Housing authority organization presents scholarship to local student

A Union County student is the recipient of a special scholarship that will help him to pursue a college education.

Marcus Etherton of Anna has been awarded a $500 scholarship by the Egyptian Council of Housing Officials, ECHO.

Etherton is the son of Mildred Etherton of Anna.

He is a student at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

He transferred to the U of I after graduating from Shawnee Community College.

Etherton is a 2007 graduate of Anna-Jonesboro Community High School.

At this time, he is majoring in Spanish. Etherton said he may change his major to political science.

He also is serving in the Illinois National Guard and is scheduled to begin basic training in March.

Union County Housing Authority is a member of ECHO. More than 30 housing authorities in the Southern Illinois area are members of the organization.

Housing authority executive director Judy Plummer said the organization presents four scholarships a year to students.

As part of the scholarship selection process, each student writes an essay describing his or her goals.

The students each receive $500 which they can use to continue their studies.

Etherton has called Union County Housing Authority home for his entire life.

“We’re very proud of Marcus,” Plummer said. “He is a success story.”