Northwest suburban academic team honorable mentions
Noman Baig
School:Hoffman Estates High School
Hometown: Hanover Park
Parents: Mirza R. Baig and Yasmeen Nizami
Sponsor: Heidi Davey
Class rank: School does not rank
GPA: 5.074 on weighted 4.0 scale
Test scores: ACT: 33
Planned major: Chemistry
Awards, honors: National Honor Society board member; AP Scholar; Illinois State Scholar; HEHS Academic Scholar
Michael Borde
School: Barrington High School
Hometown: Barrington
Parents: Sam Borde and Michelle Stelcher
Sponsor: Julie Baylor, AP biology teacher
Class rank: Top 5%
GPA: 4.767 on weighted 4.0 scale
Test scores: ACT: 35; SAT: 2320
Planned major: Mathematics and economics
Awards, honors: National AP Scholar; Presidential Scholar nominee; five-time consecutive National Latin Exam Gold Medalist and five-time qualifier Illinois State Latin Tournament
Katherine Cai
School: Elgin High School
Hometown: Bartlett
Parents: Ying Cai and Lilian Wang
Sponsor: Cristina Cabrera, Gifted Academy director
Class rank: 8th out of 510
GPA: 4.924 on weighted 4.0 scale
Test scores: ACT: 31; SAT: 2230
Planned major: Biomedical engineering
Awards, honors: Elgin Rotary Club member (freshman through senior year); AP Scholar with Distinction; National Merit Commended Scholar
Anuj Chokshi
Winner, Daily Herald Fox Valley Academic Team
School: Elgin High School
Hometown: Bartlett
Parents: Kalpesh and Rupal Chokshi
Sponsor: Cristina Cabrera
Class rank:1st out of 510
GPA: 5.0 on weighted 4.0 scale
Test scores: ACT: 35
Planned major: Biological sciences
Awards, honors: Valedictorian; AP Scholar with Distinction, 14 Health Occupations Students of America state medals
John Daniel Depa
School: Maine East High School
Hometown: Niles
Parents: Dawn and Duane Depa
Sponsor: Cristina Villalobos,counselor
Class rank: School does not rank
GPA: 4.88 on weighted 4.0 scale
Test scores: ACT: 32
Planned major: Film
Awards, honors: National Honor Society; Illinois State Scholar; “D207's Best” for December
Justin Doong
Winner, Daily Herald Lake County Academic Team
Hometown: Kildeer
Parents: Shain-jer Doong and Shwu-ing Chen
Sponsor: Christian H. Thibaudeau, math teacher
Class rank: School does not rank
GPA: 4.7429 on weighted 4.0 scale
Test scores: ACT: 36; SAT: 2400
Planned major: Engineering
Awards, honors: National Merit Scholarship; AP Scholar; Gold Honor Roll
Peter Farejowicz
School: Lake Zurich Senior High School
Hometown: Lake Zurich
Parents: Wladyslaw and Renata Farejowicz
Sponsor: Dr. Craig Lehigh, school counselor
GPA: 5.15 on weighted 4.0 scale
Test scores: ACT: 35; SAT: 2180
Planned major: Electrical engineering and computer science
Awards, honors: National Merit Commended Student, AP Scholar with Honor, High Honor Roll Student
Holly Gui
School: William Fremd High School
Hometown: Palatine
Parents: Mr. and Mrs. Yexuan Gui
Sponsor: Daniel Hays, math teacher
Class rank: School does not rank
GPA: 5.12 on weighted 4.0 scale
Test scores: ACT: 35; SAT: 2290
Planned major: Biology and public policy studies
Awards, honors: National Merit commended scholar; National Honor Society; AP Scholar with Distinction; Illinois State Scholar
Veronika Jedryka
School: Buffalo Grove High School
Hometown: Arlington Heights
Parents: Lukasz and Anna Jedryka
Sponsor: Polly Knudsen, counselor
Class rank: School does not rank
GPA: 5.74 on weighted 5.0 scale
Test scores: ACT: 30
Planned major: Biological engineering
