The Illinois High School Sports website / discussion board forum collects membership fees and awards scholarships. We applaud IHSS for doing this. Here is their scholarship awards for this year.
The Administrators of IllinoisHighSchoolSports.com met on Sunday, June 13, 2010, in order to decide which applicants would be the benefactors of the $3,100 available. The $3,100, per a decision over the winter months, was to be split into 6-$500 scholarships and the $600 Steve Rheinecker Memorial Scholarship.We are honored, privileged, and proud to announce to the world the 2010 IHSS Scholarship Winners. We thank all applicants for making our decisions the toughest and most thought-provoking possible.
Since May of 2004, IllinoisHighSchoolSports.com has given out over $23,000 worth of college scholarships. We are also EXTREMELY PROUD of our IHSS members who generously support small school athletes throughout Illinois. A BIG THANK YOU to you all, who ultimately provide the funds to award these winners with scholarships through our annual membership fees. Some may not think so, but $10 a year goes a long way in making a difference in the future academic endeavors of seven outstanding young people.
After our announcement and call for scholarship entries, we actually found extra funds that allowed us to add an additional $500 scholarship, so IHSS is awards $3600.
You may notice a decrease in scholarships this year. This is the first time; IHSS has ever had to decrease. We feel there are many reasons for our decreased membership, but we've decided to put our focus into regaining members.
Now, onto the 2010 Scholarship winners. Please see BELOW to see who is taking home a 2010 Scholarship.
Rockford, Illinois
Winnebago High School
Mascot: Indians
Conference: Big Northern Conference
IHSS Affiliation: Drew is the son of IHSS member, rt20.
Bruce Johnson is very familiar with the scholarship process. An IHSS member for many years, he has seen many scholarship winners posted on the forums. He's also seen one of his sons win a scholarship. Graham Johnson was a beneficiary just a couple of years ago.
Now, son Drew goes to college with an IHSS Scholarship in tow.
Drew Johnson is a runner (surprise, surprise to long-term IHSS members). A four-year letterman of both the cross country and track teams, Drew has been a part of a very successful program at Winnebago. He was a co-captain of the cross country teams from his sophomore season until his high school retirement.
When Drew wasn't pounding the pavement, he was assisting the elderly with Nursing Home Bingo and offering his mental acumen as a tutor. He also assisted with: Vacation Bible School at church, the information desk at Rockford Memorial Hospital and clothing drives.
Drew was also involved with the Math Team, WYSE Team and was President of the National Honor Society. This involvement paid extreme dividends as Drew was the valedictorian of the WHS Class of 2010 with a flawless GPA of 4.0 (on a non-weighted 4.0 scale). Drew also rocked a 32 on the ACT.
Because of his academic success, Drew Johnson was named an Illinois State Scholar and took home many honors from WHS in English, math and science.
Johnson will continue his education at Wheaton College in Illinois.
Megan Steward
Salem, Illinois
Salem Community High School
Mascot: Wildcats
Conference: Apollo
IHSS Affiliation: Megan is sponsored by IHSS Member Blitz.
Megan Steward was highly recommended by SCHS administration, faculty and staff.
Steward was highly active on the Wildcats Cheer and Dance teams, participating all four years of her prep career--even serving as Cheer Captain her senior year.
When not rooting on the Wildcats, Megan served as a Peer Helper as well as an editor of the Salemarion--the Wildcat Yearbook. She was an underclassmen editor her junior year, becoming the photo editor for the 2010 book.
It was Steward's community service that really stood out. Megan has served Christmas Dinner at the Salem Community Center for many years, has been Pumpkin Caroling and has visited shut-ins on many, many occasions, has collected food for Haiti and Liberia in addition to domestic food pantries and is a proud blood donor.
Megan Steward plans to attend either Kaskaskia College or Southeast Missouri State University.
Kendall Gibson
Sesser, Illinois
Sesser-Valier High School
Mascot: Red Devils
Conference: Black Diamond
IHSS Affiliation: Kendall is the son of IHSS Member GottaLoveIllini.
Kendall Gibson has had a remarkable senior year. The Red Devils Football team advanced to the 3A Playoffs after an undefeated regular season and, of course, no one in Sesser or Valier can forget about their run to 2nd Place in Class 1A this past hoops season.
While a part of the Red Devils Football and Basketball teams and Waltonville Spartans Baseball Team (S-V co-ops with Waltonville in Baseball and with Woodlawn and Waltonville in Football), Gibson has put together an impressive resume.
