Honorable mentions: Fox Valley Academic Team, 2015-2016
Suyilat Adekola
East Aurora High School
Hometown: Aurora
Parents: Rianat and Isimalia Adekola
Sponsor: Lee Clayborn, coach
Class rank: 6 out of 647
GPA: 3.953 on a weighted 4.0 scale
Test scores: ACT: 27
Planned major: Marketing
Awards, honors: Illinois State Scholar; High Honor Roll; Top 10 Students, Senior Class
Tim Burchfield
Wheaton Academy
Hometown: Carpentersville
Parents: Bob and Michelle Burchfield
Sponsor: Bart Gregersen, college and academic counselor
Class rank: N/A
GPA: 3.9949 on a traditional 4.0 scale
Test scores: ACT: 36
Planned major: Physics
Awards, honors: Honor roll, National Honor Society, AP Scholar, Illinois State Scholar
Elnora Burzlaff
Harvest Christian Academy
Hometown: Elgin
Parents: Jeffrey and Andrea Burzlaff
Sponsor: Jill Nolan, English teacher
Class rank: 1 out of 32
GPA: 4.047 on weighted 4.0 scale
Test scores: ACT: 28
Planned major: English or graphic arts
Awards, honors: High honor roll, National Honor Society, Mitchell Swaback Torch Award
Stephen Creger
Geneva High School
Hometown: Geneva
Parents: Todd and Linda Creger
Sponsor: Cathy M. Pool, counselor
Class rank: N/A
GPA: 4.54 on a weighted 4.0 scale
Test scores: ACT: 35
Planned major: Chemical engineering
Awards, honors: Worldwide Youth in Science and Engineering- State Finalist (6th in chemistry), Math State Team Finalist, Academic All-Conference for cross country
Jack Diederich
Marmion Academy
Hometown: Aurora
Parents: John and Joanne Diederich
Sponsor: John Salomone, math department chair
Class rank: 1 out of 132
GPA: 4.829 on a weighted 4.0 scale
Test scores: ACT: 35
Planned major: Civil engineering
Awards, honors: Ranked 1 in Senior Class, 1st Place Math Team Junior and Senior 2-Man Team at Regionals, Worldwide Youth in Science and Engineering - 1st Place in Computer Science at Regionals
Isabella Duarte
Rosary High School
Hometown: St. Charles
Parents: Dr. Carlos and Jackie Duarte
Sponsor: Katrina Lamkin, assistant principal
Class rank: N/A
GPA: 4.630 on a weighted 4.0 scale
Test scores: ACT: 32
Planned major: Science/business (pre-professional/pre-dental)
Awards, honors: College Board's National Hispanic Recognition Program Scholar 2015-2016, Illinois State Scholar, National Honor Society
Rediat Ephrem
Westminster Christian High School
Hometown: Elgin
Parents: Tsige Degefa and Kifel Ephrem
Sponsor: Fred Versluys
Class rank: 2 out of 48
GPA: 4.11 on a weighted 4.0 scale
Test scores: ACT: 27
Planned major: Pre-medicine
Awards, honors: Illinois State Scholar, 2017 Presidential Inauguration Youth Leadership Congress Medal of Achievement, Valedictorian
Diego Esquivel
East Aurora High School
Hometown: Aurora
Parents: Juvenal Esquivel and Rebeca Garnica
Sponsor: Nate Parry, coach, and Krystina Leyva, coach
Class rank: 29 out of 647
GPA: 3.667 on a weighted 4.0 scale
Test scores: ACT: 31
Planned major: Computer engineering
Awards, honors: IL ENG Enhanced Scholarship, President's Award Honors Program, Summer Engineering Visionary Scholarship
Molly Foulkes
Dundee-Crown High School
Hometown: Sleepy Hollow
Parents: Jim Foulkes and Mimi Broihier
Sponsor: Ann DiCosola, guidance counselor
Class rank: 2 out of 531
GPA: 5.88679 on a weighted 4.0 scale
Test scores: ACT: 32
Planned major: International Studies
Awards, honors: Illinois State Scholar, AP Scholar, Honor Roll
Hannah Haecker
Westminster Christian High School
Hometown: Hoffman Estates
Parents: Greg and Dawn Haecker
Sponsor: Fred Versluys
Class rank: 1 out of 48
GPA: 4.19 on a weighted 4.0 scale
Test scores: ACT: 33
Planned major: Human and organizational development
Awards, honors: Illinois State Scholar, High Honors Every Semester, Rotary Club Straight "A" Academic Accomplishment Award (2 years)
Cole Johnson
Marian Central Catholic High School
Hometown: Algonquin
Parents: Craig and Amy Johnson
Sponsor: Rebecca Reed, guidance director
