Northwest Suburban honorable mentions
Victoria Bilello
The Willows Academy
Hometown: Mundelein
Class: Senior
Parents: Evelyn and Lawrence Bilello
Sponsor: Sean M. Brown, director of college counseling
Community service: Tutored inner city children in Milwaukee; visited residents of Winchester House; assisted at a horse farm specializing in the development of disabled children; helped distribute food baskets to inner city families at Midtown Center; at Willows Academy tutors high school and middle school students and is a teacher's aide
Theresa R. Finneran
Schaumburg High School
Hometown: Schaumburg
Class: Senior
Parents: Kate and Dan Finneran
Sponsor: Brent Swolsky, counselor
Community service: Worked construction on a 10-day Appalachian Service Project; volunteers with St. Marcelline Church doing general community outreach and serving as a teen catechist; works with the vacation Bible school program at Church of the Holy Spirit; sits on the Schaumburg Police Department's Peer Jury; Operation Snowball leader
Ethan Gordon*
*Named to the Fox Valley Leadership Team
Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, Aurora
Hometown: Buffalo Grove
Class: Senior
Parents: Lauren and David Gordon
Sponsor: Jim Gerry, chief information officer
Community service: Titan Robotics FIRST Team, Advanced Computer Association, Student Computing Services, technology coach at Ivy Hall Elementary School
Emma Hogaboom
St. Viator High School
Hometown: Arlington Heights
Class: Senior
Parents: Dave Hogaboom and Colleen Gaughan
Sponsor: Joe Majkowski,director of counseling
Community service: Participated in a Peacebuilders Initiative retreat and yearlong service project; volunteers as a Retreat Leader at St. Viator High School; Youth Congress member and service project co-planner with Viatorian Youth Congress; volunteered with a mission trip through Catholic Heart Work Camp; participates with St. James Youth Ministry in a teen leadership role
Michelle Kelrikh*
*Named to the Lake County Leadership Team
Adlai E. Stevenson High School
Hometown: Buffalo Grove
Class: Senior
Parents: Alexander and Alla Kelrikh
Sponsor:Ted Goergen, student activities director
Community service: Founder and president of 75-member Kiva Club, raising $20,000 to help 500 entrepreneurs in 39 countries through microfinance; volunteer at Center on Wrongful Convictions helping attorneys with their caseloads; freshman mentor; volunteer counselor at camp for children and teens with special needs; organized dance marathon to raise money for a home for adults with developmental disabilities
Ricky Krajewski
East Leyden High School
Hometown: River Grove
Class: Senior
Parents: Sharon and David Krajewski
Sponsor: Michael Tazic, social studies teacher
Community service: Performed Eagle Scout project at the Moose Lodge; participates in annual door-to-door food drive through the Boy Scouts of America; volunteers annually at the St. Cyprian Parish outdoor block party; volunteers as a Junior Black Belt teaching children the basics of self-defense through the Goju-Shorei Kids Karate Club; through the National Honor Society works on the Adopt a Road program.
Mara Leane
Prospect High School
Hometown: Mount Prospect
Class: Senior
Parents: Joseph and Lori Leane
Sponsor: Lyn Scolaro, student council adviser
Community service: Active Student Council member and president; volunteers at the Mount Prospect Public Library; worked as a volunteer assistant dance instructor with the Mount Prospect Park District; co-sponsored events and organized volunteer activities as an active Knights Way member and leader; is a Literacy Center tutor.
Tyler Levy
Wheeling High School
Hometown: Wheeling
Class: Senior
Parents: Monica and Robert Levy
Sponsor: Sara Strauss,math teacher
Community service: Volunteers with the Gateway to Technology program;participated in Relay For Life;tutors middle school and high school students; active member of student council, the Wheeling Political Action Club and the Accounting Club; volunteered at the Interact With Africa fundraising basketball game and with the American Cancer Society
Alyssa Lopez
St. Edward Central Catholic High School
Hometown: Streamwood
Class: Senior
Parents: Albert and Abigail Lopez
Sponsor: Kerry O'Brien, head of Counseling Services
Community service: Streamwood Park District; teacher aide for St. John the Evangelist religious education; children and teen aide at Poplar Creek Library; senior aide, The Vines Senior Home; musical accompanist for Independent Players
Michael Maley
Buffalo Grove High School
Hometown: Arlington Heights
Class: Senior
Parents: Kimberly Maley
Sponsor: Elizabeth Bennett, orchestra director
Community service: Organized and oversaw a clothing drive through District 21; serves as National Honor Society president and has worked on various fundraising and community service projects; has performed national and local community service work through Kingswood United Methodist Church; did an Eagle Scout service project through Boy Scouts of America; worked as a campaign intern for U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk
Taryn Neubecker
Schaumburg High School
Hometown: Schaumburg
Class: Senior
Parents: Bob and Renee Neubecker
Sponsor: Brent Swolsky, counselor
Community service: National Honor Society; serves as a guide, mentor and resource to other students through Peer Counseling; volunteers as a Student Ambassador; active participant of the Youth Ensemble at Church of the Holy Spirit; active volunteer with Students Helping Others organization
Vrutisha Patel
Wheeling High School
Hometown: Wheeling
Class: Junior
Parents: Mr. and Mrs. Patel
Sponsor: Shelly Wiegel, math teacher
Community service: Tutors Holmes Middle School students; volunteers at the Greek American Care and Rehab Center; helped with the summer reading program at Indian Trails Public Library; works in the day care at Whitman Elementary School; volunteered at the Wheeling High School bake sale for breast cancer awareness.
