St. Edward grads earn $2.5 million in scholarships

The 2011 graduates of St. Edward Catholic School in Elgin have secured a combined $2.5 million in scholarships and grants from 40 different colleges and universities across the country.

Not bad for a class of 90 students.

Graduates were given their diplomas Tuesday evening at a ceremony at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in St. Charles.

Kerry O’Brien, head of counseling services at the high school, said this year’s valedictorian, Eric Winters, received a golf scholarship, as well as a Board of Directors Scholarship to attend Valparaiso University. Winters plans to study dentistry, O’Brien said.

Salutatorian Francis Landoy earned the Ignatius Academy Distinction Scholarship and the Magis Award from Marquette University in Milwaukee. Meanwhile, Anne Kelly, the executive president for the student council, will be attending the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where she plans to study international relations. Kelly was awarded the high school’s Certificate of Excellence in World Literature for her writing abilities.