Paula R. McMichael, Terre Haute, Ind.

Dawn Arnette Cole Baird, Lincoln

Jaclynn Christina Bilyeu, Loami

Holly Kurka, Lincoln

Deric Ritchey, Salatiga, Indonesia

Clifford Grant Wheeler, Citrus Springs, Fla.

Kelly Ann George, Brownsburg, Ind.

Jaime Lee Kaufield, Las Vegas, Nev.

Leslie Ann Searles, Albuquerque, N.M.

Wendy E. Vest, Decatur

Izaak Wilson, Mount Pulaski

Christopher M. Bova, Mentor, Ohio

Sara Lambert*, Streator

Catherine M. Norman, Springfield

Holly L. Whatley*, Quincy

Leslie M. Heap, Ellsworth

Timothy John Henson, Morris

Scott C. Durr, Grinnell, Iowa

Richard Andrew Hicks, Brownsburg, Ind.

Courtney Brooke McMains, Normal

Tina L. Schaeufele, Savanna

Mindy Marie Spencer, Ipava

Anthony E. Varnado, North Chicago

Rolaine Marie Walsh, Chicago

Tanya Rena Weible, Washington, Mo.

Jonas Charles Wertin, Crown Point, Ind.

Lukas Dunn, Monroe, Mich.

Terry Lee Goodwin, Henry

Andrea N. Thomason, Beverly

Kathleen Anne Buche, DeMotte, Ind.

Holly Anne Heap, Downs

Carrie Marie Metcalf, Xenia

Stephanie Nangle, Streator

Emily Kay Smith, Chambersburg

Janice Jannette Robinson, Auburn

John Andrew Wentz, Lostant

Jaclynn Christina Bilyeu, Loami

Rebecca Buddemeyer, Washington, Mo.

Sara Kathleen DeBolt Cosby, Morton

Jennifer Rebecca Difanis, Champaign

Amber Tennille Hendrickson, Lincoln

Kelly Lynn Jewell, Beloit, Wis.

Tracy Lynn McGhee, Mount Zion

Shannon Lynn Morrow, Macomb

Jill Marie Sackett, Lincoln

Jeremy Thomason, Fairfield

Kelli T. Woodford, Bloomington

Rachel Ruth Woolard, Lincoln

Brenda C. Yoder, Danvers

Dawn Arnette Cole Baird, Lincoln

Barbara Kline, Lincoln

Mary Alice Taylor-Curry, Lincoln

Sheralyn Rae Bolton, Streator

Jason L. Gordon, Mattoon

Dennis J. Bennett, Lincoln

Nathan D. Davenport, Paxton

Leslie Ray Featheringill, Fort Madison, Iowa

Jeffrey Scott Gentry, Tulsa, Okla.

Jonathan D. Hughes, Streator

Brian Philip Lowery, Lincoln

Matthew Caleb Merold, Placentia, Calif.

Brandon Richard Moore, Glenarm

Scott Michael Neal, Hume

Mark Evan Paris*, Spencer, Ind.

William LaVerne Prosise, Durand

Chad A. Ragsdale, Webb City, Mo.

Jonathan Rose, Valparaiso, Ind.

Mark S. Schaeufele, Akron, Ohio

Mark Andrew Watson, Morris

Tyson Ray Graber, Montgomery, Ind.

Mary Sue Laird, Donovan

Eric M. Metcalf, Downers Grove

Corey Eugene Shields, Hoopeston

Jason M. Woodford, Central Square, N.Y.

Andrew Cox, Canton

Michael J. Sheley, Plano

Amy Carissa Sherwood, Martinsville

Justin W. Cook, Jacksonville

Shannon Sue Cornett, Normal

Joseph A. Mollet, Lincoln

Erin Leigh Schwarberg, Springfield

Aaron Keith Shirley, Dieterich

Jonathan David Spencer, Doylestown, Ohio

Adam James Waters, Lincoln

Wesley Edward Wilson, Broken Arrow, Okla.

Jennie R. Baird*, Indianola

Donald Ray Bowman Jr., Browning

Jamie Lynn Cardwell, Alton

Jennifer Mae Collins, Bloomington

Jamie Lynn Durr, Grinnell, Iowa

Jodi Renee Flowers, Mount Pulaski

Corinne Marie Gorsch, Peoria

Beth Ann Harbaugh, Kokomo, Ind.

Teresa Lynn Henson, Morris

Nicole Ann Jackson, Champaign

Dawn Renee Orme, Maroa

Julie Kay Stine de Rangel, Washington, Mo.

