2013-2014 DuPage County Leadership Team
Sienna Crosby, Glenbard North High School
Hometown: Carol Stream
Class: Senior
Parents: Dave and Carla Crosby
Sponsor: Sara Noureldin, English teacher
Community service: Western DuPage Special Recreation Association, TROOP Drama volunteer; Our Savior Lutheran Church, vacation Bible school music co-director; Mu Alpha Theta, math tutor; Humanitarian Service Project, neighborhood and community food drive volunteer; Outreach Community Center, Christmas store volunteer
Personal statement: “More than anything, I hope to serve my community through inspiring high school students to love learning as much as I do, whether it be in the sciences or the arts. While I want my future students to be successful in their grades and scores, I dream of creating an environment in which they are excited to learn, not just to get A's or pad their resumes ... but to enthusiastically use their new knowledge and skills to positively impact their world.”
Sponsor's endorsement: “Her ability to balance work, partake in extracurricular activities, volunteer and perform well in school serve to highlight her achievements academically, maturity, and overall responsible nature.”
Mary Doro, Downers Grove North
Hometown: Downers Grove
Class: Senior
Parents: Alice and Matt Doro
Sponsor: Mark Wasik, school counselor
Community service: Circle of Friends, president and co-founder of the club that volunteers with special education students; J. Kyle Braid award recipient; Snowball volunteer; Relay For Life volunteer; National Honor Society
Personal statement: “My main goal in life is to help. Receiving the J. Kyle Braid award and helping a student who deserved a title were only two small examples of achievements that can lead to even more. My mother always told me that you can't necessarily change the world, but if everyone can change their small corner, then we can make a large difference.”
Sponsor's endorsement: “Mary is well-respected among her peers. She spearheaded an effort to have a peer with Down syndrome, who also fought leukemia, be named to this year's homecoming court. It was an extremely touching moment to see this student not only be a part of the court, but to also be named homecoming queen as decided by her classmates, all thanks to Mary's leadership.”
Aeriel Euhus, Wheaton North High School
Hometown: Carol Stream
Class: Senior
Parents: Bradley and Melody Euhus
Sponsor: Daniel Cekay
Community service: Key Club, helped organize fundraisers for Pasta for Pennies, spastic paralysis, Children's Memorial Hospital, PADS, and the Kiwanis sensory garden; DuPage Convalescent Center volunteer; HOBY Illinois North Leadership Seminar; volunteer math tutor; Kiwanis-Key Club liaison
Personal statement: “Throughout my four years in high school, I have been involved in Key Club, both as a member and as an officer. Since freshman year, I realized that Key Club was the perfect club to combine my love for volunteering with my desire to grow as a person and inspire others to be enthusiastic about helping the community. Every step of the way I have tried to do my best and have led with a kind and giving heart.”
Sponsor's endorsement: “She is a caring and compassionate person, a high-performing and dedicated student, and a skilled athlete. Aeriel believes that her best personal quality is her open-mindedness. She is willing to try new things and likes to consider the wide range of possibilities.”
Silas Ferrao, Naperville Central High School
Hometown: Naperville
Class: Senior
Parents: Florencio and Ritu Ferrao
Sponsor: Dan Goldstein, counselor
Community service: Leads an acoustics program at Edward Hospital where he and other high school musicians perform music for critical care, heart, and cancer patients; leads a program at Alden Estates, where he performs music for retirement patients with degenerative conditions
Personal statement: “I have always appreciated music as the best kind of medicine; healing, with no side effects. This is why I piloted and lead a program at Edward Hospital. Playing with a group of musicians, I play for critical care, cancer, and heart patients. Every note I sing with the violin, I can see wonderful transformation in a patient's will to bear another night in a hospital, away from friends and family.”
Sponsor's endorsement: “This student has two great passions that he has been balancing since we were first introduced. These involve both healing and music. He is one of the most gifted musicians to walk our halls at Naperville Central. He is also very giving and truly wants to help others.”
Austin M. Hansen, Naperville North High School
Hometown: Naperville
Class: Senior
Parents: Karen & Joe Sitzman, and Brent & Annie Hansen
Sponsor: Kevin Pobst, principal
Community service: Illinois State Board of Education's Student Advisory Council member; Naperville North's student ambassador to the Naperville Education Foundation; NaperBridge ambassador; Naperville Police Department Youth Jury; mentor at Mill Street Elementary
Personal statement: “I desire to get involved anyway I can, just to have the opportunity to make a difference. I do not pursue hollow objectives. I commit myself to the things I'm passionate about, and invest into these many organizations because, to me, they matter; I honestly feel like I am making a difference. Regardless whether or not that difference may be big or small; to me a difference is still a difference.”
