Circles of Investment

The person who initiated this circle wished only to be known as “an individual dedicated to the promotion of education to enhance a student’s future.” This circle funds English education, including journalism and creative writing, throughout the district and was celebrated in 2004.

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Alan and Carol Nichols created this fund for Science and Technology after both of their children attended QPS and benefitted from the programming. Alan spent his career working in the sciences, earning advanced degrees in chemical engineering and participating in cutting edge research projects, and the couple had reached a place in their lives where they wanted to give back to public education.

This Circle was founded in 2018.

Make a donation to this Circle fund.

Annabelle Cashman’s family and friends initiated a circle in her memory to benefit art education in Quincy. She was always a lover of art and an avid supporter of education so it was only fitting that her memory would be honored in a way to support art education for years to come. This circle was celebrated in 2009.

Make a donation to this Circle fund.

Make a donation to this Circle fund. 

Make a donation to this Circle fund.

Make a donation to this Circle fund.

Make a donation to the Circle fund.

Carson Kirk initiated this circle in memory of his great aunt, Beulah Gooch. This circle will fund business and career education at the Quincy Senior High and the Quincy Area Vocational Technical Center and was celebrated in 2008.

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This Circle was founded in 2022 by Bill & Kathy Wolters to benefit the Early Childhood and Family Center. Both Bill & Kathy had great experiences at ECFC, Kathy doing research for her education and Bill volunteering.

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Dennis and Barb Gorman initiated this circle in memory of Barb’s parents, Bill and Margaret Keller. Bill attended Quincy Public Schools and served on the Board of Education for many years. This circle currently funds Baldwin, Madison, and Quincy Junior High schools, where the Gorman’s grandchildren attend, and was celebrated in 2004.

Make a donation to this Circle fund.

Make a donation to this Circle fund.

Carson Kirk initiated this circle in honor of his mother, Carolyn Eakle Kirk. Carolyn taught language arts and history at Quincy Junior High School from 1948 to 1960, when she resigned to stay home with Carson. This circle funds language arts and history throughout the district and was celebrated in 2006.

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Carson Kirk initiated this circle in honor of his lifelong friends Charlotte and George Spear. This circle was celebrated in 2010 and will fund health and physical education throughout the district.

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Make a donation to this Circle fund. 

Make a donation to this Circle fund. 

Deelite Ernst’s family and friends initiated this circle in her memory. Deelite treasured time with her children, and was also devoted to her “other” children, her first grade students at Adams School. Deelite dedicated herself to their education, and the warm hugs and kisses she received daily from past and present students were evidence of her impact on their lives. This Circle funded literacy education at Adams Elementary School until 2019 and was celebrated in 2006. In 2018, the family of Billie Embree, a former Title I Reader teacher, left memorials from Mrs. Embree's passing to this Circle. Mrs. Embree dedicated her entire life to teaching and especially 4th-6th Grade Reading at Baldwin Intermediate School. When Adams School closed, the Circle was re-designated for Elementary Literacy throughout the district.

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Carson Kirk initiated this circle in memory of his grandmother, Dena Gooch Eakle. Dena taught third grade at Franklin School for many years, inspiring her daughter Carolyn to become a teacher as well. This circle funds elementary education throughout the district and was celebrated in 2005.

This fund was created to benefit the students, teachers, and administrators of Denman Elementary School.

This fund was created in 2022 by Carson Kirk to honor his longtime associates, Dan and Shari Dittmer. Dan and Shari Dittmer founded the Sheridan Swim Club in Quincy, of which Carson was a member of the swim team. This fund was celebrated in 2022.

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This fund was created in 2022 by Carson Kirk to honor his family friends, the Busbeys. The Busbeys own and operate a mulit-generational dentistry practice in Quincy. This fund was celebrated in 2023.

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This fund was started by QPSF trustee Dr. George Crickard III and his family in honor of Dr. Crickard III's father.

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Dr. Young & Suni Yu started this fund to advance medical coursework at QPS.

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The person who initiated this circle wished only to be known as “an individual dedicated to the promotion of education to enhance a student’s future.” This circle funds English and history education throughout the district and was celebrated in 2007.

