July 20, 2006
NORMAL,Ill.- For three years Illinois State women's golfer Hilary Anderson has been a part of numerous successful seasons and high academic achievement. Continuing that tradition with her hard work and dedication, Anderson has been named the 2006 recipient of the Helen Cushman Endowed Scholarship.
"Hard work and dedication has really paid off," said Anderson. "ISU has helped me in so many ways the past three years."
A recreation major, Anderson has helped bring ISU two Missouri Valley Conference titles. Maintaining a stroke average of 77.5 for the 2005-06 seasons, Anderson tied for 10th at the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Championship with a 232 total.
Kralis believes she has the game to play with the top players on the Division I level.
"Hilary has been a key part of our athletic success since she arrived on campus as a freshman," said head caoch Ray Kralis. "Her commitment to this program over the years makes her the obvious choice for the Helen Cushman Endowment."
As co-captain, the Decatur, Ill. native will be the veteran member of the young and talented squad this season. Kralis feels that her prior experiences and success is what the team needs to keep a winning tradition going.
"Our new players need a sense of what has been accomplished here before them, and Hilary is a great leader and mentor for them," said Kralis. "She has worked extremely hard in the classroom and on the golf course to set up what should be a phenomenal senior year for her."
"Winning the conference team title back-to-back, two regional appearances, and being voted all-conference as a player two years in a row has all been great," Anderson said. "But I think the biggest thrill is just being here and being able to play college golf at a Division I school."
In 1995, the Helen Cushman Endowed Scholarship Fund was established with a substantial gift from Nina Chesebro and the late Pat Chesebro to benefit Illinois State's intercollegiate women's golf program and to honor their close friend, Helen Cushman. The pair decided to establish the fund prior to Pat Chesebro's death in appreciation of Cushman, who had introduced them to the game of golf. Since 1995, it has been awarded to a Redbird women's golfer who demonstrated a passion for the game.
The Helen Cushman Endowed Scholarship is one of 14 endowed scholarships available to Illinois State student-athletes funded by private donors. Through not one of the eight fully-funded endowed scholarships at Illinois State University, the Helen Cushman Endowed Scholarship provides significant support.
For information about supporting this, or other Illinois State University endowments for student-athletes, call The Redbird Club office at (309) 438-3803.
