The Diocesan Council of Catholic Women (DCCW) has announced the 2012 recipients of $500 scholarships awarded to outstanding Catholic female high school seniors. The DCCW Scholarship Program recognizes outstanding female high school seniors who exemplify the values of leadership, faith and service. In their application, candidates must show how they demonstrated these values in their school, in their community and to their church.
Recipients were selected by a committee chaired by Alma Frohock of Bunker Hill. Because of the quality of applications, five scholarships were awarded this year instead of the usual four.
Hannah Fay Drake is the daughter of Mike and Lynette Drake of Charleston, and was a senior at Charleston High School. Hannah ranked sixth in a class of 202 students and graduated May 18. She is a member of St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Charleston.
She served as president of the Choir and Science Club, was elected to the National Honor Society and was involved in the school newspaper as head reporter. She chaired religious debates for the school's Political Forum, and was a member and tutor in the Spanish National Society. During her senior year, Hannah joined the tennis team for the first time and said that she helped her team mainly with "moral support."
As an accomplished harpist, she was very active in the music programs and was cast as the lead in several spring school musicals.
At her parish, Hannah has attended many retreats, represented her parish at the National Catholic Youth Conference and at the March of Life in Washington, D.C. She has also participated in the Catholic Heart Workcamp mission trips and TEC weekends. She has been an assistant religious teacher for first- through third-graders. She has been an altar server since fourth grade. She belongs to the adult choir, serves as cantor and daily Mass lector, and plays the harp for liturgies. She was named to the pastoral council of her parish as her youth group representative and was co-president of her youth group. As a member of Christian Foundation for Children, Hannah sponsored a child in Brazil, offering monetary, spiritual and emotional support. She has volunteered at the Lincoln Log Cabin historic site as an interpretive character for the past eight years. Hannah participates in numerous other community activities.
Every year Hannah performs her own benefit concert and has raised over $1,000 for local charities. She works part time and calls herself a "coffee barista."
She plans to attend Western Illinois University in the fall.
Jordyn L. Huston is the daughter of Michael and Lisa Huston of Newton and is a 2012 graduate of Newton Community High School where, with a 4.0 grade point average, she shared the number one rank with three of her classmates.
Jordyn was named a commended student because of her score on the PSAT test and an Illinois State Scholar as a result of her ACT score. She was selected to the Beta/National Honor Society and was named Student of the Month for three years and Student of the Week this last year. She belongs to the St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in Newton.
Jordan is an accomplished pianist and vocalist. She led the Newton Marching Eagles as head drum major for the past two years and the Pep Band as director. As a member of the Concert Band, she performed as soloist and as master of ceremonies and soloist for the Chorus Pops Concert. She was involved in the school musical each year, and in her junior and senior years as student director. Jordyn was also selected to the Illinois Music Educators Association District Choir each year of high school and in her junior year to the Honors All State Choir.
Jordyn is president of the FCA and the Future Business Leaders of America; vice-president of the Science Club; and treasurer of the Math Club. She also belonged to the Worldwide Youth Science and Engineering team (WYSE). She participated in track during her junior and senior years.
Jordyn is an active member of the 4-H organization. She serves as an officer of her local chapter, treasurer of the 4-H Federation and is a member of the 4-H Foundation Board. She also serves as a 4-H ambassador. Jordyn heads the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) huddle group at her school and assumes the responsibility of getting the members involved in various faith-related activities. In addition, she serves as student representative on the Jasper County Development Co-op Board.
She is involved in several other community volunteer activities.
At her parish, she sings in the choir, helps with the youth choir and participates in various church service projects.
She also has found some time to work at several odd jobs such as sound technician with the Jasper County Fair Association and as grapepicker at Cameo Vinyards in Greenup.
Jordyn plans to pursue a career in the field of genetics or medical research.
Lauren Estelle Murphy, daughter of Billy Joe and Dianne Lynn Murphy of Arcola, is a 2012 graduate of Arcola Community High School. She attends St. John the Baptist Church in Arcola. She earned a perfect 4.0 grade point average, ranking first in a class of 53, and was selected to the National Honor Society.
She was recognized as an Illinois State Scholar and last year was named to the National Society of High School Scholars.
Lauren was a member of the student council for four years, served as treasurer for two years and was involved in planning many events and activities. She belongs to the Future Farmers of America (FFA) and American Field Service. She also served as manager of the Arcola High Football team the last two years.
Lauren was also involved in the sports program an Arcola High. She played softball all four years, basketball for three and volleyball for one. In her sophomore year, she became a cheerleader.
Lauren is enrolled in a Health Occupations program at the Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center, where she dedicates several hours a week. She has been involved in many other community volunteer activities. The Rotary Club voted Lauren Senior of the Month last fall.
At her parish, Lauren is active in the PSR program and with the Youth Group. She has been a Bible school leader, and has recently begun to be a lector.
Lauryn Kay Ragland of Effingham is the daughter of Jodi Jansen and attends St. Anthony High School in Effingham. As her May graduation neared, she was tied for the number one spot in a class of 54 students, with a perfect 4.0 GPA. She is a member of St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Effingham.
Lauryn completed all six of the Advanced Placement classes that St. Anthony's offers earned college credit in both AP statistics as well as AP English language. She was president of the student council, president of her senior class and treasurer of the National Honor Society. As a junior, Lauryn led her class in planning the Junior-Senior Prom. As a member and officer of the National Honor Society, she tutored students on a monthly basis.
A member of the Billette Dance Team for four years, Lauryn served as captain this year. The team performed at basketball games and competed in jazz and lyrical dances through the Illinois Drill Team Association. She was a member of the track team for two years, a member of the Spanish Club, Science Club, WYSE team and participated in school musicals.
She was leader of the 2012 Kairos Retreat and participated in a two-week pilgrimage to Italy and World Youth Day in Madrid.
At her parish, Lauryn is an extraordinary minister of holy Communion. For several years, she was a cantor at Sacred Heart Church and sang in the choir and at school Masses.
She was also involved in activities in her school, community and parish.
Outside of school, Lauryn works as a dance instructor at Jansen's Gym and Dance Center. She also babysits in her spare time and helps out in her family's landscaping business.
Lauryn will attend the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and major in business.
Jennifer Schmidt, the daughter of Kent and Elizabeth Schmidt, also is a 2012 graduate of St. Anthony High School in Effingham, where she earned a perfect 4.0 GPA and was tied for number one in her senior class. Jennifer achieved the highest ACT score in St. Anthony High School history. She was named an Illinois State Scholar and was a commended student in the 2012 National Merit Scholarship Program. During her high school years, he completed five advanced placement classes. She has been included in the Society for Academic Achievement and was inducted in the National Honor Society of St. Anthony High School.
Jennifer was a member of both the volleyball and track teams and was a member of the cheerleading squad. She also participated in school musicals and plays, and belonged to various clubs, including the Pep Club, WYSE team and student council.
While enrolled in the CEO class (Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities) at her school she started her own business, "Table for Two," which offers comfortable dining for people in their own homes.
Jennifer also logged more than 160 service hours, more than double the requirement, in service to her school, to her community and to her church. She credits her strong faith for her eagerness to serve. She volunteers in a variety of activities such as helping children with various projects, baking cupcakes for bake sales, participating in week-long work camps or painting a house for a young couple.
Jennifer works at the Firefly Grill as an intern in accounting where she is gaining experience in the financial aspect of the restaurant business. Also, she helps out at the library during the summer.
Jennifer will attend the University of Notre Dame in the fall where she plans to major in either accounting or finance.