BLOOMINGTON - A group of 36 Oakland Elementary School students made Tuesday an historic day in honor of a hometown hero.

"Every time it's Feb. 5, I'm going to feel I actually made history," said Brittney Peden, 9, a fourth-grader whose efforts helped convince Gov. Rod Blagojevich to declare Feb. 5, 2008, Adlai E. Stevenson II Day.

Tuesday was the 108th birthday of the Bloomington native who served as governor of Illinois, two-time Democratic presidential nominee and U.N. ambassador.

Brittney's voice, along with those of other third- fourth- and fifth-graders, is on a video presented to state legislators as part of their effort to win state recognition of the date.

On Tuesday, she was among Oakland students who filled the gym with several state and local dignitaries to hear state Rep. Dan Brady, R-Bloomington, announce Blagojevich's declaration.

"I'm glad to be a small part of it; they did all the heavy lifting," Brady said of Oakland staff and students. "You accomplished so many things."

Brady also told them the Illinois House of Representatives made a symbolic resolution to recognize Feb. 5 as Adlai E. Stevenson II Day. A pending House bill would make Feb. 5 a permanent day of commemoration across the state.

"You won't get a day off school," Brady said with a grin.

Brady said it was appropriate to honor Stevenson on the day of Illinois' primary.

Oakland students previously lobbied successfully to get Adlai E. Stevenson II Day named a commemorative day in Bloomington in 2004. Former Bloomington Mayor Judy Markowitz, who helped the effort, was part of the celebrations Tuesday.

As part of their research, students visited the Stevenson home in Bloomington, his gravesite at Evergreen Cemetery and the McLean County Museum of History. They also went to Central Illinois Regional Airport with sculptor Rick Harney of Bloomington, who created a Stevenson statue in the terminal.

The local Beyond the Books Foundation helped fund the project.

"I'm very impressed with what they've done. I would like to see more projects like this," said Bloomington Mayor Steve Stockton.

The students produced a multimedia presentation and lobbied local and state government. They learned about history, teamwork and integrating technology, said Oakland Principal Mary Kay Scharf.

Years from now, the students will be able to show their own children the date on the calendar and tell them they helped make it so, she said.

"It is a project that will stay with them a lifetime," said District 87 Superintendent Bob Nielsen.

"It's been a learning experience. The kids have really taken ownership of it," said Dede Vertplaetse, a parent, whose fourth-grade daughter, Kathryn, is part of the project.

The students' video can be viewed at www.pantagraph.com.