Mundelein-area middle schoolers honored for improvement

Officials at three Mundelein-area middle schools were on the lookout this academic year for students who showed exceptional improvement.

They chose 18 from Carl Sandburg, Fremont, and West Oak middle schools to be honored Friday with certificates of achievements and words of praise.

Lake County circuit court Judge Daniel B. Shanes and Mundelein Police Chief Eric Guenther partnered with the schools to recognize eighth-grade students for exceptional academic achievement and behavioral improvements.

Throughout the school year, local school administrators have been observing students for signs of improvement, officials said.

They have been assessing the amount of effort given to school work and looking for students who have made the most significant improvements academically or behaviorally.

The students met Shanes in his courtroom at 10 a.m. Friday, then they had lunch at the Mundelein Police Department.

"This is one of the most important programs we do every year," Guenther said during the ceremony. "It rewards students for putting forth the effort every day to get them to where they need to go in life."

Shanes and Mundelein police began recognizing local middle school students in 2011. The program recognizes students who have worked diligently and shown significant improvement, often overcoming a variety of obstacles, officials said.

"Many of our students achieve in different ways, and it is important for our community to recognize and support their achievement," Shanes said. "Recognizing kids who demonstrate great effort and improvement at school provides vital support and boosts their ability to excel. This is an opportunity to laud their success and encourage them to stay away from peers who may lead them astray."

After receiving their recognition certificates, students were allowed to tour Shanes' felony courtroom, try on his robe, and even sit in the judge's chair.

"Whatever you want to do in life, my advice is to do something to help someone else," Shanes told the students. "People my age need you to take care of us in the future. I think you're going to take good care of us."

The students are: West Oak - Leonor Gonzalez, Moises Huerta, Gina Tellez, Nik Fisher, Daisy Perez; Carl Sandburg - Sebastian Lara, Jaqueline Lemus, Trevor Medina, Daniel Nieto Guzman, Diego Rojas, Rachel Fisher, Alejandro Vargas; Fremont - Anne Blaszinski, Nhan T. Luu, Ryan M. Massel, Nathan Ortiz, Kayleigh Ann Patala, Amanda Vo.