Villa Grove holds 45th annual honors banquet
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On May 6, Villa Grove High School held their 45th Annual Honors Banquet. In 1980 VGHS principal was Frank Norris, Frank noted that athletes have a sports banquet and are recognized for their sports accomplishments and felt like there needed to be recognition for academics. In May 1980 the first honors banquet was held, to honor students academic accomplishments.
Since the first banquet the scholarship cumulative has been $1,313,741. Thank you to all the donors through the years and thank you for your investment in the students at Villa Grove!
Hall of Fame
Inductees
Cassandra Eversole Gunter and Austin Anthony Apgar
(to be inducted at the Alumni Banquet May 24 at 6 p.m.)
Cassandra Eversole Gunter VGHS graduate 1987
Born and raised in Villa Grove attending 12 years in Villa Grove School. Junior high and high school cheerleader.
1987 attended Community College, became real estate broker 1993. Has been self employed entrepreneur since college.
Married Rory Gunter, an electrical engineer that worked at the Cordova Nuclear Power Station. Lived in Silvis Illinois where two sons, Garrett and Gavin were born.
Cassandra owned and operated a small business in Silvis. Together she and Rory were involved in the community and were founders of Quad City Cannons, a premier organization for youth baseball & softball. The organization ensured every child could play ball if willing and worked hard. The Organization prepared the child to compete at a high level..
2010 moved back to Villa Grove where Cassandra embraced her hometown. She began a long-tenured commitment of community involvement and public service.
Organized educational trip for 8th grade students to Washington D.C. Involved with Parent Group to provide meals before Home/Away Football games.
Cassandra supported her sister-in-law with her cancer battle.
Cassandra used this time to educate students at Villa Grove about the disease and organized the Breast Cancer Assemblies, the pink game during football season to raise money. This cause has raised over $50,000. for the Mills Cancer Institute.
Cassandra served on the Villa Grove Board of Education 2013-2017
2017 Elected Mayor of Villa Grove
2019 Cassandra and Rory Grand Marshal’s of Homecoming Parade. While mayor she secured funding to build a new water treatment facility, targeting the aging infrastructure. Fire hydrants replaced, water lines replaced and several needs were addressed.
Worked with the police department to modernize the department. With cooperation from city working with the school, the 1st full time School Resource Officer was added to the staff.
Created the position of City Administrator for more efficient city services. Converted city systems from manual to electronic systems.
Used social media platform to promote Villa Grove. Halfway in Cassandra’s term as mayor Covid 19 forced challenging and uncertain time for VG. Many projects had to be sidelined. The well being of the citizens, the city employees and keeping businesses open was the primary objective
Second term as mayor, covid ended and projects on hold were pushed to the forefront and made priorities.
2019 the Water and Sewer was sold to American Water.
2019 received the grant from the Department of Natural Resources to build a Community Center
2024 the community Recreation Center was completed in Richman Park.
Under Cassandra’s leadership a 5 year strategic plan was developed focusing on drainage, removing houses from floodway with FEMA’S Demolition Reimbursement Program.
City purchased 70 acres on the north corridor of town to develop new homes.
Cassandra started: Christmas Tree Lighting Festival the Rodeo during AG Days, a Freedom Celebration Facilitated a stage downtown on a vacant lot for community to use Cassandra had a huge impact on the VG Community. The News Gazette, local Paper described Cassandra a Cheerleader for Villa Grove.
Austin Anthony Apgar
Born january 21,1982 in tuscola.
2000-Graduated from villa grove high school
2000-2004-Attended the University of Illinois and graduated with degrees in agribusiness with an emphasis in farm & financial management & accounting
2001-2004-Joined the Illidell chapter of alpha gamma sigma agricultural fraternity and served as treasurer, scholarship chair & executive board member
2001-2004-Served on interfraternity council judicial board and agricultural consumer & environmental sciences student advancement committee
2004-2006-Co-developed a real-time, in-field decision support system aimed at increasing efficiency levels for farmers during harvest & planting operations. This system was eventually purchased and implemented by John Deere in their operations center for customers
2005-2014-Served as external advisory board member in the agricultural & consumer economics department at the University of Illinois
2004-2023-Established and funded at the University of Illinois: the agricultural & consumer economics academic excellence fund, Carol K. Johnson legacy scholarship fund, Dr. Wayne L. Banwart legacy scholarship fund, Charles E. Olson student leadership fund, Austin A. Apgar Illini golf agreement, Austin A. Apgar defensive lineman football scholarship for academic excellence
2004-Present-acquired ownership of Rund & Bosch Farms, a sixth generation family farm located in Douglas & Champaign counties
2008-2018-Served as board member & treasurer of the Illidell Cooperative Corporation
2013-Present-co-founded Subwars llc to serve as a holding company for Jimmy Johns franchises which operate in central illinois.
2016-Present – established and co-manage a multi-state farmland investment trust for the Shad & Ann Khan family office based in Urbana.
2018-Present-along with Phyllis J. Rund, established the Jerry R. Rund agricultural scholarship at Villa Grove High School for graduating seniors pursuing a vocation in agriculture.
2023-Present – established and funded the Austin A. Apgar charitable trust to support local charities, schools, scholarships and non-profits that make a difference in the lives of local communities & their residents in central Illinois.
2024-Present – co-founded ABW Group llc to serve as a holding company for sonic franchises which operate in central Illinois.
2025- Contributed a lead gift to Tri-City Country Club for the construction of a new clubhouse to serve its members and the community of Villa Grove.
Inducted into the Villa Grove alumni hall of fame -may 2025