James "Zirk" Zirkelbach Scholarship Created

    The James “Zirk” Zirkelbach Scholarship is the latest to be added to The Partnership for Educational Excellence’s coffers.  It was established by “Zirk” Zirkelbach’s nine children to honor his accomplishments in law enforcement in Macoupin County.   They describe him and his wife Mary as “proud” and “pretty much speechless” when they told him of their action.

    Perhaps best known as sheriff of Macoupin County from 1990-1998, he was previously Chief Investigator for Macoupin County.  He also served on the Macoupin County Board for many years; was instrumental in establishing Macoupin and Montgomery County Crime Stoppers; and was active in the statewide Sheriff’s Association.  His children include married daughters Tracy Werner, Joan Cain, and Kimberly Burns.  His sons are Robert, Dennis, James, Mark, Brian, and Bradley Zirkelbach.

    “We are thrilled at the exemplary generosity of Zirk’s children,” says John Fassero, Jr., president and founding member of The Partnership in 1992.  “It’s quite moving that they wanted him to enjoy this honor and to learn every year the name of the young person assisted by their generosity.”

    The Zirkelbach scholarship is the first of several new awards established during its 25th anniversary year.  Since 1992 the 501(c)3 educational foundation has remembered or honored more than 70 individuals or groups with scholarships.  Awards will be made this year from among 30 extant scholarships.

    In 2018 for the third year, The Partnership will increase its awards.  While established scholarships will remain at $500, The Partnership will match each award to bring the total to $1,000.  The funds for the match will come from The Partnership’s 25th anniversary fund drive.  

    “We are hopeful that our goal of raising $25,000 for 2018 and future matches will be met before the end of the school year,” he says.  “The enthusiasm and generosity of new and long-time supporters continues to amaze and gratify us.  It’s very humbling to think that every dollar we’ve passed on to classroom and graduates has been entrusted to us by literally thousands of alums, local business and professional people, and like-minded organizations.”

Former Partnership Grant Recipient Bio 30

Megan Marcacci graduated from Gillespie High School in 1999, earning a $500 Partnership for Educational Excellence tuition scholarship.

Megan used her award toward tuition and fees at Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois. She majored in communications and minored in Spanish, earning a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 2003.

Since then she has pursued a career as a meeting an event planner. Currently she is working for Wells Fargo Advisors at their headquarters in downtown St. Louis. As part of the marketing department, her primary responsibilities include budget planning; sourcing and negotiating vendor contracts; planning all logistics for an event; executing the event; and reconciling invoices.

“I’ve been married for five years to John Campos,” she says. “We have one son, Charlie, who is three years old. We also have our westie/French bulldog, Romeo.”

In her free time Megan says she enjoys “spending time with family and friends, domestic and international travel, cooking, exercise and conscious living, the St. Louis Cardinals, the St. Louis Blues, and shopping locally-sourced items.”

Calling her choice of Millikin University “one of the best decisions of my life,” she adds, “not only because of the wonderful education I received, but also for the relationships I made which continue to bless my life.”

The Partnership scholarship was invaluable because it “contributed to my education at Millikin,” she concludes.

Megan is the daughter of Jerry and Susie Marcacci of rural Sawyerville.

Raffle Winners Give Back to the Partnership

The Seraphin family has donated half of their winnings from the third annual Grand Raffle of The Partnership for Educational Excellence to the 501(c)3 education foundation.

The Seraphins have earmarked their giveback: $1,000 will be used to match for two years the existing memorial scholarship for Sally’s grandfather, Robert M. Prevedell. Sally Prevedell Seraphin is a 1998 alumna of Gillespie High School (GHS).

In addition, $1,500 will be used to create a Cordes Family Memorial Scholarship in honor of the parents and grandparents of Sally’s mother, Donna Cordes Prevedell.

“We are moved and thankful for the Seraphin’s generosity,” says John Fassero, Jr., president and founding member of the 501(c)3 education foundation. “The family values education and has close and fond ties to the area. Their decision to invest in future generations of Gillespie students while honoring their family is remarkable.”

The Partnership is celebrating its 25th anniversary during the 2017-2018 academic year. Since 1992 the foundation has invested more than $800,000 of donors contributions in the children of Community Unit School District 7 (CUSD7) in Macoupin County. 

