South Elgin students earn praise, scholarships from Lions Club

The South Elgin Lions Club recently awarded three $1,000 scholarships to members of the South Elgin High School Class of 2009. The Lions aim to serve the community, help people with vision and hearing problems, and to empower volunteers to serve their communities, meet humanitarian needs, encourage peace and promote international understanding through Lions Clubs. Winners include:

• Alexander Sanchez will be attending Benedictine University in Lisle. He plans to major in international business and dreams of coaching youth basketball in the future. Sanchez has been member of South Elgin High School Storm basketball team. He is also involved at his church as a greeter and usher, has volunteered at the Lazarus House and worked the "Second Saturday," a program to Help Feed my Starving Children. Sanchez often visits nursing homes and interacts with the elderly. The South Elgin Lions Club believes Sanchez is a good role model to his brother and to others.

• Ellen Loechner will be attending Augustana College in Moline, and plans to major in zoology. She has been involved in the National Honor Society, serving as vice president. Loechner has coordinated many volunteer efforts in the community for students to give back to their community. She has secured many volunteers for the South Elgin Parks and Recreations Department for their events as well. She was a member of the Scholastic Bowl and has volunteered for church activities and at her elementary school. Loechner also visits nursing homes and brings much happiness to the residents. She hopes to continue her service opportunities while in college and takes school seriously; considering it to be training for her future endeavors, and she strives to do the best she can at everything. The South Elgin Lions Club believes Loechner will continue on with the great work she's done.

• The third recipient for the scholarship, Haley Innis, will be attending Winona State University in Winona, Minn., majoring in the medical field. Innis has been a member of the National Honor Society and participated in several volunteer activities - giving back to the village of South Elgin. She has participated in ice skating and many ice skating shows since a very young age and volunteers at the rink teaching children how to ice skate, including a child with Down syndrome. When the Fox River flooded last September, Innis was there helping to fill sand bags. She is known as a hard worker with a good work ethic and her enthusiasm to complete the tasks given. She plans on continuing to teach children to skate while at Winona State while taking classes. The South Elgin Lions Club believes that Haley will do well in whatever she pursues.