Mary Jane Letterle has been named Senior-of-the-Year at
Mount Pulaski High School. Mary Jane is the daughter of Linda
Letterle of Mount. Pulaski and the late David Letterle.
Mary Jane is a high honor roll student. She serves as vice
president of the senior class and co-president of National Honor
Society. She served as secretary of her class during her sophomore
and junior years. Mary Jane was selected as a prom server during her
freshman year and was named freshman homecoming attendant. She
played basketball for three years and is a member of the chorus at
Mount Pulaski High School.
Mary Jane is a member of Spirit Squad and has portrayed "Mr.
Topper," the school mascot, at athletic events. She served on prom
committee and the "Homework is not an Option" committee. She was a
three-year member of Spanish Club and has been especially active in
Drama Club, earning major roles in the performances of "Cactus
Patch," "Go-Go Beach" and "Burgertown."
Mary Jane is a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Mount Pulaski,
where she has volunteered with Vacation Bible School and preschool.
She has helped with Meals on Wheels, recycling, and Trick or Treat
for Unicef. She was chosen by the American Legion Auxiliary as a
delegate to Illini Girls State and was an American Legion Memorial
Day essay winner.
Mary Jane is a member of the Lincolnland Antique Tractor Club.
She is employed by Tom Cross at Cross Brothers Inc. and also
works for the Logan County Fair Association.
Mary Jane plans to attend Lewis University to major in diagnostic
sonography.
The $1,000 Senior-of-the-Year award is sponsored jointly by
Johnson's Food Center and Mount Pulaski Pharmacy.
For a full list of Mount Pulaski honors night recipients,
click here.
Lincoln
College recently received a donation of $20,000 from members of
the Forty and Eight veterans group. It is the third
donation from the group since 2004. To date, they have contributed
over $40,000 for scholarships to Lincoln College students at the
Lincoln and Normal campuses.
The money was presented to President John Hutchinson during a
private reception held on the campus on April 27. In turn, he
thanked those members in attendance and read a proclamation honoring
the organization.
Forty and Eight, a national organization for veterans, was
founded shortly after World War I and honors American veterans of
foreign wars. The group's name is taken from a message stamped
inside the French railway cars used to transport soldiers during the
war. It indicated the weight restrictions of each car - 40 men or
eight horses.
"A veteran is the very definition of a 'leader.' These men and
women answered a call to duty. So it is of no surprise, that even
today - even after their military service ended - they are still
responding to the needs of their community. In this instance, it is
by making it possible for many deserving students to get a college
education. The gift of an education is a gift that will benefit the
entire community for generations to come," said President John
Hutchinson.
More information on the Forty and Eight veterans group is
available on their Web site,
