Harper grad wins university scholarship
Ÿ Harper graduate Amanda Muledy, 26, was selected from nearly 800 nominees from across the United States as a recipient of the 2011 Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship, which provides funding for up to three additional years of education at a four-year college or university.
Muledy graduated from Harper in May with a full slate of general education credits. She plans on an English major at Lake Forest College or Northwestern University in the fall.
The Wheeling resident, who carries a 4.0 GPA and was named to the 2011 All-Illinois Academic Team, is Harper’s first recipient.
Ÿ Carl M. La Mell, president and chief executive officer of Clearbrook, a service provider for individuals with developmental disabilities, was appointed by President Barack Obama to the President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities.
The PCPID provides advice to the president and to the secretary of Health and Human Services, through the administration on developmental disabilities, pertaining to programs and services for people with intellectual disabilities.
Previously, La Mell held senior positions at Victor C. Neumann Association as chief financial officer, associate executive director, and chief executive officer. Most recently, he chaired the Finance Committee of the Illinois Statewide Early Intervention Task Force. La Mell is also a member of the Illinois Association of Rehabilitation Facilities, the Illinois Department of Human Services State Task Force on Autism, and the American Association of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. He is the past recipient of various awards, including the Executive of the Year Award from the Illinois Association of Rehabilitation Facilities, the Community Leader of the Year Award given by the city of Rolling Meadows, and the Claude D. Pepper Distinguished Service Award.
Ÿ Community Consolidated School District 15 announced that Lawrence Sasso, a principal in Lincolnwood School District 74, will serve as principal at Thomas Jefferson School next year.
Sasso has been the principal at Lincoln Hall Middle School for the past seven years. Before that, he served for four years as the school’s assistant principal, and for nine years as a school social worker at Thomas Middle School in Arlington Heights.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from St. Norbert College, and two master’s degrees — one in social work from the University of Illinois at Chicago, and one in school leadership from Northern Illinois University.
His appointment is effective July 1.
Ÿ Rachel Hausman, a sales associate with RE/MAX Experts in Buffalo Grove took home the Rising Star award from the RE/MAX Northern Illinois 34th annual awards ceremony.
The award is given each year to a rookie real estate agent who produces outstanding sales results. Hausman’s closed transactions totaled approximately $10 million in 2010.
Ÿ Wheeling High School junior Cadet Mitch Ransdell and first-year Cadet Victor Vasquez of the District 214 Naval Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps both recently received the Decatur Award, named after Commodore Stephen Decatur, Jr.
Decatur was an American naval officer, known for his heroism in the Barbary Wars and the War of 1812. Lt. Joe Hamilton, Navy Region Midwest flag aide, presented the awards on behalf of the Surface Navy Association at Wheeling High School’s annual NJROTC awards ceremony.
To qualify for the award, recipients must possess character reflecting Navy core values of honor, courage and commitment. The recipients must also demonstrate leadership abilities and maintain a cumulative “B” average in academics, while participating in NJROTC.