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Honorable mentions: DuPage County Academic Team, 2017-2018

Posted June 06, 2018 5:00 am

James Austgen

Benet Academy

Hometown: Woodridge

Parents: Richard and Patricia Austgen

Sponsor: Amy Wesley, college counselor

GPA: 100.76 on a 100 percent scale

Test scores: ACT: 35; SAT: 1550

Planned major: Computer science

Awards, honors: Valedictorian, National Merit finalist, honor roll, National Honor Society, AP Scholar, Illinois State Scholar

Vidya Babu

Illinois Math and Science Academy

*Fox Valley Academic Team winner

Hometown: Naperville

Parents: Sathuraman Babu and Siva Geetha

Sponsor: Suzanna Spedula

Test scores: ACT: 36; SAT: 1580

Planned major: Neuroscience

Awards, honors: National Merit Finalist, Illinois State Scholar, Chicago Brain Bee Winner

Serena Balzer

West Chicago Community High School

Hometown: West Chicago

Parents: Dan and Phebe Balzer

Sponsor: Drew Plumb, science teacher

GPA: 5.659 on a weighted 5.0 scale

Test scores: ACT: 34

Planned major: Arts and science undergraduate program

Awards, honors: High Honor Roll all semesters, AP Scholar with Distinction, Seal of Biliteracy (Spanish), National Honor Society

Elena Cacchillo

Benet Academy

Hometown: Hinsdale

Parents: Anthony and Michaelle Cacchillo

Sponsor: Amy Wesley, college counselor

GPA: 100.23 percent on a 100 percent scale

Test scores: ACT: 35; SAT: 1570

Planned major: Chemistry, pre-medicine

Awards, honors: National Merit finalist, First Honors, AP Scholar, Illinois State Scholar, honor roll, National Honor Society

Dominic Covelli

Glenbard East High School

Hometown: Lombard

Parents: Kelly and Cyndi Covelli

Sponsor: Christopher Pietsch, teacher

GPA: 5.7959 on a weighted 5.0 scale

Test scores: ACT: 35; SAT: 1540

Planned major: Biochemical engineering

Awards, honors: National AP Scholar, AP Capstone Diploma, perfect score on the AP Research Test, National Merit semifinalist, honor roll, National Honor Society, Illinois State Scholar

Joshua De La Cruz

IC Catholic Prep

Hometown: Wood Dale

Parents: Gerardo De La Cruz and Alicia Patricia Saucedo

GPA: 4.73 on a weighted 4.25 scale

Test scores: ACT: 32

Planned major: Biomedical engineering

Awards, honors: QuestBridge National College Match, First place (State Level) AATI 2017 National Exam, First place Biology Regional Exam (WYSE), honor roll, National Honor Society, AP Scholar, Illinois State Scholar

Joseph Delorto

Downers Grove North High School

Hometown: Downers Grove

Parent: Barbara Delorto

Sponsor: Michael Tompkins, teacher

GPA: 4.7143 on a weighted 4.0 scale

Test scores: ACT: 35; SAT 1520

Planned major: Political science

Awards, honors: National Merit commended scholar, AP Scholar with Distinction, honor roll, ADP Henry Taub Scholar, state finalist in radio speaking in 2018

Alfredo Diaz

Fenton High School

Hometown: Bensenville

Parents: Abraham and Lucy Diaz

Sponsor: Freddy Cano, school counselor

GPA: 4.40 on a weighted 4.0 scale

Test scores: ACT: 32; SAT: 1380

Planned major: Physics

Awards, honors: High Honor Roll for four years, Athletic All-Academic, National Society of High School Scholars, National Honor Society, Illinois State Scholar

Shannon Frank

Shannon M. Frank

Willowbrook High School

Hometown: Lombard

Parents: Chuck and Laura Frank

Sponsor: Elizabeth Zwart, math teacher

GPA: 4.833 on a weighted 4.0 scale

Test scores: ACT: 33; SAT: 1420

Planned major: Kinesiology

Awards, honors: District 88's Best Award, AP Scholar with Honor, Outstanding Freshman Award, honor roll, National Honor Society, Illinois State Scholar

Lucy Fu

Naperville North High School

Hometown: Naperville

Parents: Sue Huang and Xiaobin Fu

Sponsor: Ed Joyce, Latin teacher

GPA: 4.783 on a weighted 4.0 scale

Test scores: ACT: 35

Planned major: Neuroscience/cognitive science

Awards, honors: National Merit commended scholar, honor roll, AP Scholar, Illinois State Scholar, co-authored paper published in scientific journal titled "Genes and Diseases," finalist at DECA international career conference

