Crystal Lake Strikers Award 3rd Annual Althoff Memorial Scholarship
The Crystal Lake Strikers Drumline announce the High School student chosen as the recipient of the third Annual Tim Althoff Memorial Scholarship. Mr. Todd Meyer, Senior at Huntley High School was awarded a $3,000 scholarship. Todd will study business at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign in the fall.
The scholarship is named for Tim Althoff, who died unexpectedly from a heart attack at a young age. Mr. Althoff loved life and drumming. He was devoted to his family and the community. Given his many contributions to the area, the Strikers named this annual scholarship in his honor.
Mr. Meyer was chosen for the scholarship from an outstanding group of six applicants, all members of the Strikers All-Stars Drumline. The Strikers All-Stars is a group of 22 percussion students from five McHenry County high schools: Crystal Lake Central, Crystal Lake South, Prairie Ridge, Cary-Grove and Huntley. The All-Star Drumline was formed in December 2009 and has performed at high school basketball games, the Team Dance Illinois Regional competition and the Raue Center Evening of Percussion.
State Senator Pamela Althoff, member of the scholarship selection committee, was impressed with the Strikers All-Stars and the scholarship candidates. "We saw tonight what a talented and dedicated group of performers the All-Stars are. With such wonderful students, it has gotten more difficult to select the scholarship winner each year." Sen. Althoff said after the 2012 Evening of Percussion.
Mr. Meyer has played music since the age of five, starting with piano lessons and adding percussion in school. He is a leader in his high school band and gives weekly lessons to three local students. Todd is captain of the Huntley Lacrosse club team and a member of the National Honor Society.
The Tim Althoff Scholarship was developed and funded by The Crystal Lake Strikers Drumline, a group of adult drummers who play fun beats and cadences along to popular music in parades and shows throughout the area. The Strikers were founded by Crystal Lake Mayor Aaron Shepley, City Councilman Brett Hopkins and Prairie Ridge drumline instructor Thomas Kundmann in 2008, and have appeared in the Chicago Thanksgiving Day Parade for the past four years. They are sponsored by Georgio's Pizza, Home State Bank, Althoff Industries and Phoenix Woodworking.
Dan Chamberlain, Scholarship Committee Chair for The Strikers, said, "The Strikers All-Stars have continued to grow each year. Honoring Tim Althoff with this scholarship is one way to give back to the community that supports us."