Sally Prevedell Seraphin receives her family's raffle winnings from Partnership secretary, Rosie Emmenderfer. (Front from left to right): Augie, Norah, and Sally Seraphin with Rosie Emmenderfer.  In back, Pete Seraphin holding Eve.

Former Partnership Grant Recipient Bio 29

Eric Neuhaus graduated from Gillespie High School in 1999, earning a $500 Partnership for Educational Excellence tuition scholarship.

Eric attended Illinois State University in Normal from 1999 through 2003. He majored in industrial computer systems and earned a bachelor of science degree in industrial technology.

"Currently I'm a technical project manager at Maritz, LLC in Fenton, Missouri," says Eric. "My group builds incentive-based web sites for Honda Motor Company employees and consumers. I manage tasks involved in building the web sites. I make sure the tasks stay within the budget and scope of the project."

He notes that continuing education is essential in today's work place, adding that "since college I have earned my Project Management Professional (PMP) certification. I am currently working toward my PMI-ACP (Project Management Institute - Agile Certified Practitioner) certification."

In his free time Eric enjoys camping, hunting, kayaking, snowboarding, and, of course, spending time with my family. Eric and Mary, his wife of six years, have two sons: Jude, age 4, and Isaac, age 2. "I look forward to sharing all my hobbies with my sons as they grow up," he says.

As the holder of a technical degree, Eric now reflects on the importance of a broad post- secondary education. "In college I would often get aggravated at the classes that weren't related to my major. Now I realize that those classes helped create a well-rounded foundation for future learning and opportunities," he says.

"The scholarship from The Partnership allowed me to meet my goals, not only at Illinois State University, but also allowed me to set the foundation for continuous learning and growththroughout my career and life," Eric reflects.

Eric is the son of Lynn and Nancy Neuhaus of Denver, Colorado.

Grand Raffle Winner is Alumna of Gillespie High School

The winner of The Partnership for Educational Excellence third annual Grand Raffle is the Seraphin family of suburban Chicago.

Sally Seraphin, a 1998 graduate of Gillespie High School (GHS), was shocked and delighted when she was notified that her family’s ticket had been drawn for the $5,000 prize. “We will definitely be giving back to The Partnership,” she said. “This is such a surprise. Thank you so much!”

The drawing was held in the cafeteria of the Ben-Gil Elementary School at the conclusion of its annual Palm Sunday spaghetti dinner. The raffle was a great success: all 500 tickets were sold.

“We are very gratified that the raffle has raised $5,000 for our tuition scholarships. A big thank you to all who purchased tickets,” says John Fassero, Jr., president and founding member. “Every penny will be used to match existing memorial scholarships so that we can consistently raise our awards to $1,000 per student. The proceeds will be added to our current 25th anniversary drive to raise $25,000 for future scholarship matches.”

Until 2016 The Partnership scholarships were $500 each, allowing the foundation to recognize and assist as many students as possible. In fact, between 20 and 30 percent of each GHS class has received scholarships over the past two decades.

“We want to maintain that percentage, but we realize that the cost of post-secondary education has risen. We and our donors are up to the challenge! We’re very optimistic about meeting our 25th anniversary goal,” says Fassero.

The Partnership is a 501(c)3 education foundation founded in 1992 in Macoupin County Community Unit School District 7 (CUSD7). To date it has channeled donors’ contributions into 393 scholarships worth $215,500 and into classroom mini-grants worth more than $600,000. 

It's all about the students!  Gathered for the drawing were BGES principal (far left) Angela Sandretto, student volunteers, and Partnership directors: (left to right) Angela Sandretto, Ally Clay, Jaiden Braundmeier, Maggie Heyen, Susan Stromsland, Carole Scheller behind "drawer" Megan Hatlee, Nanci Grandone, Don Throne, Rose Tebbe, Katie Ronald, John Fassero, Cameron Link, Josh Ranger, and Jenna Clark.

Megan Hatlee, GHS student who drew the winners' names, and John Fassero, president of the Partnership, hold the Seraphin family's winning ticket.  Looking on (left to right) are Partnership directors Susan Stromsland, Carole Scheller, Nanci Grandone, Don Throne, Rose Tebbe (treasurer), and Katie Ronald.

Former Partnership Grant Recipient Bio 28

Corie Wirth Story graduated from Gillespie High School in 1996, earning a $500 Partnership for Educational Excellence tuition scholarship.

