The 2013-14 Northwest suburban Daily Herald Leadership Team members, front, from left: Kshama Shah, Conant High School; Marki Kaim, Elk Grove High School; Emily Hernandez, Buffalo Grove High School; Allison Oakes, Fremd; Nick Vucovich, Fremd. Back row, from left: Courtney Quigley, Barrington High School; Alicia Leja, St. Viator; Ian Fitzgerald, Rolling Meadows High School; Syed Matin, Maine East; Brian Loomis, Hersey.
Patrick Kunzer/pkunzer@dailyherald.com
It's been 12 years since the Daily Herald introduced its first annual Leadership Team — 12 years since we first put the spotlight on a group of high school students who lead extraordinary lives of service to others.
In today's Neighbor section you'll meet this year's honorees, students who represent some of the best examples of civic involvement in our communities. They are by no means the only ones — scores of high school students across the suburbs are leading constructive lives of community service, and those recognized by this year's awards are only some of them.
Young people frequently get a bad rap in a society that seems to focus on the negative. Sure, there are young people who fail to live responsibly, just as there are adults who fail to live responsibly.
But so many more are working hard, studying conscientiously and volunteering their time, helping to make themselves and their neighbors better.
In the process, they also have learned how to lead. They have pulled people together for a common purpose — to fundraise, organize, set goals, celebrate their successes and analyze their failures. In short, they are tomorrow's leaders.
We're happy to bring them to you today.
Thank you to our Leadership Team judges
2013-2014 Lake County Leadership Team
Lake County Leadership Team honorable mentions
2013-2014 Fox Valley Leadership Team
Fox Valley Leadership Team honorable mentions
2013-2014 DuPage County Leadership Team
DuPage County Leadership Team honorable mentions
2013-2014 Northwest suburban Leadership Team
Northwest Suburban Leadership Team honorable mentions
Meet the 2013-14 Lake County Leadership Team. Front row, from left: Sam Panitch, Adlai E. Stevenson High School; Allie Bujak, Libertyville High School and Annie Kotlarz, Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart. Middle row: Charlie Suhling, Warren Township High School; Faith Gazdzicki, Round Lake; Emily Prey, Libertyville; Paige Vaughn, Grayslake Central. Back row from left: Annalisa Roncone, Lakes Community High School; Shannon Pedersen, Grant and Rachel Jacoby, Vernon Hills High School.
Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com
The 10 members of the 2013-14 Daily Herald DuPage County Leadership Team meet at the College of DuPage. Back row, from left: Katie Mann, Wheaton Academy; Alissa Whyte, Fenton High School; Silas Ferrao, Naperville Central; Austin Hansen, Naperville North; Maria McDaniel, Naperville North. Front row, from left: Mary Doro, Downers Grove North; Aeriel Euhus, Wheaton North; Meg Maloney, Glenbard West; Sienna Crosby, Glenbard North and Maggie O'Brien, Addison Trail.
Bev Horne/bhorne@dailyherald.com
Meet the Fox Valley 2013-14 Leadership Team. Seated, from left: Cara Birschbach, Geneva High School; Allison Rychtanek, Larkin High School (seated sideways); Abigail Gust, St. Charles North; Hannah Rice, Dundee-Crown; Sally Heyob, Central High School. Standing, from left: Jacob Schmidt, Marmion Academy; Kristen Hartlieb, Marian Central Catholic; Claire Roehri, Cary-Grove; Alanis Krantz, Rosary and Jared Cebulski, Aurora Central Catholic.
Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.com