What is the significance of the name Bluestem?
Big Bluestem, the Illinois state prairie grass, symbolizes the entire Bluestem Award and the variety of titles on the Master List each year. The deep roots of this dominant native grass of the tall grass prairie indicate the older titles with lasting appeal. New yearly growth relates to the newer titles chosen. Its changing colors are a reflection of the variety of literatures, and the three seed spikes represent the three grades of students for whom the program is intended: 3rd, 4th, and 5th.
