District 214 Calisch Award winners embody renaissance spirit in the arts

Six graduating seniors have been named the 2025 recipients of High School District 214’s annual Calisch Awards.

This year’s honorees represent passion, talent and leadership in band, dance, orchestra, theater, visual arts and vocal music across District 214’s schools.

The 2025 Calisch Award students are: Makayla Ceballos of Rolling Meadows High School; Emily Fiorito of Elk Grove High School; Abigail Homoly of John Hersey High School; Michael Morrison of Buffalo Grove High School; Jonathan Salgado of Wheeling High School; and Maggie Schram of Prospect High School.

The award was established in honor of Richard Calisch, a former English teacher and division head for humanities at Elk Grove High School. Calisch was a passionate advocate for the arts; he created the district’s Arts Unlimited event and anthology, the Friend of the Arts annual award, and, at one point, partnered with the Elk Grove Village Public Library to establish an Arts Guild to expand community access to cultural programming and information.

Students are nominated by each school’s Fine Arts coordinator and staff with an eye toward celebrating students who embody the spirit of a true “renaissance individual,” with activities, accomplishments and involvement across various fine arts disciplines.

A closer look at our Class of 2025 award winners:

• Makayla Ceballos is an accomplished visual artist whose work has been featured in many shows, including the Harper Art show and Illinois High School Art Exhibition. She is talented in the performing arts as well, as an active member of Rolling Meadows High School’s symphonic, marching and jazz bands. She performed in the inaugural Women in Jazz ensemble. Demonstrating even more versatility, she has been a cast and tech crew member for several theater productions.

• Emily Fiorito has applied her talent and dedication to many arenas of music and theater arts. A skilled French horn player, she earned positions in the District 214 honors band, honors orchestra, Illinois Music Education Association District 7 band and ILMEA all-state band. Her versatility extends to jazz, where she excels as a trumpeter in her school’s jazz band and ILMEA District 7 jazz band. She also has served as drum major and earned roles as a lead actress in musical theater productions, where she has demonstrated exceptional stage presence.

• Abigail Homoly’s talent, dedication and leadership have made her an exemplary representative for the arts at John Hersey High School. She brings confidence and passion to the theater program, excelling in such roles as Sandy in Grease, director for one-act performances and dance captain in Tuck Everlasting. As drum major, band president and a teacher’s assistant, she has shown exceptional leadership qualities. Her talent and accolades extend to visual art; she won first place in 2-Dimensional in the 2022 and 2024 Harper art shows.

• Michael Morrison’s dedication to the arts at Buffalo Grove High school over four years has been exemplary. He began his high school music career as a trumpet player, which led to his playing for the vocal jazz combo. In 2023, Mikey was named a BG Golden Bison for his participation in band, choir and orchestra. As a senior, he has developed into a superb leader in all three disciplines. In addition, he applies his passion for theater by building sets and running shows.

• Jonathan Salgado has been a vital force across a wide spectrum of performing arts at Wheeling High School, where he has utilized his talent in vocal, orchestra, musicals, mariachi, theater tech and WCATLive event streaming. He was selected to showcase his talent for the inaugural ILMEA mariachi honors ensemble. In addition, Johnny’s leadership, creativity and passion have left a lasting mark on the school’s fine arts community.

• Maggie Schram has been immersed in nearly every facet of Prospect High School fine arts, from her days in freshman choir, along with marching and concert bands, to her performance in such productions as “She Kills Monsters” and “All Shook Up.” Balancing stage performances with work in the pit and behind the scenes, Maggie also has excelled as drum major and lent her voice to honors choir, a cappella and madrigals, along with playing in the symphonic band and orchestra.