Sheehwa Darius Hong

Illinois Math and Science Academy

Fox Valley Academic Team winner

Hometown: Naperville

Parents: Robert and Sue Hong

Sponsor: Julia Husen, counselor

GPA: 4.0 on traditional 4.0 scale

Test scores: ACT: 36

Planned major: Economics and biomedical engineering

Awards, honors: Biology Olympiad Semifinalist, Siemens Competition in Science, Mathematics, and Technology Semifinalist, National Merit Finalist

Shaelyn Iyer

Waubonsie Valley High School

Hometown: Aurora

Parents: Michelle Iyer and Sanjay Iyer

Sponsor: Jill Casey, math teacher

GPA: 4.7755 on a weighted 4.0 scale

Test scores: ACT: 35; 1560

Planned major: Chemical engineering

Awards, honors: National Merit finalist, National AP Scholar, Indian Prairie Scholar, honor roll, Illinois State Scholar

Emma Jansen

Lisle Senior High School

Hometown: Lisle

Parents: Lisa and Tom Jansen

Sponsor: Patrick Woyna, language arts instructor

GPA: 5.3939 on a weighted 5.0 scale

Test scores: ACT: 30

Planned major: Industrial engineering

Awards, honors: Illinois State Scholar, Academic Excellence, SAT Honors, honor roll, National Honor Society

Ellie Jensen

St. Francis High School

Hometown: Wheaton

Parents: Ed and Peg Jensen

Sponsor: Trudy Rigney, director of guidance

GPA: 5.11 on a weighted 4.0 scale

Test scores: ACT: 35; SAT: 1560

Planned major: English

Awards, honors: Graduate with Honors with Distinction for GPA 5.0+, Top Ten Students, National Merit commended scholar, honor roll, National Honor Society, Illinois State Scholar

Alexa Jordan

Metea Valley High School

Hometown: Aurora

Parents: Andrew and Natalie Jordan

Sponsor: Donald Pankuch, social studies department chairman

GPA: 4.58 on a weighted 4.0 scale

Test scores: SAT: 1560

Planned major: Government

Awards, honors: President of the Aurora Youth Council, Mayoral Service Above Self Youth Leadership Award, Presidential Volunteer Service Award, honor roll, AP Scholar, Illinois State Scholar, student government

Carolynn Keleher

Lisle Senior High School

Hometown: Lisle

Parents: Jim and Stacey Keleher

Sponsor: Jeffrey R. Howard, principal

GPA: 5.34 on a weighted 5.0 scale

Test scores: ACT: 31

Planned major: Electrical engineering

Awards, honor: Academic Excellence, SAT Honors, AP Scholar, honor roll, National Honor Society, Illinois State Scholar, student government

Margaret Keller

Hinsdale Central High School

Hometown: Hinsdale

Parents: Elaine Smith

Sponsor: Maggie Hilding

GPA: 5.973 on a weighted 5.0 scale

Test scores: ACT: 35; SAT: 1530

Planned major: International business and law, ethics, and decision-making

Awards, honors: Mock Trial, third place team at state (2017, 2018), top eight team at state (2016); French National Honor Society, West Suburban Leadership Conference, participant (2016) and leader (2017), National Merit finalist, honor roll, National Honor Society, AP Scholar, Illinois State Scholar, student government

Maxwell Krause

Downers Grove North High School

Hometown: Downers Grove

Parents: Glenn and Suzanne Krause

Sponsor: Alan Kersey, teacher

GPA: 4.75 on a weighted 4.0 scale

Test scores: ACT: 35; SAT: 1490

Planned major: Double major with Spanish and another subject

Awards, honors: National Spanish exam three-time gold medal winner, National AP Scholar with Distinction, honor roll, National Honor Society, Presidential Scholar candidate, Illinois State Scholar

Grace Larrabee

Glenbard West High School

Hometown: Glen Ellyn

Parents: Christopher and Jennifer Larrabee

Sponsor: Chris Lubinecki, school counselor

GPA: 5.7708 on a weighted 5.0 scale

Test scores: ACT: 36; SAT: 1570

Planned major: Neuroscience

Awards, honors: National Merit finalist, Outstanding French 4H/5AP Student Award, honor roll, National Honor Society, Illinois State Scholar, Presidential Scholar candidate, selected for Notre Dame's Science, Ethics, and Responsibility Leadership Seminar

