St. Bede Academy students selected as Illinois State Scholars include, seated left to right, Natalie Vaessen, Marina Mitchell and Madeline Vaessen; standing, Hailey Ator, Magdalen Daluga, Rory Dirks, Kaelyn Condon, Kenneth Wiltse, Alec Kunkel, Christopher Sanchez, Luke Wamhoff, Joseph Peacock and Jacob Jagiella. (Photo contributed)

PERU - Saint Bede Academy has announced the names of 13 Academy students from the class of 2018 who have been recognized as Illinois State Scholars. Among the recipients are three graduates of Holy Cross School in Mendota, Madeline Vaessen and Natalie Vaessen, both of Sublette, and Luke Wamhoff of LaMoille.

Also honored are Hailey Ator (Lincoln Jr. High) of LaSalle, Kaelyn Condon (JFK) of Spring Valley, Magdalen Daluga (St. Louis) of Princeton, Rory Dirks (Trinity) of LaSalle, Jacob Jagiella (Peru Catholic) of Peru, Alec Kunkel (Peru Parkside) of Peru, Marina Mitchell (Peru Parkside) of Peru, Joseph Peacock (St. Louis) of Princeton, Christopher Sanchez (Trinity) of LaSalle, and Kenneth Wiltse (Peru Catholic) of Spring Valley.

This recognition, given annually by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC), honors the academic achievements of more than 19,000 high school students from across the state who demonstrate superior academic potential. Illinois State Scholars represent about the top 10 percent of high school seniors from 738 high schools across the state.

Students are chosen based on a combination of exemplary ACT, SAT and/or the Prairie State Achievement Exam scores and/or class rank at the end of the junior year. High school guidance counselors work in conjunction with ISAC to determine the winners.

Michelle Mershon, principal at St. Bede Academy, praised the students for working hard all year. “They exemplify the standards set forth by the Illinois State Scholar program and we continue to take pleasure in the prestige of this honor and the ability of our students to meet the requirements set forth by the Commission,” she said.