Corie attended Quincy University in Quincy, Illinois, graduating in 1999 with a Bachelor of Science degree in marketing.

Today she is a Gift Planning Officer with the American Red Cross in St. Louis and in Springfield, Illinois. “I meet with volunteers and donors to discuss their philanthropic legacy,” she says. “We talk about the importance of having a will and undertaking financial planning.”

Corie also earned a Missouri real estate license in 2004; she maintains it today.

She and her husband Craig keep busy at their Columbia, Illinois, home with their two boys, Hogan (7) and Byron (3). In addition, she enjoys running, golf, swimming, and crafting. “I would like to start an art cooperative in Monroe County,” she says, “and I am looking at teaching swimming lessons again.”

Reflecting on her award from The Partnership for Educational Excellence, Corie notes, “All of the scholarships I received helped me value the cost of an education, and they motivated me to graduate early to save money on tuition.”

Her post-secondary education also prompted her to share some advice with high school students contemplating their futures: “Keep your mindset broad and open while in college. Realize that your career plans can go in different directions from those you start with.”

Corie is the daughter of Rob and Denise Wirth of Gillespie. 

Former Partnership Grant Recipient Bio 27

Bradley graduated from Gillespie High School (GHS) in 2007, earning the Bank of America scholarship. He used the $500 Partnership award toward freshman tuition at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIUC).

Bradley graduated from SIUC in 2011 summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in political science with a 4.0 GPA.

He immediately entered the SIUC school of law, graduating magna cum laude in 2014 with a Juris Doctorate (JD) degree.

Since October 2014 Bradley has worked at Drummond Law LLC in Litchfield. “I currently handle Social Security Disability, Worker’s Compensation, criminal law, and other types of law, including writing wills and deeds,” he says. He also handles marketing for the firm.

In his spare time Bradley enjoys traveling and hiking. “My most recent trip to Colorado included hiking the Rockies in Estes Park,” he says. “I also enjoy spending time with family and friends, and spoiling my dog Scout.”

Reflecting on the role of post-secondary education in his life, Bradley says, “It played a very important role in my life by allowing me to practice law, a profession I envisioned myself working in from a young age. It also gave me the opportunity to learn and develop, not only the intelligence and skills needed to receive my degrees, but college and law school also helped me learn and develop as a person.”

As to his Partnership scholarship, he says: “It helped make sure that the rising cost of college did not prevent me from obtaining my education.” In addition, Bradley notes, “Now that I am paying on my student loans, I greatly appreciate that the scholarship helped reduce those loans!”

Bradley is the son of the late Tom Bauer and Evelyn and Dan Bilyeu of Gillespie. 

Former Partnership Grant Recipient Bio 26

Ashley graduated from Gillespie High School (GHS) in 2011, earning the Carol Enrico DeLucca Scholarship for a Top Girl Graduate. She used the $500 Partnership award toward freshman tuition at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee.

Ashley majored in public relations and minored in music business at Belmont, graduating early in December of 2014 with a Bachelor of Science degree.

“I am now an account executive at MP&F Public Relations in downtown Nashville, Tennessee,” she says. “I work on multiple client accounts which cover everything from non- profits to government entities to hotels. On any given day I may be working on digital marketing, event planning, or media relations. It keeps me busy!”

Ashley notes with pride: “I have been with MP&F for three years and within that time I’ve been promoted twice.” She notes that she plans to stay in Nashville “at least for the next couple of years. I guess you could say the South has stolen my heart.”

In her free time, she loves to travel. “I have made it a priority in my life to travel,” she says. “In May I went to Ireland, and next year I plan to go to Germany and the Czech Republic.”

As to the importance of post-secondary education to Ashley, she says, “I’m so thankful for my college education! My college experience was one of the best of my life. I really grew up and became my own, independent person.”

Her scholarship from The Partnership “was very helpful,” she says. “Between tuition, books, and dorm needs, every little bit counts! Thank you!”

Ashley is the daughter of Bill and Luann Heyen of rural Gillespie. 

The Partnership Thanks Civic Partners for 25 Years of Support

Both the towns of Gillespie and Benld recently welcomed representatives of The Partnership for Educational Excellence at routine board meetings to mark the education foundation’s 25th anniversary.

Nanci Grandone, the founder and first president of The Partnership for Educational Excellence, and John Fassero, Jr., a founding member and current president, received proclamations of congratulations from both Mayor John Hicks of Gillespie and Jim Kelly of Benld.

