SPRINGFIELD — Sacred Heart-Griffin High School in Springfield has 38 seniors recognized as 2015-2016 Illinois State Scholars.
Those students are: Monica Bell, Cody Bowman, Anna Brown, Charles Burns, Wyatt Bussone, Erin Cetindag, Sean Chapin, James (Graham) Cross, Kelsey Cutler, Ian Davis, Erin Faloon, Patrick Flattery, Donald (Joseph) George, Jennifer Haley, Kathyrn Halford, Emma Hardy, Mary (Beth) Haxel, Danielle Healey, Meghan Kramp, Dylan Londrigan, John Londrigan, Nicholas Martin, Bridget McClain, Meghan McClain, Daniel McGrath, Marissa Miller, Matthew Mosley, Sophia Mounce, Andrew Oreshkov, Maria Palazzolo, Albert Perlman, Cody Prosperini, Ariel Rhodes, Madeline Smith, Madeline St. Aubin, Ryleigh Taylor, Rachel Treat and Alexandria Yarnik.
The award, given annually by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC), recognized over 18,800 high school students from across the state as this year's State Scholars. Illinois State Scholar winners rank in the top 10 percent of high school seniors from 671 different high schools across the state. Selection is based on SAT, ACT, or Prairie State Achievement Exam scores, and/or on class rank at the end of the junior year.
Eric Zarnikow, ISAC executive director, said he was proud to announce the Illinois State Scholars. "In addition to congratulating our State Scholars for their commitment and hard work, we also want to commend their parents, teachers, coaches and mentors for helping these students achieve their goals," he said. " … We wish all of these scholars the best as they pursue their future education and careers."
Originally formed as the Illinois State Scholarship Commission in 1958, the mission of ISAC is to provide comprehensive, objective, and timely information on education and financial aid for students and their families —giving them access to the tools they need to help make the educational choices that are right for them. Then, through the state's flagship Monetary Award Program and other scholarship and grant programs ISAC administers — totaling more than $380 million in academic year 2014-15 — ISAC can help students make those choices a reality.