Awards, honors: Member Scholastic All-America Team, Honor Roll and National Honor Society; AP Scholar; Illinois State Scholar
Omar Joya
School: Wheeling High School
Hometown: Wheeling
Parents: Gustavo and Martha Joya
Sponsor: Dr. Richard Watson, counselor
Class rank: School does not rank
GPA: 5.81 on weighted 5.0 scale
Test scores: ACT: 34
Planned major: Civil engineering
Awards, honors: AP Scholar With Distinction; graduating with Highest Honors; National Merit commended scholar
Madeline Kelly
School: St.Viator High School
Hometown: Arlington Heights
Parents: Annmarie and Kevin Kelly
Sponsor: Eileen Manno, principal
Class rank: 2nd out of 245
GPA: 103.92 on 100-point scale
Test scores: ACT: 32
Planned major: Music, theater or pre-law
Awards, honors: Salutatorian of the Class of 2013; Principal's Honor Roll for all eight semesters; Blue Ribbon Award for excellence in journalism from the Northern Illinois School Press Association
Conor Kinasz
School: St. Viator High School
Hometown: Des Plaines
Parents: Tom Kinasz and Regina Kinasz
Sponsor: Eileen Manno, principal
Class rank: 1st out of 245
GPA: 104.57 on 100-point scale
Test scores: ACT: 32
Planned major: Political science or business
Awards, honors: Class Valedictorian; National Merit Commended Scholar; Illinois State Scholar; Presidential Scholar
Vinutha Lakshminarayanan
School: James B. Conant High School
Hometown: Schaumburg
Parents: Ramya Lakshminarayanan and Lakshminarayanan Krishnamoorthy
Sponsor: Ophelia M. Hernandez, guidance counselor
Class rank: School does not rank
GPA: 4.975 on weighted 4.0 scale
Test scores: ACT: 34
Planned major: Economics and mathematical methods in the social sciences
Awards, honors: French Honors Society; National Honor Society; AP Scholar with Distinction
Frank Landowski
School: East Leyden High School
Hometown: River Grove
Parents: Ewa W. and Robert P. Oliva
Sponsor: Johanna Heppeler, social studies teacher
Class rank: 5th out of 371
GPA: 4.4057 on weighted 4.0 scale
Test scores: ACT: 32
Planned major: Biochemistry
Awards, honors: Helen St. John Award for Modern Language; Rotary Top 10% Award; National Honor Society
Faith Meitzler
School: James B. Conant High School
Hometown: Elk Grove Village
Parents: Bill and Carrie Meitzler
Sponsor: Adam Leibman, counselor
Class rank: School does not rank
GPA: 4.666 on weighted 4.0 scale
Test scores: ACT: 33; SAT: 2140
Planned major: Mechanical engineering
Awards, honors: National Merit finalist; National Honor Society; Academic Excellence Award (A Honor Roll)
Nathan Moran
School: Bartlett High School
Hometown: Bartlett
Parents: Bill and Linda Moran
Sponsor: Cheryl Hilvert,guidance counselor
Class rank: 11th out of 631
GPA: 4.696 on weighted 4.0 scale
Test scores: ACT: 35
Planned major: Electrical engineering
Awards, honors: National Merit finalist; National Merit Commended Scholar; Honor Roll
Rachel Nolan
School: Schaumburg High School
Hometown: Schaumburg
Parents: Christine and Kevin Nolan
Sponsor: Brent Swolsky,counselor
Class rank: School does not rank
GPA: 5.032 on weighted 4.0 scale
Test scores: ACT: 33
Planned major: Education and mathematics
Awards, honors: AP Scholar with Distinction; National Honor Society and Spanish National Honor Society
Andrew Napora
School: John Hersey High School
Hometown: Arlington Heights
Parents: Michael and Lynn Napora
Sponsor: Jim Miks, English teacher
Class rank: 10th out of 469
GPA: 5.62 on weighted 5.0 scale