Make a donation to this Circle fund.

Benefiting Students in Need of Financial Assistance

Genevieve C. Irvine’s children created this Circle of Investment in 2009 in memory of their mother, to acknowledge her “love of children” and “respect for education.” Genevieve was born in 1923 and attended Quincy schools.

Genevieve was dearly loved by her husband, William, her children, grandchildren, and family. Throughout her life, Genevieve was described by those who knew her as “exceptionally kind and loving.”

Genevieve’s passion for education came from her strong belief that education was a way to a good quality of life. Each of Genevieve's five children obtained a college degree and attribute much of their success in life to their loving family and education.

Genevieve and William instilled in their children a compassion for those in society who are less fortunate. As parents, they accomplished this by modeling positive and caring attitudes in their interactions with others in need.

It is the hope of Genevieve’s children that this Fund will support the value of education and assist those students who are experiencing financial and other barriers to obtaining a quality education that can lead to success in life.

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Founded by Carson Kirk in honor of Georgine Payne. Carson met Georgine when she was his mother's caretaker.

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Founded by Georgine Payne to honor Carson Kirk, who has funded more than one dozen Circles at QPSF in honor of others.

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Herman Schneidman initiated this circle to fund athletics. Herman attended Quincy Public Schools and played football for Quincy High School. He went on to play football for the University of Iowa, the U.S. Navy, and the Green Bay Packers. This circle was celebrated in 2010.

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Carson Kirk initiated QFQE’s first Circle of Investment in memory of his father, Houston Kirk. Houston was responsible for introducing calculus into Quincy’s curriculum. He also taught advanced mathematics at Quincy High School for twenty-two years. Houston retired in 1972 and moved to Florida. This circle funds math education throughout the district and was celebrated in 2004.

Make a donation to this Circle fund. 

Make a donation to this Circle fund.

J.D. Neiswender initiated this circle in memory of his mother. Janet taught science and language arts at Quincy Junior High School for thirty years. During that time, she also developed a close relationship with many of the special education students. This circle funds special education throughout the district and was celebrated in 2004.

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Make a donation to this Circle fund. 

This fund was started by Dr. Joe & Janice Bocke in honor of Tammy Bocke Flagg.

Joyce Winn began this Circle in 2021 in honor of her late husband, William. This Circle is applied to the areas of greatest need within Quincy Public Schools.

Make a donation to this Circle fund. 

Make a donation to this Circle fund. 

Keith Cashman’s family and friends initiated this circle in his memory. Keith was involved in the savings and loan industry for over thirty years. During that time, he worked to encourage legislation favorable to the thrift business and the saving and borrowing customer. Keith was also an accomplished athlete and an avid golfer, passing his love for the game to his children and grandchildren. This circles funds the Quincy High School golf teams and was celebrated in 2006.

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Korb Family for Music Education

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Make a donation this Circle fund. 

Blickhan Family Fund

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Proceeds from this Circle benefit the district's nursing office.

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Lee & Joan Kammerlohr started this fund in 2021 to assist with science, technology, education, arts, and mathematics at the elementary level.

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Make a donation to this Circle fund. 

Lincoln-Douglas Elementary

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The Loos-Sallstrom Circle was established to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the graduation of Thelma B. Loos Sallstrom as valedictorian of the QHS Class of 1922.

Mrs. Sallstrom first attended Webster School. From 1922 to 1924 she attended Western Illinois State Teachers College, now Western Illinois University in Macomb.  She also attended the University of Colorado in 1928 and graduated from Quincy University in 1947 with a bachelor’s degree in education.

An elementary school teacher, she taught at Madison School from 1925 to 1931, and at Emerson School from 1947 until she retired in 1969.

Her husband, C. Emery Sallstrom, also taught in Quincy schools. After teaching several years in Oklahoma, he attended Lombard College in Galesburg, where he graduated in 1929. He received his master’s degree at the University of Missouri in 1939. He also attended the Universities of Illinois and Oklahoma.

When he came to Quincy, he taught two years at Madison School, where he met his wife. In 1931 he was appointed a teacher of mathematics at QHS and later served as Dean of Boys.

