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Vernon Hills student wins bicentennial essay contest

A Vernon Hills High School student was among 23 scholarship winners in an essay contest that celebrates Illinois' bicentennial.

Cecilia Nam, a student at Vernon Hills High School, was awarded $250 toward academic expenses by submitting an essay on the theme "Home is Where the Heart Is."

Her entry was selected from among more than 450 essays submitted as part of the contest sponsored by Illinois Realtors as part of the association's celebration of the state's 200th birthday. She received her award on May 9.

"We are so pleased to see the great talent from high school students throughout the state, and most of all their interest in the Illinois Bicentennial," said Vicky Turner, CRS, SRS, GRI, a Dixon Realtor and chair of the Illinois Realtors Bicentennial Task Force.

"Both the quality and the quantity of the essays received strongly show the strength of our youth in Illinois and reinforce the importance this state plays in their lives."

Nam's entry was judged a winner by a 10-member selection committee. In all, the association's Bicentennial Task Force awarded one $1,000 scholarship, 11 scholarships for $750 and 11 scholarships for $250. A full list of winners can be found at IllinoisRealtors.org/Bicentennial.

"It's wonderful to hear about why students in our area love our state. We congratulate all of the winners on their excellent essays," John Gormley, chief executive officer of the Mainstreet Organization of Realtors, said.

"MORe is honored to be part of the Illinois Bicentennial celebration, and we're looking forward to seeing how improvements to local historic organizations will make a positive impact on our community."

The essay contest is one of several ways Illinois Realtors' members are marking the state's 200th birthday. Twenty-nine local Realtor associations have undertaken service projects and fundraising efforts for historic properties throughout Illinois.

MORe contributed to improvements at the Arlington Heights Historical Museum, the DuPage County Historical Museum and the South Suburban Genealogical Society.

On Aug. 26, the state association plans to open Bicentennial Plaza - A Realtor Community Partnership in Springfield. The pedestrian walkway, which links Springfield's historic sites, will feature interpretive exhibits of people, places and events that connect with Abraham Lincoln's vision for a nation of equal opportunity for all.

The plaza's grand opening is a signature event of the state's Bicentennial Commission's celebration of the birthday milestone.

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