Matt Hughes,
a 1992 graduate of Hillsboro High School and current UFC welterweight
champion, was selected to receive the 2006 Distinguished Alumni Award
from Hillsboro Community Unit School District Educational Foundation.
Hughes, 32, a two-time state wrestling champion in high school and All-American
wrestler in college, has gained notoriety world-wide and is a household
name among mixed martial arts fans. He first won the Ultimate Fighting
Championship welterweight belt in November 2001 and has successfully defended
his title seven times. On May 27, Hughes defeated UFC legend, Royce Gracie,
before a sell-out crowd at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA. He is
pictured on the cover of the new issue of Grappling magazine and is also
featured in the June issue of Muscle & Fitness. Hughes attended and
wrestled at Belleville Area College, Lincoln Junior College and Eastern
Illinois University, where he was assistant wrestling coach for three
years. He has been training and fighting professionally since 1999.
-Photo and
article courtesy of The Journal-News
Past Distinguished Alumni Award Winners:
2005
— Dr. Roger McFarlin (Class of 1972)
2004 —
Dr. David Darda (Class of 1975) and Brian Graden (Class of
1981)
2003 —
Idabel Evans (Class of 1941) and Harold "Zeke" Funk
(Class of 1945)
2002 —
Dr. Nancy Cox (Class of 1974)
2001 — Bud
Kelley (Class of 1950)