DuPage County Leadership Team Honorable Mentions, 2018-2019
Sarah Abraham
Lake Park High School
Hometown: Bloomingdale
Class: Senior
Parents: Prakash Abraham, Jisha Abraham
Sponsor: Elizabeth Bazukas, counselor
Community service: The Limited, clothing drive during Christmastime and a charity fashion show around prom; Illinois YMCA Youth and Government; National Honor Society, organize volunteering for the chapter's members; Peer Juror; volunteering through church
Austin Adkins
Fenton High School
Hometown: Wood Dale
Class: Senior
Sponsor: Nancy Connor, counselor
Community service: Bandits Football/Cheer, coach; Tourette's Camp USA, camp counselor; Scare Walk, acting; Senior Citizen Matinee, caretaker; 8th Grade Orientation
Rafia Afzal
Glenbard South High School
Hometown: Glen Ellyn
Class: Senior
Parents: Waseem Afzal and Neelma Siddiqi
Community service: Muslim Women's Alliance, creating dinners for those in need; National Honor Society, PADS helping the homeless; Feed My Starving Children, packing meals for children in need; Masjid Uthman, handing out food during Ramadan to those in need
Safiyah Azeez
Islamic Foundation School
Hometown: Burr Ridge
Class: Senior
Parents: Nomaan Azeez and Keysha Azeez
Sponsor: Sarah Shams
Community service: Elmhurst Memorial Hospital volunteer; DuPage PADS Homeless Shelter volunteer; Lombard Immediate Care Clinic volunteer; Helping Hand Refugee Relief volunteer; Interfaith Dinner volunteer
Jyotsna Balmuri
Metea Valley High School
Hometown: Aurora
Class: Senior
Parents: Balmuri Rao and Anita Rao
Sponsor: Donald Pankuch, department chair social studies and MVStudentGo adviser
Community service: Do More Metea Valley, helped organize annual hunger drive, MLK Day of Service, helped watch children as their parents shopped at O'Donnell Elementary Holiday Gift Mart, interacted with community members while watching children during a back-to-school fair; Principal Advisory Board, helped promote and staffed a community barbecue hosted at the high school
Drew Bolisay
Montini Catholic High School
Hometown: Westmont
Class: Senior
Parents: Arnold and Danielle Bolisay
Sponsor: Hilda Castor, Spanish teacher
Community service: Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital, volunteering at the main information desk; St. Mary of Gostyn PADS volunteer; Freshman Step-Up Day/Quest; Bobak's Signature Events, setting up a fundraiser for the school; Feed My Starving Children, working in a team to prepare meals that are shipped to third-world countries
Kiran Daniel
Wheaton North High School
Hometown: Winfield
Class: Senior
Parents: John and Usha Daniel
Sponsor: Erin Angelo; counselor
Community service: Puente del Pueblo, tutored elementary students from low-income families who do not speak English as their first language; Kiran's Cupcakes, sold cupcakes to raise money to buy school supplies for students at Puente del Pueblo; National Honor Society, chapter project raised money for the Kelton Immunity Fund; Community School of the Arts at Wheaton College, performed for residents at a nursing home
Demi Dumovich
Glenbard North High School
Hometown: Hanover Park
Class: Senior
Parents: Andrew Dumovich
Sponsor: Kim Munro, counselor
Community service: Theatre Honor Society, head officer; St. Walter Bible Camp, crew leader/organizer of the program; Civics Club, organized protest of gun violence; volunteered for political campaigns; School Board Student Liaison
Alexa Fasone
Lisle High School
Hometown: Lisle
Class: Senior
Parents: Sheryl and Peter Fasone
Sponsor: Michelle Wallenberg, social studies instructor
Community service: National Honor Society, helps organize fundraisers and volunteering events for the members and community; KEY Club, organizes events such as sock drives for homeless veterans and gift donations for Chicago Public School students; Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital, volunteer at the front desk; Lurie Children's Hospital volunteer; Special Olympics volunteer
Melissa Florey
Willowbrook High School
Hometown: Lombard
Class: Senior
Parents: Ken and Kristi Florey
Sponsor: Cindy Zamora-Failla, school counselor
Community service: Camp R.O.C.K., counselor for junior high youth at a Christian summer camp; Elmhurst Memorial Hospital, comfort-cart volunteer; New Beginnings, board member and mentor for Willowbrook freshmen; Student Ambassadors, welcomes transfer students; Special Olympics student coach
Matthew Foley
Willowbrook High School
Hometown: Villa Park
Class: Senior
Parents: Kristie and John Foley
Sponsor: Cindy Zamora-Failla, school counselor
