Club Guadalupano honors outstanding Hispanic students, adults

Each year, the Club Guadalupano of Elgin honors outstanding graduating Hispanic students -- and two adults -- who have contributed to the community.

Its 31st annual Latino Awards Banquet will be held Saturday night at Villa Olivia Country Club in Bartlett. All of these students rank in the high percentages of their high school classes, but also excel in community service.

Below are the award winners.

Zoilo Santiago Memorial Awards

• Katalina Traxler, Bartlett High School. Service/activities: National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, Student Council, Spanish Club, wrestling manager, Bartlett High School choir, guided study tutoring for underclassmen, school musicals, church youth group peer minister, tutor at Kumon Learning Center. Future: Plans to attend DePaul University with a journalism major/Spanish minor.

• Tyler Vaughan, St. Edward Central Catholic High School, Elgin. Service/activities: Soup kitchen volunteer, Spanish Club, Students Against Drunk Driving, varsity wrestling, junior varsity football, varsity volleyball, varsity for four years, Prophets of Hope, People To People student ambassador program, Respect For Life club, Big Brother Program. Future: Plans to attend Marquette University with a biomedical science major, and eventual doctor of dental surgery degree.

• Alitza Lara, St. Edward Central Catholic High School, Elgin. Service/activities: St. Catherine of Siena Church volunteer to low-income families, student ambassador for People to People program, Kairos leader, Spanish Club, Respect Club, Special Olympics volunteer. Future: Plans to attend Elgin Community College and then transfer to a four-year university to complete a degree in nursing.

• Karen Martínez, Elgin High School. Service/activities: Pay It Forward service program volunteer, Boys and Girls Club volunteer, senior leader, student council, Hispanic club, Elgin High School Pom Poms and soccer team, German club. Future: Plans to attend Robert Morris College for business and culinary arts and complete a degree in hospitality management.

• (Navis) Mailet González, Elgin High School. Service/activities: National Honor Society, French Club, class council, Teens against Tobacco Use club member, Salvation Army volunteer, fundraising walks for Women Empowerment and Breast Cancer Association. Future: Plans to attend Augustana University to pursue her career goal to be a veterinarian.

• Valerie Cifuentes, Streamwood High School. Service/activities: Volleyball, softball, Multicultural Club, Hanover Countryside elementary tutor, Streamwood High tutor, Relay For Life, certified nurse assistant program. Future: Plans to attend DePaul University and major in biology.

• Jessica González, Streamwood High School. Service/activities: Varsity and junior varsity soccer teams, National Honor Society, class council, Latin Dance Club, People to People student ambassador, American Cancer Society Walkathon, Northern Illinois Food Bank volunteer. Future: Plans to attend Illinois State University and major in education.

• Isabella Martínez, Streamwood High School. Service/activities: Multicultural Club, varsity soccer, volleyball, class council, Japanese National Honor Society, Principal's Advisory Board, Saber News Network reporter, National Student Leadership Conference attendee, Relay For Life fundraising, recipient of the Elgin Latino Political Action Team scholarship. Future: Plans to attend the University of Illinois and eventually complete a master's degree in business administration.

• Rolando López, South Elgin High School. Service/activities: Varsity tennis, 3-on-3 basketball club, Illinois State Scholar, boxing, Golden Glove semi-finalist.

Future: Plans to attend the University of Iowa and major in business.

• Danielle Dávila, South Elgin High School. Service/activities: Cross country, bowling, track and field, French Club, National Honor Society, Environmental Club, Key Club, Amnesty International, concert band, marching and pep band. Future: plans to study veterinary medicine at either Loyola University or Concordia University.

• Dan Domínguez, Larkin High School. Service/activities: Volleyball, National Honor Society, drum line captain, wind ensemble, jazz band, marching band, Soup Kettle volunteer, Bible study co-leader, mission trips to West Virginia and Mississippi. Future: Plans to attend Moody Bible Institute and pursue a degree in pastoral studies.

• Daisy Sandoval, Larkin High School. Service/activities: Honor Roll, soccer, French Club, St. Joseph Church youth group and choir, YMCA volunteer, Gail Borden Public Library student volunteer. Future: Plans to attend Illinois State University and major in international business and minor in accounting and French.

Music/Art Achievement Award

• Uriel Brito, St. Edward Central Catholic High School. Service/activities: Spanish Club, volleyball, talent show performer, St. Joseph Church choir leader, St. Joseph Church volunteer. Future: Plans to attend Columbia College Chicago and major in music and art.

William Castillo Memorial Awards for School Community Service

• Abraham López, Elgin High School. Service/activities: National Honor Society, student council, class council, principal's advisory council, superintendent's student advisory council, Spanish Club, Pay it Forward program volunteer, Learning Tree Volunteer, Special Olympics Volunteer, YMCA volunteer, Salvation Army volunteer, Youth United Way of Elgin board member, Students Today Leaders Forever program participant. Future: Plans to attend the University of Illinois and major in communications.

