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DuPage County Leadership Team Honorable Mentions, 2018-2019

Sarah Abraham

Lake Park High School

Hometown: Bloomingdale

Class: Senior

Parents: Prakash Abraham, Jisha Abraham

Sponsor: Elizabeth Bazukas, counselor

Community service: The Limited, clothing drive during Christmastime and a charity fashion show around prom; Illinois YMCA Youth and Government; National Honor Society, organize volunteering for the chapter's members; Peer Juror; volunteering through church

Austin Adkins

Fenton High School

Hometown: Wood Dale

Class: Senior

Sponsor: Nancy Connor, counselor

Community service: Bandits Football/Cheer, coach; Tourette's Camp USA, camp counselor; Scare Walk, acting; Senior Citizen Matinee, caretaker; 8th Grade Orientation

Rafia Afzal

Glenbard South High School

Hometown: Glen Ellyn

Class: Senior

Parents: Waseem Afzal and Neelma Siddiqi

Community service: Muslim Women's Alliance, creating dinners for those in need; National Honor Society, PADS helping the homeless; Feed My Starving Children, packing meals for children in need; Masjid Uthman, handing out food during Ramadan to those in need

Safiyah Azeez

Islamic Foundation School

Hometown: Burr Ridge

Class: Senior

Parents: Nomaan Azeez and Keysha Azeez

Sponsor: Sarah Shams

Community service: Elmhurst Memorial Hospital volunteer; DuPage PADS Homeless Shelter volunteer; Lombard Immediate Care Clinic volunteer; Helping Hand Refugee Relief volunteer; Interfaith Dinner volunteer

Jyotsna Balmuri

Metea Valley High School

Hometown: Aurora

Class: Senior

Parents: Balmuri Rao and Anita Rao

Sponsor: Donald Pankuch, department chair social studies and MVStudentGo adviser

Community service: Do More Metea Valley, helped organize annual hunger drive, MLK Day of Service, helped watch children as their parents shopped at O'Donnell Elementary Holiday Gift Mart, interacted with community members while watching children during a back-to-school fair; Principal Advisory Board, helped promote and staffed a community barbecue hosted at the high school

Drew Bolisay

Montini Catholic High School

Hometown: Westmont

Class: Senior

Parents: Arnold and Danielle Bolisay

Sponsor: Hilda Castor, Spanish teacher

Community service: Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital, volunteering at the main information desk; St. Mary of Gostyn PADS volunteer; Freshman Step-Up Day/Quest; Bobak's Signature Events, setting up a fundraiser for the school; Feed My Starving Children, working in a team to prepare meals that are shipped to third-world countries

Kiran Daniel

Wheaton North High School

Hometown: Winfield

Class: Senior

Parents: John and Usha Daniel

Sponsor: Erin Angelo; counselor

Community service: Puente del Pueblo, tutored elementary students from low-income families who do not speak English as their first language; Kiran's Cupcakes, sold cupcakes to raise money to buy school supplies for students at Puente del Pueblo; National Honor Society, chapter project raised money for the Kelton Immunity Fund; Community School of the Arts at Wheaton College, performed for residents at a nursing home

Demi Dumovich

Glenbard North High School

Hometown: Hanover Park

Class: Senior

Parents: Andrew Dumovich

Sponsor: Kim Munro, counselor

Community service: Theatre Honor Society, head officer; St. Walter Bible Camp, crew leader/organizer of the program; Civics Club, organized protest of gun violence; volunteered for political campaigns; School Board Student Liaison

Alexa Fasone

Lisle High School

Hometown: Lisle

Class: Senior

Parents: Sheryl and Peter Fasone

Sponsor: Michelle Wallenberg, social studies instructor

Community service: National Honor Society, helps organize fundraisers and volunteering events for the members and community; KEY Club, organizes events such as sock drives for homeless veterans and gift donations for Chicago Public School students; Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital, volunteer at the front desk; Lurie Children's Hospital volunteer; Special Olympics volunteer

