May 14, 2008
Nineteen students named Presidential Scholars
CARBONDALE, Ill. -- It takes hard work and dedication, not just in the classroom but also in the community, to be a Southern Illinois University Carbondale Presidential Scholar.
The reward for the 19 graduating high school seniors who earned the designation, though, is significant. The competitive presidential scholarships cover tuition, fees, and room and board for four years at SIUC. Minimum qualifications include an ACT score of 29 or an SAT score of 1300 and a class rank in the 90th percentile. In addition to class standing and test scores, successful applicants are in leadership roles in their communities as evidenced by their high school and community activities.
The late SIU President James E. Walker established the scholarships in 2001. The scholarships are the most prestigious and most comprehensive that SIUC awards each year.
The award is renewable for all four years as long as students maintain at least a 3.0 cumulative grade point average. The presidential scholarship is worth more than $70,000.
Scholarship winners, by hometown, are:
Anna
Liz Holden, Anna-Jonesboro High School, is the daughter of Gaylen and Karen Holden. She is an Outstanding Senior Award recipient and is a member of the local and the National Honor Society as well as a Top 10 student. She was active in Beta Club, the Scholar Bowl, Math Team, Spanish Club and Mu Alpha Theta, the national honor society for high school and junior college mathematics. She plans to major in engineering.
Benton
Carly Cripps, Benton High School, is the daughter of Dean and Tammy Cripps. Cripps was named to the All-Conference teams for volleyball and track. She was also a cross-country runner. She was a member of the student council at her school, and served on the yearbook staff, the student chamber of commerce and Jobs for Illinois Graduates. Cripps is an Illinois State Scholar and a member of the National Honor Society. She plans to major in pre-medicine.
Breese
Courtney Strieker, Central Community High School in Breese, is the daughter of Curt and Marla Strieker. She is an Illinois State Scholar and a member of the National Honor Society and the High Honor Roll. She won the 2007 Defensive Award and was captain for the 2007 volleyball state champion team. She also played basketball and softball for her school, participated in the school play, student council, Tech Prep and Young Authors. In her community, she was a member of Big Brothers, Big Sisters and acted as crew chief and umpire for the Breese Little League. She plans to major in chemistry.
Chicago
Marissa R. DeHoyos, the De La Salle Institute, is the daughter of Kurt and Peggy DeHoyos. DeHoyos was involved with the peer ministry the Eucharistic ministry programs, and served as treasurer in the Respecting Ethnic and Cultural Heritages group. She earned an Academic Excellence Award-Volleyball, and was co-captain of her volleyball team. She also was on the Girls' Catholic Athletic Conference-All Conference Academic Team and won a sportsmanship award in volleyball. President of her school's chapter of the National Honor Society, DeHoyos is also a state scholar and a Bausch and Lomb Honorary Science Award winner. She was on the "A" Honor Roll and was a member of the Spanish Club. She plans to major in mathematics.
Crete
Kat Mannel, Crete-Monee High School, is the daughter of Alan and Sheila Mannel. She was captain of the varsity volleyball team and the varsity Scholastic Bowl team. A member of the National Honor Society, Mannel was senior editor of her school's literary magazine. Her classmates voted her the Most Creative of the Class of 2008. She was also on the Math Team. She plans to major in art history.
Dowell
Lee Stewart, Elverado High School, is the son of Dennis and Trisha Stewart. He is an Illinois State Scholar and a member of the National Honor Society. A winner at local and regional levels for the DAR Good Citizen Scholarship, he was also a finalist at the state level. Stewart was president of the drama club and was active in Life Savers, 4-H, the yearbook, student council, Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) and the YMCA youth programs. He played baseball, basketball and football for his school. He was a resident athlete for USA Archery at the United States Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif., where he won various state, national and international awards. He plans to major in political science.
Effingham
Nicole Haarmann, St. Anthony High School, is the daughter of Tom and Janet Haarmann of Effingham. She was active in the Spanish Club, and the Worldwide Youth in Engineering and Science team. She was a National 4-H Congress delegate. A member of the National Honor Society, she is also an Illinois State Scholar. Haarmann played softball for her school and was also a member of the student council. She was a Society for Academic Achievement member. She plans to major in pre-veterinary medicine.
Essex
Ellyn Vanderhyden, Reed-Custer High School, is the daughter of Ronald and Elizabeth Vanderhyden. She is a member of the National Honor Society and the High Honor Roll. She was an All-Academic Volleyball player and also a member of All-Academic Track. In addition, Vanderhyden was on her school's Math Team and a member of Worldwide Youth in Science and Engineering (WYSE). She was also a member of the student council. Vanderhyden was a Peer Helper, and was involved in the anti-drug program D-Fy-It. She plans to major in radiologic science at SIUC.
Marion
Laura Bickers, Marion High School, is the daughter of Christopher and Linda Bickers. She is a member of the National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, National Art Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta Honor Society and the High Honor Roll. She is a Rotary Award recipient and earned a Gold Key at the Scholastic Art Competition in 2008. She is a Top 5 Percent Junior Class Award recipient. She earned an Outstanding Art Through the Ages Student Award. She finished ninth at the State Math Team Competition in 2006. Bickers was president of the Art Club, vice president of the Math Club and treasurer for the Math Honor Society. She played varsity soccer and was an Extreme All-Star Cheerleading member. She was a member of the student council and the WYSE team. She plans to major in mechanical engineering.
