Welcome to the Lincolnland Legends Program

Lincolnland Legends is a program from Illinois Dollars for Scholars designed to engage Illinois students in honoring people who inspire and motivate them. Any current Illinois high school junior or senior may nominate by essay someone for special recognition. Nominees must be a current or former resident of Illinois, and still living.

The Lincolnland Legends Program has several goals:

The application period for 2009 Lincolnland Legends awards is now closed. Honorees and winning essays will be announced at the annual Lincolnland Legends Award Gala on April 4, 2009.

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2008's Honorees

The 2007-2008 Lincolnland Legends Essay Contest winners were chosen in February, 2007. On April 5th, twelve outstanding Illinoisans were honored as "Lincolnland Legends" at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum in Springfield. In addition to being recognized for their accomplishments, each Lincolnland Legends honoree will have the opportunity to award a $500 scholarship to the Illinois high school of his or her choice. The Illinois high school juniors and seniors who, nominated them for this honor through their winning essays, will be awarded $3,000 scholarships. The state's two top essays will win additional scholarship funds for their authors: $7,000 ($10,000 total) for the first place essay and $2,000 ($5,000 total) for the second place essay.

Through their essays, the students designated outstanding Illinoisans for the title of "Lincolnland Legend" based on their business-related backgrounds, current or former Illinois residency, their contributions to the betterment of their communities, and their standing as role models for youth.

Ellen Dunne of Serena High School (far left) was awarded a total of $10,000 in scholarship funds for writing the top essay in the statewide contest. Ellen's essay commended her mother, Marta Dunne (right; Michael Kimmey of sponsor AXA Advisors is center), President of Dunne and Associates, a bilingual teacher for Sandwich School District #430, and President of the Sandwich Hispanic Coalition, for her tireless dedication in her roles as a wife, mother, businesswoman, educator, volunteer and community activist.

Molly Mihlbachler of Effingham High School (far right, with Michael Kimmey of AXA Advisors) authored the 2nd place essay, earning a total of $5,000 in scholarship funds. Molly's essay honored Phil Golden, Human Resources Manager for the Sherwin-Williams Company's East and Midwest regions, for his role as the founder and Director of Effingham's Oneighty youth program, a program that challenges teenagers to turn their lives around one hundred and eighty degrees by making more positive choices.

The full list of Lincolnland Legends honorees and their student nominators are as follows:

1. Barbara Brown, Randolph County Circuit Clerk and lecturer in political science at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, selected by her niece, Adi Powell, a student at Trico High School.

2. Debbie Dullinger, owner/operator of the Harrisburg, Illinois McDonald's restaurant franchise, commended by Tiffany Renee Ruphard, a student at Eldorado High School.

3. Marta Dunne, President of Dunne and Associates, bilingual teacher for Sandwich School District #430, and President of the Sandwich Hispanic Coalition, nominated by her daughter, Ellen Dunne, a student at Serena High School.

4. Shawna Egan, President and founder of the Cary Children's Center for Autism, commended by Elizabeth Tuohy, a student at Prairie Ridge High School.

5. Phil Golden, Regional Human Resources Manager for the Sherwin-Williams Company and Director of the Oneighty youth program in Effingham, selected by Molly Mihlbachler, a student at Effingham High School.

6. Deon Maas, K-12 art teacher for Avon School District #176 and inventor of the "Anti-Ouch Pouch" for breast cancer patients, nominated by her son, Jacob Maas, a student at Spoon River Valley High School.

7. Reverend John F. Norwood, recently deceased former pastor of Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Evanston and founder of the Evanston Police Clergy Team, commended by Gabrielle Linnet Bell, a student at Von Steuben Metropolitan Science Center.

8. John Sciarretta, Sr., President of the Italian Kitchen restaurant in Deerfield, past President and current board member of the Deerfield Lions Club, selected by Rebecca Krase, a student at Deerfield High School.

9. Anna Sherony, Chief Privacy and Security Officer for Sammons Financial Group/Midland National Life Insurance Company and co-founder of the Wounded Heroes Foundation, nominated by Brittney-Jade Colangelo, a student a Zion-Benton Township High School.

10. Loretto Dennis Szucs, Vice President of Community Relations and Executive Editor for Ancestry.com, Co-Editor of "The Source: A Guidebook to American Genealogy," commended by her granddaughter, Jaclyn Sullivan, a student at Lockport Township High School.

11. Gerald D. (Jerry) Stephens, CPCU, Founder and Chairman of RLI Corp. and MauiJim Sunglasses, selected by Westley Volk, a student at Tremont High School.

12. Howard "Bud" Thompson, Mayor of Prophetstown, Illinois, former President of the Illinois Association of School Boards, and former member of the State Board of Education, nominated by Emily Skelton, a student at Prophetstown High School.

Admission to the Lincolnland Legends scholarship award ceremony is open to the public. To make reservations for the event, call 708-479-6613. All reservations must be made in advance; no tickets will be available at the award ceremony. The admission price ($75.00) includes dinner and a tour of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum.

Thanks To:
AXA Advisors is the Title Sponsor of the Lincolnland Legends Essay Contest. Nicor Gas is a major sponsor of this contest as well as other Illinois Dollars for Scholars programs.

Because College Doesn't Happen By Chance®.