He was: IHSA Class 3A Football All-State, All-South, MVP of the Black Diamond Conference, led southern Illinois in passing yards (2009), Class 3A All-State Football Academic Team, Class 1A Basketball All-Tournament Team, SV Holiday Tournament All-Tournament Team, and First Team All-Black Diamond. This in addition to being the team captain in all three sports.
Now, Gibson can count himself as a recipient of an IHSS Scholarship.
Kendall Gibson is much more than just a highly decorated athlete.
Gibson was also a four-year member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and also was a member of FCCLA, the Math Team, the National Honor Society and the Hazel Dell Free Will Baptist Youth Group. While a member of the group, Kendall has participated in mission trips to the states of Georgia, West Virginia, Alabama and Mississippi.
Gibson will play football at Illinois College.
Mallory Crain
Pawnee, Illinois
Pawnee High School
Mascot: Indians
Conference: Prairie State
IHSS Affiliation: Mallory is the daughter of IHSS Member Pridecoach.
Mallory Crain was very busy on and off the playing surfaces, but still found time to win an IHSS Scholarship.
A four-year participant in volleyball, basketball and softball, Crain was no stranger to accolades. She was a captain of all three teams her senior year in addition to many awards including All-Conference selections in both softball and volleyball.
Mallory also participated in WYSE, Rotary, Band, the Pulse Youth Ministries and was a member of the National Honor Society and Midland United Methodist Youth Group. She was also Student Council President her senior year.
Go grab a soft drink and sit back and relax as we go down the list of Mallory's lengthy list of volunteer activities. For four years she worked a phone bank for the UCP Telethon, has volunteered for Pawnee Youth Summer Baseball & Softball Leagues, Vacation Bible School, Pawnee Softball & Basketball Camps, Christ Event, Project Linus, Bowling for Teens, Habitat for Humanity, St. John's Breadline, Memorial Gardens Fall Festival, placed flags for the observance of Veteran's Day, assisted with the local Food Pantry, helped with church dinners and somehow found 6 days to serve on a mission trip to Ohio.
Mallory also stayed focused enough to finish her high school academic career with a 4.3 GPA (on a weighted-4.0 scale).
Mallory will attend the St. Louis College of Pharmacy
Jordan Bartolazzi
Auburn, Illinois
Auburn High School
Mascot: Trojans
Conference: Sangamo
IHSS Affiliation: Jordan is IHSS Member Trojans10.
Jordan Bartolazzi was everything we look for in an IHSS Scholarship Recipient. A strong work ethic, solid athletic background, dedication to academics and a commitment to volunteerism. We are proud to award Jordan Bartolazzi a 2010 IHSS Scholarship.
While holding down employment at BnD Distribution, Incorporated as a grocery merchandiser, Bartolazzi has seen success in the classroom, community and playing surfaces.
Jordan is a(n): Illinois State Scholar; member of the Chicago Tribune All-State Academic Team; SJ-R Top Teen Award Winner; IHSA All-State Academic Team Nominee; past UIS Student of the Week; past AHS Student of the Month; and past SJ-R Male Scholar Athlete of the Week.
If that isn't a strong enough portfolio, Bartolazzi also competed in track, basketball and cross country all four years. He also participated in Student Council (with 2 years as President), Spanish Club, Business Club, Future Business Leaders of America, Science Club and the National Honor Society.
Jordan is also involved with the Catholic Heart Work Camp, Middle School Tutoring Program, High School Drug Prevention Team, Illinois Teen Institute and Active Catholic Teens Group, among many, many others.
Jordan Bartolazzi will attend Elmhurst College.
Chelsea Hadsall
Macomb, Illinois
Macomb High School
Mascot: Bombers
Conference: Olympic
IHSS Affiliation: Chelsea is Leatherneck's daughter.
Chelsea Hadsall is the Macomb HS Class of 2010 Valedictorian with a 4+ GPA (4.0 weighted-scale) and she scored a 30 on the ACT. Hadsall pretty well had us with her academic accomplishments.
The rest? Well, supporting details for her write-up and a chance for us to brag more about another IHSS Scholarship Recipient.
Chelsea liked to hit the links as a Sectional Qualifier of the Bomber Golf Team for four seasons. She also qualified for state as a junior. While these attributes are nice, she really sets herself apart from many others with the rest of her activities.
As a member of choir and band for four years, Chelsea received many awards from her instructors for dedication, leadership and performance. She even participated in school dramas for three years and was a Thespian for two. She is also a four-year member of WYSE, Scholastic Bowl, Math Team and Student Council serving as vice president her sophomore, junior and senior years.
Hadsall also received Society of Academic Achievement awards; the Principal’s Leadership Award, DAR Good Citizen Award and was an Illinois State Scholar.
Chelsea will attend Millikin University.
