ROCKFORD—Students from all seven deaneries of the Diocese of Rockford were chosen to receive scholarships to be used for Catholic school tuition. Bishop Arthur J. O’Neill established the scholarships after he retired, and he attended the distribution party each year almost until his death in 2013.

 

This year’s awards were held on Dec. 12 and were given to: 

 

â–º Ryan Partington and his sister, Anna (not pictured) of St. Anne School in Dixon; 

 

â–º Kateri Bowman of Aquin Elementary School in Freeport; 

 

â–º Sophie Holland of St. Catherine of Siena School in West Dundee; 

 

â–º Mary Ross of St. Margaret Mary School in Algonquin; Delaney Hefke of Annunciation BVM School in Aurora; 

 

â–º Jocelyne and Murphy Hunt from St. Charles Borromeo School in Hampshire; and 

 

â–º Emireth, Joaquin and Isabela Alarcon of St. Peter School in South Beloit. 

 

Students, their parents and principals also shared treats and participated in a contest about Bishop Edward Hoban created by Michael Kagan, diocesan superintendent of schools. 

 

Students also received Dairy Queen gift cards and chocolate bar snowmen made for the occasion by education office business manager, Kris Mimier. The snowmen wore hats made of stretchable gloves. 

 

Other education office staff attended the event.