IHSA Announcements
March 20, 1997
Fourth IHSA All-State Academic Team Selected
BLOOMINGTON — Twenty-five (25) outstanding young people attending Illinois Association (IHSA) member schools have been named to the Fourth Annual Illinois High School Association (IHSA) All-State Academic Team.
The 25 team members and their guests will be honored the evening of Monday, April 21, at the Fourth Annual IHSA All-State Academic Team Recognition Banquet. It will be held at Jumer's Chateau in Bloomington beginning at 6:00 p.m. All members of the All-State Academic Team will receive an award recognizing their achievement at the banquet.
Nominations for over 500 seniors were received. The All-State Academic Team includes one male and one female senior student from each of the seven (7) IHSA Board of Directors statewide geographic divisions, plus 11 at large selections. Another 50 students earned honorable mention.
"This is an extraordinary group of young people, and we are very proud to have this opportunity to recognize them," said IHSA Executive Director Dave Fry. "They enhance the legacy established by the first three teams. We are delighted to be able to showcase these great young people at the banquet. Those who have attended in the past have experienced an absolutely wonderful evening. We look forward to this year's event as a highlight in the IHSA calendar."
There are 13 boys and 12 girls on the 1997 team. Among them are 17 who will graduate as No. 1 in their respective senior class.
To be eligible for consideration for selection to the team, a student in an IHSA member school must have a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of at least 3.5 on a 4.0 scale after the seventh semester. Nominees must have participated in at least two (2) IHSA sponsored activities (athletics and/or non-athletics) during the last two school years, and must have demonstrated outstanding citizenship during his/her high school career. Each IHSA member school could nominate one male and one female student.
Following is a list of the 1997 All-State Academic Team members (including detailed biographical sketches), and those who earned honorable mention:
1996-97 All-State Team
Dan Rohlfing, Addison (A. Trail)
Frank Wade Ackerman, Carmi (C.-White County)
Jeffery Kenneth Cook, Carterville
Leslie Harms, Champaign (Central)
Amy K. Anderson, Chicago (Resurrection)
Chase Chavin, Chicago (University)
Andrea Roxanne Scheffler, Dixon
Eric Varboncouer, Donovan
Stephen John Berger, Downers Grove (South)
Michael E. Peterson, Dunlap
Julia Cronin, Dwight
Kristin Geraty, Elk Grove Village (E.G.)
Arthur Patryk Orkisz, Elk Grove Village (E.G.)
Deanna Nicole Pihos, Glen Ellyn (Glenbard South)
Sarah Elizabeth Cochrane, Greenville
Mark Huber, Hillsboro
Douglas Edward Callahan, Hinsdale (Central)
Elizabeth A. Graffy, Hoffman Estates (H.S.)
Brian M. Sadowski, LaSalle (L.-Peru)
Sarah Shields, Machesney Park (Harlem)
Megan A. Nowicki, Naperville (Central)
Trent Martin Anderson, Palatine (Fremd)
DeAnna Clough, Rochester
Richard Silvestrini, Rockton (Hononegah)
Colean Ann Lamb, Springfield (H.S.)
1996-97 Honorable Mention Team
Melody Aiken, Benton
Christa Harris, Bloomington (Central Catholic)
Melissa Keca, Braidwood (Reed-Custer)
Melissa Moran, Burbank (Queen of Peace)
Nathan Popkins, Byron
Dennis Wagner, Camp Point (Central)
Christina Klippel, Chatham (Glenwood)
Brian Pearson, Chicago (Brother Rice)
Deanna Balzano, Chicago (Maria)
Esther Bit-Ivan, Chicago (Mather)
Erin Kiernicki, Chicago (St. Ignatius)
Michael Gilmartin, Chicago (St. Ignatius)
Brian Cicirello, Chicago (St. Patrick)
Drew Hester, Chicago (St. Rita)
Antonia Whalen, Chicago (University)
Jennifer Miller, Cisne
Wesley Thompson, Colchester
Mary Fitzpatrick, Crystal Lake (South)
Valerie Dixon, Danville (H.S.)
Brian Reaves, DuQuoin
Alexander Stacey, Elmwood Park
Thomas Leineweber, Evanston (Twp.)
Charlie Prisco, Evergreen Park
Amy Cash, Farmer City (Blue Ridge)
Alex Fischl, Flossmoor (Homewood-F.)
Kimberly Parks, Hampshire
James McFadden, Joliet (Twp.)
Emily Dust, Lansing (T. F. South)
Douglas Drake, Lincoln
Phillip Alexander, Mahomet (M.-Seymour)
Jeffrey Heitzman, Mt. Prospect (Prospect)
Jill Newbold, New Athens
Jason Meier, New Berlin
Kimberly Harris, Northbrook (Glenbrook North)
Theckla Louchios, Palatine (Fremd)
Christopher Parish, Palestine
Katie Kietzman, Paxton (P.-Buckley-Loda)
Heidi Lorimor, Plainfield
Luke Funk, Pleasant Plains
Todd Rimington, Princeton
Ryan Wood, Rock Island (Alleman)
Rebecca Rettig, Rockford (Auburn)
Tara Ruth, Rushville
Jacquelyn Richardson, Sherrard
Daniel Cravens, Springfield (Lanphier)
Carla Muntz, Spring Valley (Hall)
Meghan Crisham, Sterling (Newman Central Catholic)
Jonathan Whelan, Streator (Twp.)
Claire Collins, West Frankfort (Frankfort)
Jeremie Studnicki , Wood River (East Alton-W.R.)