CHICAGO –– Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White unveiled a new education license plate Tuesday while honoring the designer -- a fifth-grade Batavia girl.
White visited Grace McWayne School, where he presented Danae Fuqua with a framed replica of the plate. Her design, which features an apple, ABC and 123, was chosen out of more than 9,000 drawings submitted by students from across the state.
"This contest was very exciting because it focused on our young people," said White. "The creativity of the children of Illinois is one of our most treasured resources. And today we're proud to be recognizing Danae's talent."
The competition, which was open to students from Kindergarten to eighth grade, began this spring.
Money raised from the plate will be deposited into a special fund called the Illinois Future Teacher Corps Scholarship Fund. This fund will be used to provide scholarship money to full-time undergraduate and graduate students pursuing their teacher certification in the State of Illinois. A portion of the fund will be appropriated to the State Board of Education for grants to the Golden Apple Foundation.
"The grants will help fund our continuing mission to focus on the recruitment, preparation and renewal of excellent teachers," said Elaine Schuster, President and CEO of the Golden Apple Foundation. "We are very pleased to work together with Secretary White and the General Assembly to improve education for all children."
The new Education License Plate will cost $118 for the initial purchase ($40 plus the standard $78 registration fee) $25 of which will be deposited to the Education Fund. Customers will pay $118 for their annual renewal ($40 plus the standard $78) $38 of which goes to the fund. Customers who need to switch plates will also pay a $14 fee.
Once the Secretary of State's office has 850 motorists signed up for the new plate, the production process will begin, White said. To sign up for the plate, motorists can be put on a list by going online at www.cyberdriveillinois.com or calling 217-558-6148.
The committee that chose the new plate included Secretary White, the Director of the State Police, and members of the General Assembly.
State Senator Chris Lauzen (R-Aurora) and State Representative Larry McKeon (D-Chicago) sponsored Senate Bill 1521 that creates both the new specialty license plate for education and the contest to design the plate.
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