OTHS Educational Foundation

09/01/2026

HALL OF FAME REWIND:

Revisit the 2008 Hall of Fame Induction of the 1966 OHS Pirate Football team!

Of all the great Ottawa Township High School football teams, the 1966 team stands particularly prominent.

The team was undefeated with a 9-0 record and crowned NCIC Champions. They scored 380 points and allowed only 19 points during the season, averaging 42.2 points to their opponents 2.1. The defensive unit was scored on only once all season. The team had 183 first downs, 3,761 offensive yards gained, 2,141 rushing and 1,620 through the air. Of 152 passes attempted, 90 were completed, with only 4 interceptions.

The 1966 Pirates broke another record when every senior starter received appointment to a major newspaper’s all-state team.

Quarterback Bob Burns was voted as First Team All American and receiver Steve Sipula was Honorable Mention All-American. Team members were: Bob Burns, Joel Cechowicz, Fred Crisler, Al Dooley, Bill Foutch, Bill Goodin, Gary Grenter, Jeff Hale, Ken Herington, Stan Kranov, Ernie Matthews, Gary Mooney, Paul Muus, Brien Nagle, Brian Neilsen, Kerry Novak, Randy Olson, Chuck Pfau, Larry Pike, Dick Pope, Ken Poutre, Mickey Rowe, Gaylon Ryg, Steve Sipula, Ron Sohn, Fletcher Wells, Chuck Willet, Jim Zidow; Managers: Larry Goodin, Bob Risberg, Ron Weaver, Jim Wielgopolan, Don Woodyer; and Coaches: Bill Novak, Dean Riley, Ralph Nelson, and Ron Slack

Of all the great Ottawa Township High School football teams, the 19...

08/19/2026

We'd like to share links to our growing network of social media pages related to the many groups, clubs, activities, classes and athletics currently connected to Ottawa Township High School District 140. Please visit these pages and follow them to stay up to date on everything happening in Pirate Nation!

(*Note - since we can only include a certain number of tagged pages in the post, additional connected pages are listed in the comments)

OHS Pirate Nation
Ottawa High School Athletics
Ottawa High School Booster Club
OTHS Educational Foundation
OTHS Counselors
OTHS Yearbook
Ottawa Pirates Soccer
Ottawa Pirate Tennis
Ottawa Lady Pirate Volleyball
OHS Pirate Poms
OHS Cheerleaders
OHS Pirate Football
Ottawa Pirates HS Baseball
Ottawa Pirates Wrestling
Ottawa Pirates Women's Wrestling
OHS Softball
OTHS Girls Track
Ottawa High Distance Running
OTHS Fine Arts Club
Ottawa Township High School Bands
Ottawa Township High School Choirs
Ottawa Basketball
Ottawa Lady Pirate Basketball
Ottawa Agricultural Department & FFA Chapter

07/14/2026

The Ottawa Township High School (OTHS) District 140 Educational Foundation is accepting nominations for the 2027 Ottawa Township High School Hall of Fame.

While nomination applications are accepted throughout the year at any time, the deadline for consideration for induction for the 2027 ceremony is July 31, 2026. Previously submitted nominations are considered each year until the nominee is selected for induction. Previously submitted nominations can be updated with supplemental information with consideration for the 2027 Hall of Fame to include all nominations submitted prior to July 31, 2026. Nominations received after July 31st will be considered for subsequent years.

Nomination forms are available at the OTHS Educational Foundation website:

https://www.othseducationalfoundation.org/hof

or at the OTHS main office.

The 2027 Ottawa Township High School Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony & Banquet at the Rivers Edge Event Center is scheduled for Saturday, January 23, 2027, with introductions of Inductees between the basketball games in Kingman Gymnasium scheduled for Friday, January 22, 2027.

