Co-recipients of the John Philip Sousa Band Award are Mendota High School seniors Madeline Hoelzer, left, and Jessie Dooley. Winner of the John Becker Memorial Award is sophomore Jose Bustos. (Reporter photo by Jennifer Sommer)

MENDOTA - The John Philip Sousa Award is the highest honor given in instrumental music at Mendota High School. The co-recipients of this award were chosen by their peers. Senior band students Madeline Hoelzer and Jessie Dooley were recognized for outstanding achievement and interest in instrumental music, for loyalty and cooperation, and for generally displaying the high qualities of conduct that school instrumental music strives to impart.

This is the 62^nd year the Sousa Award has been given at MHS. This year’s winners will receive a desk piece and will have their names inscribed on a wall plaque, which is displayed in the band room. Madeline is the daughter of Hal and Marcel Hoelzer; Jessie is the daughter of Dan and EmLee Dooley.

MHS sophomore Jose Bustos was named as the recipient of the John Becker Memorial Award. Jose was included on a list of candidates chosen by the band faculty and then band officers made the final selection through a confidential ballot. As the 37^th recipient of this award, he will receive a personal plaque and will have his name inscribed on a wall plaque, which is displayed in the band room. Jose is the son of Jennifer Swanson and Jose Bustos.

John Becker was a sophomore trombone player in the Mendota High School Concert Band. He was devoted to the study of trombone and the MHS band program. He was a serious student in school, an honor roll student, and held very high expectations for himself and the band. He was well liked and respected by both students and faculty. John passed away suddenly in November of 1981, at which time this memorial award was established. The award goes to a sophomore boy or girl who most exemplifies those qualities possessed by John.

Both awards were announced during the MHS Graduation Concert, which was held on April 24.