The Rock Island Rotary Club honored the top two students from Rock Island High School. Recognized as the scholastic best from Rock Island High School were Alaina Muller and Olivia Sholl.
Alaina Muller - Alaina Muller is the daughter of Andrea and Michael Muller. She is an Illinois State Scholar, a member of the National Honor Society, and a Charles O. Austin Scholar. She has been in the “Top 10” in her class all four years of high school. Alaina is active in Key Club, the Environment Action Club, Student Council and is a Rocky Student Ambassador. She was a member of the Rock Island High School band for 3 years and the Pride of Rock Island Marching band for 2 years. Alaina participated in the student Hunger Drive with the Student
Council. Outside of school she has been a competitive dance team member for 13 years and holds down a job as a HyVee courtesy clerk. She is a volunteer at the Rock Island Arsenal East Egg Hunt, the Trunk or Treat, and Christmas tree lighting. She volunteers at the America’s Kids Run and at the Cinco De Mayo Event. She also has been a volunteer with the Rock Island Music Association at the John Deere Classis every year since 2016. Her volunteer commitment also includes working at the Xtreme Clean-up, “Toys for Tots, the QC Closet 2 Closet.
After graduation, she plans to attend Iowa State University. She is weighing options for a major but plans to get a degree in science, technology, engineering, or math.
After graduation, she plans to attend Iowa State University. She is weighing options for a major but plans to get a degree in science, technology, engineering, or math.
Olivia Sholl - is the daughter of Jen and Eric Sholl. She is a member of the National Honor Society, a Charles O. Austin Scholar, and an IHSA Scholastic Award winner. She is a Western Big 6 Academic All-Conference winner for Bowling and Swimming. She has been in the “Top 10” in her class all four years of high school. In addition to the outstanding scholarship, Olivia has distinguished herself as one of the top female athletes at Rocky. She has been a bowling team member for 3 years and was part of the Western Big 6 Conference Champions and part of Rocky’s state-qualifying bowling team. She was voted bowling team captain her senior year. In swimming, Olivia has been a varsity team member all r years of high school and selected Wester Big 6 First Team All-Conference all four years. She was selected All-Metro Honorable Mention in swimming her freshman year and First Team All-Conference every year for the past three years. She is a three-time state qualified in swimming and part of the school record-setting 200-meter medley relay team. As a sophomore she was named the team Most Valuable Player, an honor she won again her junior and senior years. She was selected swim team captain her senior year. Outside of school Olivia volunteers as an aide to teachers at Denkmann Elementary School. She swims for the Davenport Metro Swim Team and holds down a part-time job as a lifeguard at the East Moline pool. After graduation, Olivia will attend Southwest Minnesota State University to major in biology and participate on the swim team. After earning her bachelor’s degree, she plans to get a master’s degree in forensic science.
Two awards were presented for Excellence in a Profession/Career. Both went to outstanding individuals with a long-time commitment to children in our community. The winners were Tia Edwards, Principal at Thurgood Marshall Learning Center, and RIHS Bowling Coach Jim Braet.
Tia Edwards -Principal of the Thurgood Marshall Learning Center Principal, was Jerry Jones, Executive Director of the Martin Luther King Center in Rock Island. Tia is a graduate of Rock Island High School and says, she bleeds red and gold. As a Rocky student, she received the District’s Medal of Honor and was named Student Citizen of the Year in Rock Island. She received the Illinois Quad City Chamber of Commerce Student Achievement Award and the M.L. King Centers Tia Farrah-Rice Award named in her honor. Tia also received the NAACP’s 2018 Freedom Fund Award for excellence in education, and the Greater Antioch Church
2019 Educator Recognition Award She is now in her 16th year as an educator in the Rock Island Milan School District. She earned her BS Degree in English at Old Dominion University and her MS in Education Administration from Western Illinois University and is currently working towards her doctorate degree in educational administration. She began her career as an English teacher at Rock Island High School. She then moved into administration as a Dean at Rocky, then as an Assistant Principal at the Rock Island Academy, and then to her current position as principal of the Thurgood Marshall Learning Center. In each phase of her career, Ms. Edwards displayed Excellence in leadership, motivation, and empathy.
2019 Educator Recognition Award She is now in her 16th year as an educator in the Rock Island Milan School District. She earned her BS Degree in English at Old Dominion University and her MS in Education Administration from Western Illinois University and is currently working towards her doctorate degree in educational administration. She began her career as an English teacher at Rock Island High School. She then moved into administration as a Dean at Rocky, then as an Assistant Principal at the Rock Island Academy, and then to her current position as principal of the Thurgood Marshall Learning Center. In each phase of her career, Ms. Edwards displayed Excellence in leadership, motivation, and empathy.
Jim Braet - A life-long Rock Island Resident received the “Excellence” Award in recognition of his 33-year teaching career and 53-year coaching career in the Rocky Island School system. Jim established innovative programs for students including a “Student of the Week” program for elementary children which included Jim visiting the students' homes and providing a bulletin board for the student to display whatever he wish to show his classmates about his family, home, or interests. It also includes getting their name posted as “Student of the Week” at McDonalds in Milan and a Friday night trip to McDonalds for dinner and an area field trip for the
student and their parents. Jim was also was lauded for coaching numerous sports and for producing state championship teams and individuals in both track and girls bowling. His outstanding personal athletic career at Rocky and Augustana including being named a 2-time College All American in Track and placing 6th in the nation in hurdles. It was noted that in every endeavor; athletics, teaching, and coaching, Jim has always achieved excellence. He was selected for Who’s Who in Elementary Teachers, served as president of the Rock Island Education Association, and Received the Milan Jaycee’s “Outstanding Young Educator Award”. He is currently on the Board of Directors of the Rock Island – Milan Booster Club and plans to continue next year in his 54th year of coaching or Rock Island High School Jim was accompanied today by his wife, Debby Braet.
student and their parents. Jim was also was lauded for coaching numerous sports and for producing state championship teams and individuals in both track and girls bowling. His outstanding personal athletic career at Rocky and Augustana including being named a 2-time College All American in Track and placing 6th in the nation in hurdles. It was noted that in every endeavor; athletics, teaching, and coaching, Jim has always achieved excellence. He was selected for Who’s Who in Elementary Teachers, served as president of the Rock Island Education Association, and Received the Milan Jaycee’s “Outstanding Young Educator Award”. He is currently on the Board of Directors of the Rock Island – Milan Booster Club and plans to continue next year in his 54th year of coaching or Rock Island High School Jim was accompanied today by his wife, Debby Braet.
Alaina Muller
Olivia Sholl
Tia Edwards
Jim Braet