Test scores: ACT: 36; SAT: 2240
Planned major: Mechanical engineering
Awards, honors: National Merit Finalist; Speech Team captain, second place State Finals, Radio Speaking
Adele Padgett
Winner, Daily Herald Lake County Academic Team
Hometown: Lake Forest
Parents: James Padgett and Rosanne Fitko
Sponsor: Brett Erdmann, AP biology teacher and community service coordinator
Class rank: School does not rank
GPA: 4.68 on weighted 4.0 scale
Test scores: ACT: 36
Planned major: Math, biology or economics
Awards, honors: National Council of Teachers of English Achievement Award in Writing; Illinois Association of Teachers of English Best Poetry and Prose Contest Winner; Outstanding Student in Junior English
Kevin Peterson
Winner, Daily Herald Fox Valley Academic Team
Hometown: Bartlett
Parents: Susan Kerr and Bruce Peterson
Sponsor: Matt Sheahan, counselor
Class rank: 3rd out of 631
GPA: 4.747 on weighted 4.0 scale
Test scores: ACT: 33
Planned major: International studies, political science
Awards, honors: High Honor Roll, Elgin Rotary Club Straight A Award (four years), AP Scholar, Illinois State Scholar
Sally Ploch
School: Palatine High School
Hometown: Palatine
Parents: Deborah and Jeffrey Ploch
Sponsor: Michelle Calisch, guidance counselor
Class rank: 1st out of 690
GPA: 5.08 on weighted 4.0 scale
Test scores: ACT: 35; SAT: 2260
Planned major: Animal sciences
Awards, honors: National Merit Commended Scholar; National Honor Society; AP Scholar with Distinction
Rebecca Rasmussen
School: East Leyden High School
Hometown: Franklin Park
Parents: James and Margaret Rasmussen
Sponsor: Bryan Miller, music department chairman
Class rank: 1st out of 371
GPA: 4.5096 on weighted 4.0 scale
Test scores: ACT: 34
Planned major: Music education
Awards, honors: Math and Academic Team; National Honor Society; Spanish Honor Society
Neil Sheth
School: Prospect High School
Hometown: Arlington Heights
Parents: Rakesh and Neha Sheth
Sponsor: Diane Bourn, college counselor
Class rank: School does not rank
GPA: 5.77 on weighted 5.0 scale
Test scores: ACT: 34
Planned major: Biomedical engineering and economics/entrepreneurship
Awards, honors: National Merit Commended Scholar; National Honor Society; AP Scholar
Kaley Wendorf
School: Elk Grove High School
Hometown: Elk Grove Village
Parents: Todd and Carla Wendorf
Sponsor: Scott Deutsch
Class rank: School does not rank
GPA: 5.71on 5.0 scale
Test scores: ACT: 34
Planned major: Biomedical engineering
Awards, honors: AP Scholar with Distinction; Elk Grove High School Scholarship Award; American Association of French Teachers Certificate of Honor
Rachel Williams
School: Rolling Meadows High School
Hometown: Arlington Heights
Parents: Bruce and Nancy Williams
Sponsor: Katie Page, science teacher
Class rank: School does not rank
GPA: 5.64 on weighted 5.0 scale
Test scores: ACT: 34; SAT: 2100
Planned major: Industrial/product design
Awards, honors: High School Book Award; Society of Women Engineers Certificate of Merit and a DISCUS Award; National Merit finalist; National Honor Society
Jacob Yarwood
School: Bartlett High School
Hometown: Bartlett
Parents: Brian and Susan Yarwood
Sponsor: Erin Gorman, guidance counselor
Class rank: 1st out of 631
GPA: 5.0 on weighted 4.0 scale
Test scores: ACT: 32
Planned major: Aeronautical or mechanical engineering
Awards, honors: Appointed to the U.S. Air Force Academy; National Honor Society; AP Scholar