Sweitzer honored by state association

Karl Sweitzer of Cobden has been selected by the Illinois Principals Association, IPA, as the association's 2011 Herman Graves Award winner.

Sweitzer is superin-tendent of Cobden Unit School District 17.

The Herman Graves Award was established in 1991 to recognize outstanding service to the IPA.

Graves was the first person to receive the award.

In a news release, IPA noted that "Graves was selected as the first honoree and the award was established because of the intrinsic contributions he made to the association and his enthusiasm for the profession."

Winners for the award are chosen from the 21 regional areas which form the framework of the IPA.

From the regional winners, a state winner is chosen by a committee comprised of IPA past presidents.

Sweitzer was recognized at a special ceremony Oct. 17 during the IPA's fall professional conference in Peoria.

IPA is a leadership organization which serves more than 4,600 educational leaders throughout Illinois.