Honorable mentions: Lake County Academic Team, 2017-2018
Samantha Bianco
Wauconda High School
Hometown: Wauconda
Parents: Mike and Kathy Bianco
Sponsor: Wendy Mills, FBLA adviser/business teacher
GPA: 4.810 on a weighted four-point scale
Test scores: SAT: 1550
Planned major: Engineering and computer science
Awards, honors: National Merit Scholarship; National Honor Society Treasurer; Illinois State Scholar
Nathan Cartland
Mundelein High School
Hometown: Mundelein
Parents: John Cartland and Leslie Cartland
Sponsor: Elizabeth Willis, English teacher
GPA: 4.5088 on a weighted four-point scale
Test scores: ACT: 33; SAT: 1480
Planned major: Aerospace engineering
Awards, honors: Rensselaer Medalist Winner; Voted Best Math Tutor; National Merit Finalist
Kaetlyn Dressendorfer
Grant Community High School
Hometown: Lake Villa
Parents: Scott and Michele Dressendorfer
Sponsor: Jill Schroeder, school counselor
GPA: 5.254 on a weighted four-point scale
Test scores: ACT: 31; SAT: 1380
Planned major: Genetics, biology
Awards, honors: Salutatorian; IPA Outstanding Student and School Citizen; Illinois State Scholar
Andrew Hwang
Adlai E. Stevenson High School
Hometown: Lincolnshire
Parents: Eunjoon and Sae Hwang
Sponsor: Joseph Bettina
GPA: 4.80 on a weighted four-point scale
Test scores: ACT: 36
Planned major: Applied math or computer science
Awards, honors: National Who Wants to Be a Mathematician Finalist twice; M3 Math Modeling Competition National Winner; Researcher at Program in Mathematics for Young Scientists
Genevieve Kerns
Woodlands Academy
Hometown: Wilmette
Parents: Michael Kerns and Maryruth Clohisy Kerns
Sponsor: Mike Ford, college counselor
GPA: 5.28 on a weighted five-point scale
Planned major: Biomedical engineering and a Spanish minor
Awards, honors: National Spanish Honor Society; First Honor Award in six classes; Achievement Award in three classes
Spozmai Khan
Wauconda High School
Hometown: Port Barrington
Parents: Parveen Hussain and Nadeem Nadir
Sponsor: Cheryl Barch, teacher and adviser
GPA: 4.815 on a weighted four-point scale
Test scores: SAT: 1340
Planned major: Biology
Awards, honors: Distinguished Honors Student; National Honor Society; first place at Future Business Leaders of America state competition in Digital Video Production
Elisa Krause
Lake Zurich High School
Hometown: Lake Zurich
Parents: Bill and Marilen Krause
Sponsor: Leslie Thomas, school counselor
GPA: 5.21 on a weighted four-point scale
Test scores: ACT: 35; SAT: 1560
Planned major: Electrical engineering
Awards, honors: National Merit Finalist, AP Scholar with Honor, Illinois State Scholar
Gina Liu
Vernon Hills High School
Hometown: Vernon Hills
Parents: Yuping Liu
Sponsor: Tiffany Heinlein, school counselor
GPA: 4.625 on a weighted four-point scale
Test scores: ACT: 35
Planned major: Economics, business
Awards, honors: National Merit Commended Scholar; Illinois State Scholar; AP Scholar with Distinction
Erika McCormick
Lakes Community High School
Hometown: Lindenhurst
Parents: John McCormick and Karen McCormick
Sponsor: Ms. Nicole Repa, guidance counselor
GPA: 4.596 on a weighted four-point scale
Test scores: SAT: 1560
Planned major: Chemistry
Awards, honors: Committee to Select the Principal; AP Scholar with Distinction; Spanish Honor Society
Heather McNaughton
Antioch Community High School
Hometown: Antioch
Parents: Lynn and Steve McNaughton
Sponsor: William Zambole, teacher
GPA: 4.615 on a weighted four-point scale
Test scores: ACT: 33; SAT: 1450
Planned major: Computer science
