DeKalb County Briefs

Chronicle Media Staff
The Northern Illinois University Huskie Marching Band performs. The band will lead new students and their families to Huskie Stadium Aug. 19 during a new event, the Huskie Fall Kick-Off. (Photo courtesy of Huskie Marching Band)

The Northern Illinois University Huskie Marching Band performs. The band will lead new students and their families to Huskie Stadium Aug. 19 during a new event, the Huskie Fall Kick-Off. (Photo courtesy of Huskie Marching Band)

DeKALB COUNTY

 

High school students invited to join philanthropy efforts 

Youth Engaged in Philanthropy (YEP) invites DeKalb County area high school students to a meet-and-greet to learn about the organization. The meet-and-greet marks the beginning of a new YEP season and is an informal event for high school youth to learn more about this program from current members. Interested youth are invited to attend the event from 4 to 5 p.m. Aug. 28, in the Freight Room at the DeKalb County Community Foundation, 475 DeKalb Ave., Sycamore. During the year, youth leaders will guide members through a grant-making process to benefit youth in the county. YEP is free to join and meets monthly through May. Students interested in joining should plan to attend the meet-and-greet Aug. 28. Visit dekalbccf.org/yep for information. Also, contact Becky Zantout, grants and community initiatives manager, at (815) 748-5383 or becky@dekalbccf.org with questions.

 

 

DeKALB

 

Women of accomplishment sought for annual awards

Community members are encouraged to submit nominations for the 27th annual DeKalb Athena Award and Women of Accomplishment. The Athena Award honors women and men who strive toward the highest levels of professional accomplishment, excel in their chosen fields, have devoted time and energy to their community in a meaningful way, and open paths so that others may follow.

Nominations and letters of support are due by 5 p.m. Aug. 31, and should be sent to the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce, 164 E. Lincoln Hwy., DeKalb. For more information, call the Chamber office at (815) 756-6306. The awards will be bestowed Oct. 15

 

Huskie fall celebration  kicks off Aug. 19

A new event, Huskie Fall Kick-Off, will be held at Huskie Stadium at 5:10 p.m. Aug. 19. The overarching goal of this event is to create excitement for the new academic year. New students and their families will be led by the NIU Huskie Marching Band to the stadium. At this event, new students and families will celebrate the different NIU traditions with President Doug Baker, faculty, staff and other new students. Immediately following the Kick-Off, new students will receive their Northern Pact T-shirts and head to the field to form a giant “NIU” for a photo.

NIU faculty, staff and student volunteers are needed to distribute T-shirts and help new students form the “NIU” on the turf. Training sessions for volunteers will be held Aug. 18, at 10:30 a.m. and 4:15 p.m. Attendance at only one training session is necessary.

 

 

SYCAMORE

 

Staff to be re-hired as school enrollment rises

Some Sycamore School District 427 employees who were laid off in the spring can look forward to being rehired, with the news released by Supt. Kathy Countryman Predictions show that enrollment is expected to increase, thus creating the need for more staff. Plans call for re-hiring some of the former 21 full-time and 12 part-time employees. No new staffing positions are planned.

 

Music Boosters name scholarship winners

Sycamore Music Boosters announced the recipients the 2016 Summer Music Camp Scholarship and Senior Music Scholarships.

The music camp scholarship is awarded to students who attend a selected music camp over the summer. The following scholarship recipients attend Sycamore Middle School: Ava Knapp, Conrad Drufke, Catherine Haub, Aidan Dempsey, Gina Misitano, Mitch Edwards, Robert Carpenter, Alaina Dean, Peyton Buys, Margaret Hancock, Jaxon Lang, Gwynneth Boynton, Samantha Franklin, Constance Wedel, Avery Scott, Erin Templin, Sam Crutcher and Chloe Hardy. Sycamore High School students Madeline Kessler, Kjelden Breidenbach, Kallista Matthias and Tsavo Walker also received music camp scholarships.

The Sycamore Music Boosters Senior Music Scholarship is awarded to graduating seniors who will major in music in college. This year, four seniors were recognized and awarded $500 each to assist with college tuition. They are Ben Van Wienen, Gabriella (Ella Rose) Atkins, Mary Flaherty and Emma Olson.

Van Wienen was awarded the Lundbeck Family Scholarship. A trumpet player, he will attend St. Olaf College and pursue a degree in music education.

Atkins, will attend St. Olaf College and major in trombone music performance.

Vocalist Flaherty will attend Luther College and major in music education and voice performance.

Olson will attend the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and major in oboe performance.

The Bette J. Lundbeck Scholarship was awarded to Will Biletzk, and the John O. Weaver scholarship was awarded to Morgyn Nelson. The Sycamore Music Boosters support all students from kindergarten through high school in various music programs offered within the district.

For information about the Music Boosters, visit www.sycamoremusicboosters.com and follow the group on Facebook and Twitter. For information on scholarships, contact Laurie Emmer, scholarship chairwoman, at laemmer82@gmail.com.