Marshall
Andy Guinnip, Marshall High School, is the son of Don and Susan Guinnip. He is an Illinois State Scholar and a member of the National Honor Society. He participated in Illinois American Legion's Boys State. An honor roll member, he was active in Worldwide Youth in Science and Engineering, district band, pep band, Marshall City Band, Scholastic Bowl, Science Club, Interact, Spanish Club, Drama Club and the Marshall Leadership Team. He also played soccer for his school and was active in both 4-H and 4-H Federation. He is a member of Future Business Leaders of America and St. Mary United Teens. He plans to major in pre-medicine.
Mount Vernon
Kristen Atchison, Mount Vernon Township High School, is the daughter of Dr. Gary and Kathy Atchison. She is an Illinois State Scholar and a member of the National Honor Society. She was the leading scorer for her soccer team for two years and was part of the First Team-All Conference for women's soccer. She was also active in French Club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the Little Egypt District of Student Councils and Youth and Government. She was a member of her school's student council and was prom queen her junior year. She plans to enroll as a pre-major student.
Mount Zion
Augie Diericx, Mount Zion High School, is the son of Rick and Libby Diericx. An Illinois State Scholar, he is a Rensselaer Medal for Math and Science recipient and attended the Illinois American Legion Boys State. Diericx won a Wendy's High School Heisman award, and the Decatur Herald and Review named him to the All-Area Soccer Second Team. He was fourth in the state for the Illinois Math Calculator Team and second in the region for the Illinois Geometry Competition. A member of the first-place WYSE regional team, he was second in math in the individual awards. Diericx was a member and officer of the student council. He was also president of the National Honor Society chapter and was class president. He was active in Junior Achievement, Future Business Leaders of America, the Swingsation Show Choir, Spanish Club, SADD, Medics and the Math Team. He plans to major in mechanical engineering.
Murphysboro
Megan Blackwell, Murphysboro High School, is the daughter of Everett and Kathy Blackwell. She was a John A. Logan College Top Six Outstanding Junior and an ISAC State Scholar. In 2007, she served as MHS Junior Honor Marshall. Blackwell is a National Honor Society member, and a member of the Key Club and the Beta Club. She participated in the Envirothon. She was a member of the MHS Dazzlers Dance Team. She also participated in the madrigal group and in two school musicals. She plans to major in radiologic sciences.
Michael Buhman, Murphysboro High School, is the son of Steve and Linda Buhman. An Eagle Scout, he is also an Illinois Merit Scholar. Buhman is a member of the National Honor Society and is on the High Honor Roll. He was active in Key Club, Beta Club, band and chorus and participated in Future Business Leaders of America. He is a member of his school's Scholar Bowl team. He is also a member of the Boy Scouts Venture Crew. Buhman plans to major in information systems technology.
Northlake
Karla Keller Avelar, Walther Lutheran High School, is the daughter of Gloria Avelar Keller. A member of the National Honor Society and an Illinois State Scholar, she was also a 16-quarter member of the Principal's List, which is the highest GPA honor roll for her school. Avelar played volleyball and was involved in the spring musical production for her school. She also participated in four extra-curricular choral groups. Avelar was part of a mission trip to Mexico in 2006. She worked at Colonial Village Apartments while in high school. She plans to major in administration of justice.
Staunton
Sarah Claytor, Staunton High School, is the daughter of Steven and Lisa Claytor. Her mother, now deceased, was Kathy Claytor. Sarah Claytor is an Illinois State Scholar and a member of the High Honor Roll. She was nominated for a National Honor Society Scholarship and was an academic letter winner. Claytor was co-captain of the color guard and was active in school plays, prom committee and hostess, Scholastic Bowl, volleyball -- for which she won an athletic award, ethics committee and class president. She held several offices on the Staunton Youth Council and participated in such community activities as Race for the Cure, MS Walk, fundraisers for various natural disasters, Salvation Army bell-ringer and Operation Christmas Child. While she was in high school, she worked as a waitress, tutor and babysitter. She plans to major in animal sciences specializing in pre-veterinary medicine.
Steeleville
Loran Luehr, Steeleville High School, is the daughter of Lora Wolters from Steeleville and Rodger Guebert of Chicago. She is an Illinois State Scholar and a member of the National Honor Society. She was also a cheerleader and a cross-country runner. Luehr was also a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. She was a member of the Future Business Leaders of America group at her high school. She was also a member of the Math League and the History Club as well as the Science Club. She plans to major in English at SIUC.
Taylorville
Jessica M. Stout, Taylorville Senior High School, is the daughter of Marcy Stout of Taylorville and Mike and Debra Stout of Springfield. She is an Illinois State Scholar and a member of the National Honor Roll and the High Honor Roll. She was a National FFA Agri-Science Fair champion and an FFA State SAE winner as well as a two-time Taylorville High School Science Fair Best of Show winner. Stout was Key Club president and president of her school's chapter of the FFA. She participated in the Building Up Character program and the student council. She was also the varsity baseball team's statistician and a member of the musical stage crew. Stout participated in Envirothon and the Science Club, and she is a ballroom dancer. She plans to major in biochemistry.
Xenia
Genna Ord, Flora High School, is the daughter of Kevin and Jo Ord of Xenia. She is an Illinois State Scholar, National Honor Society member and a DAR Good Citizenship Award recipient. Ord also earned an All-LIC Scholarship. She was a member of the student council, pep club, Eta Lambda and the Science Club as well as the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. She participated in golf and track as well as the Scholastic Bowl, band and Jobs for Illinois Graduates. She won second place in the Worldwide Science and Engineering Regional competition in English. She plans to major in journalism.