Community service: Elmhurst Hospital, teen volunteer; Sack Lunch Sunday, gathered each Sunday morning to create and distribute about 200 sack lunches to the homeless in Chicago; Outreach House, helped sort and distribute clothing and neonatal supplies to low-income families; Heart to Heart Project, spearheaded project alongside other student council officers to create Valentine's Day cards for a local children's hospital; EISUS Fun Fest, volunteer with Key Club
Alex Frazer
Glenbard West High School
Hometown: Glen Ellyn
Class: Senior
Parents: William and Jennifer Frazer
Sponsor: Michael R. Neberz, school counselor
Community service: Glen Ellyn Children's Resource Center Junior Board; First Congregational Church of Glen Ellyn Work Camp, service trip youth leader; National Honor Society; Senior Mentor; Student Council drives
Bridgette Garnache
Wheaton Warrenville South High School
Hometown: Wheaton
Class: Senior
Parents: Dave and Julie Garnache
Sponsor: Jeffrey Pawlak, guidance counselor
Community service: Wellspring Alliance Church, small group leader; Tiger Crew, planning parties and events for special-needs students; STEM outreach event/Women in STEM Club; Speech team, served as a mentor for novice students on the team; National Honor Society
Mitchell Glennon
Glenbard East High School
Hometown: Lombard
Class: Senior
Parents: Tim and Denise Glennon
Sponsor: Frank Nebbia, baseball coach
Community service: Cancer Care Caddies, volunteer; Good Samaritan NICU Picnic, volunteer; Special Olympics, volunteer; Baseball Camp Advisor
Trevor Haen
Lisle High School
Hometown: Lisle
Class: Senior
Parents: Stan and Heidi Haen
Sponsor: Karin Irvine
Community service: Peer tutoring; Student Ambassadors, help students (especially freshman and transfer students) adapt to high school life; Ecology Club, participated in different activities to help the school and community become more environmentally friendly; National Honor Society; Lisle Eyes to the Skies volunteer
Asja Hamzic
Glenbard East High School
Hometown: Lombard
Class: Senior
Parents: Emina and Omer Hamzic
Sponsor: Janet Reece, Spanish teacher
Community service: Ann's Closet, in-school clothing drive; Chicago Top Soccer, special-needs soccer program; annual Fox Valley Christian Association charity event, volunteering at a charity golf outing
Danielle N. Harris
Addison Trail High School
Hometown: Chicago
Class: Senior
Parents: Jennifer McKinney and Dametrius Harris
Sponsor: Amy Ferraro, English Department chair
Community service: Key Club, raised money for animal shelters; Kiwanis Key Club International, raised money for charities and Kiwanis; Knights of Columbus, raised money for people with disabilities; Ronald McDonald's Children's Hospital, prepared and cooked food; Feed My Starving Children, packed food for families in need around the world
Chloe Lynn Hawkins
St. Francis High School
Hometown: Naperville
Class: Senior
Parents: Kate Hawkins
Sponsor: Bridget Buckley, counseling department chair
Community service: Mission trip to help Franciscan sisters in Chicago prepare for vacation Bible school; Pre-K through first grade religious education leader; Young Rembrandts, art teacher; St. Patrick's Nursing Home volunteer; St. Thomas The Apostle Church, chosen to perform scripture readings for Sunday liturgies
Colin Iverson
Naperville North High School
Hometown: Naperville
Class: Senior
Parents: Dan and Laura Iverson
Sponsor: Jim Konrad, dean of students
Community service: DuPage Valley Special Athletes, serve as a teammate and mentor for high school/college athletes who have a variety of special needs while playing soccer; J. Kyle Braid Leadership Foundation, helped organize charitable activities; Adapted PE Leader, worked with students with disabilities during their P.E. class; Adapted Art Leader; Chicago Fire Unified Soccer
Ryan Kenneally
IC Catholic Prep
Hometown: Elmhurst
Class: Senior
Parents: Jim and Maureen Kenneally
Sponsor: Jean Field
Community service: Young Hearts for Life Junior Board, helped to raise money for Young Hearts for Life by putting on a 5K race; Peer Jury member; toy drive for National Honor Society; fundraiser for Easter Seals DuPage and Fox Valley; Misericordia Jelly Belly Candy Day
Shruti Kolli
Waubonsie Valley High School
Hometown: Naperville
Class: Senior
Parents: Manjeera Kakarla, Srinivas Kolli
Sponsor: Karen Kuhlman
Community service: Naperville Public Library, led “Save Our Seas” project as creative designs specialist for the Teen Advisory Group, student representative to library board; Spanish Honor Society, organized and led the Pulsera Project to support Nicaraguan artisans; Edward Hospital, student volunteer; Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, barista for the Cornerstone Café nonprofit ministry; Dr. Rubin's Mini Medical School, teaching assistant
Michelle Kwon
Glenbard South High School
Hometown: Glen Ellyn
Class: Senior
Parents: Yihyun Kwon and Eunsook Kwon
Sponsor: Timothy McGrath