In turn, Fassero thanked the villages for their past financial and in-kind support during 25 years of fund raisers.

Since its founding, Fassero said, the Partnership has distributed nearly $600,000 in the form of classroom mini-grants and $215,500 as 393 scholarships to graduating Gillespie High School seniors. All funds administered by the 501(c)3 non-profit organization come from donations, bequests and memorials.

“We’ve worked very hard over the years to be transparent and good stewards of that money. It’s not our money,” Fassero noted. “It’s other peoples’ money. We are the funnel that funnels other peoples’ money to the school district.”

For the volunteer organization’s 25th anniversary, the group has set a goal of raising $25,000 in new donations, Fassero said, to support an increase in the size of its scholarships from $500 to $1,000. This increase will come in the form of a dollar-for-dollar match to established memorial scholarships.

“It’s still a modest scholarship at $1,000, but for many students, it is the only scholarship available to them,” he said. “Most years we provide scholarships for up to 25 percent of the graduating class and we are very proud of that. We hope to maintain that percentage, but we will need help to meet that goal.”

Fassero thanked the councils, stating, “Your support has added both to our resources and credibility. It’s clear that we share the philosophy that ‘Only on the foundation of education can our children build productive lives and a stable society.’”

Both mayors stated in their proclamations that the village officials “applaud The Partnership’s commitment to educational excellence and do hereby encourage residents and alumni, civic and business leaders in CUSD7 to continue their generous support of the children of CUSD7, our most valuable asset.” 

Gillespie Proclamation with Mayor John Hicks, John Fassero and Nancy Grandone

Benld Proclamation with John Fassero and Nancy Grandone

Photo courtesy of Coal Country Times

Early Bird Winners

Two lucky winners took home $100 each on the first night that Grand Raffle tickets went on sale by The Partnership for Educational Excellence. Andrew Brummett of Edwardsville and Nickie Barrett of Gillespie, on behalf of her infant daughter Violet Bellovich, were “early bird” buyers at this month’s “For the Love of Education” trivia night sponsored by The Partnership for Educational Excellence.

“This is our third Grand Raffle,” explains John Fassero, Jr., president and founding member of the education foundation. “We have had an outstanding response to the drawing for two years, and 2018 is no exception. Tickets are reportedly going faster than ever.”

Tickets are $20, and only 500 will be sold. “This makes the odds of winning excellent,” notes Fassero. All proceeds from this year’s raffle will be used to increase Partnership scholarships from $500 each to $1,000 each.

“We have previously kept our awards modest so that we could recognize the greatest number of Gillespie High School (GHS) graduates,” says Fassero. “Considering that we routinely award scholarships to 20% to 30% of each GHS graduating class, and considering that post-secondary education costs have soared, we’re raising funds to offer more help to more students.”

The drawing for a single grand prize of $5,000 will be at Ben-Gil Elementary School’s spaghetti dinner on Palm Sunday, March 25. Any tickets left on that day can be purchased at the spaghetti dinner. Meanwhile they can be purchased at Hicks Maytag Appliances in Gillespie; by contacting any Partnership director*; or by getting in touch via e-mail at info@thepartnership7.org

Current Partnership directors are Rosie Emmenderfer; John Fassero; Nanci Grandone; Donna Prevedell; Katie Ronald; Ann Marie Bauer Ross; Carole Scheller; Susan Stromsland; Rose Tebbe; Don Throne; and Julie Zirkelbach. 

Director Katie Ronald and Early Bird Winner Andrew Brummett

Director Katie Ronald and Early Bird Winner Nikki Barrett

Former Partnership Grant Recipient Bio 25

Brittany graduated from Gillespie High School (GHS) in 2007, earning the Carol Enrico DeLucca Scholarship for a Top Girl Graduate. She used the $500 Partnership award toward freshman tuition at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville (SIUE).

Brittany majored in business marketing while at SIUE and immediately followed her Bachelor’s degree with an MBA with a focus on project management.

She also holds the title of PMP (Project Management Professional), “which I studied for and passed following graduation from the MBA program,” she says.

Today Brittany carries the title of Strategic Program Manager at a technology company in St. Louis called Big Club Digital.

