Caring Glenbard students earn Livingston awards

Forty Glenbard High School District 87 students were honored this spring for their concern for others. The school board recognized them with Livingston Human Relations Awards.

The board of education instituted the award in honor of former Superintendent Raymond W. Livingston. Each year, the award is given to 10 students from each Glenbard high school. It honors students who have demonstrated real concern for others and have promoted positive, caring relationships among social groups regardless of race, sex, religion, ethnicity, economic level, physical ability or academic prowess.

Examples of behavior that would merit a Human Relations Award include exhibiting courage in defending the rights of others; befriending others regardless of socio-economic, racial, religious, ethnic or academic background; showing consistent kindness and courtesy to staff members and other students; performing sustained volunteer work within the school or community; and exhibiting a cooperative spirit consistently with students and staff members in classrooms and co-curricular activities.

Excerpts from some of the faculty nominations include:

• "We have become more diverse … and she is very welcoming to kids of different cultures, races and economic backgrounds. She is the epitome of kindness, as she always has a smile on her face and is willing to do whatever needs to be done without ever complaining."

• "His positive attitude is a shining light to which we all can aspire."

• "He's the type of student who makes the school warmer and kinder. I've seen him help start multiple clubs in an effort to give students somewhere to go and bond over similar interests."

Livingston Award recipients are:

• Glenbard East students Analise Biddle, Julianna Estremera, Claire Larkin, Leana Losacco, Ryan Lumpkin, Aime Luna, Luke Maka, Meghan Ryan, Sophia Skoumal and Jessica Spontak;

• Glenbard North students Nathan Chalus, Alec Deske, Karina Gandhi, Sarah Jaeger, Cameron Malkin, Karan Mehta, Alexander Taylor, Ethan Toth, Ishaily Valdez and Kassandra Zamora;

• Glenbard South students Payton Carli, Samantha Gallagher, Sean Gitchell, Tim Marks, Michael Marsden, Hannah McKim, Erica Mote, Mark Murdoch, Yovi Ordonez and Rachel Walker; and

• Glenbard West students Justin Chhoeun, Ellie Cvengros, David Kucher, Connor O'Shea, Amanda Posegay, Diana Rivera, Asha Rowland, Bennett Sproat, Anna Stephan and Maria Valdez.