Scholarships

State Farm Holiday Classic announces scholarship winners
Bloomington, IL – The Classic Tournament, Inc., which organizes the largest coed high school holiday basketball tournament in the nation called the State Farm Holiday Classic, has selected four winners as recipients of the 2009 Holiday Classic Scholarship award. Each of the winners will receive a $1,000 scholarship to go directly to their college of choice to help pay for tuition costs.

Established to recognize and award scholarships to eligible high school seniors who participated in this past year’s tournament, a selection committee of former educators chose the winners based on their leadership skills and academic performance. Applicants were also asked to demonstrate their experiences in student activities and community service, and required to submit an essay titled “How my high school sports experience helped prepare me for success in higher education.”

The 2009 Holiday Classic Scholarship awards go to (in alphabetical order):

• Kristen Baldwin, Normal Community High School – Kristen is a four-year basketball and softball player garnering Big 12 Conference and IHSA Scholar Athlete awards in both sports. She was on the National Honor Society two years, nominated as an Illinois State Scholar, and has volunteered at BroMenn Hospital in Normal and for the Bloomington-Normal Girls Softball Association. She will attend the University of Texas in the fall.

• Luke Harbers, Normal University High School – Luke is a three-year letter winner in both basketball and football, earning team MVP honors in both sports. He participated on the Student Senate for three years, was senior class vice-president, and volunteers for Special Olympics and the Arthritis Foundation Jingle Bell Run. He plans to major in Biology at Augustana College in Rock Island, IL next school year.

• Cora Jeffers, Williamsville High School – Cora has participated in both basketball and softball all 4 years of high school, earning numerous all-conference honors in both sports. She is vice-president for her senior class and National Honor Society, and is active in the choir, band and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. She currently ranks second in her class and will attend Millikin University and major in Vocal Music Education.

• Ross Munsterman, Crescent-Iroquois High School – Ross is a four-sport athlete, competing in basketball, golf, soccer and baseball. He has perfect attendance throughout his high school career and never missed a basketball practice. The Valedictorian of his class also participates in band, SADD, the Drama Club, 4-H and was the lead in the school’s fall play. Ross will attend Illinois Wesleyan University in the fall.

“We have honored many fine student-athletes in the past four years, and this year’s group of recipients is no exception,” said tournament vice-president Dave Oloffson. “This may have been the hardest year yet for our selection committee, but these four student-athletes stood above the rest based on their involvement in school and their communities.”

For more information about the State Farm Holiday Classic, visit the official tournament Web site at www.theclassic.org.