Ryan Lotz

Wheaton Academy

Hometown: Winfield

Parents: Steven and Renee Lotz

Sponsor: Luke Regan, science department chair

GPA: 4.5624 on a weighted 4.0 scale

Test scores: ACT: 34

Planned major: Aerospace engineering

Awards, honors: National Merit finalist, honor roll, National Honor Society, AP Scholar, Illinois State Scholar, WYSE competition (third place at state)

Monica Oleski

Montini Catholic High School

Hometown: Westmont

Parents: Lucy and David Oleski

Sponsor: Christine McManus, math department chair

GPA: 4.8 on a weighted 4.0 scale

Test scores: ACT: 35

Planned major: Environmental engineering

Awards, honors: Illinois State Scholar, Mu Alpha Theta, AP Scholar, honor roll, AP Scholar

Nandini Patel

Glenbard North High School

Hometown: Hanover Park

Parents: Nishit and Hetal Patel

Sponsor: Kimberly Saxton, teacher

GPA: 5.6667 on a weighted 5.0 scale

Test scores: SAT: 1510

Planned major: Biological sciences

Awards, honors: Glenbard North Academic Letter, AP Scholar with Honor Award, Illinois State Seal of Biliteracy, honor roll, National Honor Society, Illinois State Scholar, Presidential Scholar candidate

Michelle Ramirez

Addison Trail High School

Hometown: Addison

Parents: Leticia Ramirez, Gabriel Ramirez

Sponsor: Mike Galfi, teacher

GPA: 4.79 on a weighted 4.0 scale

Test scores: ACT: 29; SAT: 1300

Planned major: Bioengineering

Awards, honors: District 88's Best, Distinct Honor Roll, AT's Best (social science), National Honor Society, AP Scholar, Illinois State Scholar

Jackson Rapala

Lake Park High School

Hometown: Roselle

Parent: Jennifer Rapala

Sponsor: Melisa Williams-Rivera, counselor

GPA: 5.6809 on a weighted 5.0 scale

Test scores: ACT: 34

Planned major: Biology (pre-med)

Awards, honors: Outstanding Biological Science Student of the Class of 2018, All-Academic swim team, Highest Honor Roll through every semester, National Honor Society, AP Scholar, Illinois State Scholar

Zuly Pasillas-Riquelme

Lake Park High School

Hometown: Hanover Park

Parents: Angela Riquelme and Manuel Pasillas

Sponsor: Melisa Williams-Rivera, counselor

GPA: 4.6667 on a weighted 4.0 scale

Test scores: SAT: 1450

Planned major: Bioengineering

Awards, honors: National Merit commended scholar, honor roll, AP Scholar, Illinois State Scholar

Michael Romano

Wheaton Warrenville South High School

Hometown: Wheaton

Parents: Michael and Maria Romano

Sponsor: Daryl Fitts, social studies department chair

GPA: 4.76 on weighted 4.0 scale

Test scores: ACT: 33

Planned major: Business

Awards, honors: National Honor Society, honor roll, AP Scholar, Spanish Honor Society/Bilingual Society, student government

Muhammad Hassan Saleemi

College Preparatory School of America

Hometown: Lombard

Parents: Abid Saleemi and Nabila Aslam

Sponsor: Samah Elzahdan, dean

GPA: 4.49 on a weighted 4.0 scale

Test scores: ACT: 35; SAT: 1570

Planned major: Biology and political science

Awards, honors: First speaker at the National Yale JV Debate Tournament, National Speech and Debate Association All American Award, Chicago Metro History Fair quarterfinalist, National Merit finalist, honor roll, AP Scholar, Illinois State Scholar, student government

Michael Sawicki

West Chicago Community High School

Hometown: Carol Stream

Parents: Sharon and Daniel Sawicki

Sponsor: Candace Fikis, humanities teacher and adviser/coach for Personal Finance Challenge and Student Council

GPA: 5.515 on a weighted 5.0 scale

Test scores: ACT: 30; SAT: 1460

Planned major: Finance or accountancy and finance

Awards, honors: Illinois State Scholar, honor roll, National Honor Society, AP Scholar, student government, Future Business Leaders of America first place (nationals), Personal Finance Challenge second place (nationals), LifeSmarts fourth place (nationals)

Ali Siddiqi

Glenbard South High School

Hometown: Lombard

Parents: Imran Shahid and Humaira Imran

Sponsor: Gloria Chapa-Resendez, director of school counseling

GPA: 5.69 on a weighted 5.0 scale

Test scores: ACT: 35; SAT: 1550

Planned major: Computer science

Awards, honors: National Merit finalist, AP Scholar with Distinction, Argonne National Lab ESRP participant, honor roll, National Honor Society, Illinois State Scholar

