CARTERVILLE - John A. Logan College honored Ken Gray with the first $500 scholarship.

Britni Woodworth of West Frankfort walked away with the award. The now annual scholarship goes to students from Franklin County with good academic standing and plan to attend Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

Woodworth has a 4.0 average at the college with an Associate of Arts and an Associate of Applied Science in graphic design. She plans to visit SIUC in the fall and pursue a degree in communications design.

"She's a very delightful and hard working young woman and we're so very happy to give it to her," Executive Director of the John A. Logan College Foundation Jill Gobert said.

The scholarship was named after Gray for his contribution to the area as a U.S. Congressman, which includes Interstate 57 and Rend Lake.

"He did so much for our area for so many years," President Robert Mees said.

Woodworth said knowing of Gray's accomplishments made the award that much more poignant.

"It was a really great honor," Woodworth said. "Ken Gray is a really good man and I feel really honored he felt I deserved the award."

Mees said with her academic standing and hard work, Woodworth was a perfect choice for the award.

"Britni's a very good student and that was a big factor," Mees said.

Gobert said the foundation hopes the scholarship will reach endowment level of $25,000 and said anyone is welcome to donate.

Woodworth said she is appreciative of the award and is glad that Gray received the honor of having the scholarship named after him.

"He's such a nice person," Woodworth said. "He always makes you feel welcome."

codell.rodriguez@thesouthern.com

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Ken Gray Scholarship

For more information or to donate, call John A. Logan College Foundation Executive Director Jill Gobert at 985-2828, ext. 8472.