“My responsibilities are to manage my company’s client relationships and programs, including project strategy, financial and resource management, and portfolio growth,” she says. “I plan to continue to grow my career.”

Brittany is a founding member of “a women’s professional group, and I am a media marketing consultant for small businesses.”

In her free time she and her husband Douglas enjoy hiking, traveling, spending time with family, and trying new restaurants. “I especially look forward to spending lots of time with my family, especially after my mother retires this year,” Brittany says.

She thoroughly enjoyed her college years, noting “my degree opened many doors for me. I met wonderful connections at SIUE in the St. Louis community. I am extremely grateful for the support that this Partnership scholarship provided,” she says. “Starting college takes a large investment, and this scholarship helped ease some of that burden.”

Brittany is the daughter of Doug and Beth Zehr of Gillespie. 

Former Partnership Grant Recipient Bio 24

Katie Stromsland graduated from Gillespie High School (GHS) in 2013, earning a Matt and Marge Turcol Memorial Scholarship. She used the $500 Partnership award at Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois.

Katie majored in biology and minored in chemistry and ethics, graduating Summa Cum Laude in 2017. As a junior, Katie earned the university’s highest honor, the Scoville Prize, and as a senior she received the Senior Biology Scholar Award.

While at Millikin, Katie worked as a biology lab assistant for two years and as an anatomy and physiology teaching assistant her senior year. Her summers were spent doing research on the DNA of Slider turtles as predictors of the health of their eco-system, first as a Millikin James Leighty Scholar and then as a grant awardee from the National Great Rivers Research and Educational Center.

In her free time she coached tumbling and trampoline at an off-campus gym for three years, utilizing her past experience as a nationally ranked competitive gymnast. While a member of the Millikin soccer team in 2014, Katie traveled to France, visiting Lyon and Paris. Then in 2016 she spent her spring semester studying at Maynooth University in Maynooth, Ireland. Between classes she found time to travel throughout Ireland, Spain, Italy, Germany, and Norway, enjoying her dual hobbies of traveling and hiking..

Katie is currently a first-year medical student at the Stritch School of Medicine at Loyola University in Maywood, Illinois. As part of her service obligation, she coaches underprivileged children in gymnastics.

Of her college and med school experience, Katie says: “It is allowing me to achieve my dreams while also having incredible, once-in-a-lifetime experiences.”

She reports that The Partnership scholarship helped her family “definitely. Every penny counts in relieving the financial burdens of college.”

Katie is the daughter of Pete and Sue Stromsland of Gillespie. 

Former Partnership Grant Recipient Bio 23

Dane Gray graduated from Gillespie High School (GHS) in 2003, earning the Tebbe Family Foundation Scholarship. The $500 award was deposited with Eastern Illinois University (EIU) at Charleston and was used toward tuition.

Dane earned his bachelor’s degree in finance in 2007 and then immediately entered the EIU Masters in Business Administration (MBA) program. He completed the MBA in 2008.

Currently Dane works for Edward Jones, an investment firm, in St. Louis.

“I am a Senior Mutual Fund Analyst,” he says, explaining that he is “responsible for recommending international equity mutual funds and ETFs (exchange traded funds) for our clients. I spend a lot of time meeting with mutual fund managers, doing quantitative analysis, and communicating our recommendations.”

Although Dane has no immediate plans to undertake additional graduate courses, he says “as my career progresses, and the types of jobs that are available evolve, I imagine I will need to seek additional training or education.

“I’ve worked at Edward Jones for two and a half years,” he notes. “I’ve spent my entire career in financial services in research. Our industry is changing so rapidly, it’s really hard to say what I’ll be doing in the next ten years. I’d like to think that I’ll still be at Edward Jones in a similar capacity with more responsibility.”

Dane and his wife Courtney have been married for seven years. They have two daughters, five-year old Natalie and two-year old Lydia.

“Outside of my family – which comes first – my only hobby is playing golf,” says Dane. Any spare time I have outside of my work or my family responsibilities, I am probably playing golf!”

As to the importance of post-secondary education, Dane says: “Obtaining additional education after high school is a must in our modern economy.

“Four-year schools are a good option for lots of people, but trade schools and other specific job training can be viable options for those looking beyond high school,” he says. “I was fortunate enough to go to a school that was a good fit for my interests, and it provided me with a set of skills so that I could be competitive in the job market.”

Dane is the son of Kevin and Elaine Gray of Gillespie. 