Awards, honors: DAR Good Citizen Award; High Honor Roll; Cum Laude
Abigail Mellican
Warren Township High School
Hometown: Gurnee
Parents: Sean and Patricia Mellican
Sponsor: Betsy Sagala, school counselor
GPA: 4.78 on a weighted four-point scale
Test scores: ACT: 34; SAT: 1500
Planned major: Mechanical engineering
Awards, honors: National Merit Commended Scholar; Illinois State Scholar; AP Scholar
Rachel Nie
Warren Township High School
Hometown: Gurnee
Parents: Hanlin Nie
Sponsor: Betsy Sagala, school counselor
GPA: 4.75 on a weighted four-point scale
Test scores: ACT: 33; SAT: 1460
Planned major: Chemical and bio-molecular engineering
Awards, honors: National Honor Society; AP Scholar with Distinction; and Illinois State Scholar
Capria Nordquist
Barrington Community High School
Hometown: Lake Barrington
Parents: Lisa Petrilli and Jeffrey Nordquist
Sponsor: Matthew Gelon, physics teacher
GPA: 4.786 on a 4.0 weighted scale
Test scores: ACT: 33; SAT: 1530
Planned major: Environmental engineering with a minor in Latin
Awards, honors: National Honor Society; AP Scholar; Illinois State Scholar
Hannah Oelschlager
Grayslake Central High School
Hometown: Grayslake
Parents: Steve Oelschlager and Patty Moyer
Sponsor: Adrijana Bisevac; AP U.S. History Teacher
GPA: 4.667 on a weighted four-point scale
Test scores: SAT: 1560
Planned major: National Merit Scholarship
Awards, honors: National Merit Finalist; AP Scholar with Distinction; Class Valedictorian
Sarah Rauch
Grayslake North High School
Hometown: Third Lake
Parents: Maribeth Rauch
Sponsor: Erin Wise, government teacher
GPA: 4.62 on a weighted four-point scale
Test scores: SAT: 1440
Planned major: Molecular and cellular biology
Awards, honors: AP Scholar; Illinois State Scholar; High Honor Roll
Emily Reinwald
Grayslake North High School
Hometown: Grayslake
Parents: Melissa Reinwald, Jason Reinwald
Sponsor: Jamie Foate, English teacher
GPA: 4.674 on a weighted four-point scale
Test scores: SAT: 1470
Planned major: Neuroscience
Awards, honors: National AP Scholar; National Merit Commended Scholar; Salutatorian
Samuel Ruiz
Round Lake High School
Hometown: Round Lake Beach
Parents: Guadalupe and Gustavo Ruiz
Sponsor: Penina Noonan
GPA: 4.535 on a weighted four-point scale
Test scores: ACT: 27; SAT: 1280
Planned major: Political science and environmental analysis at Pitzer College
Awards, honors: Illinois State Scholar; AP Award; honor roll
Mary Stefanski
Round Lake High School
Hometown: Round Lake
Parents: Mr. and Mrs. Stefanski
Sponsor: Kelli Snyder, school counselor
GPA: 4.6 on a four-point scale
Test scores: SAT: 1310
Planned major: Applied mathematics, minor in economics
Awards, honors: Presidential Scholarship (Augustana College); Illinois State Scholar; National Honor Society
Mikayla Swanson
Woodlands Academy
Hometown: Chicago
Parents: Kristofer and Myrna Swanson
Sponsor: Mike Ford, college counselor
GPA: 5.30 on a weighted five-point scale
Test scores: ACT: 32
Planned major: Pre-law track, political science or economics
Awards, honors: Science National Honor Society; National French Honor Society; Chemistry Achievement Award from Illinois Association of Chemistry Teachers
Theresa Thiel
Carmel Catholic High School
Hometown: Gurnee
Parents: Andrew Thiel and Susan Thiel
Sponsor: Marcia Meyer, English teacher
GPA: 4.53 on a weighted four-point scale
Test scores: ACT: 34; SAT: 1550
Planned major: Undecided, possibly pre-medicine or secondary education
Awards, honors: National Merit Finalist; six Department Awards; Superior Honor Roll