Class rank: 1 out of 158
GPA: 4.6122 on a weighted 4.0 scale
Test scores: ACT: 34
Planned major: Chemical engineering
Awards, honors: Valedictorian, Bausch and Lomb Award for Outstanding Achievement in Science, Academic Excellence Award
Karen Li
Batavia High School
Hometown: Batavia
Parents: Yingjie Li and Silin Zhao
Sponsor: Erin Hack, guidance counselor
Class rank: 1 out of 478
GPA: 4.375 on a weighted 4.0 scale
Test scores: ACT: 33
Planned major: Business administration
Awards, honors: National Merit Commended Scholar, AP Scholar, Illinois State Scholar
Charlotte O'Sullivan
St. Charles North High School
Hometown: St. Charles
Parents: Mary Eileen and Matthew O'Sullivan
Sponsor: Robin Roberts
Class rank: 1 out of 531
GPA: 5.9 on a 5.0 scale
Test scores: ACT: 30
Planned major: Chemistry
Awards, honors: National Honor Society, AP Scholar, Illinois State Scholar
Sean Phelan
St. Edward Central Catholic High School
Hometown: Hoffman Estates
Parents: Lynn and Bill Phelan
Sponsor: Kerry O'Brien, guidance counselor
Class rank: 5 out of 106
GPA: 4.63 on a weighted 4.0 scale
Test scores: ACT: 32
Planned major: Finance
Awards, honors: Rotary Club Straight "A" Academic Accomplishment Award 3 Years, Illinois State Scholar, High Honor Roll 7 Times
Tess Schuck
St. Edward Central Catholic High School
Hometown: Hoffman Estates
Parents: Matthew and Cathryn Schuck
Sponsor: Kerry O'Brien, head of counseling services
Class rank: 2 out of 106
GPA: 4.71 on a weighted 4.0 scale
Test scores: ACT: 32
Planned major: Mathematics and computer science
Awards, honors: AP Scholar, National Honor Society, Worldwide Youth in Science and Engineering- 1st Place in Chemistry
Colleen Sullivan
West Aurora High School
Hometown: Aurora
Parents: Michael and Barbara Sullivan
Sponsor: Valerie Copeland, counselor
Class rank: 38 out of 869
GPA: 4.33 on a weighted 4.0 scale
Test scores: ACT: 25
Planned major: Nutrition
Awards, honors: School District 129 Top 5% Academic Recognition, 4.0 GPA for 7 Semesters Recognition, Honor Roll
Sarah Summers
Elgin Academy
Hometown: Barrington
Parents: Carla and Josh Summers
Sponsor: Doug Sept, Upper School Director
Class rank: 1 out of 33
GPA: 4.29 on a traditional 4.0 scale
Test scores: SAT: 2200
Planned major: Biology
Awards, honors: National Merit Commended Student; Elgin Rotary Club Straight A Award - 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th; Cum Laude Society (Secondary School Division, Phi Beta Kappa Society)
Nick Voss
Harry D. Jacobs High School
Hometown: Algonquin
Parents: Matt and Jamie Voss
Sponsor: Anthony Miocic, counselor
Class rank: 2 out of 560
GPA: 6.125 on a weighted 4.0 scale
Test scores: ACT: 34
Planned major: Biomedical engineering
Awards, honors: Illinois State Science Olympiad Winner in Experimental Design, AP Scholar with Distinction, ACT 30+
Grace Wehner
Rosary High School
Hometown: Oswego
Parents: Derk and Christine Wehner
Sponsor: Katrina Lamkin, assistant principal
Class rank: N/A
GPA: 4.739 on a weighted 4.0 scale
Test scores: ACT: 34
Planned major: Computer science
Awards, honors: National Merit Commended, National Honor Society, National French Contest
Henry Wu
Crystal Lake South High School
Hometown: Crystal Lake
Parents: Yuk Wu and Pai Ng
Sponsor: Tammy Freund, counselor
Class rank: 2 out of 441
GPA: 4.666 on a weighted 4.0 scale
Test scores: ACT: 33
Planned major: Undecided
Awards, honors: AP Scholar with Distinction, Illinois State Scholar, Worldwide Youth in Science and Engineering - 1st Place in Computer Science at Regional Level
Alexandra Ziolkowski
Huntley High School
Hometown: Huntley
Parents: Tom and Tracey Ziolkowski
Sponsor: Steve Styers, math teacher
Class rank: 2 out of 641
GPA: 4.650 on a weighted 4.0 scale
Test scores: ACT: 35
Planned major: Mechanical engineering
Awards, honors: Salutatorian, AP Scholar with Distinction, Huntley High School Honor Roll Every Quarter