History

2
MCRTA's Founding
The McHenry County Retired Teachers Association was established at 2:30 P.M. on April 26, 1960, at Clarence Olson School, Woodstock. In addition to two persons from IRTA and two from the Lake County RTA, McHenry County retired teachers present were Vida Austin, Helen Brewer, Mary Gannon, Frances Garland, Margaret Gillies, Mary Gillies, Catherine Renich, and Cora White.

MCRTA is an affiliate of the Illinois Retired Teachers Association, founded in 1955; and the National Retired Teachers Association, founded in 1947 and the parent of the American Association of Retired Persons. MCRTA works closely with IRTA to enhance the welfare of all retired teachers in the State of Illinois.

Over the years, our MCRTA leadership has been in the hands of loyal, dedicated retired teachers. Those who have served as presidents for our organization are listed below. The Association appreciates their outstanding guidance.

Presidents
1960 Frances Garland, Woodstock
1961-62 Suzanne Reed, Elected President and *Katherine Renich, "Presiding President", Woodstock
1963-64 Iola Shepard, Harvard
1965-66 Frances Brand, Crystal Lake
1967-70 Julia Feffer, Crystal Lake
1971-72 Jennette Burbank, Woodstock
1973-76 Lucille Thurow, Huntley
1977-78 Leila Coons, Woodstock
1979 John Richards, Woodstock
1980-81 Olive Nolan, Woodstock
1982-83 Carrie Hage, Harvard
1984-87 Herb Mroch, Harvard
1988-89 Vernon Hajeck, Woodstock
1989 Eleanor Wilkens, Woodstock
1990-93 DuWayne Sheldon, Crystal Lake
1994-97 Ken Swanson, Ringwood
1998 Bill Courtright, Harvard
1998-01 Steve Polep, Oakwood Hills
2002-05 Marti Swanson, Ringwood
2006-07 Al Boeldt, McHenry
2008-09 Mike DeWolfe, Johnsburg
2010-11 Lois Shartiag, Barrington Hills
2012-23* Steve Polep - Oakwood Hills
2022-25. Joann Jazak

McHenry County Retired Teacher of the Year

In 1988, a gubernatorial proclamation asked that we honor outstanding retired teachers. Each unit submits the names of local honorees to the IRTA. Those honored by McHenry County Unit 13 include the following:

     1988          Vera Perry* - Woodstock
     1989          Carrie Hage* - Harvard
     1990          Verda Dierzen* - Woodstock
     1992          Eleanor Wilkens - Woodstock
     1993          DuWayne Sheldon* - Crystal Lake
     1994          Edith Newcomer* - Crystal Lake
     1995          Marie Husmann - McHenry
     1996          Edith Brandt - Crystal Lake
     1997          Ken Swanson - Ringwood
     1998          Marti Swanson - Ringwood
     1999          Betty Anderson - Huntley
     2000          Don Seaton - McHenry
     2001          Steve Polep - Cary
     2002          Beulah Allyaud - Woodstock
     2003          Mary Stompanato - Woodstock
     2004          Herb Rangl - Marengo
     2005 Venus Nienow - Woodstock
     2006          Velma Dysart - Crystal Lake
     2007          Greg Johnson - McHenry
     2008          Henry Kenyon - McHenry
     2009          Al Boeldt - McHenry
     2010 Beth Marcello
     2011 Mike DeWolfe
     2012 Norb Wolter
2013 Lois Shartiag
2014 Bev Aweve
   2015 Jude LaFrancis
   2016 Dick Seaborn
2017 Marlene Griffith
2019 Mary Noe
2021 Linda Young
2023 Joann Jazak
   2025 Kathy Speaker



