Northwest Suburban honorable mentions
Anna Baran
Palatine High School
Hometown: Palatine
Parents: Peter & Dorothy Baran
Sponsor: Susan Quinlan, counselor
Class rank: 2nd out of 672
GPA: 5.0319 on 4.0 weighted scale
Test scores: ACT: 34; SAT: 2130
Planned major: Biological sciences
Awards, honors: National Honor Society and Spanish Honor Society; AP Scholar with Distinction; Illinois State Scholar
Jessie Bingaman
Rolling Meadows High School
Hometown: Arlington Heights
Parents: Jay & Donna Bingaman
Sponsor: Kathy Connolly, teacher
Class rank: 4th out of 452
GPA: 5.53 on 5.0 weighted scale.
Test scores: ACT: 34
Planned major: Spanish and Chinese
Awards, honors: Society of Women Engineers Award; the Frederick Douglass and Susan B. Anthony Award for Social Sciences and Humanities; National Honor Society; AP Scholar; Illinois State Scholar.
Allison Bott
South Elgin High School
Hometown:Bartlett
Parents:Shelly and Dan Bott
Sponsor:Melanie Meidel, principal
Class rank:4th out of 640
GPA:4.813 on a 4.0 scale
Test scores:ACT: 32
Planned major:Biochemistry, mathematics
Awards, honors:Illinois State Scholar; Academic All-Conference six seasons; High Honor roll four years; Elgin Rotary Straight “A”
Amir Djavid
William Fremd High School
Hometown: Hoffman Estates
Parents: Mr. and Mrs. Mohammad Djavid
Sponsor: Jeffrey Lathrop, counselor
Class rank: 1st out of 733
GPA: 5.2224 on a 4.0 weighted scale
Test scores: ACT: 35
Planned major: Biomedical engineering
Awards, honors: National Merit finalist; AP Scholar with Distinction; two-time ICTM state qualifier; sports editor of the school newspaper
Alvin George
Maine West High School
Hometown: Des Plaines
Parents: Mr. and Mrs. Thomas George
Sponsor: Audrey Haugan, principal
Class rank: 2nd out of 519
GPA: 4.95 on 4.0 weighted scale
Test scores: ACT: 34
Planned major: Biology, pre-medicine
Awards, honors: District 207's Best — Academic Excellence; 2nd place in experimental design at Science Olympiad regionals; Bausch & Lomb Honorary Science Award from University of Rochester; National Honor Society; Pi Sigma Pi-Daughters of the American Revolution award.
Owen G. Hoepfner
Prospect High School
Hometown: Mount Prospect
Parents: Laura and Stephen Hoepfner
Sponsor: Lynn Thornton, counselor
Class rank: 6th out of 545
GPA: 5.67 on a 5.0 weighted scale
Test scores: ACT: 35; SAT: 2180
Planned major: Finance, accounting
Awards, honors: University of Illinois James Scholar Honor program; National Merit finalist, AP Scholar with Distinction; 2012 All State Congressional Debate Team.
Hannah Kay*
Adlai E. Stevenson High School
Hometown:Lincolnshire
Parents:Dickie and Mary Kay
Sponsor:Brett Erdmann, AP Biology teacher; Community Service Coordinator
Class rank:School does not rank
GPA:4.7901 on a weighted 4.0 scale
Test scores:ACT: 35; SAT: 2190
Planned major:Biology
Awards, honors:Outstanding Junior Biology Award; Rachel Carson Award (English/Science); Outstanding Junior Social Studies Award
Jonathan Kersky*
Adlai E. Stevenson High School
Hometown:Buffalo Grove
Parents:Cheryl & Stuart Kersky
Sponsor:Denise Foster, communication arts teacher
Class rank:School does not rank
GPA:4.7848 on a weighted 4.0 scale
Test scores:ACT: 35; SAT: 2380
Planned major:Biochemistry or biomedical engineering
Awards, honors:National Merit Finalist; Illinois State Scholar; Jefferson Award for Public Service.
