Abraham Lincoln would enjoy meeting the group of high school
students honored last week. He would see something of himself reflected in
them. The students received the Lincoln Senior Award for demonstrating
“the high qualities of character, conduct and scholarship” associated with the
Sixteenth President of the United States.
Fifteen high schools in Peoria County selected a Lincoln Senior for
recognition at the twelfth annual Lincoln Senior Award Banquet on Thursday,
February 13th
placed on a Lincoln Senior Plaque permanently displayed at each high school.
Each senior received a Bill Hardin picture of the Lincoln home in
Springfield with an insert picture of Lincoln. The seniors also received a
Lincoln Medallion, a $50 gift certificate to the Book Nook and a Lincoln
Medallion t-shirt.
Jim Cummings, a retired attorney and former Peoria Park Board
Trustee, was presented the first Lincoln Leader Award for his leadership in
erecting a likeness of Lincoln in the Peoria County Courthouse Plaza and the
creation of the Lincoln Senior Award. The banquet speaker was Dr. Randy
Saxon.
The Peoria Office of the Regional Superintendent of Schools, the Peoria
Federation of Teachers and private donations supports the Lincoln Senior
Award.
The award winners are Dallas Boswell, Brimfield High School; Casey
Walker, Dunlap High School; Gabriella Sloan, Elmwood High School; Trent
Hopple, Farmington High School; Sidney Campen, Illini Bluffs High School;
Paul Resler, Illinois Valley Central High School; Breann Wieburg, Limestone
Community High School; Javon Lee, Manual Academy; Elisabeth Morris,
Peoria Christian High School; Caitlin Haisler, Peoria Notre Dame High School;
Robert Miller, Peoria Heights High School; Keagan Weber, Peoria High
School; Shontasia Thompson, Peoria Regional High School; Victoria Stoller,
Princeville High School; Jackson Faulkner, Richwoods High School.
For additional information, contact Ms. Beth Crider Derry, Peoria
County Superintendent of Schools, at 672-6906.
at Barracks. An engraved nameplate for each senior will be