|  "We're pleased to honor this year's Illinois State Scholars," said 
			Eric Zarnikow, ISAC executive director. "Not only do they represent 
			the best in educational excellence in Illinois, they also are key to 
			the state's future economic well-being. The commission applauds 
			their success and salutes their families and teachers." The 
			prestigious award, given annually by the Illinois Student Assistance 
			Commission, recognized 18,863 high school students from across the 
			state this year. Since 1979, over 582,000 Illinois students have 
			been honored as State Scholars. Illinois State Scholar winners rank in the top 10 percent of high 
			school seniors from 749 high schools across the state. Selection is 
			based on SAT, ACT or Prairie State Achievement Exam scores, or class 
			rank at the end of the junior year. High school guidance counselors 
			work in conjunction with ISAC to determine the winners. While the prestigious recognition does not include a monetary 
			award, recipients are encouraged to cite the honor on applications 
			for college admission and scholarships, in addition to completing 
			the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, the FAFSA, after Jan. 
			1 to determine eligibility for federal and state aid, including 
			Illinois' $371 million need-based Monetary Award Program, or MAP. 
			
			 "With competition for college admission and financial aid getting 
			tougher, these Illinois State Scholars have shown that they take 
			their education seriously and can succeed," Zarnikow said.  Among the many recipients are 25 local students from three Logan 
			County high schools. They are:  From Hartsburg-Emden High School: 
				
				Nathan Flatley
				Danielle Moats From Lincoln Community High 
			School: 
				
				Daniel Bacon
				Marissa Booth
				Meredith Carroll
				Maggie Cusey
				Leah Devore
				Elizabeth Dye
				Emily Everson
				Chelsey George
				Marissa Greer
				Thomas Harris
				Kyle Klockenga
				Allison Mayernick
				Michelle Miller
				Kaitlyn Nelson
				Jessica Nguyen
				Sara Shane
				Grace Sheley 
            [to top of second column] | 
             From Mount Pulaski High School: 
				
				Rachel Allen
				Tanner Clementz
				Sylvia Klumpp
				Elyse McCormick
				Alexa Meister
				Trenton Trump A complete list of Illinois State Scholars, sortable by county 
			and high school, is located at the ISAC website,
			
			http://www.isac.org/students/before-college/state-scholar/.
 ___ Originally formed as the Illinois State Scholarship Commission in 
			1957, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission provides students 
			of all ages and backgrounds with the resources and support to help 
			obtain financial aid for higher education. ISAC has paved the path 
			to postsecondary education with innovative programs for over 50 
			years. The commission continued its mission to make college 
			accessible and affordable for Illinois students by administering 
			over 182,000 grants and scholarships totaling over $417 million in 
			fiscal 2011 alone. The commission provides educational funding via numerous 
			programs, such as the Monetary Award Program, the Illinois Veteran 
			Grant and the College Illinois! Prepaid Tuition Program. Students 
			and families have free access to a wealth of financial aid and 
			college planning information at ISAC's family of websites available 
			at www.isac.org,
			
			www.collegechangeseverything.org and
			
			www.529prepaidtuition.org. 
              
            
			[Text from
			Illinois Student Assistance 
			Commission 
			file received from the
			Illinois Office of 
			Communication and Information] 
              
            
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