Jiayu Liang
William Fremd High School
Hometown: Hoffman Estates
Parents: Mr. and Mrs. Qian Liang
Sponsor: John Baima, counselor
Class rank: 5th out of 733
GPA: 5.0795 on 4.0 weighted scale
Test scores: ACT: 34; SAT: 2320
Planned major: Economics or anthropology
Awards, honors: National Merit finalist; Social Studies Student of the Month; Scholastic Bowl 2011 and 2012 All Sectional Team; AP Scholar, Illinois State Scholar.
Michael A Lilien
Barrington High School
Hometown: Barrington
Parents: Thomas Lilien and Linda Rothnagel
Sponsor: Matthew Gelon, physics teacher
Class rank: 2nd out of 747
GPA: 4.678 on 4.0 weighted scale
Test scores: ACT: 35; SAT: 2310
Planned major: Physics, mathematics
Awards, honors: National Merit Finalist, National AP Scholar, National Honor Society; silver medalist, National Latin exam; 2nd place, physics, regional WYSE regionals
Leah Malsom
Wheeling High School
Hometown: Arlington Heights
Parents: Mike and Diane Malsom
Sponsor: Richard Watson, guidance counselor
Class rank: 1st out of 438
GPA: 5.65 on 5.0 weighted scale
Test scores: ACT: 33
Planned major: Accounting, actuarial science
Awards, honors: U of I Urbana Business Honors program; National Honor Society, AP Scholar, Illinois State Scholar; three-sport varsity captain; 2012 Northshore Jazz Festival Outstanding Soloist; Wendy's High School Heisman School winner
Lissa Mandell*
Lake Zurich High School
Hometown:Deer Park
Parents:Robert & Julie Mandell
Sponsor:Matt Liberatore, counselor
Class rank:2nd out of 516
GPA:4.6304 on a weighted 4.0 scale
Test scores:ACT: 35
Planned major:Biology and Spanish
Awards, honors:5th place, Biology, Worldwide Youth in Science & Engineering state competition; 1st place, Biology, WYSE sectionals; AP Scholar with Honor
Michael McKenna
Rolling Meadows High School
Hometown: Arlington Heights
Parents: John and Kathy McKenna
Sponsor: Katie Page, NHS sponsor
Class rank: 1st out of 492
GPA: 5.0 on a 5.0 scale
Test scores: ACT: 36
Planned major: Biochemistry or biomedical engineering
Awards, honors: Biology Student of the Year; National Merit commended scholar; National Honor Society, AP Scholar, Presidential Scholar, Illinois State Scholar; editor-in-chief of school paper; Jazz in the Meadows Outstanding Soloist Award
Claire O'Donnell
John Hersey High School
Hometown: Arlington Heights
Parents: Kevin and Cindy O'Donnell
Sponsor: Dawn Francis, biology teacher
Class rank: 3rd out of 466
GPA: 5.70 on a 5.0 weighted scale
Test scores: ACT: 36
Planned major: Undecided
Awards, honors: U of I James Scholar, National Merit finalist, Presidential Scholar, AP Scholar with Distinction; National Honor Society; MCTM state qualifier 2011 & 2012, Regional Event champion 2012
Mary Kate Olofson
St. Francis High School, Wheaton
Hometown:Roselle
Parents:Peggy & Carl Olofson
Sponsor:Trudy Rigney, director of guidance
Class rank:2nd out of 179
GPA:5.13 on a 4.0 weighted scale
Test scores: ACT: 29
Planned major:Psychology and Social Work
Honors, Awards:St. Michael's College Book Award Recipient; Nelson's Today top student; Salutatorian
Aakash V. Patel
Barrington High School
Hometown: South Barrington
Parents: Dr. and Mrs. Vikram Patel
Sponsor: Tom Bredemeier, AP computer science teacher
Class rank: 1st out of 747
GPA: 4.730 on 4.0 weighted scale
Test scores: ACT: 36; SAT: 2300
Planned major: Computer science
Awards, honors: 5th place, computer science, WYSE state competition; Medusa Mythology Exam gold medalist; National Merit finalist, National Honor Society, AP Scholar, Illinois State Scholar
Katherine Petrovich
St. Viator High School
Hometown: Arlington Heights
Parents: John & Diane Petrovich
Sponsor: Eileen Manno, principal
Class rank: 1st out of 237
GPA: 104.33 on a 100 point weighted scale.
