How ACE Awards honor students who’ve overcome challenges

Not every student-honors event takes your emotions on a roller coaster ride, but the ACE Awards breakfast last week hosted by the Tri-Cities Exchange Club did just that.

The National Exchange Club created the Accepting the Challenge of Excellence honors 40 years ago with the idea that local high school students who have overcome emotional, physical, family or financial challenges are not always recognized for the effort it takes to excel in school under such conditions.

With those guidelines, the ACE Awards often tab students who may or may not appear on an honor roll, a National Merit Scholars list, a sports or music roster, or earn spots near the top of class rankings. But their accomplishments are near the top of this list: Desire, determination and resilience.

Last week, two students each from Batavia, Geneva, Mooseheart, St. Charles East and St. Charles North received ACE recognition after being nominated by their school counselors for their outstanding efforts to succeed.

Honorees were Christopher Hatch and Jack Thompson from Batavia High School; Valeri Hernandez and Patrick Waldchen of Geneva High School; Prince Eletu and Madison Janda of Mooseheart High School; Bailey Brennecke and Manuela Ramirez of St. Charles East; and Ben Bergeson and Logan Nealis of St. Charles North.

The stories the counselors shared about their students left all in attendance at Riverside Banquets in Geneva feeling good about the future of these students — and the younger generation overall.

“It’s nice to recognize people who have had things happen in their lives that are not ‘lay-down situations,’ they had to get after it,” said Jon Hull, Exchange Club member who organized the program with fellow member Dennis Carr.

“They have overcome many challenges, from physical to economic to mental health, and we are really grateful to honor these people,” Hull said.

The large crowd in attendance included the students, school officials and counselors, Exchange Club members and other supporters, including the mayors of St. Charles, Geneva and Batavia.

St. Charles Mayor Clint Hull (no relation to Jon Hull) attending his first official community event as the city’s new mayor, recognized the importance of the ACE Awards after much involvement with young people during his career as a Kane County judge.

“It is inspirational, and each story is just so amazing about the resiliency that these kids have. I walk away very excited about the future with kids like this,” Clint Hull said. “All of the obstacles they have faced, they just keep going on and on.

“Going back to my days as a juvenile court judge, you understand that all kids need is a chance,” he added. “If you give them a chance and they have someone who cares about them, like the teachers and principals, they can do great things.”

Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns called the event one of his favorites to attend each year.

“It is inspiring, motivating and uplifting and it reminds everyone that the fragility of success is ever-present,” Burns said. “When you turn to high school students who demonstrate that success, it makes you feel good not only about the world, but the future.”

Batavia Mayor Jeff Schielke has been to many past ACE Awards events, calling it, “One of the great moments in the Tri-Cities every year, to do this type of recognition.

“It really brings to mind how many great people we really have and how promising our kids are for the future,” Schielke said.

These types of accolades were flowing from nearly everyone after listening to the heart-tugging, but uplifting, stories about the recipients.

One student lost both parents and a brother, yet overcame grief and hardship to be a good student who is always helping others.

Another overcame a terrible car accident as a youngster — resulting in a long rehab in which he missed a lot of school — but moved on to finish school with plans to attend community college and focus on a future in auto repair.

Another had a compromised immune system that left him out of school for weeks at a time, but he overcame the challenge through his own determination and the help of teachers and friends.

A couple of the students came to this country just before entering high school and faced many obstacles in their new setting, but they worked to become good students. One is even hoping to teach English to others in the future.

Mooseheart highlighted Prince Eletu, who came to Mooseheart as a young child and went on to excel in school and sports as a wrestler. But he woke up one morning to find his legs weak and unstable. He was diagnosed with a rare disease that has left him walking with a cane.

His counselor Thomas Daniels called him “the most resilient and dedicated kid I have seen in my years of service at Mooseheart.”

Miranda Janda, meanwhile, had numerous challenges as a youngster at Mooseheart. She eventually reconnected with her family, but her family teacher, Jamie Reynolds, spoke of the person Janda has become.

Reynolds talked about her own struggles with chemotherapy, holding back tears, in expressing her gratitude toward the young student.

“Madison has helped me get through the chemotherapy,” Reynolds said. “I could not get through it without this child, and I am going to miss her so much.”

It was that kind of morning for the ACE Award winners and the Tri-Cities Exchange Club.

To add to the pride for ACE students, Exchange Club provided a $1,000 gift for each student, as well as a $100 gift from donations gathered from friends of club member Jim Gaffney, and $100 in gift cards from Tom and Cris Anderson of Colonial Cafes. Shodeen Family Foundation provided the breakfast.

Acknowledging the big turnout, the students’ efforts and perfect weather outside, Exchange Club president Brian Henry summed it up well.

“This is a feel-good day, and we all like feel-good days.”

Those who want to support more feel-good days can get information about donations to ACE and the Exchange Club by contacting Henry at (630) 715-3162.

Few empty dining spots

Because eating out is such a popular pastime, it’s good to keep an eye on dining options throughout the Tri-Cities area to measure how things are going in the restaurant world.

Not getting out as often as I would like, Dukes Northwoods and Flagship on the Fox in St. Charles, and the Taco Grill Salsa Bar in Batavia, have been my only ventures the past few months.

But that shouldn’t deter others as options will increase soon, continuing a trend that has seen many empty restaurant locations back in business with new tenants or opening soon.

I may be missing some, but it seems the Patten House location in downtown Geneva and the former Houlihan’s spot in the Geneva Commons are key ones still seeking new tenants.

The former Little Owl and Old Towne Pub sites will have new eateries operating soon through the work of FoxFire owner K.C. Gulbro.

Other Geneva sites are up and running with new tenants Le Cochon Wine Bar and Bistro taking over the former Mandrake site, while within the last year or so it was First Watch and La Hacienda Real opening in the Commons.

Batavia welcomed Everdine’s Grilled Cheese Co. along Wilson Street and Dave’s Hot Chicken on Randall Road, while Acquaviva Winery & Ristorante moved into the former Tribella location on Mill Street just east of Randall Road.

In Batavia, a former Arby’s sat empty, but the city council recently approved a special-use permit for a recreational cannabis dispensary at that Randall Road site. (It’s not a new food place, but it’s going to be a popular use of the property.)

St. Charles has plenty of new eateries coming on the east side as part of the Fox Haven Square development, such as Fire + Wine, Taco Mucho, Fulla Beans café and dining at the Montauk Pickleball Club.

There really aren’t many former empty restaurant sites in, or west of, St. Charles. The Shakou Sushi site on Main Street closed five years ago but reopened.

To the west, the Squire Ale House opened in what has always been a popular location in Campton Hills where former places like The Farm Inn and The Lodge drew many patrons.

All in all, with an economy sputtering at the moment, we are not lacking for excellent places to eat. We just have to get out and support them.

Did you know?

The community drugstore has always been an important part of small-town life, making it common to find such a business in the heart of a small village or settlement.

St. Charles was no different in the late 1800s when residents relied on the Van Patten Drug Store to provide the medicine needed to address any number of ailments.

Van Patten Drug Store was nestled just south of West Main Street in St. Charles, making its location roughly where the Szechwan Restaurant currently operates.

• dheun@sbcglobal.net