Former Partnership Grant Recipient Bio 22

Christina Niehaus Blevins graduated from Gillespie High School (GHS) in 2003, earning the Emil Borgini Commemorate Your Favorite Teacher Scholarship. The $500 award was deposited with Greenville College in Greenville, Illinois.

Christina attended Greenville College from 2003 to 2007. She earned a BS in secondary biology education. In addition, she obtained a middle school endorsement in science education and in English/language arts.

Her current plans are to begin work on a master’s degree in the next year or two.

Christina taught high school science right after college at Greenville High School for two years before returning to her hometown.

“I am currently in my seventh year at Gillespie Middle School (GMS),” she says. These years include teaching “English/language arts for five years,” she explains. “And I am currently in my second year teaching sixth grade science.”

She also coaches track and field as well as girls’ basketball at GMS and girls’ basketball at Gillespie High School (GHS).

“I married Cory Blevins (GHS 2001) in 2011, and we have a son, Eli, who was born in 2013,” she says. “We are avid Cardinals and Blues fans, and love going to games. I also enjoy spending time with family, baking cakes, making flowers, and attending Eli’s activities.”

A committed and talented teacher, Christina is a supporter of post-secondary education. “Education is a wonderful gift,” she says. “I am so glad that as a teacher I am able to give back in the classroom some of the knowledge that I have gained over the years.”

As to the benefits derived from her Partnership award, Christina reports: “Because of my scholarship from The Partnership, along with many others, I was able to pay for nearly all my freshman year of college without student loans!

Christina is the daughter of Gary Niehaus and Sheryl Niehaus, both of Gillespie.

Former Partnership Grant Recipient Bio 21

Adam Tallman graduated from Gillespie High School (GHS) in 2003, earning the Michael Bertolino Memorial Scholarship. The $500 award was deposited with Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville (SIUE).

Adam attended SIUE from 2003 through 2007 on a baseball scholarship. He majored in business administration with an emphasis in management, graduating in 2007 with a bachelor of science degree.

“Currently I am a business owner for Farmers Insurance Group in Gillespie, my hometown,” Adam says.

“My main job responsibility is to educate people about insurance to better prepare them to protect what matters most to them,” he explains. “Everyone sees insurance as ‘just another bill’. However, I love meeting with my clients and educating them on the value and importance of insurance.”

He is studying on an ongoing basis to further his education in a variety of insurance and investment needs.

Adam and his wife Trista (Link) married in 2008. Trista (GHS Class of 2002) also received a Partnership scholarship: The W.E. Schmidt Family Foundation award. They have a seven-year old daughter named Addisyn Kathryn and a three-year old son named Jaxon Kenneth.

“Outside of work I enjoy cooking, golfing, fishing with my daughter, playing superheroes with my son, and being with friends and family,” he says. “I also enjoy being a volunteer coach for GHS as well as my daughter’s team.”

“My plans for the future are to spend as much time with my kids as I possibly can. Seeing them grow and being the best dad I can be, in my eyes, is the kind of future I am looking forward to,” Adam says. “When I was young, my parents were very involved with all my extracurricular activities, and I plan to do the same with my kids.”

Reflecting on the importance of his university education and scholarship, Adam notes: “My scholarship from The Partnership helped me pay for books and other tuition-related expenses at SIUE. The Partnership, along with my baseball scholarship, helped me leave college without student loans or debt. This was a huge financial advantage, and I am grateful to The Partnership for helping get started debt-free – on the right foot.”

Adam has made the remarkable decision “to pay this gift forward to another GHS graduate by funding a named scholarship through The Partnership.” This tuition scholarship will be awarded for the first time in May 2018 to a graduate of GHS.

Adam is the son of Dennis and Sandy Tallman of Gillespie. 

Former Partnership Grant Recipient Bio 20

Sydney Koniak Zippmann graduated from Gillespie High School (GHS) in 2011, earning the Matt and Marge Turcol Memorial Scholarship. The $500 award was deposited with Southwestern Illinois College (SWIC) in Belleville, Illinois.

“After Gillespie High School, I went to SWIC from 2011 through 2015,” she recounts. “I majored in Applied Science with a certification in Radiologic Technology (RT)

After a year employed in the medical field, Sydney returned to SWIC to specialize in Computed Tomography (CT).

