Special to the American
U.S. Rep. Russ Carnahan has announced that his office will conduct an inaugural essay contest for residents of Missouri’s Third Congressional District that includes most of South St. Louis, South St. Louis County, Jefferson County and Ste. Genevieve, Missouri.
With requests for tickets to the upcoming presidential inauguration outnumbering the allotment available, the essay contest is designed to help insure that additional requests from throughout the district can be met as well.
Participants must answer the following question: “What does the election of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States mean to you and our nation?” Those interested in participating are encouraged to forward an essay of 750 words or less via e-mail to carnahanessaycontest@mail.house.gov, by Monday, December 1, 2008.
“I am impressed by the overwhelming number of requests for tickets to view President-elect Barack Obama’s swearing-in as our 44th President,” said Congressman Russ Carnahan.
“January 20, 2009 will go down in history as one of our nation’s proudest moments. I hope to select a number of deserving guests to witness this historic event that reflect the great diversity of Missouri’s Third Congressional District.”
Those selected will be notified no later than Monday, December 8, and will receive 2 tickets to view the inaugural swearing-in-ceremony on the Capital lawn if they have made, or are making, arrangements to attend the Tuesday, January 20th event.
Winning entries will be posted on carnahan.house.gov. Winners will be responsible for their own transportation and accommodations for attending the event.
For more information, contact Jim Hubbard / 202-225-2671
Scholarship for construction management.
Local businessman Ralph Korte defied the odds. A self-made man and a U.S. Army Korean War veteran with an eighth-grade education, he built a successful company from the ground up.
More than 50 years after launching his company n today recognized among the nation’s top 400 construction firms n Korte is being honored with a scholarship fund created in his name at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. His company established the endowed scholarship fund in construction management.
“He’s always said that he feels his degree is what propelled his business to the next level,” said Susan Bowman, the controller at The Korte Co. and Korte’s daughter.
“He attended school two nights a week for nine years to earn his bachelor’s. This award will make it a little easier for someone else who otherwise would not have the chance to attend college.”
Today, the Korte Co., valued at more than $300 million, has locations in Highland, St. Louis and Las Vegas.
Through the Ralph F. Korte Scholarship Endowment for Construction Management, interest earnings from the balance of the gift will be used to award a scholarship each year. The scholarships will cover the cost of tuition and provide students an opportunity to work toward obtaining a valuable degree and providing a competitive edge in the workforce.
Awards will be administered through the SIUE School of Engineering’s Construction Management program and the SIUE Foundation.
“Ultimately this scholarship is to be awarded first and foremost on the basis of need,” said Patrick Hundley, SIUE’s vice chancellor for University Relations. “Recipients of this award should exhibit need to the point of not being able to attend college without this award.”
The University’s Office of Student Financial Aid and the recipient’s high school counselor will determine a student’s level of need. Along with need, a student must demonstrate a minimum 3.0 high school grade point average, and must maintain a 3.0 or better GPA during tenure at SIUE. The award can be renewed for a maximum of four years, at which time graduation with a degree in construction management is expected.
A strong supporter of the value of higher education, Korte obtained his GED and continued his education as a non-traditional student on nights and weekends through the SIUE School of Business, graduating with a bachelor of science in 1968.
For more information, call 618-650-2088.
