Ex-Stevenson board members honored

Two former Stevenson High School District 125 board members were honored by the current trustees on May 19.

Diane Holder and Les Raff received the Heritage Award, which is given annually to people who have made a significant impact on the Lincolnshire school.

Holder is the third-longest serving board member in district history. Holder served from 1983 to 2008, and she was vice president of the board for several years. Only two people have served longer in the school's 43-year history: current board members Merv Roberts, who has been on the board since 1981, and Terry Moons, who joined in 1985.

All three of Holder's children graduated from Stevenson.

She also spent three years on the District 96 school board, from 1978-81.

A teacher, Holder rose through the ranks to become principal of Aptakisic-Tripp Junior High School. She finished her career as District 102's assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction.

Raff served on the Stevenson High board from 1995 to 2011. He was president of the board from 2000-07. Raff previously had served as the board's vice president. As president, he successfully faced a number of challenges, including the 2002 tax-rate referendum, the retirements of two superintendents and the hiring of their replacements.

Raff's children graduated from Stevenson High, too.