Character Matters in Lake County announces recipients of the 10th Annual Excellence in Character Awards

Character Matters in Lake County, a committee of the YES (Youth Empowerment for Success) Coalition, the Lake County Regional Office of Education and College of Lake County Southlake Campus, announce recipients of the 10th annual Excellence in Character Award.

This year, 26 staff members and 35 students from grade schools, middle schools and high schools across Lake County received this distinguished award, which is given to individuals who demonstrate outstanding character and citizenship in their schools and communities. The students and staff members were honored throughout the spring in their schools' year-end programs. Each award recipient received a certificate and a letter of congratulations. Students received Excellence in Character medals and staff members received Excellence in Character lapel pins.

"It was an honor to review all of the nomination forms," said Ashley Ward, chair of the Character Matters in Lake County committee. "It also confirmed the importance of recognizing individuals who display outstanding character in our communities; these students and adults are powerful role models. We need their positive influences."

Lake County Students 2015 Excellence in Character Award Recipients

Jaime Cantu, New Tech High at Zion-Benton East, Zion

Hailey Castellon, Washington Elementary School, Waukegan

Scott Christian, Grayslake Central High School, Grayslake

Sean Cleary, Barrington Middle School - Station Campus, Barrington

Elizabeth Delli, Ravinia School, Highland Park

Sebastian Ellis, Fremont Intermediate School, Mundelein

Ashley Fonseca, John S. Clark Elementary School, Waukegan

Liam Gaiden, Copeland Manor Elementary School, Libertyville

Maanya Gulati, Fremont Middle School, Mundelein

Caroline Hayes, Deer Path Middle School East, Lake Forest

Remmy Hernandez, Howe Elementary School, Beach Park

Julia Jasmanta, Pritchett Elementary School, Buffalo Grove

Nikola Josifovic, Beach Park Middle School, Beach Park

Litsa Kapsalis, Deer Path Middle School West, Lake Forest

Olivia Lamberti, Daniel Wright Junior High School, Lincolnshire

Morgan Lee, Grayslake Central High School, Grayslake

Ian Leighliter, Hyde Park Elementary School, Waukegan

Claire Mahoney, Deer Path Middle School West, Lake Forest

Lillian May, Newport Elementary School, Wadsworth

Kenna McDermott, Avon Center School, Round Lake Beach

Carrie Miller, Emmons Grade School, Antioch

Sydney Olorvida, Fremont Elementary School, Mundelein

Jake Peterson, Kenneth Murphy Elementary School, Beach Park

Siena Phelps, Lake Bluff Middle School, Lake Bluff

Omar Reyes, Greenwood Elementary School, Waukegan

Kendyl Roberts, Copeland Manor Elementary School, Libertyville

Dakota Roberts, Stanton Middle School, Fox Lake

Lauren Rocco, Adler Park School, Libertyville

Michael Rocco, Adler Park School, Libertyville

Erin Seiler, Wauconda Grade School, Wauconda

Marco Toledo, Jack Benny Middle School, Waukegan

Sandra Vasquez, Waukegan High School Washington Campus, Waukegan

Abigail Ventura, Oakdale Elementary School, Waukegan

Andrew Yoshi, Oak Crest Elementary School, Beach Park

Sarah Zhang, Tripp Elementary School, Buffalo Grove

Lake County Staff Members 2015 Excellence in Character Award Recipients

Kathy Blake, Emmons Grade School, Antioch

Pam Borque, Avon Center School, Round Lake Beach

Laura Boshart, Pritchett Elementary School, Buffalo Grove

Amy Calendo, Wauconda Grade School, Wauconda

Joel Carl, Hyde Park Elementary School, Waukegan

Jackie Derry, Ravinia School, Highland Park

Ally Gitelson, Oak Crest Elementary School, Beach Park

Amy Goldstein, Tripp Elementary School, Buffalo Grove

Joe Jakcsy, Lake Bluff Middle School, Lake Bluff

Mike Jerzyk, Daniel Wright Junior High School, Lincolnshire

Susan Kuhn, Jack Benney Middle School, Waukegan

Hope Lipsky, Fremont Intermediate School, Mundelein

Dale Lyons, Fremont Middle School, Mundelein

Leticia Mendez, John S. Clark Elementary School, Waukegan

Alex Moberg, Howe Elementary School, Beach Park

Regina Mueller, Beach Park Middle School, Beach Park

Karna Opeka, Greenwood Elementary School, Waukegan

Cathy Park, Fremont Elementary School, Mundelein

Rich Perez, Oakdale Elementary School, Waukegan

Joey Philipp, New Tech High at Zion-Benton East, Zion

Jen Prozument, Lake Bluff Elementary School, Lake Bluff

Suzanne Santiago, Lake Zurich High School, Lake Zurich

Jessica Shanteau, Kenneth Murphy Elementary School, Beach Park

Jan Smith, Fremont Intermediate School, Mundelein

Alice Smith, North Prairie Junior High, Winthrop Harbor

Laura Zehren, Jack Benney Middle School, Waukegan