Congratulations to the following students for winning the 2025 Jim Burnes Regional Leadership Award. They will be honored with a luncheon and a plaque on May 9th, 2025, at Debra K's Catering in Sesser, IL. The luncheon will be from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. More information will follow on this event. Thank you, and congratulations to all students who applied for this award.
| Name | School | Region |
|---|---|---|
| Samaia Jones | Massac | 1 |
| Lincoln Charles DeBose | Eldorado | 2 |
| Tinley Hobbs | Christopher | 3 |
| Eden Bauersachs | Pinckneyville | 4 |
| Brynlee Liefer | Red Bud | 5 |
| Ryleigh Ochab | Whiteside | 6 |
| Harper O'Brien | Aviston | 7 |
| Audrey Schumm | Rome | 8 |
| Maci Susmena | Salem | 9 |
| Kielyn Massie | Flora | 10 |
The SIJHSAA would like to thank Baysinger Architects for their help in sponsoring this award.
This award was based on the following criteria: GPA, sports participation, community activities, specific honors, a typed essay, and recommendations from inside the school and the community. The regional winners will be honored with a luncheon and a plaque.
The BOC selected one winner from each region. If a student was nominated for the award, that means that they were the winner from their district and will receive a certificate of recognition from the SIJHSAA.
These winners, as well as all the applicants for this award, reflect the true meaning of the SIJHSAA motto which states, "Your reputation can be made, or even destroyed in a moment. Your character is developed over a lifetime." These student athletes have worked extremely hard to get to where they are now and I am sure that they are destined for even greater things in the future.
If any names have been misspelled, please email Tracy Lauderdale at
