IHSA Announcements

In a new partnership designed to recognize some of Illinois' most promising leaders of tomorrow, the Illinois High School Association today announced Peoria-based Caterpillar Inc. as the sole sponsor of the 2005 IHSA All-State Academic Team.

"This is an exciting relationship because Caterpillar exemplifies the same values of hard work, leadership, teamwork and accountability that the IHSA promotes through athletics and other interscholastic activities," Dr. Martin Hickman, Executive Director of the IHSA, said in making the announcement. "We're fortunate to have such strong support from Caterpillar, not only with the All-State Academic Team, but also with our state basketball tournaments and cross country finals held in Peoria each year."

Caterpillar employs more than 20,000 people in Illinois alone, making it one of the state's leading employers. The company says its involvement with the IHSA is a natural extension of a broad commitment to supporting communities where its employees live and work.

"For more than 75 years, Caterpillar has benefited from the experiences students carry from Illinois' classrooms and playing fields into their professional lives," said Henry Holling, Caterpillar Social Responsibility Initiatives Manager. "We're tremendously pleased to join with the IHSA in honoring an elite group of students who go above and beyond what's expected of them in the classroom, in competition, and in the community."

"The IHSA is committed to providing students opportunities to lead, learn and develop through athletics and activities that enrich their educational experience," Hickman added. "The All-State Academic Team recognizes the very best and brightest among the 324,000 students who will participate in IHSA activities this year alone. The skills these students learn and cultivate outside the classroom -- the ability to lead and be led, decision making, responsibility, teamwork -- build true champions for life that we can be proud of in Illinois."

Now in its 12th year, the All-State Academic Team recognizes 26 students each spring who demonstrate strong scholastic ability, character and citizenship while participating in IHSA-sponsored activities. Since its inception, the program has awarded more than $200,000 in college scholarships to honorees around the state.

To be eligible for consideration, a student must have a grade point average of at least 3.5 on a 4.0 scale after the seventh semester, and must have participated in at least two IHSA-sponsored activities (athletic or non-athletic) during the last two school years. In addition, nominees must have demonstrated outstanding citizenship during their high school career. Nominations for the 2005 team will be mailed to school principals in January, with award recipients recognized at a banquet held in April 2005.

Headquartered in Bloomington, the Illinois High School Association is a not-for-profit organization of 752 public and private high schools. The IHSA provides leadership for equitable interscholastic competition in 14 sports for boys and 13 sports for girls, as well as seven non-athletic activities.

For more than 75 years, Caterpillar Inc. has been building the world's infrastructure and, in partnership with its worldwide dealer network, is driving positive and sustainable change in every continent. With 2003 sales and revenues of $22.76 billion, Caterpillar is a technology leader and the world's leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines and industrial gas turbines. More information is available at www.cat.com.