Chamber honors teachers, students

Editor’s Note: This is the second of a two-part series on the 2010 Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce honorees to be recognized during a banquet later this month.



By KANDACE MCCOY

kandace.mccoy@register-news.com

MT. VERNON — Three local students and a dozen teachers were honored Wednesday morning with scholarships, tuition waivers and grants by the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce.

Mt. Vernon Township High School senior Samantha Allen and Woodlawn High School senior Travis Tatlock were the recipients of the Student of the Year award. Both will receive $1,000 scholarships to the colleges of their choice.

Allen is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Owen Allen of Ina and plans to attend the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She plans to major in chemistry. She is involved in Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD), Youth and Government, Operetta, Symphonic Orchestra, Worldwide Youth in Science and Engineering (WYSE) and National Honors Society. She volunteers her time at the YMCA, Red Ribbon Week Festival and plays the piano at assisted living centers and nursing homes.

Tatlock is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Mike Tatlock of Woodlawn and plans to attend either the University of Illinos or the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology majoring in engineering. Following college graduation, he plans to use his degree and foreign language skills in Spanish through organizations such as the Peace Corps. He is involved in Scholar Bowl, WYSE Team, Spanish Club, Student Council, Beta Club and Drama and has been on the Honors Program all four years of high school. He volunteers his time at soup kitchens, as a camp counselor, at church youth group and Boy Scouts.

MVTHS senior Joseph Capps, son of Mr. John Capps and Mrs. Melissa Clark. and was selected by the Chamber to receive a one-year tuition waiver from Rend Lake College. Upon graduation from RLC, he plans to attend either Southern Illinois University at Carbondale or at Edwardsville to pursue a Bachelors of Science in teaching.

He has been involved in cross country, basketball, track and field and community services such as Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Central Christian Church’s youth group, mission trips to Boston and caroled at various nursing homes and assisted living centers.

“Everything that is constructed and built starts with a foundation. From that foundation walls are built and a sturdy structure is formed, and from that structure flows the sweet sound of a uniformed body. The sound that says ‘I did it, I have fulfilled my purpose.’ This is the way I view my education. The foundation and the wall are my education and the sweet sound of success is what I have to offer to the world, Jefferson County, after I graduate,” Capps wrote to the Chamber.

Twelve teachers were also rewarded $300 each in classroom grants from the Chamber Wednesday. The 12 recipients are:

Anne Perry, Hannah Rodgers and Crystal Nowak, Mt. Vernon Township High School Art Department;

Diane Porter, McClellan Grade School kindergarten;

Christi Julius, Mt. Vernon Township High School special education;

Brandi Sauerhage, Ina Grade School, kindgarten through eighth grade;

Michelle Lee, Mt. Vernon Primary Center, third grade;

Rebecca Frisby, Mt. Vernon Primary Center, third grade;

Mary Beth Lance, Casey Middle School, sixth grade special education;

Stasey Meador, Dodds Grade School, kindergarten through fifth grade special education;

Marsha Garrett, Woodlawn Grade School, sixth through eighth grade;

Kiley Thomas, Mt. Vernon Township High School;

Laura Skorch, St. Mary School, fifth grade; and

Joyce Wilton, McClellan Grade School, fifth and sixth grade.

“The Chamber is proud that through our Corporate Citizens and the area businesses willing to donate to a great cause, that we can help our area teachers and students toward their goals,” said Chamber Executive Director Brandon Bullard. “All we see is bad news, state budgets, school funding, and this is just one way we can look out for each other in Southern Illinois, by taking good care of our most precious resource and making sure our children have a good solid foundation on which to learn.”

The students and teachers will be honored at the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce Banquet March 26 at the Holiday Inn.

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