Neighbors in the News
• Dorothy Wisniewski was named director of finance for the city of Des Plaines. Wisniewski, who has served as the acting finance director since February 2008, previously served as the assistant to the Des Plaines finance director. Before employment with the city of Des Plaines, she served as senior auditor at KPMG, Chicago, and worked as a graduate assistant for the College of Medical and Surgical Nursing, University of Illinois, Chicago, and as a senior accountant for Parkway & Trust Company, in Harwood Heights.
• Exelon Corporation honored Mount Prospect resident Courtney Erickson with the Douglas C. Larsen achievement award for her volunteer work with the Greater Chicago Food Depository at its annual Energy for the Community Volunteer Awards ceremony. Exelon also made a $10,000 cash grant to the organization in recognition of Erickson's accomplishments.
An Exelon accountant, Erickson helped launch the "People Team," an employee-led initiative that inspired her colleagues to donate more than 1,650 hours of community services last year. She also helped to establish "Nourish for Knowledge," a food program with the Greater Chicago Food Depository and 28 Chicago Public Schools, that distributes bags of nutritious snacks on Fridays that students can eat over the weekend when they are not in school.
• Northridge Prep senior Jack Whalen was selected to play in the 2009 Illinois Basketball Coaches' Association (IBCA) All-Star Game. A 6'2" point guard, Whalen will represent the Class 1A/2A North All-Stars in their annual game versus the 1A/2A South All-Stars. The game is will be played at Illinois Wesleyan University on Saturday, June 27.
• Lofe-long Arlington Heights resident Pamela Dolniak, a reading specialist and elementary school teacher in Mount Prospect District 57, has achieved National Board Certification.
The certification requires up to three years of dedicated work developing a teaching portfolio and passing and exit exam that demonstrates a high level of skill using teaching methods and activities, both in and out of the classroom, to improve student performance. Dolniak has taught at Lions Park School for 22 years.
• Elk Grove High School senior and Auto Club member Adam Collins is heading to a state troubleshooting competition April 23-25, in Springfield, as one of the top 47 qualifiers in the Skills USA Full Service Auto Test, which was held Feb. 27. Collins will have the opportunity to win a $35,000 scholarship as well as many automotive tool prizes.
In addition to Collins' placement, three other Elk Grove High School Auto Club members placed in the top 71 out of more than 225 - seniors Shant Alexanian and Mike Thomas and junior Brian Jarocki.