At the Schneider Electric Amphitheater on the campus of William Rainey Harper College in Palatine are Daily Herald Northwest suburban leadership team members for 2018. From left, Mansi Bodalia of Maine East, Ashley Szull of Elk Grove, Annie Walsh of Prospect, Sophia Mavromatis of Fremd, Devon Sheehan of St. Viator, Jelena Pejovic of Maine West, Ishaan Sehgal of Barrington, Krislyn Cardoza of Schaumburg, Scott Mahon of Buffalo Grove, and Abhinav Balu of Fremd.
Patrick Kunzer/pkunzer@dailyherald.com
In their short lives they have raised thousands of dollars for local charities, developed ways their school and community can be supportive of each other, and worked tirelessly to improve conditions for children around the globe.
These suburban teens far exceed expectations with their dedication to community and making the world a better place. They are the 2017-18 Daily Herald Leadership Team — high school students who empower themselves to make change in the world through volunteerism and encouraging volunteer efforts in others.
This year's four teams — representing the Northwest suburbs, Lake County, DuPage County and the Fox Valley — include a student who co-created a foundation that cares for widows, the elderly and impoverished in India; another who organized a drive that raised more than $11,500 to buy toys for underprivileged children in the Chicago area; one who helped develop a low-cost tutoring service for kids in his community; and yet another who developed a nonprofit organization that brings sports equipment in the suburbs to Chicago children.
“I was fortunate to be born with caring parents, live in a supportive town, and attend a community-oriented school; I have a plethora of opportunities available to me that many do not,” said Aaron Chen of Libertyville High School, who organized a drive to collect ACT and SAT prep books for kids at Waukegan High School. “By keeping my eyes open to the world around me, I hope to help those who have not had the same good fortune as myself.”
Giovanni Ahern of Benet Academy in Lisle writes about his experience helping to build a house in Guatemala.
“The family whose house we were building could barely sit still with excitement,” he said. “Their gratitude and compassion have imparted on me a deep desire to advance the lives of the less fortunate.”
Fox Valley Leadership Team, 2017-2018
Honorable mentions: Fox Valley Leadership Team, 2017-2018
Honorable mentions: Lake County Leadership Team, 2017-2018
Lake County Leadership Team, 2017-2018
Northwest Suburban Leadership Team, 2017-2018
Honorable mentions: Northwest Suburban Leadership Team, 2017-2018
DuPage County Leadership Team, 2017-2018
Honorable mentions: DuPage County Leadership Team, 2017-2018
The 2017-18 Lake County Leadership Team, sitting, from left: Eleni Papastratakos, Lake Zurich High School; Paula Diaz, Grant High School; and Jordan Lenz, Grayslake Central High School. Standing, from left: Nikhil Mangtani, Vernon Hills High School; Emily Dunne, Grayslake North High School; Thomas O'Brien, Wauconda High School; Sabrina Lee, Mundelein High School; Alexandra Almanza, Grayslake North High School; Aaron Chen, Libertyville High School; and Alexis Remshak, Grayslake Central High School.
Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com
The 2017-18 Daily Herald Fox Valley Leadership Team, from left: Alec V. Salyards of St. Charles North High School, Jack Jordan of St. Charles East High School, Katya Bezugla of Illinois Math and Science Academy, Vongai Tizora of Huntley High School, Casey Wells of Marian Central Catholic, Ryan Fletcher of Marmion Academy, Caitlin Sharma of Elgin Academy, AnnaLeah Esp of Rosary High School, Ashley Treiber of St. Edward High School, Teagan Jones of Cary-Grove High School.
John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
The 2017-18 DuPage County Leadership Team, from left: Sanjana Ramrajvel, Naperville Central High School; Jaimeson Hamsho, Wheaton North High School; Stephanie Tran, Glenbard North High School; Giovanni Ahern, Benet Academy; Trisha Prabhu, Neuqua Valley High School; Nishant Vyas, Hinsdale Central High School; Jessica Angel, Lake Park High School; Michael Zima, Glenbard South High School and Cairo Lawrence, Naperville North High School. Not pictured: Dan McCann, IC Catholic Prep.
Bev Horne/bhorne@dailyherald.com