Crystal Lake Strikers Award 4th Annual Althoff Memorial Scholarship

The Crystal Lake Strikers Drumline announce the High School students chosen as the recipients of the fourth Annual Tim Althoff Memorial Scholarship. Mr. Chris Juliano, Senior at Crystal Lake South High School was awarded a $2,000 scholarship. Mr. Alex Kluver, Senior at Crystal Lake South and Ms. Johanna Sveden, Senior at Prairie Ridge, will each $1,000 scholarships.

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.

The winners were chosen for the scholarship from the members of the Strikers All-Stars Drumline. The Strikers All-Stars is a group of 25 percussion students from eight area high schools: Crystal Lake Central, Crystal Lake South, Prairie Ridge, Cary-Grove, Huntley, Johnsburg, Lake Zurich and Mundelein. 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. “Selecting the winners of the scholarship gets so much harder each year. These students are evidence of the wonderful and talented young people we have in the area,” Sen. Althoff said after the 2013 Evening of Percussion.

Mr. Juliano has been performing since the fourth grade, including percussion co-section leader in Crystal Lake South band, member of the a capella choir at South and forming his own band, Open House. Mr. Kluver was co-section leader of the South percussion section this year and is leading member of the District 155 Steel Pan Band, including composing a song they group performed at the Evening of Percussion. Ms. Sveden has performed as a dancer, singer and actress throughout the area. At Prairie Ridge, she qualified for the Illinois Music Educators Association All-State choir.

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, "It is a special treat for the adult members of the Strikers to teach this group of young people. Honoring Tim Althoff with this scholarship is one way to give back to the community that supports us."

For more information contact Dan Chamberlain at 815/236-8615 or danc0969@comcast.net.