2011 Scholarship Winners announced
April 25, 2011
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 2011 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 2011 Holiday Classic Scholarship awards go to (in alphabetical order):
- Nickolena Coop, Downs Tri-Valley High School – Nicki played basketball all four seasons and on the Viking track team for three. This Illinois State Scholar was on the high honor roll all four years, was a member of her church’s youth leadership team and has volunteered for the Gingerbread House, Dooley Park, and the Giving Tree. She also overcame adversity with ACL injuries to both knees during her past two basketball seasons. Nicki will attend St. Louis University in the fall and major in Nutrition and Dietetics.
- Blake Doane, Quincy Notre Dame High School – Blake ranks first academically in his class and played basketball, football and baseball all four years. He is an Illinois State Scholar and a member of the National Honor Society, and volunteers for various organizations like the Knights of Columbus, Exchange Club and St. Anthony’s Parish. He plans to attend Illinois State University in the fall and major in Actuarial Science.
- Kayla Moore, Sterling Newman Central Catholic High School – Kayla played basketball and softball all four seasons, earning all-conference honors in both sports and was co-MVP this past season in basketball. She also participated in volleyball and cross country, and currently ranks fourth academically in her class. Kayla is secretary of her Key Club, and had lead roles in her school musical the last three seasons. She plans to attend the University of Illinois and major in Bio-Chemistry.
- Ryan Schmidt, Bloomington Central Catholic High School – Ryan was a three-year varsity letter winner in basketball and four-year varsity letter winner in soccer for the Saints, being named MVP for both teams this past year. He is secretary for his Interact Club, attended the Catholic Student Leadership Conference, is on the National Honor Society and is an Illinois State Scholar. He has served as a vacation bible school camp counselor and volunteers at the Bickford House. Ryan will major in Business at the University of Illinois in the fall.
“We have honored many fine student-athletes in the past six years, and this year’s group of recipients is no exception,” said tournament vice-president Dave Oloffson. “Each year is a tough process 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.
The 2011 Holiday Classic Scholarship
Holiday Class Scholarship
Download the 2011 Scholarship Application
The Holiday Classic Scholarship Fund was created by the State Farm Holiday Classic basketball tournament to award four, $1,000 scholarships each year to student-athletes from participating schools in our tournament.
Established to recognize and award scholarships to eligible high school seniors who participated in this past year’s tournament, a selection committee of current and former educators choose the winners based on their leadership skills and academic performance. Applicants are asked to demonstrate their experiences in student activities and community service, and are required to submit an essay titled “How my high school sports experience helped prepare me for success in higher education.”
The Holiday Classic Scholarship fund is administered through the Illinois Prairie Community Foundation in Bloomington, IL, and scholarships are made directly to the attending college/university of those winning student.
All eligible applicants must:
- have participated in the 2010 State Farm Holiday Classic
- be a graduating senior this spring
- maintain a grade point average of 2.75 or above on a 4.0 scale
- be admitted to and plan to attend a 2- or 4-year college
Applications must be submitted and postmarked by March 31, 2011, and include the following:
- Brief essay (200-500 words) entitled “How my high school sports experience helped prepare me for success in higher education.”
- Two (2) letters of recommendation from those who have worked with you in student activities or community service programs, like a coach, principal, guidance counselor, etc.
- Copy of your accumulative transcripts including the most recent completed semester.
- Proof (note on school letterhead) from basketball coach that you have been or will be awarded a varsity letter in basketball.
Completed applications should be sent to:
Scholarship Application
Classic Tournament, Inc.
P.O. Box 1887
Bloomington, IL 61702
Previous Holiday Classic Scholarship recipients:
- Taylor Baucom – Camp Point Central (2006)
- Jordan Christensen – Sherrard (2006)
- Cherelle Gay – Bloomington (2006)
- Matt Pelton – Bloomington Central Catholic (2006)
- Patrick Doggett – CPCI (2007)
- Jack Hainline – Stanford Olympia (2007)
- Kimmy White – Olney East Richland (2007)
- Brandi Branka – Kankakee Bishop Mac (2008)
- Andrew Etheridge – Normal Community (2008)
- Kati Hinshaw – Normal West (2008)
- Randall Koehler – Roanoke-Benson (2008)
- Samantha Reich – Park Ridge Maine South (2008)
- Kristen Baldwin – Normal Community (2009)
- Luke Harbers – Normal U-High (2009)
- Cora Jeffers – Williamsville (2009)
- Ross Munsterman – CPCI (2009)
- Kevin Bischoff – Normal Community (2010)
- Rachael Graham – St. Joseph-Ogden (2010)
- Erin McGinnis – Normal West (2010)
- Andrew Sipes – Grayslake Central (2010)
Silent Auction returns to benefit HC Scholarship Fund
Download the 2011 Scholarship Application
The 2010 State Farm Holiday Classic will once again host a Silent Auction with great packages and items to benefit the Holiday Classic Scholarship Fund. Here is a tentative list of items that will be up for bid – check back often for updates to this list and for guidelines on how to bid during the tournament.
- Signed jersey by Super Bowl MVP and New Orleans quaterback Drew Brees
- Autographed book – Dick Vitale’s Fabulous 50 Players and Moments in College Basketball – signed by author and ESPN commentator Dick Vitale
- State Farm mini football helmet signed by NFL Hall of Famers Anthony Munoz and Howie Long
- State Farm College GameDay basketball signed by Illini head basketball coach Bruce Weber and ESPN GameDay hosts Reece Davis and Jay Bilas
- Individual autographed baseballs by former Chicago Cub legends Bill Buckner, Fergie Jenkins, Ron Santo, Rick Reuschel, Keith Moreland and Bob Dernier
- Signed State Farm Classic pin flag by LPGA stars Laura Davies, Natalie Gulbis, Julie Inkster, Christie Kerr, Christina Kim, I.K. Kim, Brittany Lincicome, Stephanie Louden, Morgan Pressel, Angela Stanford and Michelle Wie
- Four (4) V.I.P. passes to the 2011 State Farm Holiday Classic along with Holiday Classic merchandise
- Autographed photo of former UConn All-American and WNBA great Rebecca Lobo
- Autographed baseball from the State Farm Legends game in Normal on August 14 – State Farm Home Run Derby Gold Baseball signed by former Chicago Cubs Bill Buckner, Bob Dernier, Mickey Morandini, Keith Moreland, Rick Reuschel and Turk Wendell, and former St. Louis Cardinals Ken Dayley, Cal Eldred, Tito Landrum, Hal Lanier, Ken Reitz, John Tudor and Andy Van Slyke
- Signed photo by former University of North Carolina head basketball coach Dean Smith
- Gift cards from Original Niepagen Flower Shop, Casey’s Garden Shop and Florist, and the Beer Nuts Company Store
- $25 gift certificate to Beer Nuts Company Store
- $35 gift certificate to Casey’s Garden Shop and Florist
- $40 gift certificate to Niepagen Original Flower Shop
- Mini-football helmet autographed by professional football players Howie Long and Anthony Munoz
2009 Scholarship Winners
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):
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