In 1944 he became executive director of the Quincy Housing Authority. While on official business in Chicago, he was killed in the La Salle Hotel fire June 5, 1946. Mayor Edward Schneidman, Alderman Mart Heinen and City Engineer James Potter also died in the fire. This circle also commemorates the 75th anniversary of that tragedy.

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Founded in memory of longtime QPS Kindergarten Teacher Marjorie O. Wolfe by her daugher, Wendy Wolfe Ball.

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Martha McCrory initiated this circle to fund stringed instruments. Martha has enjoyed a career revolving around music. She has been a teacher, professional cellist, and administrator. Martha built the Sewanee Summer Music Festival into a highly ranked summer training program and concert series of international proportions. Her keen interest in young people studying music during the summer has long been her passion. This circle was celebrated in 2006.

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Mary and Charles’s life-long love of music began with Paul Morrison and the QHS Music Department. Charles played the cornet and went on to captain the Purdue University marching band.  Mary, a pianist and violinist, conducted youth orchestras at Madison and Emmerson Schools and was a founding member of the Quincy Symphony where she was principle violist for almost 60 years. Together they continued to support the Quincy Public Schools Music Department, whose staff has continued to enrich and inspire their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Make a donation to this Circle fund.

Make a donation to this Circle fund. 

Make a Donation to this Circle fund.

Samuel Becker initiated this circle in honor of a cherished teacher, Naomi Meyer. Naomi taught third and fourth grade at Washington School from 1930 to 1937 and at Franklin School from 1937 to 1975. This circle will fund elementary education throughout the district and was celebrated in 2007.

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Make a donation to this Circle fund. 

Carson Kirk initiated this circle in memory of his close family friends, Patricia and David Donald. Patricia Fuelbier Donald taught special education in the Quincy Public Schools for 29 years and David worked for the Mental Health Authority of West Central Illinois. This circle funds special education throughout the district and was celebrated in 2007.

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This Circle was founded in 2021 by the Simon in memorial for Peggy Simon. Peggy was a special education teacher at QPS.

Members of the Quincy High School Class of 1960 created this circle to help the Quincy Public Schools and to commemorate their class on the occasion of their 50th class reunion in 2010.

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Make a donation to this Circle fund.

This memorial fund was created in honor of beloved QPS staffer Richard E. Davis after his passing. The proceeds from this Circle are used for the areas of greatest need at Quincy Public Schools.

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This Circle was founded by Dr. John Sallstrom to honor former QHS principal, Dr. Richard Heitholt. Heitholt was a double cousin to Sallstrom and graduated from QHS in 1945. He became principal in 1967, after spending time in the U.S. Navy Reserves and as a teacher & coach. Prior to entering his career in education, Heitiholt spent a year as a professional baseball player having signed with the Chicago Cubs and playing with the Sioux Falls, SD Canaries.   He is inducted into the Quincy High School Sports Hall of Fame and was the QPS Foundation's Dream Big Award Winner in 2022.

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This fund was started through an estate gift from Richard & Peggy Liebig.

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Make a donation to this Circle fund. 

Make a donation to this Circle fund. 

Founded in memory of longtime QHS Blue Devil Basketball Coach Sherrill Hanks.

Judith Derhake Babcock, Quincy High School Class of 1955, initiated this circle in memory of her favorite teacher, Miss Stella R. Lilly. Miss Lilly taught English Literature at QHS for over thirty years. This circle funds English literature throughout the district and was celebrated in 2009.

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Stettner Endowment - QPSF Board Designated Memorial

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Make a donation to this Circle fund. 

Founded by Michael Foster, in honor of his mother, Viriginia.

Founded by Carson Kirk in honor of Honorable Judge Scott Walden and his wife, Robin.

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Donate to this Circle fund.

Carson Kirk initiated this circle in memory of his grandfather William Carson Eakle, who was ‘quite a character.’ This circle was celebrated in 2009 and funds character education throughout the district.

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Wilmer & Sylvia Holzgrafe Family Fund for Experiential Learning at QJHS

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