The group of award honorees, Brittney is second from the left, front row.

Brittney- Jade Colangelo a senior, has been very busy lately representing Zion-Benton High School proudly at two prestigious events across Illinois, capturing two more firsts for the Zee Bees.

On April 5th Brittney-Jade represented Zion-Benton and the 8th Congressional District by being awarded a $3,000.00 scholarship at an award ceremony and dinner held at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum in Springfield. The scholarship was sponsored by the “Illinois Dollars for Scholars” which is part of Scholarship America, the nation’s largest nonprofit private-sector scholarship and educational support organization.

Brittney in front of the Lincoln Library before the event

 

Brittney-Jade along with 11 other students throughout Illinois were chosen for their essays nominating an Illinoisan from their congressional district for the title of
“Lincolnland Legend”. One essay from each district was chosen to receive the award. In her essay she commended Ana Sherony of Wadsworth for her work with and as co-founder of the “Wounded Heroes Foundation”. This foundation provides needed financial and emotional support to severely injured servicemen and women. Mrs. Sherony and her fellow “Legends” were recognized at a private luncheon at the Governor’s Mansion for their contributions to society. Later in the evening she was again recognized along with Brittney-Jade at the evening awards dinner at the museum.

 

Rich Sherony, Brittney Colangelo, Anna Sherony and Frank Flammini

 

Earlier in March Brittney-Jade captured another first for Zion-Benton High School by winning the “National Forensics League” Northern Illinois District Speech Meet at Glenbrook South High School. Due to a commitment to the school’s theatre department Brittney-Jade did not compete at the IHSA speech team competition. She did however defeat the area’s Sectional and State qualifier at the Northern Illinois meet. At the district meet participants are assigned numbers and their school affiliations are withheld until after judging is concluded, unlike the IHSA competition. She will now represent Zion-Benton at the “2008 Desert Lights National Speech and Debate Tournament” in Henderson, Nevada a suburb of Las Vegas from June 15 – 20. Brittney-Jade will compete in the humorous interpretation and story telling events.

Brittany and the welcome sign listing the event sponsors

Brittney-Jade must be accompanied by a parent and her speech coach for the National Tournament. Though her achievement is a first for Zion-Benton, limited funding in the speech team budget can only provide the necessary entry fees for the tournament, travel and lodging for her coach, parent and herself must be raised privately. Brittney-Jade and some of her teammates will be looking for sponsors and fundraising to offset the expenses.

She was recently recognized at the April 24th School Board meeting when she was presented a certificate for her contributions to her school and community. Her coach Mr. Travis Hughes said “This tops a long list of accomplishments for Brittney. She is a very dedicated young lady with a tremendous work ethic. Her accomplishments reflect her leadership”.

 

Anyone interested in helping sponsor her in this event may do so by contacting Mr. Hughes at the high school at (847) 731-9546