People

Air Force Airman Spencer A. Smith graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas.

DeKALB – Lauren Kruse wanted to make a statement when she designed her handmade Autism Awareness Month scarf: We are all equal, disability or otherwise, and every child deserves the opportunity to learn.

SYCAMORE – Students from the Sycamore High School Art Department recently participated in the Northern Illinois Big 12 Art Contest. Schools in this conference submit 10 pieces of artwork that represent a variety of categories. Each category awards first, second and third-place ribbons. Points from the ribbons are added up, and the school with the most points places first in the conference. Sycamore High School took first place overall.

GENOA – The Genoa Lions invited the 12 recipients of the Citizen of the Year Award and their parents to dinner on Wednesday, April 17. Genoa-Kingston School Dist. 424 Superintendent Joe Burgess made a short speech about the value of these special students and their parents’ contribution to raising great kids. Each of the district’s principals introduced the students from their school by reading a letter of recommendation from the student’s teacher. Each student received a medal.

DeKALB – A team of more than 300 students at the Northern Illinois University College of Law in DeKalb were honored by the Illinois State Bar Association for their support of “Lawyers Feeding Illinois,” a food and fundraising campaign held by the association with the goal of raising 1 million meals.

SYCAMORE – The Marlyn Majorettes and Majors Drum Corps will open its 2013 parade season on Sunday, May 5, in the Batavia VFW parade in Batavia. The parade will honor the U.S. military. Men and women in uniform will march and display equipment from various units. The Marlyn Majorettes and Majors Drum Corps is looking forward to performing in the parade and participating in the post-parade celebration at the Batavia VFW Club.

KIRKLAND – Hiawatha CUSD 426 eighth graders Madeline Dashney and Braden Watson were recognized at the 13th Annual Student Leadership Breakfast hosted by the Illinois Principal’s Association April 17.

GENOA — Danielle Neisendorf of Genoa, a member of the Genoa-Kingston FFA Chapter, won the State Equine Science-Entrepreneurship Award at the State FFA Proficiency Awards Day April 6.

KIRKLAND – The Greater Kirkland Area Chamber of Commerce is seeking Citizen of the Year nominations for 2013. Nominees should have performed significant public service, fostered pride in the community and/or made a lasting contribution to the quality of life in the area served by the chamber, which is equivalent to the Hiawatha School District boundaries. The nominee does not need to live in the area, provided he or she has been active in the community.

GENOA – The Genoa Days King & Queen Scholarship Contest Committee has announced the semifinalists in this year’s contest.