Katarina Surjancev

Addison Trail High School

Hometown: Addison

Parents: Radovan Surjancev and Biljana Pavlovic-Surjancev

Sponsor: Kira Bond, science teacher

GPA: 4.7347 on a weighted 4.0 scale

Test scores: ACT: 33; SAT: 1530

Planned major: Bioengineering

Awards, honors: Illinois State Scholar, District 88's Best, AP Scholar with Distinction, honor roll, National Honor Society, All Conference Math Team 2017, Scholastic Bowl All Conference 2018

Sarah Syed

College Preparatory School of America

Hometown: Glendale Heights

Parents: Naseemuddin and Asra Syed

Sponsor: Samah Elzahdan, dean and counselor

GPA: 4.52 on a weighted 4.0 scale

Test scores: ACT: 35; SAT: 1500

Planned major: Neuroscience

Awards, honors: Muslim Interscholastic Tournament regional champion for two years in a row, National Speech and Debate Association All-American Award, National Merit commended scholar, honor roll, National Honor Society, AP Scholar, Illinois State Scholar, Worldwide Youth in Science and Engineering (biology 1st place at state)

Nashita Syeda

Islamic Foundation School

Hometown: Oak Brook

Parents: Nadeem Sayed and Nausheen Syeda

Sponsor: Linda Qatanani, academic counselor

GPA: 4.98 on a weighted 4.0 scale

Test scores: ACT: 34; SAT: 1450

Planned major: Biology and psychology

Awards, honors: Principal's List, Illinois State Scholar, AP Scholar with Distinction, honor roll, National Honor Society, Illinois State Scholar

Alex Triko

Waubonsie Valley High School

Hometown: Naperville

Parents: Michael Triko

Sponsor: John Farnan, AP biology and honors biology teacher

GPA: 4.7059 on a weighted 4.0 scale

Test scores: ACT: 35; SAT: 1560

Planned major: Molecular biology

Awards, honors: Summa Cum Laude, State Science Fair behavioral science runner-up, AP Scholar with Distinction, National Merit commended scholar, honor roll, AP Scholar, Illinois State Scholar

Isabella Vasko

Glenbard South High School

Hometown: Glen Ellyn

Parents: Anastasia and Michael Vasko

Sponsor: Gloria Chapa-Resendez, school counseling department chair

GPA: 5.6809 on a weighted 5.0 scale

Test scores: ACT: 34

Planned major: Business and psychology

Awards, honors: President's award for educational excellence, High Honor Roll, AP Scholar, National Merit commended scholar, National Honor Society, Illinois State Scholar

Alec Vasquez

IC Catholic Prep

Hometown: Elmhurst

Parents: Frank and Tracy Vasquez

Sponsor: Cindy Thomas, English teacher

GPA: 4.75 on a weighted 4.25 scale

Test scores: ACT: 32

Planned major: Business analytics

Awards, honors: Monsignor Plunkett Scholar (awarded to students in the top 10 percent of class), High Honor Roll, National Hispanic Scholar, National Honor Society, Illinois State Scholar, National Achievement scholarship program, Hugh O'Brien conference representative

Lindsey Williams

Wheaton North High School

Hometown: Wheaton

Parents: Mark and Pam William

Sponsor: Wendy Biggs, school counselor

GPA: 4.70 on a weighted 4.0 scale

Test scores: ACT: 34; SAT: 1510

Planned major: Biological sciences

Awards, honors: National Student Leadership Conference in Medicine, National Merit commended scholar, honor roll, National Honor Society, AP Scholar, Illinois State Scholar

Abigail Wolf

Montini Catholic High School

Hometown: Lombard

Parents: Greg and Suzanne Wolf

Sponsor: Christine McManus, math department chair

GPA: 4.71 on a weighted 4.0

Test scores: ACT: 35; SAT: 1510

Planned major: Engineering

Awards, honors: Illinois State Scholar, National Merit commended scholar, AP Scholar, honor roll, National Honor Society

Kevin Zhang

Naperville North High School

Hometown: Lisle

Parents: Hongli Zhang and Jian Zhang

Sponsor: Heather Henricksen, physical education department

GPA: 4.731 on a weighted 4.0 scale

Test scores: ACT: 35; SAT: 1560

Planned major: Statistics and computer science

Awards, honors: Completion of all 12 levels of the Achievement in Music Exam, Gold medalist and silver medalist in the annual National Latin Exam, National Merit finalist, honor roll, AP Scholar, Illinois State Scholar

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