The OTHS District 140 Educational Foundation was established 1993 as a 501 (c)(3) non-profit private foundation to secure funds that support and promote the educational programs and activities of OTHS students. Through generous donations, the Foundation provides grants to teachers and staff to purchase equipment, promote innovative teaching initiatives and augment scholastic and activity resources beyond the fiscal constraints of the school’s normal operations and budget. The OTHS Educational Foundation is also responsible for the Courtyard outside of Kingman Gymnasium which sells commemorative bricks and landscaping features to help raise funds for the Foundation, annual scholarships awarded to OTHS students and the Student of the Month award program among other initiatives.

Ottawa Township High School Hall of FameEvery year, decade committees submit a list of potential inductees to a selection committee for consideration for the Ottawa Township High School Educational Foundation Hall of Fame. Each year individuals, teams, clubs and groups are inducted into the Hall of....

05/21/2026

Weatherford was selected for the honor from the Ottawa Township High School Social Science department.

05/21/2026

Ottawa Township High School (OTHS) Senior Ava Weatherford is the recipient of the OTHS Educational Foundation Student of the Month Leadership Award for May. She was selected for the honor from the Social Science Department of OTHS.

“Ava Weatherford is an exceptional psychology student,” wrote the group of OTHS teachers who nominated her for the award.

“She consistently demonstrates a sharp intellect, paired with a genuine kindness and an intuitive understanding of others that sets her apart in the classroom. Ava approaches challenges with curiosity and determination and has a natural ability to connect psychological concepts to real-world situations.”

“Beyond her academic strengths, her character speaks volumes—she is thoughtful, compassionate, and driven to make a difference. There is no doubt that she will carry these qualities into her future as a criminal lawyer. We wish her nothing but success as she pursues her goals and continues to make a positive impact.”

All recipients honored as a Student of the Month receive a $250 award from the OTHS Educational Foundation and are granted use of a preferred parking space at OTHS among other benefits.

05/21/2026

The Ottawa Township High School (OTHS) Automotive Vocational Education program recently secured a $16,500 matching donation from the OTHS Educational Foundation to help purchase a new Hunter Hawkeye Elite alignment machine.

“This is what they'll see when they actually enter the workforce,” says OTHS Automotive Technology teacher John Hladovcak. “There are different brands, but the Hunter elite system that we have is probably the most prevalent that's out there in the real world,” he explained. “Once (the students) get through a couple of alignments, they start to gain confidence. I can put them on a particular alignment. I can walk away and typically they end up being able to do the alignment on their own.”

Students began using the new alignment machine in March. Hladovcak says about 60 students each year will have an opportunity to use the equipment in several different vocational education classes OTHS offers. “This kind of stuff attracts kids to the program, knowing that they got the right technology to learn from here,” he says. “I have top of the line wheel balancers, tire machines, and now an alignment machine. There’s not a tool that we don't have.”

Having access to modern equipment helps students adapt to new technology in an industry that continues to evolve, says Hladovcak. “My classroom is not traditional. They don't have to sit and look at a book,” he admits. “We are out in the shop. They come out here and they actually do it. Artificial intelligence has really changed the game in the way that we diagnose and work on cars. But that's just the diagnosis. We still need kids and people to actually turn the wrenches.”

05/21/2026

The Ottawa Township High School (OTHS) District 140 Educational Foundation is pleased to announce the first recipients of its new annual scholarship program supporting OTHS students.

Four OTHS seniors – Brooklyn Byone, Lucas Farabaugh, Joey Liebhart, and Madilyn Soulsby – will each receive $10,000 scholarships upon confirmation of enrollment at a four-year higher education institution. These scholarships totaling $40,000 were presented during the OTHS 2026 Honors Night ceremony in the school auditorium May 6th.

Current members of the OTHS Educational Foundation board selected the recipients from qualified applications. Foundation board members related to scholarship applicants are excluded from the selection process. The scholarships are distributed to each recipient annually at $2500 per year for a total of four years.

“The incredible support of the OTHS Educational Foundation helps make college a possibility for deserving students,” says OTHS Superintendent Dr. Michael Cushing. “Many potential donors have expressed interest in supporting the OTHS Educational Foundation for the purposes of establishing and distributing scholarships, and this program ensures they support that specific demand,” Cushing explained.