Test scores: ACT: 34; SAT: 2210
Planned major: Biology, pre-medicine
Awards, honors: Comcast Leader and Achievers; National Merit commended scholar, Illinois State Scholar, AP Scholar with honor, National Honor Society; co-captain varsity soccer; IHSA Scholastic Achievement Award
Stephanie Prince
The Willows Academy, Des Plaines
Hometown: Lombard
Parents: Jennifer & David Prince
Sponsor: Sean Brown, director of college counseling
Class rank: School does not rank
GPA: 101.12 on a 100 point weighted scale
Test scores: ACT: 35; SAT: 2180
Planned major: Biochemistry
Awards, honors: National Merit finalist; National Honor Society, AP Scholar, Illinois State Scholar, French Honor Society; Mu Alpha Theta-Mathematics Honorary Society; IHSA All State Academic Team Honorable Mention
Adam Ratner
Maine East High School
Hometown: Morton Grove
Parents: Neal and Donna Ratner
Sponsor: Cristina Villalobos, guidance counselor
Class rank: 2nd out of 434
GPA: 4.8571 on a 5.0 weighted scale
Test scores: ACT: 33; SAT: 2220
Planned major: Physics, mathematics
Awards, honors: National Merit Commended Scholar; National Honor Society, AP Scholar; drum major; 2nd place and best overall effect, NIV Fall Classic marching competition; Skills USA 2nd place technical spelling and math
Raymond Roman
Maine East High School
Hometown: Morton Grove
Parents: Rolando and Maria Elena Roman
Sponsor: Cristina Villalobos, guidance counselor
Class rank: 3rd out of 434
GPA: 4.0 on a 4.0 weighted scale
Test scores: ACT: 33
Planned major: Biology
Awards, honors: Illinois State Scholar; District 207 Student of the Month, NCTE Achievement Award in writing; National Honor Society, medalist in ICTM State Math contest
Kim Romano
St. Viator High School
Hometown: Arlington Heights
Parents: Bob & Bridget Romano
Sponsor: Eileen Manno, principal
Class rank: 2nd out of 237
GPA: 104.07 on a 100 point weighted scale
Test scores: ACT: 33
Planned major: Nutrition/dietary studies or business
Awards, honors: Italian religion, science Student of the Year; History and religion Student of the Year; National Honor Society, Illinois State Scholar; Best Entertainment Article of the Year Award 2010
Kyle Patrick Scheffel
Elk Grove High School
Hometown: Elk Grove Village
Parents: Scott and Linda Scheffel
Sponsor: Chris Rugg, math/science division head
Class rank: 1st out of 488
GPA: 5.76 on a 5.0 weighted scale
Test scores: ACT: 35
Planned major: Electrical engineering
Awards, honors: National Technical Honor Society; Prairie State Achievement Award in reading, mathematics, science and writing; National Merit Commended Scholar; National Honor Society, AP Scholar, Illinois State Scholar, Math Team; IHSA Scholastic Achievement Award
Christina Tran
School: Schaumburg High School
Hometown: Schaumburg
Parents: Danny and Phuong Tran
Sponsor: Joseph Kowalski, counselor
Class rank: 1st out of 622
GPA: 5.1113 on a 4.0 weighted scale
Test scores: ACT: 33; SAT: 2280
Planned major: Pharmacy
Awards, honors: AP Scholar with Distinction; Prairie State Achievement Award in math, science writing and reading; National Merit Commended Scholar; National Honor Society, Illinois State Scholar; editor, school literary magazine and school newspaper
Renee Zhu
Schaumburg High School
Hometown: Schaumburg
Parents: George Zhu and Margaret Ayer
Sponsor: Ronald Micheletto, English teacher
Class rank: 5th out of 622
GPA: 4.9786 on a 4.0 weighted scale
Test scores: ACT: 33; SAT: 2010
Planned major: International relations
Awards, honors: AP Scholar with Distinction; National Honor Society, Illinois State Scholar, Student of the Month; Prairie State Achievement Award in writing, reading, math, science; IHSA Scholastic Achievement Award
*Winner, Lake County Academic Team