Students Receive College Scholarships

The Joliet Region Education Scholarship Fund awarded 38 local students, including 19 Joliet Public Schools District 86 students, with $1,000 college scholarships. These winning students were from Joliet area schools, in grades 4-8, who maintained at least a grade point average of 3.75 and demonstrated service at their school or in the community. The students were nominated by their school principal or teacher for the award. The scholarship program was created by the Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce Education Committee in 2014 to encourage and motivate students at an early age to attend college or trade school after high school. In lieu of a banquet this year, principals presented a medal, trophy and yard sign to the students at their houses.

This year’s Joliet District 86 winners were: T.E. Culbertson Elementary: Logan Grabo, 5^th grade; M.J. Cunningham Elementary: Paula Rangel, 5^th grade; Dirksen Junior High: Heaven Gonzalez, 7^th grade; Eisenhower Academy: Elena Yanchick, 5^th grade; Farragut Elementary: Caleb Dennis, 5^th grade; Forest Park Individual Education I.E. School: Jack Gregory, 4^th grade; Gompers Junior High: Adriana Faria Lugo, 6^th grade; Hufford Junior High: Lorelei Wojewoda, 6^th grade; Thomas Jefferson Elementary: Michael Ardaugh, 5^th grade; Edna Keith Elementary: Edwardo Sandoval, 4^th grade; A.O. Marshall Elementary: Alfonso Duenez, 5^th grade; Pershing Elementary: Hailey Reyes, 5^th grade; Sator Sanchez Elementary: Alexa Magana, 5^th grade; Carl Sandburg Elementary: Jocelyn Martinez, 5^th grade; Isaac Singleton Elementary: Juan Tirado, 5^th grade; Taft Elementary: Cooper Hill, 4^th grade; Lynne Thigpen Elementary: Fernanda Chavez, 4^th grade; Washington Junior High: Nevaeh Zavala, 8^th grade; and Woodland Elementary: Rafael Garcia, 5^th grade.

Sponsors included Hawk Joliet Cadillac-Chevrolet (title investor), Citgo (silver investor) and the Joliet Grade Schools Foundation for Educational Excellence (bronze investor).