Sponsor's endorsement: “Austin is a leader in every sense of the word. He takes initiative, reaches out to bring others in, and listens. He is relentlessly positive, has strong, pro-social values, communicates articulately and passionately, and follows-through on his commitments.”
Meg Maloney, Glenbard West High School
Hometown: Glen Ellyn
Class: Senior
Parents: Gretchen and Bill Maloney
Sponsor: Jeremiah Wiencek, counselor
Community service: Student commissioner for Glen Ellyn's zoning board of appeals; Sunday school teacher; Glenbard West Student Council, organized events; Central DuPage Hospital volunteer; Covenant Harbor Bible Camp, day camp counselor
Personal statement: “Many people do not have the patience to help children with disabilities, but these children are the ones who need our patience the most. When I grow older, I want to help children with disabilities in deprived countries to become self-empowered, and become active members of society. In countries like South Africa, Taiwan, India, children with disabilities do not receive the proper care they need to excel in their own unique ways.”
Sponsor's endorsement: “The nominee is a “go-getter” who gets a goal within the sights and seizes it quickly. The nominee's record has shown that every time she gets involved in a club or group, she ends up naturally being named the leader of whatever that involvement may be.”
Katie Mann, Wheaton Academy
Hometown: Wheaton
Class: Senior
Parents: Jeff and Patty Mann
Sponsor: Dan Crabtree, college counselor
Community service: Puente del Nino, tutoring bilingual children in West Chicago; Church Kids' Ministry, youth director; Church Kids' Ministry, Sunday school teacher; Project LEAD Global, helping to lead Haiti project; participated in mission trip to Guatemala
Personal statement: “My goals in life are centered on my desire to glorify God through serving and loving others, both in my local and global communities. I believe that at the core of every genuine leader is a servant's heart. Throughout my life, I have had the privilege of several unique experiences and relationships that have influenced my worldview.”
Sponsor's endorsement: “Her record of service demonstrates that she has a heart forothers. She has served locally by tutoring children and working with kids in her church. She has served globally through several mission trips and efforts to educate and inspire her peers to get involved in helping others.”
Maria McDaniel, Naperville North High School
Hometown: Naperville
Class: Senior
Parents: Phil and Maryann McDaniel
Sponsor: Dan Iverson, head cross country coach
Community service: Created and managed a local duathlon at her neighborhood's pool; peer tutoring in the Literacy Center; Western DuPage Special Recreation Association volunteer; Volunteering at the SheRox Triathlon, the Naperville Sprint Triathlon, and Special Olympics; adaptive physical education peer leader
Personal statement: “People set goals constantly. The goals that people set in their work, social, and personal lives represent who they are as a person and what they believe in. I believe in setting high targets with manageable goals that can be accomplished daily. Even if I do not quite reach these targets, I will know that I gave my best effort in attempting to achieve them.”
Sponsor's endorsement: “Maria is genuinely passionate about this work, and I believe that it paints an accurate picture of who she is as a person. She is gifted in many ways, to be sure, but she is just as quick to be selfless in how she uses those gifts.”
Maggie O'Brien, Addison Trail High School
Hometown: Addison
Class: Senior
Parents: Dawn & Mike O'Brien
Sponsor: Scott Helton, District 88 superintendent
Community service: Relay For Life, volunteer organizer, recruiter, promoter, fundraiser; Eucharistic Ministry at church; neighborhood recycling advocate; volunteers for school groups and organizations; volunteers and fundraises for various charitable organizations
Personal statement: “I believe that I can change the world with small steps. My favorite way to change the world is volunteering at charity events and leading community improvement efforts. By helping organizations like the American Cancer Society, Susan G. Komen, and many others, I help raise money for great causes and give hope to people attending the event.”
Sponsor's endorsement: “Maggie has exhibited leadership in all that she has done within our school and in our community. She has demonstrated an awesome work ethic, endless energy, and leadership in academics, extracurricular activities and volunteerism within our community.”
Alissa R. Whyte, Fenton High School
Hometown: Bensenville
Class: Senior
Parents: Anye and Guadalupe Whyte
Sponsor: Todd Leden, principal
Community service: Member of Interact, a school organization that partners with Rotary to do volunteer work within the community; Customs and Border Protection Law Enforcement Explorer Program; Advocate Lutheran General Hospital, pediatric volunteer; Red Cross blood drive youth coordinator; National Honor Society
Personal statement: “My accomplishments within my community continue to not only hold the most pride, but serve as the most important to my future. As I look to a future of public service, my community service serves as an outstanding outlet for the opportunity to be out in my community making a difference. I have served as a pediatric volunteer, a special-needs buddy/coach, a Boy Scout counselor, and a youth coordinator for a Red Cross blood drive. I truly love what I do, and have a great time doing it.”
Sponsor's endorsement: “While many students may also have the above activities on their high school brag sheets, this student truly stands apart with her service to our community.”