MCRTA Scholarship Winners--Please scroll down to see current year's winners

1995 Emily Benecke, Marengo High School
1996 Aaron Swank, Crystal Lake Central High School
1997 Nicole Schafer, McHenry West High School
1998 Brittany Witek, Hampshire, Marion Central High School
1999 Kelly Bandur, Cary-Grove High School
Jeremy Little, Woodstock High School
2000 Deanne Lund, McHenry East High School
Anne Prusina, Marian Central High School
2001 Amanda Maguire, Harvard High School
          Sara Walkington, MCC (Woodstock High School grad)
2002 Louise Henshaw, Prairie Ridge High School
Rochelle Ruzicka, McHenry West High School
2003 Kurt Carlson, Woodstock High School
          Clarisse Iftner, Harvard High School
2004 Tera Beaty, Huntley High School
          Brian Koppen, Johnsburg High School
2005 Emily Larkin, Woodstock High School
          Samantha Sebastian, Crystal Lake South High School
2006 Jennifer Barnes (Richard Swanson Memorial), McHenry East HS
          Laura Gibbons, Marengo Community High School
          Jessie Rigby, Woodstock High School
2007 Malyssa Jankowski (Alice J “Sally” Ronan Memorial), Woodstock HS
          Danielle Knaizer, Crystal Lake South High School
          Mary Lawler, McHenry West High School
2008 Ryan Forner, McHenry West HS (Richard Swanson Memorial Scholarship)
          Susanne Johnson, Cary-Grove High School
          Nathan Staller, McHenry West High School
          Stephanie Tate, Woodstock HS (Alice “Sally” Ronan Memorial Scholarship)
2009 Ashley Faith, McHenry West High School
          Elizabeth Linning, Crystal Lake South High School
          Julianne Pacana, Huntley High School
          Alayna Pierce, Cary-Grove High School
          Blair Rummel. Richmond-Burton High School
          Tracy Trebes, Harvard High School
2010 Michael Spilg - Cary Grove H.S.
Colleen Leonard - Woodstock H.S.(Alice “Sally” Ronan Memorial Scholarship)
Brianna Roberts - Richmond Burton H.S.
Matt Simon - McHenry West H.S.
Emily Shaefer - Crystal Lake South H.S.
Kelly Seklecki - Jacobs H.S.
2011 Megan Terese - Woodstock H.S.(Alice “Sally” Ronan Memorial Scholarship)
Annie Nelson - Woodstock North H.S.(Alice “Sally” Ronan Memorial Scholarship)
Valerie Lee - Prairie Ridge H.S.
Samantha Ivers - Crystal Lake South H.S.
Samantha Hildebrandt - McHenry East H.S.
2013   Kailey Bogucki-Cary-Grove High School
Hailey Keefe-Woodstock High School (Alice Ronan Memorial scholarship)
Danielle Scott-McHenry West High School
Aaron Spivey-Richmond-Burton Community High School
Kristina Williams-Marengo Community High School
2014 Daphne Austin-Harvard High School
Jessica Escontrias-Woodstock North High School (Alice Ronan Memorial scholarship)
   Sydney Jozwiak-McHenry East High School (Ken Swanson Memorial scholarship)
   Elizabeth Schmidt-Crystal Lake Central High School.
2015 Daphne Austin-Harvard HS
   Jessica Escontrias-Woodstock HS (Alice Ronan Memorial)
   Sidney Jozwiak-McHenry East HS (Ken Swanson Memorial)
   Elizabeth Schmidt-Crystal Lake Central HS
2016 Madysen Gerlinger Prairie Ridge High School.
     Samantha Rose Lewandowski McHenry West High School.
     Anna MacLean Richmond-Burton Community High School.
     Madison Melson Harvard High School.
     Amber Sena McHenry West High School (Ken Swanson Memorial Scholarship).
2017  Rebecca Alvarez Crystal Lake Central High School.(First Marcia Wright Memorial Scholarship)
     John Anderlik, McHenry East High School graduate (Frank Leo Rosanova Memorial Scholarship.
     Brittany Huellen Prairie Ridge High School. (First Marcia Wright Memorial Scholarship.
Allyson Kamrat McHenry East High School.
Rebecca Kendeigh Cary Grove High School.
Alexandria Muschong Woodstock High School (Sally Ronan Memorial Scholarship).
   Justin Wilcox Harvard High School
2018 James Cormier Crystal Lake Central High School. (Marcia Wright Memorial Scholarship)
     Michael Godek Huntley High School. (Marcia Wright Memorial Scholarship)
     Kelsey Hallin Harvard High School,
     Danielle Klenske Marengo High School.
     Margaret McGee Huntley High School.
Brianna Mudra McHenry East High School (Margaret Anne Vadnais Memorial Scholarship)
     Lauryn Straub Woodstock High School (Sally Ronan Memorial Scholarship)
2019 Ruby Galarza Harvard High School,
   Makayla Golden McHenry East High School (Daniel J. Melchionda Memorial Scholarshi).
   Kayly Hogan Richmond-Burton High School.
   Nathaniel Murrin McHenry West High School (Swanson Memorial Scholarship)
     Jourden Reis Woodstock North High School (Sally Ronan Memorial Scholarship)
   Bailey Schneyr Prairie Ridge High School (Marcia Wright Memorial Scholarship)
  Mairead (Maggie) Stotz Crystal Lake South High School. (Marcia Wright Memorial Scholarship)
   Kathryn (Kate) Urosevich Huntley High School.
2020 Madison Buchanan-Johnsburg HS
   Abigail Enck-Crystal Lake South HS (Marcia Wright Memorial Scholarship)
Makayla Huff-Johnsburg HS
   Anna Karcz-McHenry East HS (Marcia Wright Memorial Scholarship)
2021 Ashley Ahrens-Johnsburg HS (Marcia Wright Memorial Scholarship)
   Aaron Moehrlin-Marengo HS
   Connor Ray-Marengo HS
   Julia Vogt-Cary Grove HS (Marcia Wright Memorial Scholarship)
2022 Linnea Diersen-Crystal Lake South (Marcia Wright Memorial Scholarship)
   Maxwell Folbrick-Richmond-Burton HS
   Thomas Oeffling-Johnsburg HS
Lauren Snelgrove-Marengo Community HS (Marcia Wright Memorial Scholarship)
2023 Olivia Schramm--Huntley HS
Jordan Brogdon--Marengo HS (Marcia Wright Memorial Scholarship)
   Mary Martin--Woodstock North HS
   Megan Christy--Crystal Lake South HS (Marcia Wright Memorial Scholarship)
Lynette Alsott--McHenry High School
2024 Erin McCann--Woodstock North HS
Addison Raistrick--Huntley HS (Steven Polep Memorial Scholarship)
   Reilly Schneider--Cary Grove HS (Marcia Wright Memorial Scholarship)
Megan Streit--Cary Grove HS
2025
Kendra Heidtke--Woodstock HS
   Alexandra Hopp--Richmond Burton HS (Marcia Wright Memorial Scholarship)
   Jax Kozlak--Woodstock HS (Eugene Birkner Memorial Scholarship)
   Emma Miller--Huntley HS. (Stephen Polep Memorial Scholarship)
   Alyssa Pillow--Marengo HS (Nancy Tober Memorial Scholarship)
2026
   Brady Fisher--Johnsburg HS (Marcia Wright Memorial Scholarship)
   Nikolas Knanishu--Huntley HS (Stephen Polep Memoriał Scholarchip)
Deyeneiry Lebron Rosado--Woodstock HS. (Nancy Tober Memorial Scholarship)
   Kaitlynn Miller--McHenry HS. (Norbert Wolter Memorial Scholarship)
   Molly Starr--Cary-Grove HS (Marcia Wright Memorial Scholarship)

