ILLINOIS SECRETARY OF STATE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 23, 2003 CONTACT: Randy Nehrt CONTACT: Pat McGuckin

SECRETARY OF STATE JESSE WHITE & ILLINOIS PRESS ASSOCIATION HONOR OUTSTANDING LITERACY
STUDENTS & TUTORS

SPRINGFIELD — Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White and Illinois Press Association Executive Director David Bennett today handed out Spotlight on Achievement and Spotlight on Service awards, recognizing outstanding progress made by literacy students or families and honoring volunteer tutors for their efforts to help literacy students achieve their goals.

During ceremonies held in Springfield, Spotlight on Achievement awards recognizing outstanding progress made by literacy students or families were given to:

• Beatrice Allen, a student at the Blue Gargoyle Adult Learning Program in Chicago.
• Rosalinda Balderas, who attends a program offered by Albany Park Community Center in Chicago.
• Mia Crowder, a student in the Common Place Adult Literacy Program in Peoria.
• Carolyn Foster, who attended literacy classes at De LaSalle-Tolton Center in Chicago.
• Min Li, a student with Literacy Volunteers of DuPage in Naperville.
• The A. Alejandro Quezada Romero Family, who attended classes at Kankakee Community College.
• Carl Rice, who joined the T.E.A.L. (Training and Education for Adult Learners) program at Lincoln Land Community College in Springfield.
• Murnel Rumbolt, a student at Oakton Community College in Skokie.
• Cecelia "CeCe" Tilsley, who enrolled in the Community Literacy program at Moraine Valley Community College in Palos Hills.
• Francisco Villa, a student in Family Literacy program offered through the Whiteside County Regional Office of Education in Sterling.

Spotlight on Achievement winners received a $100 check, a plaque, and a personalized copy of the Illinois Blue Book.

"I am extremely proud of our award-winning students for their hard work and determination to improve their reading, writing, math and language skills," said White. "The skills they have obtained through our local literacy programs will allow them to achieve greater personal and professional success."

Spotlight on Service awards recognizing outstanding tutors of literacy students were given to:

• Edna Bruce, Frontier Community College, Fairfield.
• Marcia Cromer, Waubonsee Community College, Aurora.
• Dorothy Dunham, Common Place Adult Literacy Program, Peoria.
• Betty Edwards, The Literacy Council, Rockford.
• Margaret Harris, The Literacy Council, Rockford.
• Sr. Mary Luke Kapraun, Common Place, Peoria.
• Dorothy Lashbrook, Kaskaskia College, Centralia.
• Carol Little, Lincoln Land Community College, Springfield.
• Elise Sode, John A. Logan College, Carterville.
• George Szubka, College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn.

Spotlight on Service award winners received a plaque and personalized Blue Book, and $100 will be donated in the recipient's name to the literacy program for which they volunteer.

"I also commend our award-winning tutors for making time in their lives to enhance and enrich the lives of others," White said. "Their generosity and selflessness is a reminder that we all should devote time and effort to making a positive impact in someone's life."

Nearly 39,000 students obtained reading, writing, math and language skills from more than 15,000 volunteers throughout the state last year. In determining Spotlight award winners, the Secretary of State/Illinois State Library Literacy Office mailed award nomination forms to literacy programs registered with the Illinois Adult Learning Hotline (1-800-321-9511). The Illinois Press Association reviewed the nominations and recommended ten students and ten tutors for the awards.

"The Illinois Press Association, representing nearly all of Illinois' nearly 600 plus daily and non-daily newspapers, is committed to addressing literacy needs in our state so that every citizen has the skills necessary to meet their personal and professional goals," said Bennett. "As the nation's largest statewide press association, we are proud to join Secretary White in co-sponsoring this event that provides well deserved recognition to outstanding literacy students and volunteer tutors representing more than 200 local literacy projects throughout Illinois."

Spotlight on Achievement Winners

Spotlight on Service Winners