.  Almost all team scores were in the 90% and 80% range.

“Early Bird” drawing of raffle tickets sold that night gave $100 each to Steve Joyce and to Tracy Wilhoit. Their Grand Raffle tickets also make them eligible for the final $5,000 prize to be drawn on Saturday, April 12, 2025. If not all tickets are sold, the prize will be a 50/50 split.  Tickets are available from any Partnership director. Volunteer Cindy Brummett assisted with ticket sales. Ten attendees won gift cards purchased by The Partnership from local merchants. 

In addition to 25 tables of players, several long-time business and professional sponsors bought “absentee” tables through The Partnership’s “Out to Recess” program:  Gene Hebenstreit of Victory Lane Ford in Litchfield; Nick Kravanya DDS of Kravanya and Boente dental offices in Carlinville and Litchfield; Wally Ottersburg of Daley Bruckert Chevrolet in Staunton; Boente Shell Station in Gillespie; Kasten-Goodman Insurance Agency in Carlinville; and Rick Verticchio Law Offices in Carlinville and Gillespie.

The Partnership wishes to thank its all-volunteer board of directors.  On hand that night were Vice President Donna Prevedell, Treasurer Rose Tebbe, Secretary Rosie Emmenderfer, Founder Nancy Grandone, Susan Stromsland, and Mary Kay Griffel.  Other directors who contributed to the evening’s success but were unable to attend Ken Tebbe, Carole Scheller, Ann Marie Bauer Ross, Julie Zirkelbach, Katie Ronald, and President John Fassero.

Special kudos go to the third and fourth generation Partnership volunteers who did stellar work as runners, carrying answer sheets from players to graders Norah Seraphin (9^th grade), Augie Seraphin (7^th grade), Eve Seraphin (4^th grade) – all grandchildren of Donna and Bob Prevedell; and Mackenzie Jo McFarland (4^th grade), great granddaughter of Rose and Ralph Tebbe.

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In a nail-biting showdown that will be remembered for years to come, the Gillespie Miners girls basketball team captured the South Central Conference title with a hard-fought 55-52 victory over the Pana Panthers on Thursday night, February 13. This marks Gillespie’s first conference championship since their back-to-back titles in 2001-02, when they shared the honors with Southwestern both finishing with a 9-1 conference record.

The game held at Pana High School was anything but straightforward. After a tumultuous 13-minute delay due to injuries and a technical foul controversy, the Miners rallied their spirits to secure the win. Amari Vickery led the charge with a stellar performance, scoring 21 points, while Mia Brawner added 11, Maggie Heyen contributed 10, Delaney Taylor posted 5, Sadie Sholtis scored 4, and Lainey Edwards and Corrine Fellin each had 2 points.

From the opening tip, it was clear that Pana was not going to roll over easily. The Panthers held leads at the end of the first two quarters, 15-14 and 28-26, showcasing their tenacity. By the time the fourth quarter rolled around, Pana had edged ahead 44-42, setting the stage for a dramatic finish.

However, the game took a chaotic turn in the fourth quarter when a collision between Vickery and teammate Sloane Brawner resulted in both players going down with injuries. Sloane was not able to return the game but Vickery did. The Miners also lost both Delaney Taylor and Sadie Sholtis to fouls and Gillespie was assessed a technical foul under controversial circumstances which tied the game at 49. But Heyen carried the weight through the fourth quarter recording 6 of her 10 points in the final quarter of play.

Despite the setbacks, the Miners displayed remarkable teamwork resilience under the leadership of Nikki and Matt Brawner. With the SCC championship secured and the regular season concluded with a 22-8 overall record and 9-0 conference record, the Miners now shift their focus to the upcoming regional which is being hosted in Gillespie.

Gillespie hosts Alton Marquette on Monday, Feb. 17 for the regional semi-finals after Alton Marquette knocked East-Alton Wood River, 36-29, to face the Miners. The winner advances to the regional championship that will be played on Friday, Feb. 21 at 7 p.m. in Gillespie versus the winner of Staunton/Roxana.

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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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