Melissa Florey

Willowbrook High School

Hometown: Lombard

Class: Senior

Parents: Ken and Kristi Florey

Sponsor: Cindy Zamora-Failla, school counselor

Community service: Camp R.O.C.K., counselor for junior high youth at a Christian summer camp; Elmhurst Memorial Hospital, comfort-cart volunteer; New Beginnings, board member and mentor for Willowbrook freshmen; Student Ambassadors, welcomes transfer students; Special Olympics student coach

Matthew Foley

Willowbrook High School

Hometown: Villa Park

Class: Senior

Parents: Kristie and John Foley

Sponsor: Cindy Zamora-Failla, school counselor

Community service: Elmhurst Hospital, teen volunteer; Sack Lunch Sunday, gathered each Sunday morning to create and distribute about 200 sack lunches to the homeless in Chicago; Outreach House, helped sort and distribute clothing and neonatal supplies to low-income families; Heart to Heart Project, spearheaded project alongside other student council officers to create Valentine's Day cards for a local children's hospital; EISUS Fun Fest, volunteer with Key Club

Alex Frazer

Glenbard West High School

Hometown: Glen Ellyn

Class: Senior

Parents: William and Jennifer Frazer

Sponsor: Michael R. Neberz, school counselor

Community service: Glen Ellyn Children's Resource Center Junior Board; First Congregational Church of Glen Ellyn Work Camp, service trip youth leader; National Honor Society; Senior Mentor; Student Council drives

Bridgette Garnache

Wheaton Warrenville South High School

Hometown: Wheaton

Class: Senior

Parents: Dave and Julie Garnache

Sponsor: Jeffrey Pawlak, guidance counselor

Community service: Wellspring Alliance Church, small group leader; Tiger Crew, planning parties and events for special-needs students; STEM outreach event/Women in STEM Club; Speech team, served as a mentor for novice students on the team; National Honor Society

Mitchell Glennon

Glenbard East High School

Hometown: Lombard

Class: Senior

Parents: Tim and Denise Glennon

Sponsor: Frank Nebbia, baseball coach

Community service: Cancer Care Caddies, volunteer; Good Samaritan NICU Picnic, volunteer; Special Olympics, volunteer; Baseball Camp Advisor

Trevor Haen

Lisle High School

Hometown: Lisle

Class: Senior

Parents: Stan and Heidi Haen

Sponsor: Karin Irvine

Community service: Peer tutoring; Student Ambassadors, help students (especially freshman and transfer students) adapt to high school life; Ecology Club, participated in different activities to help the school and community become more environmentally friendly; National Honor Society; Lisle Eyes to the Skies volunteer

Asja Hamzic

Glenbard East High School

Hometown: Lombard

Class: Senior

Parents: Emina and Omer Hamzic

Sponsor: Janet Reece, Spanish teacher

Community service: Ann's Closet, in-school clothing drive; Chicago Top Soccer, special-needs soccer program; annual Fox Valley Christian Association charity event, volunteering at a charity golf outing

Danielle N. Harris

Addison Trail High School

Hometown: Chicago

Class: Senior

Parents: Jennifer McKinney and Dametrius Harris

Sponsor: Amy Ferraro, English Department chair

Community service: Key Club, raised money for animal shelters; Kiwanis Key Club International, raised money for charities and Kiwanis; Knights of Columbus, raised money for people with disabilities; Ronald McDonald's Children's Hospital, prepared and cooked food; Feed My Starving Children, packed food for families in need around the world

Chloe Lynn Hawkins

St. Francis High School

Hometown: Naperville

Class: Senior

Parents: Kate Hawkins

Sponsor: Bridget Buckley, counseling department chair

Community service: Mission trip to help Franciscan sisters in Chicago prepare for vacation Bible school; Pre-K through first grade religious education leader; Young Rembrandts, art teacher; St. Patrick's Nursing Home volunteer; St. Thomas The Apostle Church, chosen to perform scripture readings for Sunday liturgies