Eduardo Perez
Elgin High School
Hometown: Hanover Park
Class: Senior
Parents: Jose Eduardo Perez and Margarita Perez
Sponsor: Cristina Cabrera, Gifted and Talented Academy director
Community service: President, National Honor Society chapter, leading their numerous volunteer projects and fundraisers; Students Today, Leaders Forever, Pay It Forward Tour; blood donations for Heartland Blood Centers; French Honor Society, tutor
Rebecca Rasmussen
East Leyden High School
Hometown: Franklin Park
Class: Senior
Parents: James and Margaret Rasmussen
Sponsor: Bryan Miller, music departmentchairman
Community service: Volunteered with Relay For Life; serves as a music minister at St. Cyprian's Parish; Book Buddies Reading volunteer at the Franklin Park Library; serves as a mentor with the ACCESS (A Caring Community Empowering Student Success) freshman mentoring program.
Mark Sandel
Prospect High School
Hometown: Arlington Heights
Class: Senior
Parents: Donald and Georgi Sandel
Sponsor: Kurt Laakso, principal
Community service: Worked building and reconstructing homes, ramps, and other areas in Greensboro, N.C., with the St. James Mission Team; organized a schoolwide spirit video as a member of Knights Way; constructed homes with Habitat for Humanity; volunteers with the St. James PADS shelter program
Kevin Schreiber
St. Viator High School
Hometown: Rolling Meadows
Class: Senior
Parents: Gregg and Nadine Schreiber
Sponsor: Joe Majkowski,director of counseling
Community service: Organized EKG testing at St. Viator High School through Screens For Teens; founding group member of the Children of Abraham Coalition, which promotes peace and understanding among different faiths; helps incoming freshmen adjust to high school through the Link Crew; is an active member of the Justice League; volunteers with Salute Inc.
Adil Mohammed Shoeb
College Preparatory School of America, Lombard
Hometown: Streamwood
Class: Senior
Parents: Mohammed Shoeb and Masarrath Shoeb
Sponsor: Duc Do, instruction specialist
Community service: St. Alexius Medical Center volunteer; FFN (Food for the Needy) volunteer; Camp Busy Bees camp counselor; National Honor Society peer tutoring, Habitat for Humanity volunteer
Ann Singer
James B. Conant High School
Hometown: Hoffman Estates
Class: Senior
Parents: Richard and Etsuko Singer
Sponsor: Asra Syed, English teacher
Community service: Student council president; founding member of the charity Holiday Heroes; volunteers for various community service and fundraising event through National Honor Society; participated in Breast Cancer Awareness Walk, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Walk, Light the Night for Leukemia& Lymphoma, and YOX Trot; volunteer/intern forJohn Lawson's campaign for state representative
Tyler Smith
Bartlett High School
Hometown: Bartlett
Class: Senior
Parents: Kevin and Mary Beth Smith
Sponsor: Laura Laursen
Community service: Organized a 5K run to benefit the Kawasaki Foundation; performed various fundraising and community service projects through National Honor Society; serves as a Peer Leader, volunteers as an assistant coach and umpire with the Bartlett Little League; participated in class council
Ariel Smolik-Valles
Maine West High School
Hometown: Des Plaines
Class: Senior
Parents: Lorenzo and Eileen Valles
Sponsor: Principal Audrey Haugan
Community service: Works as a member of the TechCrew at North Maine Community Church; volunteered filling food packs for Feed My Starving Children; as a member of the Class of 2013 Class Council organized and planned fundraisers and school dances; has volunteered with various schoolwide fundraising events
Joe Sulentic
James B. Conant High School
Hometown: Hoffman Estates
Class: Senior
Parents: Theresa and Mike Sulentic
Sponsor: Yvette Jones, guidance counselor
Community service: Peer Ministry leader at St. Hubert Parish; organized a food packaging event for teammates and friends through the Feed My Starving Children organization; volunteered with Feed Chicago's Homeless; participates in various service and fundraising events through National Honor Society.
Riannon Szofer
Bartlett High School
Hometown: Carol Stream
Class: Senior
Parents: Jerry and Sharon Szofer
Sponsor: Erin Gorman,guidance counselor
Community service: Participant in the Relay For Life of Bartlett, Hanover Park, Streamwood area; volunteer with the Just Play community event through the Carol Stream Park District; peer tutor at Bartlett High School; helped raise funds for MS through Crop for a Cause; participant in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk; president of both student council and National Honor Society; serves on Class Council
Elizabeth Tokarz
William Fremd High School
Hometown: Palatine
Class: Senior
Parents: Mr. and Mrs. Daniel J. Tokarz
Sponsor: Joseph Rodino, science teacher
Community service: Participated with the Peacebuilders Initiative; worked with the baby closet at Society of the Preservation of Human Dignity; member of Peer Ministry at Holy Family Catholic Community, serving as a role model; served as a team leader for Relay For Life to benefit the American Cancer Society
Gabriela Vaca
Elk Grove High School
Hometown: Des Plaines
Class: Senior
Parents: Gabriela Viveros and Jorge Martinez
Sponsor: Scott C. Deutsch, counselor
Community service: Serves as a Peer Helper at Elk Grove High School; member of the choir at Elk Grove Presbyterian Church; worked on various service projects through the National Honor Society; active member of the Latino Leadership Council; serves on the Principals Advisory Council
Andrea Wojciechowski
Lake Park High School
Hometown: Roselle
Class: Senior
Parents: Bill and Diane Wojciechowski
Sponsor: D. KellyBaugher
Community service: Roselle/Itasca Peer Jury; National Honor Society; Mission Church, kids worship leader; Bloomingdale Park District 5K Run volunteer; Ryder Cup volunteer