2014-2015 DuPage County Leadership Team
Ayah Abdallah, College Preparatory School of America
Hometown: Palos Park
Class: Senior
Parents: Bothaina Zahdan and Habes Abdallah
Sponsor: Samah Abed, dean of student services and counselor
Community service: American Muslims for Palestine, volunteers to educate children about Palestine; Habitat for Humanity volunteer; United Nations High Commission for Refugees volunteer; American Red Cross, helps organize an annual blood drive; Quran summer camp, worked as a teacher's aide
Personal statement: "My responsibilities have molded me into a strong and independent individual. I stand up for what I believe in, but open-mindedly listen to opposing arguments and points of view. It is important for someone to listen to others' arguments and points of view without losing composure and ignorantly imposing their views on them."
Sponsor's endorsement: "Not only is Ayah a proven leader, but she ensures that everything she involves herself with is to benefit and help others."
Isabella Anastassoff, Hinsdale Central High School
Hometown: Clarendon Hills
Class: Senior
Parents: Joanna Vateva
Sponsor: Lisa Hikes
Community service: Habitat for Humanity; Business Professionals of America Blood Drive and Toy Drive; Norridge Healthcare & Rehabilitation volunteer
Personal statement: "It was not easy growing up with one parent, knowing no English, and living in a dangerous Chicago suburb. We were lucky to live in an apartment building full of Bulgarians, who each contributed as much as they could to help raise me while my mother went to school during the day and worked nights. With everyone's help, my mother eventually became a pediatrician, and we were able to move to a nicer suburb. However, I will never forget how much these people's efforts helped my family and shaped the person I am today."
Sponsor's endorsement: "I have enjoyed working closely with Izi and have seen her manage extreme challenges and an unbelievably busy schedule with patience, maturity and great enthusiasm."
Lauren Crowe, Glenbard West High School
Hometown: Glen Ellyn
Class: Senior
Parents: Mary Crowe and Doug Crowe
Sponsor: Michael R. Neberz, counselor
Community service: Freshman Leadership Conference coordinator; Turkey Trot Run/Walk coordinator; Presidents Council; One Voice Outreach Choir community volunteer; YoungLife volunteer
Personal statement: "As I began high school, I believed volunteering meant checking off boxes and gaining hours in order to show everyone I was 'doing the right thing.' ... Luckily, as I began high school I realized there wasn't time and I didn't have the energy to do things just because I thought I was supposed to. I learned that, instead, I love helping other people read and write and so I worked with tutoring. I learned that I loved to encourage others so I made a pact to myself that every day I would do the best I can to stay positive and tell others how well they're doing."
Sponsor's endorsement: "She's an extraordinary person; one that will undoubtedly make an impact on her 'future' community. There is no short summation that can encompass Lauren and what she has learned about herself in her high school experiences."
Kayla Dunlea, St. Francis High School
Hometown: Wayne
Class: Senior
Parents: Sean and Helen Dunlea
Sponsor: Trudy Rigney, director of guidance
Community service: Words for Women program founder, collected books for women in shelters; Easter Seals DuPage & Fox Valley, preschool helper; SASED, volunteered in the hearing-impaired summer program; Students Against Destructive Decisions; Student Ambassadors
Personal statement: "Being hearing-impaired has not defined who I am today, but it has definitely given me a different perspective of the world. Growing up, I was ashamed of being hearing-impaired and being different from everyone in my class, and even my school. As I have grown over the years, I have realized that being hearing-impaired has given me gifts that I would have never found if I was hearing."
Sponsor's endorsement: "Kayla is a remarkable young woman who does not let adversity keep her from her goals. Her strong work ethic, positive leadership, gregarious personality, and genuine concern for others make her a very special and valued person in our school and the surrounding community."
Erin Gradle, Neuqua Valley High School
Hometown: Naperville
Class: Senior
Parents: Thomas and Colleen Gradle
Sponsor: Stephanie LaPorta, guidance counselor
Community service: Ready Set Ride volunteer; helped organize an auction fundraiser for Ready Set Ride; organized a Derby Day event to raise money for Ready Set Ride; German Honor Society
Personal statement: "Years of community service at Ready Set Ride have shown me that my life needs to mean something in this world. Yes, making money is a great feeling, but helping people brings even more joy in the long run. I have spent two summers teaching swim lessons, and the paychecks never compare to the full heart I feel when I teach a disabled child to ride."
Sponsor's endorsement: "What sets Erin apart from your other applicants is her innate ability and value to help others. ... During her four years of high school, Erin has donated over 4,000 hours of community service to Ready, Set, Ride. This is not only a passion of Erin's but she truly enjoys working with the clients and staff members of the facility."
