MENDOTA - MHS graduate Daniela McConville of Earlville received the 2017 Clara Cypreansen and Alfred O. Jacob Scholarship on May 20 during Mendota High School’s graduation ceremonies. McConville is the 20th recipient of the Jacob Family Scholarship.

Upon the death of Clara Jacob in 1997, the Jacob Family Scholarship Fund was established by Jeanne Jacob, her husband Gerry Frank, and her brother Tom Jacob. The scholarship was created to honor the memories of Clara Cypreansen Jacob, who taught in the Mendota public schools for more than 35 years, and Alfred Otto Jacob, a civic leader and life-long resident of Mendota.

The purpose of the Jacob Scholarship is to provide assistance to a Mendota High School student to attend the college of his or her choice. Both Clara and Al Jacob strongly believed in being “college educated” and thought that education was the key to any future success in life.

Throughout their lives, Clara and Al Jacob were involved with Mendota’s youth. Al was a founding member of the Boy Scouts of Mendota and the Mendota Athletic Boosters Society. Clara first taught physical education at Mendota High School and then third grade at Lincoln School. After retiring from teaching, she tutored children in reading and English. Both helped design and raise money to build the Mendota Community Swimming Pool in 1958 and served on the board of the Pool Association. At the time of his death in 1984, Al Jacob was the longest serving alderman in Mendota’s history.

McConville, an outgoing and confident student leader, is planning to attend Illinois State University and major in agriculture education. She has been a four-year member of the Mendota FFA program, has held various leadership positions within FFA, and is pursuing her State FFA degree, which will be announced at the State FFA Convention this month. Clara and Al Jacob would be pleased to know that they are still helping the youth of Mendota.