JERSEY: State scholars receive an unexpected check from the Frank and Edith Catt Foundation

PROTECTED CONTENT

If you’re a current subscriber, log in below. If you would like to subscribe, please click the subscribe tab above.

Username

Password

Login

Lost your password?

Username and Password Help

Please enter your email and we will send you a password reset link.

Email

Submit

← Back

By Steven Spencer

Jersey Community High School seniors that received the honor of being named Illinois State Scholars were each surprised with an $8,000 check Thursday night at the February school board meeting.

This year’s JCHS Illinois State Scholars were Elena Benner, Ryan Bolds, Ella Bradshaw, Connor Chin, Anna Dial, Kathleen Dougherty, Reese Eschbach, Maddilyn Harp, Sofia Hernandez-Lamer, Evan Lacy, Zoey Little, Lauren Lyons, Merris McDuffie, Elise Noble, Cora Schroeder, Grace Shalley, Aiden Talley and Jonathan Wells.

“It’s a fun time. It’s a roller coaster get ready,” Superintendent Brad Tuttle said. “It’s the beginning of the roller coaster and it’s got real steep ups and downs. I’ve lived it a couple times in the last few years and it’s a great night for us to celebrate the accomplishments.”

Dr. Jason Brunaugh, JCHS Principal, said it was very exciting to be able to honor the students Thursday night while commending them on their accomplishments. An accomplishment that is no easy task. Brunaugh said that requirements to be honored as an Illinois State Scholar include high academic achievement in the classroom as well as on state tests.

“Top ten percent usually is what it equates to but it takes a lot more to get that honor, so we’re excited to have them recognized here tonight,” he said.

Mark Schaefer, President of Jersey State Bank and a Trustee with the Frank and Edith Catt Foundation, announced the issuance of the $8,000.

“This is one of the fun evenings,” Schaefer said. “I serve by my capacity at the bank with Mr. Tuttle and his capacity here at the school as Superintendent, and with Dr. Brunaugh here in capacity. So the three of us serve on the Edith Catt Foundation Board.”

Schaefer said Edith Catt left substantial funds in various investments, and over the last few years they have tried to come up with new ways to honor her and get funds to students.

“The last few years we’ve tried to come up with some ways to honor her and to use some of these monies to get them out to the students,” he said. “So with Mr. Tuttle and Dr. Brunaugh we’d like to share with you tonight, to each one of you that have accomplished the honor of receiving an Illinois State Scholars award, we are here to give each one of you $8,000.”