4 Ogle County students receive Foundation for Focus House scholarships

Four Ogle County students were awarded Foundation for Focus House scholarships on July 8. Recipients were Cambrey Rodeghero, Cole Montavon, Isabella Biggs and Lexi Davis.

Four Ogle County students were awarded Foundation for Focus House scholarships on July 8. Recipients were Cambrey Rodeghero, Cole Montavon, Isabella Biggs and Lexi Davis. Rodeghero will be attending the University of Illinois at Champaign with plans to study law.

Montavon will be attending Kishwaukee College to study to become a diesel mechanic. Biggs will be attending North Central College to double major in education and art. Davis received the scholarship sponsored by Foundation for Focus House Board President Dave Tess and his wife, Jean.

She will be attending Augustana College to study nursing. Two of the scholarships were sponsored by the LaVerne Adams family, Tess said. “He was the Ogle County Board chairman at the time this facility started 50 years ago,” Tess said.

“I was very involved with him and his family. About 30-35 years ago, they got me hooked into this program. It’s a wonderful family.”

Focus House Executive Director Brenda Mason said students getting the opportunity to get some of their tuition covered by a scholarship is “important” and said Focus House and its foundation wanted to give back after all the support shown to them by the community. Focus House is one of two facilities of its kind in the state. The Ogle County treatment facility just north of Rochelle provides a continuum of services for at-risk youths, including residential, counseling, education and alternative programming.

“We wouldn’t be able to function here without Foundation for Focus House,” Mason said. “The county gives us money for operations, but the foundation allows us to have our privilege system and rewards and to get the kids stuff they need. Without the foundation, there probably is no Focus House.”

Mason said the scholarship program shows that Focus House is “so much more” than a residential facility. “We try to meet the needs of the community in any way we can, whether it’s residential or outpatient services here or giving scholarships to kids that have never even been in the criminal justice system,” Mason said. “My vision for Focus House is to help the community in any way we can.”