News
2007 4-H Legacy of Leadership Scholars Announced
Six college-bound Illinois 4-H members were named recipients of the Legacy of Leadership Scholarship during the 4-H Family Picnic at the Illinois State Fair on Saturday, August 11. The statewide scholarship program is coordinated by the Illinois 4‑H Foundation and the University of Illinois Extension State 4-H Office. The following 4-H Legacy of Leadership Scholars received a $1,000 college scholarship.
Mary Lynn Bowman is an 11-year member of the Delong Livestock 4-H Club in Knox County. Her project interests include clothing, foods, visual arts and communications. Participating in 4‑H programs including National 4-H Congress and National 4-H Conference Jr. Leadership Conference, Illinois Leadership Conference, 4-H Legislative Connection and 4-H Camp has helped Mary Lynn to develop strong leadership skills, and she is currently serving as a member of the Illinois State 4-H Youth Leadership Team. Cheryl Geitner, 4-H Youth Development and Family Life Unit Educator for U of I Extension in Knox County, says, “With all of her commitments, she is very enthusiastic and organized. Mary Lynn is one that is always willing to provide a helping hand to anyone.” Mary Lynn is the daughter of Gary and Mary Beth Bowman of Maquon. She will be attending Culver Stockton College in Missouri this fall as an education major. Her scholarship is funded by Marcus and Shanna Hess of Chicago.
Casey Braddock is the daughter of Harry and Angie Braddock of Patoka and is a 10-year member of the Patoka Panthers 4-H Club. She is currently one of two 4-H representatives serving on the statewide Illinois Farm Bureau Youth Education Committee. She has also participated in the Illinois State 4-H Youth Leadership Team, and she has been the Marion County 4-H Federation President for the past four years. Casey’s project interests include foods, public presentations, rabbits, woodworking, visual arts, crops and leadership. According to Marilyn Thompson, 4-H Community Worker for U of I Extension in Marion County, “One must admire Casey for her ability to motivate herself to achieve her level of excellence thus far. I have a great deal of confidence in her ability to strive for achievement.” Casey will be attending Kaskaskia Community College in the fall, and she later plans to study Agricultural Education at a four-year university. Casey’s scholarship is funded by Glenn and Phyllis Webb, of Tunnel Hill, Illinois.
Sarah Darnall is an eight-year member of the Challengers 4-H Club in Boone County, where her project interests included foods and leadership. She received a 4-H Leadership, Citizenship, and Professionalism (LCP) Award in 2006, and she has served as a State 4-H Ambassador for four years. She has also served on the Northern Illinois Leadership Conference Committee, where she helped plan a two-day leadership conference for over 100 4-H’ers from multiple counties. Service to others has been an important part of Sarah’s 4-H career, too. “At community service events, Sarah always does more than her share of the work,” states Kathy Razim, 4-H Federation advisor. “She shows genuine empathy for those in need.” Sarah is the daughter of Frank and Margaret Darnall of Schaumburg. She will be attending Harper College in the fall, and then she will be transferring to a four-year institution to earn a degree in accounting. She eventually hopes to become a Certified Public Accountant. Sarah’s scholarship sponsor is Keith Parr, of Elmhurst, Illinois.
Chris Francis is the son of Stephen J. and Judy S. Francis of Wilmington. He is an 11-year member of the Wesley Hustlers 4-H Club, part of the fourth generation of family membership and/or leadership with the club. His project interests include sheep, entomology, public presentations, plant & soil science, photography and visual arts. He has attended National 4-H Congress, served on the Illinois State 4-H Leadership Team, and participated in the National Forestry Judging Contest. He has also been active in community service and leadership at the club and county levels. “When Chris takes an interest in something, his effort levels exceed 100% for mastery and excellence,” says John Zalanka, 4-H Youth Educator for U of I Extension in Will County. “He is seen as a leader among his peers.” Last year, Chris’s family was selected by the Illinois 4-H Foundation to receive the 4-H Family Spirit Award, which honors collective commitment to 4-H for several generations. Chris has been accepted into the crop sciences program at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign this fall. His scholarship is sponsored by Richard Barclay, of Springfield.
Jillian Martin is the daughter of Ron and Jodi Martin of Elgin and is a 10-year member of the Westdel 4-H Club in Kane County 4-H. Her project interests include citizenship, visual arts and public presentations. Jillian has been active in the Kane County 4-H Ambassadors program, and she has assisted with Camp Clover and the county fair. She has received the “I Dare You” Award and the Kane County Top Teen Award. Community service projects through 4-H and the National Honor Society have also been an important part of her life.” Jillian is a positive role model for other youth to look up to,” says Deanna Roby, 4-H Youth Development Unit Educator for U of I Extension in Kane County. “She truly is an ambassador for the 4-H program.” Jillian will be majoring in general engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Jillian’s scholarship donor is Dorsey Dee Murray, of Saint Charles, Illinois.
Kayla Spangler is an 11-year 4-H member, spending two years in Rock Island County 4-H and nine years with the Checkrow Volunteers 4-H Club in Fulton County. Her 4-H project interests include clothing, childcare, visual arts, beef and rabbits. Kayla was a 2006 Illinois state winner in the home and family category and she has also received the 4-H Gold Key Award and the National “I Dare You” Award. She has attended National 4-H Congress, 4-H Legislative Connection, and 4-H EDGE Conference. “She is always willing to help at 4-H shows and events,” says Janis Blout, 4-H Youth Development Community Worker for U of I Extension in Fulton County. “She is a very dependable, intelligent young woman.” Kayla attends Greenville College where she is a music education major. She hopes to teach junior high or high school grade band and choir someday. Her parents are Robert and Velynna Spangler of Ellisville. Kayla’s scholarship donors are Sidney and Florence Banwart, of Dunlap, Illinois.
"We are proud to showcase these six young people selected as 2007 Legacy of Leadership Scholars. Collectively, their 4-H pedigrees of involvement demonstrate the rich diversity of experiences and opportunities that 4-H provides in developing young people into caring, competent, and contributing members of society. We salute this college-bound group of young people as role models for our younger 4-H members and we are confident that these scholars will continue to use the life skills learned through 4‑H in being effective leaders and engaged citizens of our state and country," said Rod Stoll, Director of the Illinois 4-H Foundation. "We are especially grateful to our scholarship donors for investing in the education of these exceptional Illinois 4-H members."
Since its inception in 2003, twenty-four 4-H members have been named Legacy of Leadership Scholars The Illinois 4-H Foundation welcomes other individuals, corporations, and organizations as partners in providing additional funds for future scholarship recipients.
The Legacy of Leadership Scholarship is merit-based, and available to 4-H members who are high school seniors, or in their last year of 4-H membership. More than 110 scholarship applications were received from 4-H members this year. Additional information about the scholarship is available at: http://www.4-h.uiuc.edu.
The Illinois 4-H Foundation raises private funds that are invested in Illinois 4-H programs, which provide meaningful positive development experiences for Illinois youth to develop life skills.
