Naperville student receives leadership award

Sarah Sahibousidq, a high school sophomore from Naperville, has received the Matthew J. Quinn Youth Leadership Award from The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation, an organization dedicated to advancing the education of exceptionally promising students who have financial need.

Sarah was awarded the $2,500 prize for creating a mentoring program at her elementary school and establishing a summer science club for younger children in her community.

Her mentoring program helps students build academic and social skills by engaging fifth-graders to mentor first- through fourth-graders and high school students to guide them. In order to make sure students are able to participate, regardless of their ability to pay, Sarah uses her earnings from baby-sitting to fund the science club and mentoring program, as well as to pay for materials.

"Our Quinn award recipients are an inspiration to us all," Executive Director Harold Levy said. "(They) exemplify the traits that marked the Cooke Foundation's founding executive director's career - integrity, leadership, public service, love of learning - and inspired the creation of these prizes in his honor. Their commitment to social engagement is a model for all of us to admire. "

By offering the largest scholarships in the country, comprehensive counseling and other support services to students from seventh grade to graduate school, the foundation is dedicated to ensuring high-performing, low-income students have the support necessary to develop their talents and excel educationally.

In addition to its scholarship programs, the foundation provides grants for innovative, high-impact initiatives that benefit such students.

For details, visit www.jkcf.org.