MCRTA EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION Grant Winners--Please scroll down to see the current winners

2020
   Brooke Matthys--Three Oaks School, Cary
   Cathy Cartland--Jefferson Elementary, Harvard
   Kecia Griffin--Westwood Elementary, Woodstock
   Scott Becker--Dean St Elementary, Woodstock
   Laura Dill--Lundahl Middle School, Crystal Lake
   Amy Frishman--Briargate elementary, Cary
2021/2022. NO AWARDS DUE TO COVID
2023
   Jake hadden--Johnsburg HS, Johnsburg
   Kathleen Choi--Algonquin Road School, Fox River Grove
   Aubrey Huhns--harrison Shool, Wonder Lake
   Amy Costello--Harrison School, Wonder Lake
   Rachelle Sikes--Harrison School Wonder Lake
2024
   Kirsten Engelmann--Cary Junior High, Cary
   Jen DeBlok--Riverwood Elementary, McHenry
   Gina Niholls--Edgebrook Elementary, McHenry
   Amanda Flores--Edgebrook Elementary, McHenry
   Renae St. Clair and Colline Wise--Huntley HS, Huntley
   Mathew Francis--Huntley HS, Huntley
2025
   Theresa Dalton--Hilltop Elementary, McHenry
   Maggie Sullivan--Mary Endres Elementary, Woodstock
   Jodi Wickenkamp--landmark Elementary, McHenry
   Christine Ruggles--Crosby Elementary, Harvard
   Sara Hesemann--Johnsburg Elementary, Johnsburg
   Tim Yoder--Harrison School, Wonder Lake
   Jodie Moore--Crosby Elementary, Harvard
   Maria Mercado--Crosby Elementary, Harvard
   Melissa Frederick--Algonquin Road Elementary, Fox River Grove
   Dr. Carol Bristol--Crosby Elementary, Harvard
   Brenda Poisson and Susan O'Brien--Hilltop Elementary, McHenry
2026
   Sandra Bigos--Lundahl Middle School, Crystal Lake
   Keri Nolen--Locust Elementary School, Marengo
   Jessica Pierce--Primary Center in Ringwood
   Lisa Wondriska--Mackenben Elementary School, Algonquin
   Tim Yoder--Harrison School, Wonder Lake
   Amanda Massara, Nicole, Marunde, and Beth Ludwick--Lundahl Middle School, Crystal Lake