Editorial: Saluting suburban standouts on the national stage

It can be very scary to stand in the bright national spotlight.

The competition is fierce, and the skill of those who reach that elite level is amazingly high. And, then there's what's always at stake in that situation regardless of whether it's academics, the arts or sports - what could be a once-in-a-lifetime chance to be the best of the best.

Performing at that level is nerve-wracking for adults, so imagine the size of the butterflies in the stomachs of young elementary and high school students who are thrust onto the big stage. And we have them in our midst.

In recent weeks, several suburban students not only were talented enough to make it to national competitions, but they also left impressive performances worthy of our salute. Some of the most recent examples include:

• Daniel Wright Junior High School's Science Olympiad team, which won its first U.S. title by defeating 60 teams in the middle school division at the national tournament at the University of Wisconsin-Stout. It's the first Science Olympiad national title for an Illinois school. This spring, the 21 members from the Lincolnshire-Prairie View Elementary District 103 school celebrated the team's sixth consecutive state title - a record in Illinois. The Wright team finished fifth in the national tournament last year, and second and third in prior national contests. "We have the future scientists and doctors and engineers of tomorrow," coach Laura Coirier said.

• Metea Valley High School in Aurora, which was recognized by the Grammy Foundation as a Grammy Signature Gold school, meaning it is one of the top three music programs in the country. It joins Neuqua Valley and Waubonsie Valley - the other two high schools in Indian Prairie Unit District 204 - in winning a combined 16 Grammys. In a highly competitive application process, schools don't highlight one ensemble or choir, but their entire music department with repertoire samplings and performance tapes. "This is truly a kindergarten through 12th-grade recognition for our entire district," said Don Denany, Metea's fine arts department chairman and band director.

• Three junior high school students from the suburbs were among 13 Illinois students to compete in last week's National Spelling Bee. They were: Ved G. Patel, 14, an eighth-grader at Cary Junior High School in Cary; Nicholas M. Wilson, 13, a seventh-grader at St. Patrick Catholic School, in St. Charles; and Marlene M. Schaff, 13, a seventh-grader who is home-schooled in Lake Forest. They survived several rounds of local competitions to make it to the big dance in Washington, D.C. Although none of them took home the top prize, they are considered among the country's top spellers.

Add those performances to the classroom accomplishments of the Daily Herald's Academic Team and honorable mention nominees and you have a small sample of some of the elite talent at work in suburban schools.

In each case, such accomplishments and performances don't happen by accident or luck. They are the culmination of many hours of study, practice and hard work.

And, of course, no one rises to that level without the help and support of coaches, teachers, teammates, parents and others.

To all involved, your accomplishments are inspiring.