Sidney Jankauskas, Benet Academy
Hometown: Naperville
Class: Senior
Parents: Karime and Paul Jankauskas
Sponsor: Laura Lundstrom
Community service: Project Finders Givers; peer leading; Serving and Loving Together; tutoring; student government
Personal statement: "I can't say that I have any single career goal set in stone. What I do know is that I want to be well-respected and make a difference in whatever I do. I love the feeling of knowing that I've accomplished something of importance and that I am needed. From my perspective, learned through volunteerism, being able to speak clearly and communicate ideas are two key components to being a leader. Mentoring through peer leadership was great practice in public speaking. In the end, my 'lifetime goals' at the moment are to find a future path that fits perfectly with my strengths and interests and to be successful in what I do."
Sponsor's endorsement: "She is a positive example for others to follow. She has blossomed into a confident leader ... and will continue to grow and prosper. ... The sky is the limit for Sidney."
Sofia Melgoza, St. Francis High School
Hometown: Naperville
Class: Senior
Parents: Tomas and Melissa Melgoza
Sponsor: Trudy Rigney, director of guidance
Community service: Read to Me service project co-founder; Yes! We Can! service project, helped implement the food drive; Special Olympics volunteer; Glen Ellyn Children's Resource Center, volunteer tutor
Personal statement: "This year, when trying to establish the Read to Me Peace Project, I faced many challenges and obstacles. In all honesty, I even debated changing my idea and doing something much easier. However, I realized that would not be fair to the children I knew needed help reading and understanding English. Despite challenges in timing, transportation, and volunteer recruitment, I knew that I had the ability to implement the program. After months of planning, Read to Me started in April."
Sponsor's endorsement: "She simply has the maturity, intelligence and people skills that get things done. And, she has a heart of gold which dictates her desire to help others and somehow make their lives better, in big ways or small."
Vasisht Narayan, Waubonsie Valley High School
Hometown: Naperville
Class: Senior
Parents: Priya Narayan
Sponsor: Karen Kuhlman
Community service: Students United Tutoring co-founder; United Students Education Funding founder; Illinois Sister Cities Commission, student representative; Model United Nations
Personal statement: "Throughout my high school experience, the commitments and opportunities I pursued have given me an insight to leadership and enabling others. I now realize that leadership is not a process of earning high GPA's, test scores, and awards. I perceive leadership to be a daily drive of individual efforts working to inspire those around you."
Sponsor's endorsement: "Vasisht has taken on leadership and founded a Students United Tutoring program which provides free tutoring resources to students in the area. Besides helping our local community, Vasisht founded United Students Education Funding, which raised sufficient funds for a lifetime of sponsorship of insulin for a homeless child in India with Type 1 diabetes. He takes initiative in creating programs that will help those in need."
Grace Watson, Naperville Central High School
Hometown: Naperville
Class: Senior
Parents: Edgar and Barbara Watson
Sponsor: Barry Baldwin, English teacher
Community service: Brady Elementary School in Aurora, tutored underprivileged students; U4U: Splash The Hope, event volunteer; U4U: Dodge for Hope, dodgeball tournament volunteer; Jock Jam, event co-founder; helped plan and run charity basketball game at school
Personal statement: "As a student, I know that learning is my most important job and responsibility, but I have also always grown up believing helping others is just as important. Looking back on my experiences with volunteering, I am very proud to say that I have found a way to make some type of difference as a teen. ... Volunteering has given me an amazing opportunity to gain the experience of working with others and has put me in positions of great responsibility."
Sponsor's endorsement: "I truly feel you will be proud to have this student represent you. There is no doubt this student has touched more lives than most others. It is my opinion that student will be remembered for years to come after leaving these halls. This student is a sure thing."
Kati Young, Lisle Senior High School
Hometown: Lisle
Class: Senior
Parents: Stuart and Karen Young
Sponsor: Kendra Meyer, counselor
Community service: Anima Young Singers of Greater Chicago, appointed apprentice; Lisle Teens With Character, teen leader; Lutheran Outdoor Ministries Center, assistant counselor; Trinity Lutheran Church volunteer; Student Ambassadors president
Personal statement: "I want to pursue a career in science, uncovering and explaining the wonderful intricacies of the world around us. This will allow me to quench my thirst for knowledge while promoting the welfare of all people. I also know that my desire to help others achieve their goals will prompt me to continue volunteering for the entirety of my life. And at the conclusion of my life, I aspire to leave a legacy in the hearts of those whom I have inspired and changed for the better."
Sponsor's endorsement: "She has made this world a better place by utilizing her leadership skills and touching our community. More importantly, she will continue to do so. She is a lifelong learner who deserves to be recognized for her efforts and successes."