Some of the criteria required for consideration for the scholarship are:

- Student must have a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA while at OTHS
- Student must be a senior in good standing at OTHS, with no major disciplinary infractions
- Student must have participated in an officially sanctioned activity at OTHS
- Student must submit an essay about the importance of Ottawa Township High School in their educational journey
- Student must have two letters of recommendation from OTHS teachers or faculty
- Student must maintain a minimum 2.5 GPA while enrolled at the 4-year institution
- If a student transfers institutions, the scholarship may continue provided all the previously established criteria are satisfied for attending a 4-year educational institution

Brooklyn Byone, Joey Liebhart and Madilyn Soulsby plan to attend the University of Illinois in Urbana - Champaign. Lucas Farabaugh plans to attend Aurora University in Aurora, Illinois.

The OTHS District 140 Educational Foundation was established 1993 as a 501 (c)(3) non-profit private foundation to secure funds that support and promote the educational programs and activities of OTHS students. Through generous donations, the Foundation provides grants to teachers and staff to purchase equipment, promote innovative teaching initiatives and augment scholastic and activity resources beyond the fiscal constraints of the school’s normal operations and budget.

The OTHS Educational Foundation is also responsible for the courtyard outside of Kingman Gymnasium and sells commemorative bricks and landscaping features to help raise funds for the Foundation in addition to managing the annual OTHS Hall of Fame ceremony and the Student of the Month award program, among other initiatives.

You can learn more about the OTHS Educational Foundation online at: https://www.othseducationalfoundation.org

05/14/2026

Sixty-four Ottawa Township High School (OTHS) seniors in the graduating class of 2026 received scholarships totaling more than $140,000 awarded during the 2026 Honors Night event held in the OTHS auditorium Wednesday, May 6th.

“The generosity and commitment from the award and scholarship donors continues to provide a legacy for all those remembered and honored. We are truly grateful for all the support of our graduating seniors," says OTHS Principal Pat Leonard.

In addition to recognizing 19 Illinois State Scholars, eight OTHS Educational Foundation Students of the Month, three State of Illinois Seal of Biliteracy recipients, two Commendation of the Seal of Biliteracy awardees, five recipients of awards sponsored by the U.S. Marine Corps, the honoree of the Bausch + Lomb Science Award and the winner of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Good Citizenship Award, the faculty and staff of OTHS are grateful for the support of the following families, organizations, institutions and companies who participated in creating and distributing scholarships announced during this year’s Honors Night ceremonies:

