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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
2022-23. 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
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--Huntly HS
Jordan Brogdon--Marengo HS (Marcia Wright Memorial Scholarship)
Mary Martin--Woodstock North HS
Megan Christy--Crystal Lake South HS (Marcia Wright Memorial Scholarship)