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May 14, 2008

Pat McGuckin

Jesse White, Illinois Press Assn. Announce Spotlight Awards For Outstanding Literacy Students And Tutors

SPRINGFIELD – Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White and David Bennett, Executive Director of the Illinois Press Association, announced today the winners of the annual Spotlight on Achievement and Spotlight on Service awards recognizing outstanding literacy students and tutors in Illinois. The awards were presented at a ceremony at the Illinois State Library in Springfield.

"I am honored to congratulate these outstanding students for their hard work and determination in seeking to obtain lifelong learning skills," said Secretary White. "And I am equally proud of our ten outstanding tutors for their generosity and encouragement in helping literacy students achieve their utmost potential."

Ten students were recognized for outstanding achievement in developing and improving their literacy skills:

• Burnice Blair, a student at Common Place Family Learning Center, Peoria
• Marco Ceja, Waukegan Public Library (as a partner in Lake County Adult Learning Connection)
• Michael Dellar, Blue Gargoyle Community Services, Chicago
• Alexandra Fleming, Kaskaskia College Reading Link Program, Centralia
• Wantanee Freeman, YWCA Adult Literacy, Pekin
• Delfino Garcia, Oakton Community College, Skokie
• Bernice Husher, Kaskaskia College, Centralia
• Jerry Mezo, John A. Logan College, Carterville
• Christine Moeller, Illinois Eastern Community Colleges (Frontier), Fairfield
• Roshonda Smith, De La Salle/Tolton Center, Chicago

The ten winners received a $200 check from the Illinois Press Association Foundation, a plaque presented by Secretary White, a personalized Illinois Blue Book and ten books donated by Delta Systems.

Ten outstanding tutors were honored for their contributions in helping literacy students reach their goals:

• Donald Bartak, a volunteer tutor at Prairie State College, Chicago Heights
• Robert Brown, Waubonsee Community College, Aurora
• John Fendrich, Common Place Family Learning Center and LVA/Project U.P.W.A.R.D., Peoria
• Ellen Hooker, Regional Office of Education - St. Clair County, Belleville
• Robert Mathis, De La Salle Institute/Tolton Adult Education Center, Chicago
• Carol Randall, YWCA Adult Literacy, Pekin
• Ruth Richert, Spoon River College Literacy Project, Macomb
• Diana Schueler, YWCA Adult Literacy, Pekin
• Paul Strauss, Blue Gargoyle Community Services, Chicago
• Beverly Wheatley, Kaskaskia College, Centralia

The ten winning tutors received a plaque and personalized Illinois Blue Book from Secretary White, and $200 is donated by the Illinois Press Association Foundation to the literacy program where they serve as volunteer tutors.

"These outstanding men and women are part of an ever-growing commitment in Illinois to making sure our citizens have the skills they need to be outstanding parents, spouses, employees and productive members of their communities," said White.

Students and tutors are nominated from among the nearly 200 local providers who receive literacy grant funding from the Secretary of State/Illinois State Library Literacy Office. Last year adult literacy programs that receive grant funding provided educational services to nearly 24,000 adult students. Nearly 8,700 volunteer tutors gave their time to help students develop and enhance their reading, writing, math and language skills. Persons interested in becoming volunteer tutors are urged to contact the Illinois Adult Learning Hotline at 1-800-321-9511.

“The Illinois Press Association is excited to help continue the significant effort to promote literacy in Illinois,” said Bennett. “Despite shifts toward the Internet, readership of newspapers and news Web sites is on the rise. It is increasingly important to be able to read well and to be able to comprehend what one reads. It is essential to our democracy and an enjoyable pastime as well -- that's something I'm sure all of the Spotlight winners can attest to. Newspapers are proud to continue our commitment to helping people overcome the disabling effects of illiteracy.”

2008 Spotlight On Achievement Winners

2008 Spotlight On Service Winners