Hononegah Names ‘Those Who Excel’ Award Winners

By Jean Seegers, REPORTER

Two members of the Hononegah High School faculty and one support staff member are this year’s recipients of the “Those Who Excel” Award. Nichole Ali is a Merit Award winner in the category of Student Support Services. Ali has been employed at HHS as a Guidance Career Planning Secretary for over four years. She was nominated by Trina Austin. Ali said she does a little bit of everything at Hononegah. “I help transferring and new students with registration; and maintain the guidance office webpage.” Before coming to Hononegah, she worked as a secretary in the South Beloit school system.“I love it here at Hononegah. Knowing I can make a difference is very rewarding.”

Justin Wieman and Jeanine Dehaven-Binger, otherwise known as Team JJ, received a “Those Who Excel” Special Recognition Award. Wieman and Dehaven-Binger are teachers in the Special Education Department at HHS. They were nominated for the award by Social Studies teacher Anita Bond. Dehaven-Binger has been a faculty member at HHS for 16 years, Wieman for 11 years. They support the Vocational Internship Program at the school and are responsible for the Special Olympics curriculum design.  There are currently 11 students in the Internship Program this year. “Hononegah is the only school in the state of Illinois that has student-led Special Olympics. The students practice bowling, baseball, track and field and bocce ball after school through the year,” Wieman said. The pair launched the Leo Club at the school this year. The club is a youth organization of Lions Club International.  It is dedicated to inclusion-based activities for young adults with disabilities. It gives students opportunities to serve in their community and develop leadership skills.

“Those Who Excel” is sponsored by the Illinois State Board of Education.  The organization honors individuals who have made significant contributions to state, public and non-public elementary and secondary schools.

JEAN SEEGERS, PHOTOS – The Herald.
Justine Wieman and Jeanine Dehaven-Binger are special education teachers at Hononegah High School. They recently received a “Those Who Excel” Special Recognition Award from the Illinois State Board of Education.

The awards are in three categories: Excellence; Meritorious and Special Recognition.  Nominations are evaluated through a selection committee. The Awards of Excellence winners are eligible for Illinois Teacher of the Year.

Program winners will attend a banquet at the Marriott Hotel in Normal, Ill., Oct 22.