Brian M. Scarbrough*, Havana

Patti Jo Schappaugh, Minier

Clifford Grant Wheeler, Citrus Springs, Fla.

Jill Marie (Roosmann) Mitchell, Godfrey

* In absentia

The following degrees are being presented today at Lincoln Christian College-East Coast in Bel Air, Md.:

Homer R. Ash, Accident, Md.; Associate of Arts (General Ministry)

Jennifer Lynne Cianelli, Manassas, Va.; Associate of Arts (Bible)

Brian Sean Dicken, Cumberland, Md.; Associate of Arts (Bible)

Frank Edward Dicken, Cumberland, Md.; Bachelor of Arts (Preaching)

Jocelyn December Haynes, Bel Air, Md.; Associate of Arts (Bible)

Lorraine D. O. Hurley, Inwood, W.Va.; Associate of Arts (General Ministry)

Leo Joseph Lavin III, Oldtown, Md; Bachelor of Arts (Preaching)

Naomi Ruth Seely, Bel Air, Md.; Associate of Arts (Bible)

Howard Charles Sullens Jr., Joppa, Md.; Associate of Arts (Bible)

Brandon Whyle Underhill, Bel Air, Md.; Associate of Arts (Bible)

Linda D. Underhill, Bel Air, Md.; Associate of Arts (Bible)

Katrina Wesley, Dallas, Penn.; Associate of Arts (Bible)

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The school, attended by 100 kindergarten through third grade students, was awarded a $500 grant last fall from the county for a gardening project, which is one of the first of its kind in the area.

Verbena, butterfly bushes, domesticated milkweed, pinks, black-eyed Susans, bee balm and marigolds have all been carefully arranged in the berm garden, edged with stones, which form a semicircle around a redbud tree in the school’s front yard. Tulips were planted by the school children last fall. This month, the pint-sized beginner gardeners have been getting their hands dirty and plopping everything from alyssum to vincas in the fresh soil. On a recent windy spring day, all four classes of students were eagerly waiting their turn to lovingly place a plant in the ground and do their share to finish the garden.

[Jefferson Elementary School garden]

"I love gardening," third-grade teacher Cathy Hawkinson said. "I just think at this age, a lot of things you learn in the garden, you apply to life. Taking care of something, whether it’s a plant, animal or another person, at a young age builds character." Hawkinson spearheaded the project because of her own interest in gardening and because it seemed a natural extension of a two-year educational program she has been conducting using monarch butterflies.

Next to the berm garden is a circle of freshly worked black dirt, ready to hold a plot of tall, yellow sunflowers, which will attract birds and insects to the garden.

All of the school’s students are involved in the project, which is available to all classrooms. The students’ parents, grandparents and staff also plan to join in the educational programs the garden will make possible.

The gardening project stems from a two-year monarch butterfly educational program at the school. Students in Hawkinson’s class studied 40 butterflies, which she collected herself at a local lake while they were caterpillars. The students then studied the life stages of the specimens from egg to adult. Each student was given an egg to watch it hatch and care for the caterpillar until it was an adult. They then set the butterflies free.

The success of the butterfly program led to the idea for a school garden.

[Hawkinson's students plant
their garden around a tree.]

"I think it teaches a lot of other things besides science. We use it for intergenerational activities. Grandparents come out and help plant. Each of our classes has a grandparent that comes. We’ll also use it for our special needs class," she said.

The garden provides hands-on gardening experience though activities like planning, planting and reaping its benefits; establishes a habitat for butterflies and hummingbirds; provides opportunities for all ages and abilities to work together and develop such character traits as caring, responsibility and perseverance through gardening; and allows an opportunity for students with special needs to experience garden activities. The garden also will provide a site for an outdoor classroom, for theme gardens, an outdoor science lab, poetry garden, outdoor music and art classroom, and inspirational and floral focal point to enhance learning.

(To top of second column in this article)

So far, the garden has been a big hit with the children.

"They are so cute out there. They love it. They have been so careful not to step on it or hurt anything out there. They’ve been very good about it. I think it gives them pride in their school," she said.

Last year the school suffered a fire which resulted in smoke damage. Classes were held in local churches for many weeks while repairs were being made. "This has given them a sense of pride while making it pretty outside," she said, which helps raise everyone’s spirits.

The colorful plot of plants in the corner of the school’s front yard is also attracting a lot of attention in the school’s Fifth Street neighborhood.

"People will come by and honk, since we’ve been out there so much. Some of the neighbors have come over. They are curious. It really is a community thing," she said.