Colin Iverson

Naperville North High School

Hometown: Naperville

Class: Senior

Parents: Dan and Laura Iverson

Sponsor: Jim Konrad, dean of students

Community service: DuPage Valley Special Athletes, serve as a teammate and mentor for high school/college athletes who have a variety of special needs while playing soccer; J. Kyle Braid Leadership Foundation, helped organize charitable activities; Adapted PE Leader, worked with students with disabilities during their P.E. class; Adapted Art Leader; Chicago Fire Unified Soccer

Ryan Kenneally

IC Catholic Prep

Hometown: Elmhurst

Class: Senior

Parents: Jim and Maureen Kenneally

Sponsor: Jean Field

Community service: Young Hearts for Life Junior Board, helped to raise money for Young Hearts for Life by putting on a 5K race; Peer Jury member; toy drive for National Honor Society; fundraiser for Easter Seals DuPage and Fox Valley; Misericordia Jelly Belly Candy Day

Shruti Kolli

Waubonsie Valley High School

Hometown: Naperville

Class: Senior

Parents: Manjeera Kakarla, Srinivas Kolli

Sponsor: Karen Kuhlman

Community service: Naperville Public Library, led “Save Our Seas” project as creative designs specialist for the Teen Advisory Group, student representative to library board; Spanish Honor Society, organized and led the Pulsera Project to support Nicaraguan artisans; Edward Hospital, student volunteer; Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, barista for the Cornerstone Café nonprofit ministry; Dr. Rubin's Mini Medical School, teaching assistant

Michelle Kwon

Glenbard South High School

Hometown: Glen Ellyn

Class: Senior

Parents: Yihyun Kwon and Eunsook Kwon

Sponsor: Timothy McGrath

Community service: Terra Nueva medical foundation (in Ecuador), clinic/hospital volunteer; Good Samaritan Hospital, junior advocate volunteer; Fortissimo, volunteering music and performance within community; National Honor Society; Itasca Korean Language School volunteer teacher

Jeromel Lara

Glenbard North High School

Hometown: Bloomingdale

Class: Senior

Parents: Miriam Lara

Sponsor: John Mensik, Principal

Community service: The North Current school newspaper, archiving work and journalistic work; Civics Club, promoting civic awareness and engagement within the student body; Student Leader in Training Program; The Write Place, writing tutor

Susan Maloney

IC Catholic Prep

Hometown: Elmhurst

Class: Senior

Parents: John and Susan Maloney

Sponsor: Donald Moore, teacher and campus minister

Community service: Access Sports, volunteer and vice president of Access Sports Youth Board; TLC Camp counselor; Relay For Life, team captain; Habitat for Humanity mission trip to Kentucky; Elmhurst Hospital Inaugural Junior Board, fundraising for the hospital

Kathleen Nie

Naperville North High School

Hometown: Naperville

Class: Senior

Parents: Xiaosong Nie, Xiaozhong Nie

Sponsor: Heather Schild, badminton coach

Community service: Artra, co-founder of a free art program for underprivileged children; Swifty Foundation, community yard sale; Illinois DECA, statewide raffle and cookie-decorating contest; WCAC Church Choir, piano accompanist for church choir; DuPage Children's Museum, play assistant

Shivani Patel

Fenton High School

Hometown: Bensenville

Class: Senior

Sponsor: Paul Welsh, counselor

Community service: Alexian Brothers Medical Center, volunteering; St. Alexius Medical Center, volunteering; Blackhawk Middle School Project CARE, volunteering tutoring students; Feed My Starving Children

Reeya Patolawala

Hinsdale Central School

Hometown: Hinsdale

Class: Senior

Parents: Anu Patolawala and Monish Patolawala

Sponsor: Michael Litton, guidance counselor

Community service: MidAmerica Service Dogs Foundation; Andhakshi Ashram, backpack drive; Partners for Achievement, 1,001 Backpacks for Haiti and Home; Hinsdale Public Library, volunteer tutoring; Let's Help Out, community service

