Huntley seniors earn National Merit honor
If you know Jacob Walker or Robert Wascher, give them a pat on the back.
The two Huntley High School seniors have been named National Merit Semifinalists.
Out of the 1.4 million high school juniors who take the qualifying test, only 16,000 are selected as semifinalists in the annual competition, according to the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.
I've seen Walker at several Huntley Unit District 158 school board meetings. He represents the student council at the meetings.
I haven't had a chance to talk to him, but he gets my respect for sitting through lengthy, often acrimonious, discussions on the minutiae of District 158.
Wascher has played high school football for four years and is working toward becoming an Eagle Scout.
Both of the seniors will find out if they are among 15,000 National Merit Finalists in February.
If they are, Huntley High School Principal Dave Johnson will present them with certificates from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.
If they make it to the next stage, they'll also get a chance to compete for thousands of dollars in scholarship money. Wish them luck.
Another award winner: Be sure to congratulate Huntley High School senior Anthony Alfano.
Alfano is the winner of the Daughters of the American Revolution Scholarship Contest.
The scholarship is awarded to students who exhibits leadership, patriotism and a dedication to service.
Alfano's lengthy resume must have impressed the scholarship committee.
He is a tutor in the after-school Raider Aid program; a volunteer in the Link Crew, a group of upperclassmen that advises freshmen; a member of the National Honor Society and serves on the executive board of the student council.
The scholarship will help Alfano, who plans to study law, pay his hefty tuition bills at one of the prestigious universities to which he's applied: Loyola, DePaul, Illinois, Chicago and Notre Dame.
Clinic at Hampshire farm: Attention horse lovers: If you can get away from family this weekend, go to Canterbury Farm for a clinic with one of the nation's legendary equestrian coaches and competitors.
The Hampshire farm will host George H. Morris, the chef d'equipe of the United States Equestrian Team whose students have medaled in four Olympic Games.
The clinic starts at 9 a.m. today, Saturday and Sunday with jumpers training at 1.1 meters. At 11:30 a.m. each day, horses train at 1.25 meters, and at 2:30 p.m., horses will train at 1.3 meters and higher.
About 27 riders will participate in the clinic. To watch, the cost is $70 per day. Walk-ins are welcome. The farm is at 14N200 Thurnau Road, off of Route 47, about one mile south of Route 20. For more information, call Diane Carney at (847) 922-6167.