- RALPH BOWERMASTER FAMILY TRUST
- PHIL SCHOCH TRUST FUND SCHOLARSHIP
- Ottawa Noon Rotary CLUB SCHOLARSHIP
- Ottawa Sunrise Rotary Club SCHOLARSHIP
- PERSONAL GROWTH SCHOLARSHIP
- CATHOLIC DAUGHTERS OF AMERICA SCHOLARSHIP
- MARGARET RE*****ON DI**LE ART AWARD
- DON E. MOREHEAD SCHOLARSHIP
- DEAN L. CASHMAN ENGINEERING SCHOLARSHIP
- MINNIE AND LADDIE TONIELLI SCHOLARSHIP
- TYLER “TC” CARSON MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
- OTTAWA MASONIC LODGE Occidental Lodge # 40 Ottawa IL SCHOLARSHIP
- OTTAWA WOMAN’S CLUB OTHS SCHOLARSHIP
- MARY EWERS FINE ARTS SCHOLARSHIP
- ALEXANDER K. & VIRGINIA G. SCHERER EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP
- Financial Plus Credit Union SCHOLARSHIP
- Vactor MANUFACTURING, INC SCHOLARSHIP
- BETTY HIBBS SCHOTT & ROBERT K. SCHOTT SCHOLARSHIP
- Constellation LASALLE CO CLEAN ENERGY SCHOLARSHIP
- EILEEN FESCO Zonta Club of Ottawa, Illinois SCHOLARSHIP
- U.S. Silica Company SCHOLARSHIP
- KERRY CONDRON “A GOOD LIFE” SCHOLARSHIP
- ONYX (Ottawa Network of Young eXecutives) SCHOLARSHIP
- Ottawa American Legion Post 33 SCHOLARSHIP
- KATE ROWE WIELGOPOLAN MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
- Illinois Council of Teachers of Mathematics, ICTM AWARD
- ALI STEVENSON MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
- RICHARD H. DONNOCKER MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
- Kiwanis of Ottawa IL KEY CLUB SCHOLARSHIP
- BUD SAND MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
- VICKIE HESS ELEMENTARY EDUCATION MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
- RALPH NELSON MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
- DON STEVENSON/LIONS CLUB MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
- JIM GAYAN MEMORIAL CHARITABLE SERVICE SCHOLARSHIP
- ROGER AND JUNE ROWE MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
- WILLIAM J. REAGAN CHEMISTRY/FINE ARTS AWARD
- REBECCA ATEN MEMORIAL ART SCHOLARSHIP
- RICH ROBERTS MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
- JENNIFER RHODE MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
- JENAN JOBST MEMORIAL TRUST SCHOLARSHIP
- DR. ROBERT O. LEWIS MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
- ALEXANDER GUY WILLIAM MUIR MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
- MARK MASON MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
- OTHSEA CENTENNIAL SCHOLARSHIP
- JOSEPH HOHNER SCHOLARSHIP
- CAROL HYLIN MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
- RAY AND VINA ROWE VOCATIONAL/TRADE SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP
- JEAN REUTHER SCHOLARSHIP
- PETER F. FERRACUTI FUTURE ADVOCATE SCHOLARSHIP
- Ottawa Business Builders FUTURE ENTREPRENEUR SCHOLARSHIP
- OTHS Educational Foundation SCHOLARSHIP
- OTTAWA TWP. HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 1970 CHARACTER AND LEADERSHIP SCHOLARSHIP
- THOMAS H. MOORE Illinois Electric Cooperative MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
- SOCU STREATOR ONIZED CREDIT UNION MEMBER SCHOLARSHIP
- AARON M. RICK MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
- TOM AND LYN HENDERSON SCHOLARSHIP
- JERRY BRETAG MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
- RICHARD POPE PRIZE
- NATALIE CLAIRE CONRAD MEMORIAL FOUNDATION SOCCER SCHOLARSHIP
- KEN CURL AWARD
- Ottawa High School Booster Club SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS
- BABE RUTH SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD

04/20/2026

Ottawa Township High School District 140 (OTHS) Senior Brooklyn Byone is the recipient of the OTHS Educational Foundation Student of the Month Leadership Award for April. She was selected for the honor from the Science Department of OTHS.

“Brooklyn is an exceptional student whose maturity, work ethic, and character consistently exceed those of her peers,” her science teachers remarked in their nomination for the award. “She leaves a lasting impression on both her classmates and teachers. Her dedication, time management skills, and positive demeanor elevate every classroom she joins.”

“Throughout her time at Ottawa Township High School, Brooklyn has earned academic all-conference honors as a four-year athlete in both soccer and tennis—achieving conference titles and qualifying for state competition. She has also served in leadership roles for our Honor Society, Character Counts Club, Future Medical Professionals Club, and Foreign Language Club,” they said.

“Brooklyn has balanced these commitments while maintaining the highest class rank in the school. She has worked multiple local jobs and volunteered extensively—coaching in our award-winning community soccer program, refereeing games, and assisting at concession stands. Her ability to manage such a demanding schedule with grace and excellence speaks volumes about her character and drive. Brooklyn is a remarkable student, and we are excited to see the incredible things she will do in the future.”

All recipients honored as a Student of the Month receive a $250 award from the OTHS Educational Foundation and are granted use of a preferred parking space at OTHS among other benefits.

02/20/2026