“I am now certified to perform CTs and work in diagnostic radiology. My title is Radiologic Technologist/X-ray technologist and a CT technologist or RT(R)(CT),” she says.

Sydney, who is married to Cody Zippmann, now works full time at Anderson Hospital in Maryville, Illinois, and part-time at MedExpress in Alton.

“My responsibilities consist of starting IVs for CT exams and drawing lab work to check if the patient is well enough to receive the dye we inject through the IV for certain exams,” she says. “I take patient vitals to monitor patients while they are in my care; perform diagnostic scans and X-rays, including fluoro procedures; and run the C-arm machine in surgery for orthopedic cases.”

Her future plans may include returning to school for training in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).

“I believe that post-secondary education is extremely important, especially in this day and age,” says Sydney.

“It is a requirement of most jobs now to have a college education of some kind,” she notes. “A college education is something that you will always have to back you and which will always provide a good income for your family.”

Regarding the role that her Partnership scholarship played, Sydney says: “I understand that college can be expensive, but thanks to all the scholarships out there, like The Partnership award, the overall cost of tuition” can be lowered, she says. “And for that I will always be grateful.”

Sydney is the daughter of Randy and Tammy Koniak of Gillespie. 

Former Partnership Grant Recipient Bio 19

Derick Engelke graduated from Gillespie High School (GHS) in 2015, earning the John and Mark Madden Memorial Scholarship. The $500 award was deposited with Lindenwood University in St. Louis.

Derick, majoring in accounting, plans to graduate in May 2018 and follow up with a Masters in Business Administration (MBA).

"I am currently interning with Edward Jones, an investment firm, in Des Peres, Missouri," he reports. "I began my first intern position in December 2016, and have been able to secure internships in various departments over the past year. My main duties include phone details from clients about their Edward Jones investments and/or distributions. Working with such a large corporation has taught me many valuable lessons."

On the Lindenwood campus during his freshman year Derick became involved with a campus ministry which brought him many new friends. In addition, his membership in the Delta Tau Delta fraternity, has expanded his personal and professional network.

"I served as my fraternity's chapter treasurer during the 2016-17 school year," he says. "And I was recently elected to serve as chapter president during the 2017-18 year."

Studies, internships, and official posts are just part of Derick's rewarding college experience, however. "My membership in Delta Tau Delta has allowed me many exciting opportunities," he says, noting that "the most memorable one was being able to attend EVERY home Blues playoff game during the 2016 playoffs. I used my networking skills to gain this wonderful opportunity." A major highlight: "During the games when the Blues scored a goal, I was one of the people who ran up the aisles with a huge Blues' flag."

Blues hockey is a passion, but Cardinals baseball and "any level of football" also occupy

much of Derick's free time.
As his college days come to an end, Derick thanks The Partnership for the help which his

Partnership scholarship provided, noting "the money helped pay for books during my first semester at Lindenwood."

Once out of college, he plans to pursue a career in the accounting field in the St. Louis area "or wherever a great job opportunity takes me."

Derick is the son of Brian and Lisa Engelke of Gillespie. 

Former Partnership Grant Recipient Bio 18

Taylor Gucciardo graduated from Gillespie High School (GHS) in 2010, earning the Jean Fite Memorial Scholarship. She used the $500 award at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville (SIUE).

Taylor majored in accounting at SIUE and graduated in 2014.

“While in my last year at SIUE, I interned at World Wide Technology,” she says. The company is currently ranked 28th on Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work For,” which influenced her decision to accept a full time position there as a project accountant after graduation. Her responsibilities included setting budgets, financial analytics, and forecasting and reporting on project financials.

“In January 2017, however, I changed jobs and now work for the family business, Gucciardo CPAs” at its Edwardsville location, she reports. “My current title is tax accountant with my responsibilities including bookkeeping, payroll, and individual tax returns. Living and working in Edwardsville has been great. Plus I get to bring my dog Kona to work with me!” she says.

In her free time, Taylor enjoys “riding my horse, Doc, playing coed soccer, and spending time with Kona. In the future I would like to stay in the Edwardsville area, working for Gucciardo CPAs and continuing to grow our newest location.”

Reflecting on the importance of education, Taylor says, “I think post-secondary education is only becoming more vital in the workforce. Not only did I learn necessary accounting skills, I learned other problem solving skills that have helped me in my daily activities.”