Community service: Terra Nueva medical foundation (in Ecuador), clinic/hospital volunteer; Good Samaritan Hospital, junior advocate volunteer; Fortissimo, volunteering music and performance within community; National Honor Society; Itasca Korean Language School volunteer teacher
Jeromel Lara
Glenbard North High School
Hometown: Bloomingdale
Class: Senior
Parents: Miriam Lara
Sponsor: John Mensik, Principal
Community service: The North Current school newspaper, archiving work and journalistic work; Civics Club, promoting civic awareness and engagement within the student body; Student Leader in Training Program; The Write Place, writing tutor
Susan Maloney
IC Catholic Prep
Hometown: Elmhurst
Class: Senior
Parents: John and Susan Maloney
Sponsor: Donald Moore, teacher and campus minister
Community service: Access Sports, volunteer and vice president of Access Sports Youth Board; TLC Camp counselor; Relay For Life, team captain; Habitat for Humanity mission trip to Kentucky; Elmhurst Hospital Inaugural Junior Board, fundraising for the hospital
Kathleen Nie
Naperville North High School
Hometown: Naperville
Class: Senior
Parents: Xiaosong Nie, Xiaozhong Nie
Sponsor: Heather Schild, badminton coach
Community service: Artra, co-founder of a free art program for underprivileged children; Swifty Foundation, community yard sale; Illinois DECA, statewide raffle and cookie-decorating contest; WCAC Church Choir, piano accompanist for church choir; DuPage Children's Museum, play assistant
Shivani Patel
Fenton High School
Hometown: Bensenville
Class: Senior
Sponsor: Paul Welsh, counselor
Community service: Alexian Brothers Medical Center, volunteering; St. Alexius Medical Center, volunteering; Blackhawk Middle School Project CARE, volunteering tutoring students; Feed My Starving Children
Reeya Patolawala
Hinsdale Central School
Hometown: Hinsdale
Class: Senior
Parents: Anu Patolawala and Monish Patolawala
Sponsor: Michael Litton, guidance counselor
Community service: MidAmerica Service Dogs Foundation; Andhakshi Ashram, backpack drive; Partners for Achievement, 1,001 Backpacks for Haiti and Home; Hinsdale Public Library, volunteer tutoring; Let's Help Out, community service
Akshaya P. Raghavan
Illinois Math and Science Academy
Fox Valley Leadership Team member
Hometown: Naperville
Class: Senior
Parents: Santha and Sreenivasan Raghavan
Sponsor: David McGovern
Community service: Learning and Developmental Disabilities Matter Founder, Gigi's Playhouse volunteer, Student Board president
Yuvia Serna
Glenbard West High School
Hometown: Carol Stream
Class: Senior
Parents: Esteban and Soledad Serna
Sponsor: Christopher Mitchell, assistant principal of student services
Community service: Wheaton Rice Pool and Water Park, junior lifeguard training/swim lessons; Glen Ellyn Resource Center (Churchill Elementary), tutoring; Glenbard West Write Place, editing and tutoring students; Spanish Honor Society (Glenbard West High School), Spanish interpreter; National/Spanish Honor Society, tutoring
Luis A. Silva
Addison Trail High School
Hometown: Addison
Class: Senior
Parents: Jose and Maria Silva
Sponsor: Juliann Boudouris, Department Chair of CTE
Community service: Kiwanis Peanuts; Salvation Army bell ringing; Ardmore Elementary volunteer; Top Soccer; Addison Food Pantry
Caroline Thoms
St. Francis High School
Hometown: Wayne
Class: Senior
Parents: Ann and Chris Thoms
Sponsor: Adam Lindley, counselor
Community service: Play It Forward Tennis, created tennis program to help mentor young children of Marian Park Apartments (Mercy Housing); after-school tutoring program for Marian Park Apartments; Students Against Destructive Decisions Club, a club offered at school that promotes mental and physical health; mission trip to the Dominican Republic; DuPage PADS, packed lunches through St. Thomas United Methodist Church in Glen Ellyn
Marissa VanDeVeer
Montini Catholic High School
Hometown: Downers Grove
Class: Senior
Parents: Paul and Alicia VanDeVeer
Sponsor: Denis Block; theology teacher, Lasallian Youth and Habitat for Humanity moderator
Community service: Kairos retreat leader and student director; Jamaica service project through International Samaritan; Habitat for Humanity; Pro-Life Club, organized trip to the March for Life in Washington D.C.; Peer Ministry
Madeleine Whirledge
Naperville Central High School
Hometown: Naperville
Class: Senior
Parents: Marc and Marie Whirledge
Sponsor: Bill Wiesbrook, principal
Community service: The Merry Tutor, president of high school's chapter; West Suburban Food Pantry, serve local clients facing food security concerns by helping them get weekly groceries to provide for their families; Adapted PE, act as a peer leader helping the students; Little Arrowettes, camp to encourage and young students to pursue dance