Neighbors in the news: Retired colonel from Antioch inducted in ROTC Hall of Fame
• Col. (Ret.) Paul J. Hettich of Antioch was inducted into the 2022 class of the U.S. Army ROTC National Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony was conducted at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 10.
Hall of Fame inductions are awarded to alumni whose character and distinguished service epitomize the qualities ROTC embodies. Inductees' achievements exemplify "leadership excellence" deserving of this recognition.
In honor of an inductee's meritorious contributions to the nation, a permanent record of the their service and accomplishments is added to a prestigious assembly of Hall of Fame inductees. Each inductee also receives a certificate, plaque and medal.
Col. Hettich attended ROTC at Loyola University of Chicago, where he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1987. He was later inducted into Loyola University of Chicago's Rambler Battalion Hall of Fame in 2022.
Col. Hettich retired with over 30 years of service on Sept. 1, 2017. He commanded at all levels, from Special Forces (airborne) detachment commander (1987) to acting commanding general (2017) of an Expeditionary Sustainment Command.
He completed five combat deployments, three to Kuwait/Iraq, one in Bosnia/Kosovo and one on the Horn of Africa.
Col. Hettich is adjutant, Antioch American Legion; trustee, executive board, Lake County Veterans Assistance Commission; senior vice commander, Antioch VFW; vice president, Illinois, Reserve Organization Association; and legislative officer, Fort Sheridan Chapter, Reserve Organization Association. He is also an U.S. Army Reserve Ambassador for Illinois.
Col. Hettich is employed by the Lake County Sheriff's Department and Lake County Forest Preserve.
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Gilbert Allen, clinical director at Shelter, Inc., is among those who received Crain's Chicago Business' Notable Black Leaders and Executives Award of 2022.
The prestigious award recognizes leaders who have contributed significantly to the Black community in various fields, from law and medicine to nonprofits and academia.
In his role at Shelter, a child welfare agency in Arlington Heights, Allen leads the clinical team, providing free mental health care to youths who have experienced trauma and their families.
Allen holds a master's degree in social work and is working on a doctorate in counseling, community care and trauma.
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Four Maine South High School students and two recent graduates had their entry selected, in the top five nationally, as part of the 10th annual All American High School Film Festival.
Junior Dylan Sarsany, junior Tyler DeMott, senior Riley Gibson, graduate Molly Bowe, senior Gaetano Iannotta and graduate Kostantinos Zafiriadis' entry, titled "Just Text Me," was selected in the End Distracted Driving PSA category.
Recently, the students were surprised during halftime of a recent Maine South football game to be honored for the accomplishment.
The video was screened at the AMC Empire 25 Theater in Times Square, New York, New York, on Oct. 22 and 23.
Every year the festival receives thousands of films submitted by student filmmakers from around the world. The official selections are the best of the best, and have been selected by a panel of industry judges.
• Adlai E. Stevenson High School graduate Elyse Baden, a senior at Michigan State University, was nominated for a nationally competitive graduate school scholarship - The Marshall Scholarship.
The Marshall Scholarship provides support to approximately 50 of the most outstanding undergraduates in the country to study at any university in the United Kingdom.
Baden, an honors student, is majoring in political theory and constitutional democracy, and social relations and policy in the James Madison College; and interdisciplinary humanities in the College of Arts and Letters.
The award will be determined in the coming months.
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