ALTON/GODFREY — All of the Catholic schools in Alton and Godfrey recently received $1,500 scholarships from the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians (LAOH) through the Msgr. James A. Suddes Catholic Education Trust Fund. The schools that received the scholarships are Marquette Catholic High School, St. Ambrose, St. Mary's and Ss. Peter and Paul.

The LAOH is a national organization of Catholic women of Irish descent and is a charitable nonprofit organization whose purpose is raising money for charities and the needy. The local chapter consists of 30 women and they are the trustees for the Msgr. James A. Suddes Trust Fund.

The Msgr. James A. Suddes Catholic Education Trust Fund was established in 1998 by his nephew, John Suddes. Msgr. Suddes was the pastor of St. Mary Parish in Alton from 1954 to 1987; he died in 1997.

The trust was created and is operated exclusively for the purpose of providing scholarships for underprivileged children to attend Catholic elementary and high schools in Alton and Godfrey.