Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White and the Illinois Press Association this week announced the winners of the annual Spotlight on Achievement and Spotlight on Service awards recognizing outstanding literacy students and volunteer tutors in Illinois. The awards were presented during a ceremony at the Illinois State Library in Springfield.
Twelve students were recognized for outstanding achievement in developing and improving their literacy skills:
- Cholena and Kachina Dabney, students at Oakton Community College, Skokie
- Ron Draper, who attends classes at YWCA Adult Literacy, Pekin
- Marc Girouard, John Wood Community College, Quincy
- Richetta Harris-El, Lawrence Education Center, Springfield
- Domenico Iannucci, YWCA Adult Literacy, Pekin
- Armando and Mariela Mayorga, DeLaSalle/Tolton, Chicago
- Lulu Qualls, Blue Gargoyle, Chicago
- Oscar Ruiz, Instituto del Progreso Latino, Chicago
- Jesse Veach, Common Place, Peoria
- Freddie Williford, John A. Logan College, Carterville
The twelve winners received a $200 check from the Illinois Press Foundation, a plaque presented by Secretary White, a personalized Illinois Blue Book, and a set of books donated by Delta Systems.
Ten outstanding tutors were honored for their contributions in helping literacy students reach their goals:
- Norma Barnwell, a volunteer tutor at John Wood Community College, Quincy
- Mary Berger, Township High School District 214 Community Education, Arlington Heights
- Bob Gilbert, Lawrence Education Center, Springfield
- James Himmelspach, McHenry County College, Crystal Lake
- Steven Monroe, Lester and Rosalie Anixter Center, Chicago
- Veronica Pacheco, Waubonsee Community College, Aurora
- Becky Price, YWCA Adult Literacy, Pekin
- William Summers, Kaskaskia College, Centralia
- Shirley Turbov, Township High School District 214 Community Education, Arlington Heights
- Panda Turner, Carl Sandburg College, Carthage
The ten winning tutors received a plaque and personalized Illinois Blue Book from Secretary White, and $200 is donated by the Illinois Press Foundation to the literacy program where they serve as volunteer tutors.
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 received grant funding provided educational services to 22,150 adult students. 8,501 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.