Elgin Community College Trustee Academic Scholarships

• Juan García, Streamwood High School. Service/activities: National Honor Society, HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America), Japanese Honor Society, Multicultural Club, Helpers of My Earth club, class council, principal's advisory council, varsity cross country, tutoring program at Hanover Countryside School, volunteer at Oak Hill Elementary School. Future: Plans to attend Elgin Community College and then DePaul University and major in biology.

• Laura Corona, Larkin High School. Service/activities: Soccer team, La Raza club, Adelante club, Hispanic Cultural Club, WACO volunteer, nursing home volunteer, church musician. Future: Plans to attend Elgin Community College and pursue a degree in computer science.

• Anaconnie Carrillo, Elgin High School. Service/activities: HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America) member, French Honor Society, Gail Borden Public Library volunteer for bilingual family story time, certified nursing assistant. Future: Plans to attend Elgin Community College and then transfer to a university to pursue a degree in nursing specializing as a labor and delivery nurse.

• Claudia Díaz, Elgin High School. Service/activities: Badminton team, varsity basketball team, Hispanic Club, class council, homework club, Fresh Start tutor, Centro de Informacion volunteer. Future: Plans to attend Elgin Community College to study tourism and then transfer to a university to pursue a degree in hospitality management.

• Maria Escamilla, Elgin High School. Service/activities: Senior physical education leader, peer tutor, Lexington Care Center volunteer. Future: Plans to attend Elgin Community College to pursue a degree in nursing; plans to specialize in pre- and post-natal care. Her ultimate goal is to become an obstetrician.

• Maria Limón, Elgin High School. Service/activities: Class Council, Fresh Start Peer tutor, Hispanic Club, varsity basketball team, French Club, YWCA volunteer, Gail Borden Public Library volunteer, LULAC Youth Council Secretary. Future: Plans to attend Elgin Community College and study forensic science.

• Julio Ramírez, Elgin High School. Service/activities: Chase Leadership Academy, German Club, National German Honors Society, Hispanic Club, Fresh Start tutor, Countryside Retirement Home volunteer. Future: Plans to attend Elgin Community College and then transfer to a university to pursue a medical degree.

• Jhoana Rojas, Elgin High School. Service/activities: Tennis team, soccer team, Latin Club, Hispanic Club, Art Club, LULAC, church volunteer. Future: Plans to attend Elgin Community College to become an executive secretary.

• Adela Castañeda, Larkin High School. Service/activities: Hispanic Cultural Club, soccer team, honor roll, church instrumental and vocal ensembles. Future: Plans to attend Elgin Community College and then transfer to a university to pursue a degree related to computers.

• Alfredo Castillo, Larkin High School. Service/activities: President's Award for Educational Excellence, Elgin Rotary Club honoree, French Club, math team, cross-cultural committee, Connie-a-thon fundraiser, Cross Roads Youth Group. Future: Plans to attend Elgin Community College and then transfer to the University of Illinois to major in computer engineering.

• Carlos Ibarra, South Elgin High School. Service/activities: Chess Club, honor roll. Future: plans to attend Elgin Community College to pursue a career in heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration.

• Joshua López, South Elgin High School. Service/activities: Volleyball team, swim team, boys basketball team, Math Club, OLAS, peer tutor and mediator. Future: Plans to attend Elgin Community College and then transfer to the University of Illinois at Chicago to pursue degrees in architecture and accounting.

• Sergio Rodríguez, South Elgin High School. Service/activities: National Honor Society, Cedarville University Leadership Conference, church youth group leader, Crisis Pregnancy Center Walk for Life, Romanian orphanage 10-day camping trip with children, Kentucky Museum volunteer. Future: Plans to attend Elgin Community College and then transfer to a university to major in criminal justice.

Les Lemke Memorial Award for Community Service

• The Community Crisis Center, Elgin. Services: The Community Crisis Center is a not-for-profit social service agency that has provided comprehensive emergency services to individuals and families dealing with the trauma of domestic violence, sexual assault, homelessness and other life crisis since 1975. Last year, 72 employees provided 43,475 hours of services to 6,272 women, men and children. Services are available to victims at no cost, including the shelter which can accommodate 40 women and children, if necessary, clients can stay up to six weeks at the shelter.

Joaquín Camacho Memorial Award for Community Service

• Eric Fernández , founder of Eric J. Fernandez & Co. Eric Fernández moved to Chicago in August 1973 to take a position with the Internal Revenue Service. In 1981 he formed the accounting firm Eric J. Fernández & Co. The firm has two offices, one in West Dundee and one in McHenry, with a total staff of 35 employees, consisting of 25 CPAs and professionals. Over the last five years, the firm has developed a bilingual department to help serve the Hispanic community. In conjunction with the accounting firm, Fernández is the chief financial officer of a family business, Two Brothers Entertainment Inc., in Pittsburgh. In his spare time, Fernández uses his financial expertise and manpower to help local nonprofit organizations improve their fiscal status. Service/activities: President of the board of the Centro de Informacion, board member of the EFS Foundation, board of Elgin Founders Forum, Dundee Rotary Club, Illinois CPA Society, Elgin Country Club finance committee.