ROCHELLE — The Rochelle News-Leader has selected Rochelle Township High School seniors Jack Tilton and Erin Murphy to receive the 2025 RNL Scholar-Athlete Awards for their combined academic and athletic achievements as during their time at RTHS. The two seniors received $500 scholarships and were given awards during the RTHS Honors Night on May 5. 

“We are excited to recognize Jack and Erin for their commitment to excellence in both athletics and academics throughout their time at RTHS,” RNL Sports Editor Russ Hodges said. “Each of these seniors has displayed outstanding academic achievement and significant participation in athletics at RTHS. These seniors have represented RTHS inside and outside of the classroom and we wish each of them the best of luck as they continue their studies at the collegiate level.”

Erin Murphy has participated in five sports during her time at RTHS, spending two years with the volleyball and girls tennis teams as well as three years with the girls basketball team and two years with the softball and girls track and field teams. She has earned seven varsity letters and has been named an Academic All-Conference honoree seven times in her athletic career. 

Erin received the Most Improved Player Award during her junior tennis season and was both an All-Interstate 8 Honorable Mention and an IHSA state qualifier in doubles during her senior tennis season. In track and field, Erin currently holds the indoor and outdoor school records in the shot put and was an Illinois Top Times Indoor State Championship qualifier as a senior. Erin won the Interstate 8 Conference and IHSA Sectional titles and was a third-place IHSA state medalist in the shot put.

Erin’s extracurricular involvement includes four years with both the Math Team and the Interact Club as well as two years with the National Honor Society and one year with both the Cultural Reform Alliance and the International Club. Erin served on the Prom Committee as a junior and participated in Hub Power for all four years of her time at RTHS. After graduation, Erin will be attending Loyola University in Chicago, where she intends to study psychology and biology. 

Jack Tilton participated in three sports during his time at RTHS, where he spent four years with the football, boys basketball and boys track and field teams. Jack received seven varsity letters and was named an Academic All-Conference honoree in each of his three sports.

Jack was an Interstate 8 champion, an Illinois Top Times Indoor State Championship qualifier and IHSA state qualifier in the high jump during his senior year. Jack, whose sister Abby is a previous RNL Scholar-Athlete Award winner, will be attending Carthage College to study engineering while competing with the men’s track and field team.