District 212 seniors honored at Inspirational Eagle Award Dinner

Fourteen Leyden seniors that demonstrate excellence in academics, attendance, behavior and citizenship were honored at the Inspirational Eagle Awards Dinner held in mid-March in the Eagles Wing at West Leyden.The annual event is sponsored by District 212 and the Rotary Club of Chicago-O'Hare Foundation.

Leyden faculty members from both campuses are asked to nominate students they consider deserving of the award. Based on the four-point criteria, the principals' input, members of the Rotary Club and Frank Holthouse, Leyden's director of careers and community outreach, the committee selected 14 students as young people who embody the spirit of the Rotary organization. Award recipients received a certificate, trophy and $50 gift card.

"Many of our students find themselves in situations where they have had to overcome adversity in order to reach their potential in school," Holthouse says. "This is the case with many of this year's recipients. To have been nominated for this honor is a testament to these individuals and the positive impact they have had on our two schools."

The following students are this year's award winners: East campus - Madison Jedlink, Dannalee Mata, Brian Morales-Hernandez, Kamila Obrzut, Joseph Sanchez, Sarah Sanders and Isha Shah.

West Campus - Ferdinand Cabebe, Gerardo Castillo, Alejandro Contreras Lopez, Corayma Guzman, Annalisa Moore, Lillian Oleksy and Claudia Pineda.

Parents, teachers, administrators and Rotary club members were invited to attend the ceremony. Various administrators and Rotary representatives addressed the students and congratulated them on their achievements.