Akshaya P. Raghavan

Illinois Math and Science Academy

Fox Valley Leadership Team member

Hometown: Naperville

Class: Senior

Parents: Santha and Sreenivasan Raghavan

Sponsor: David McGovern

Community service: Learning and Developmental Disabilities Matter Founder, Gigi's Playhouse volunteer, Student Board president

Yuvia Serna

Glenbard West High School

Hometown: Carol Stream

Class: Senior

Parents: Esteban and Soledad Serna

Sponsor: Christopher Mitchell, assistant principal of student services

Community service: Wheaton Rice Pool and Water Park, junior lifeguard training/swim lessons; Glen Ellyn Resource Center (Churchill Elementary), tutoring; Glenbard West Write Place, editing and tutoring students; Spanish Honor Society (Glenbard West High School), Spanish interpreter; National/Spanish Honor Society, tutoring

Luis A. Silva

Addison Trail High School

Hometown: Addison

Class: Senior

Parents: Jose and Maria Silva

Sponsor: Juliann Boudouris, Department Chair of CTE

Community service: Kiwanis Peanuts; Salvation Army bell ringing; Ardmore Elementary volunteer; Top Soccer; Addison Food Pantry

Caroline Thoms

St. Francis High School

Hometown: Wayne

Class: Senior

Parents: Ann and Chris Thoms

Sponsor: Adam Lindley, counselor

Community service: Play It Forward Tennis, created tennis program to help mentor young children of Marian Park Apartments (Mercy Housing); after-school tutoring program for Marian Park Apartments; Students Against Destructive Decisions Club, a club offered at school that promotes mental and physical health; mission trip to the Dominican Republic; DuPage PADS, packed lunches through St. Thomas United Methodist Church in Glen Ellyn

Marissa VanDeVeer

Montini Catholic High School

Hometown: Downers Grove

Class: Senior

Parents: Paul and Alicia VanDeVeer

Sponsor: Denis Block; theology teacher, Lasallian Youth and Habitat for Humanity moderator

Community service: Kairos retreat leader and student director; Jamaica service project through International Samaritan; Habitat for Humanity; Pro-Life Club, organized trip to the March for Life in Washington D.C.; Peer Ministry

Madeleine Whirledge

Naperville Central High School

Hometown: Naperville

Class: Senior

Parents: Marc and Marie Whirledge

Sponsor: Bill Wiesbrook, principal

Community service: The Merry Tutor, president of high school's chapter; West Suburban Food Pantry, serve local clients facing food security concerns by helping them get weekly groceries to provide for their families; Adapted PE, act as a peer leader helping the students; Little Arrowettes, camp to encourage and young students to pursue dance

Austin Adkins, Fenton High School
Rafia Afzal, Glenbard South High School
Jyotsna Balmuri, Metea Valley High School
Drew Bolisay, Montini Catholic High School
Kiran Daniel, Wheaton North High School
Demi Dumovich, Glenbard North High School
Alexa Fasone, Lisle High School
Melissa Florey, Willowbrook High School
Matthew Foley, Willowbrook High School
Alex Frazer, Glenbard West High School
Bridgette Garnache, Wheaton Warrenville South High School
Mitchell Glennon, Glenbard East High School
Trevor Haen, Lisle High School
Asja Hamzic, Glenbard East High School
Danielle N. Harris, Addison Trail High School
Chloe Lynn Hawkins, St. Francis High School
Colin Iverson, Naperville North High School
Ryan Kenneally, IC Catholic Prep
Shruti Kolli, Waubonsie Valley High School
Michelle Kwon, Glenbard South
Jeromel Lara, Glenbard North High School
Suzie Maloney, IC Catholic Prep
Kathleen Nie, Naperville North High School
Shivani Patel, Fenton High School
Reeya Patolawala, Hinsdale Central
Akshaya P. Raghavan, IMSA
Yuvia Serna, Glenbard West High School
Luis Silva, Addison Trail High School
Caroline Thoms, St. Francis High School
Marissa VanDeVeer, Montini Catholic
Madeleine Whirledge, Naperville Central
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