As to The Partnership scholarship, she says: “When paying for college, any help was greatly appreciated. I hope that The Partnership is able to continue to support students like me.”

Taylor is the daughter of Bob and Gina Gucciardo of rural Plainview. 

Former Partnership Grant Recipient Bio 17

Matt Olmsted graduated from Gillespie High School (GHS) in 1996, earning a Partnership for Educational Excellence Scholarship. He used the $500 award at McKendree University in Lebanon, Illinois.

Matt earned two full degrees at McKendree: a Bachelor of Business Administration with a focus on marketing and a Bachelor of Arts with a focus on music history. He graduated magna cum laude in both and commencement speaker at his 2001 graduation.

During his McKendree years, Matt studied off campus as an exchange student at Letterkenny Institute of Technology in Donegal, Ireland, and as a cultural exchange student for one summer at the Japan Technos Institute in Tokyo.

Two summers were spent at an internship with Walt Disney World’s College Program in Orlando, Florida, and a third summer was spent in Singapore doing an internship with Allied Pickfords, an international moving firm.

Currently Matt is director of sales for Donnelly Financial Solutions in Hong Kong, China.

“We develop and grow business within the global capital markets industry specific to financial printing and financial communication solutions,” he says. “My clients are investment banks, law firms, and corporations who tap the global capital markets through debt and equity issuance as well as mergers and acquisitions.”

He routinely visits clients in Hong Kong, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Philippines, Korea, Australia, and New Zealand. “I also often travel into mainland China, pitching for new business,” Matt says.

Calling himself “Single and Available,” Matt spends his spare time entering 10 to 15 kilometer races in Hong Kong, traveling occasionally to races in Cambodia, North Korea, and

Australia. He also does trail runs: the latest a night run of 30 kilometers to a peak in Hong Kong of 1,000 meters.

He also enjoys leisure travel, movies, reading, water skiing, and socializing with friends.

Next on his agenda: “To see where life takes me. Life is not about the destination; it’s about the journey, as they say!”

As to the role of post-secondary education in his life, Matt says, “If it were not for post- secondary education, I would not be where I am today. My education gave me exposure to both personal and professional development. Coming from a small rural community in southern Illinois, it is unimaginable to think that I have traveled to more than 30 countries around the world! These global experiences have opened doors to amazing people, ideas, and opportunities.”

Along the way, his Partnership scholarship “absolutely helped,” he says. “I feel strongly about education and support any person or organization that supports this endeavor. For me, The Partnership gave me opportunities and self-confidence that I may not have otherwise developed. Throughout life, many things can be given and taken away. However, no one can take away the value of an education.”

Matt is the son of Karen Ogden of Titusville, Florida, and Rich Olmsted of rural Mt. Olive near Eagarville. 

Former Partnership Grant Recipient Bio 16

Lyn Kravanya Boyett graduated from Gillespie High School (GHS) in 2001, earning a W.E. Schmidt Family Foundation Scholarship. She used the $500 Partnership award toward freshman tuition at Millikin University in Decatur.

Lyn earned a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry from Millikin in 2005 and immediately pursued a Masters Degree in Business Administration (MBA) at the University of Illinois at Springfield (UIS). She graduated in 2007.

“While I was growing up, I was always taught to respect people of all walks of life,” she says, “so while I was in high school and college, I knew I wanted to pursue a career where I could help people.”

While studying for her MBA in Springfield, Lyn began to help her parents with the family business, Kravanya Funeral Homes.

“It wasn’t until after I had graduated from UIS that I developed an increased interest in my family’s business,” she says. “I decided that I wanted to live in my hometown where I could serve the people of my community.” In addition to the Kravanya locations in Gillespie and Benld, Lyn is involved with their Bunker Hill facility and the new Ideal Cremations in Benld.

“There is very little time for hobbies,” she says. “I spend most of my free time with my family, my husband Chris and my two energetic children, four-year old daughter Lucy and 2-year old son Dillon.”

As to the importance of post-secondary education, Lyn says: “Today I am able to use the knowledge and experience that I have learned. To me, learning is a valuable tool, and a good education is something that has definitely helped me in life.”

She concludes, “I will always be grateful to all the scholarship organizations like The

Partnership for Educational Excellence for giving me the opportunity to attend a four-year university and advance my education.”

Lyn is the daughter of Tony and Marilyn Kravanya of Gillespie.