Rev. Martin Marty receives Wilbur Award
• The Religion Communicators Council honored the Rev. Martin E. Marty of Chicago with a special Wilbur Award for promoting open, public discourse on religion. Marty, a pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, served as pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in River Forest and Holy Spirit Lutheran Church in Elk Grove Village before joining the faculty of the University of Chicago.
• William T. Chambers of Arlington Heights was nominated to Master Signature status in the Oil Painters of America, the organization's highest designation.
Oil Painters of America is a not-for-profit organization comprising more than 2,500 artists from the United States, Canada and Mexico. Its mission is to advance the cause of traditional, representational fine art.
Chambers, a graduate of the American Academy of Art in Chicago, also received a bachelor of arts degree from Northeastern Illinois University.
• Arlington Heights resident Heather Siemienas was named Illinois' Junior Miss 2008 at the Illinois' Junior Miss state finals April 15 in Bolingbrook.
Siemienas, a student at St. Viator High School in Arlington Heights, will receive a cash scholarship and an opportunity to travel to Mobile, Ala., to participate in the 51st America's Junior Miss National Finals. She will compete with representatives from 49 other states for the title of America's Junior Miss 2008.
In addition to her title, Siemienas received the Overall Self-Expression Award and the Overall Fitness Award.
• Jim Lemberg from Runge Paper in Elk Grove Village was awarded a Certificate of Achievement for successfully completing a seminar for sales professionals conducted in Maumee, Ohio, by Spartan Chemical Company Inc.
Runge Paper is an authorized distributor of Spartan's products.
• The Illinois Association of REALTORS named Patrick Dalessandro of Prospect Heights 2008 Illinois REALTOR of the Year.
Dalessandro was recognized for his leadership and service in civic, community and charitable causes, as well as activity in the REALTOR Association. He is the broker-owner of Coachlight Realty GMAC, which he founded in 1974, in Niles.
He will receive the award Sept 16, during the REALTOR of the Year banquet at the Westin Hotel in Lombard.