Prospect Heights Officer of Year receives state honor

• Prospect Heights Officer of the Year Sgt. James Zawlocki received an award from state Rep. David Harris at the Thursday, Dec. 14, Prospect Heights City Council workshop meeting. The award is recognition by Harris and the Illinois State House of Representatives of the leadership and public service Zawlocki has continually demonstrated as a member of the Prospect Heights Police Department.

• Annie Mercado, daughter of Octavio and Myra Mercado, Des Plaines, earned first-place honors in the sophomore women's division during the recent Wisconsin chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Singing competition. She received $150 for her first-place win. A sophomore at Lawrence University, Appleton, Wisconsin, Mercado is a 2014 graduate of Maine West High School. The competition drew nearly 400 singers and featured 22 separate divisions grouped by gender and level. Depending upon the category, NATS competitors are required to sing two, three or four classical pieces from different time periods with at least one selection sung in a foreign language.

• David Gurion was appointed by District 15 to fill the vacant seat on the board of education. Gurion, a district sales manager for Zep Inc., is a product of District 15, having attended Lake Louise and Winston Campus Junior High schools. He is raising his two children in the community; they also attend District 15 schools. Gurion will be administered the oath of office at the board's regular meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 13. He will serve until the election in April 2017.

• On Monday, Dec. 21, the Hoffman Estates Police Department promoted Sgt. Kurt Gerlach to lieutenant and Officer James Thomas to sergeant.

• Illinois State Rep. Michelle Mussman, Schaumburg, was reappointed to the Mental Health Services Strategic Planning Task Force on Tuesday, Dec. 15. The Task Force includes mental health consumers and family members, mental health providers, state agencies, members of the legislature and representatives from the governor's office. The task force is tasked with meeting with the governor's office and the appropriate legislative committees on mental health to develop a five-year comprehensive strategic plan for the state's mental health services.

• U.S. Army National Guard Pvt. Shermariah D. Bender, daughter of Rachelle C. Bender of Rolling Meadows, graduated from basic infantry training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. During the nine weeks of training, the soldier studied the Army mission, history, tradition and core values, physical fitness and received instruction and practice in basic combat skills, military weapons, field training exercises and more. Bender is a 2015 graduate of William Fremd High School, Palatine.