Press Release:

December 10, 2007

TWENTY FIVE WALTHER SENIORS NAMED AS ILLINOIS STATE SCHOLARS

Walther Lutheran High School is proud to announce that one fifth of this year’s senior class – the Class of 2008 – have been named Illinois State Scholars. “This is incredibly good news,” exclaimed Lori Solyom, the school’s Public Information Coordinator. “Twenty percent of our senior class is in the top ten percent of Illinois students. We have a handful of State Scholars every year, but this is a record number.”

In a December 7 email newsletter sent to the school’s alumni and supporters, Walther Executive Director Don Gillingham wrote, “The blessings that your gifts provide include the resources that help to keep Walther a quality academic environment. Last week we told you that 25 of our seniors have qualified as Illinois State Scholars!!! Congratulations to those students on this accomplishment.”

The honored seniors are Mitch Berg of Melrose Park, Julia Bjorklund of Summit, Cara Caliendo of Elmwood Park, K.C. Carter of Maywood, Megan Childs of Forest Park, Katlyn Dean of Batavia, Jenna Duff of Itasca, Lydia Gallup of River Grove, Jalisa Hinkle of Chicago, Will Jenkins of Maywood, Karla Keller of Northlake, Jasmyne McDonald of Berkeley, Whitley Muskwe of Bellwood, Martina Powell of Maywood, Trinidad Rodriguez of Melrose Park, Giancarlo Segreti of Oak Park, Ashley Simon of Bellwood, Emily Simpson of Maywood, Cassie Slechta of Berwyn, Caitlin Smith of Itasca, Christiana Spink of Villa Park, Jamie Washington of Bellwood, Robert Watson of Berkeley, Korey Williams of Hillside and Shanelle Wright of Chicago.

This year Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) recognized 17,093 high school students from across the state as Illinois State Scholars. Illinois State Scholar winners rank in the top ten percent of the state’s high school seniors from 897 high schools in all 102 counties. Selection is based on SAT, ACT and/or Prairie State Achievement Exam scores, and/or class rank at the end of the junior year. The Illinois State Scholars carries with it no cash award, but students are encouraged to include it on applications for college admissions or scholarships.

Walther Lutheran High School is a co-educational Christian school located at 9th and Chicago in Melrose Park. The school has an enrollment of just over 400 students from fifty-seven different Chicago area zip codes. For more information about Walther Lutheran High School, call 708.344.0404 or visit Walther.com.

Press Release contact: Lori Solyom, Public Information Coordinator