North Palos’ Stachowiak named Superintendent of Distinction
Jeannie Stachowiak, superintendent of North Palos School District 117, has been named the 2024 Superintendent of Distinction by her colleagues in the Cook South Region of the Illinois Association of School Administrators.
Stachowiak was honored at an awards luncheon May 16 in Springfield.
“I have been honored and blessed to work in North Palos School District 117 for the past 21 years — 13 of those as superintendent,” said Stachowiak, who has been an educator for 33 years. “As my retirement approaches, I reflect on how fortunate I have been in my career to have amazing mentors who have supported me and to truly love what I do with people who share my vision, mission, and core values. We have high expectations for all of our students and do whatever it takes for our students to reach their potential. I am very thankful for this recognition and share it with my team.”
Lemont’s FBLA rakes in awards at state conference
Lemont High School’s chapter of the Future Business Leaders of America placed among the top ten in 11 of its 14 events at the 2024 FBLA State Leadership Conference, which was held on April 5-6 in Springfield.
Lemont won state titles in three events, marking its first state champions since 2021, and students from six events finished among the top four in their respective competitions to earn berths to the 2024 FBLA National Leadership Conference in Orlando, Fla.
Senior Natalia Zagata finished first in Graphic Design; juniors Aditya Oberai and Vikram Oberai teamed to win Mobile Application Development; and senior Daniel Drobnic and juniors Luciano Mancini and Vincenzo Mancini teamed for victory in Computer Game & Simulation Programming.
Juniors Marco Pavlica and Aidan Potaczek (Banking Financial Management) earned a runner-up finish, while juniors Sofia Kuziel and Charlotte Putt (Website Coding) and junior Nicole Russell and sophomore Ashley Scruggs (Community Service Project) placed fourth in their respective events.
Other medalists included seniors Ethan Bator, Hannah Kaminski and Emma Manthey (6th, Broadcast Journalism); juniors Mitchell Sowa (5th, Coding & Programming), Austin Wolfe (5th, Business Calculations) and Amad Yaagoub (7th, Financial Statement Analysis); and sophomore Nina Risatti (6th, Introduction to Business Communication).
Other state finals competitors included juniors Matthew Bechtlofft, Russell Daniloff, Lavya Suri and Ali Nabulsi, and freshman Eli Zogby.
Stagg athletic director Doede earns advanced certification
Stagg High School Athletic Director Jennifer Doede has been recognized by the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA) as a Certified Master Athletic Administrator.
To earn this distinction, Doede has demonstrated exemplary knowledge, contributions, and on-going professional development in the field of interscholastic athletic administration. The voluntary certification process included a thorough evaluation of the candidate’s educational background, experience, NIAAA Leadership Courses, and professional contributions. It culminated with a practical written or oral presentation project.
Tinley Park’s Canavan earns student service award
Tinley Park’s Gina Canavan was among 146 students honored in May by Des Moines University Medicine and Health Sciences for volunteering more than 50 hours during the 2023-2024 academic year. Canavan is enrolled in DMU’s Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine program.
Monee’s Hogan honored at Central College
Monee’s Kevin Hogan, a sophomore at Central College, recently was inducted into the 2024 National Society of Leadership and Success.
Oak Lawn’s Pavlik nominated at Augustana
Oak Lawn senior Laurence Pavlik, a senior at Augustana College, was nominated to submit a ‘More Than I Imagined’ profile by Dr. Mischa Hooker, assistant professor of Classics.
Annually, faculty nominate Augustana’s seniors who have achieved remarkable academic or personal growth to appear in the college’s ‘More Than I Imagined’ series.
Homer Glen’s Krakow earns university’s highest academic award
Homer Glen’s Sullivan Rakow was among the 80 University of Mississippi students to receive a 2024 Marcus Elvis Taylor Memorial Medal, the university’s highest academic award.
Rakow, an integrated marketing communications major, is now in select company as the award recognizes no more than 1% of the student body each year.
Area athletes help UW-Whitewater claim NCAA bid
The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater softball team won the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament championship for the league-leading 11th time in program history and earned a berth in the NCAA Division III Tournament.
The Warhawks season ended with a 3-1 loss to Bethel University on May 17.
Evergreen Park’s Keira Jarrett and Tinley Park’s Delaney Becker were a part of this year’s team which finished 33-10.
Matteson’s Babatunde receives nursing scholarship
Matteson’s Opeoluwa Babatunde has received the Pam Taylor Scholarship from Lakeview College of Nursing. Babatunde attends classes on Lakeview’s Danville campus.
Wisconsin Lutheran College spring dean’s list
Chicago Heights: Kyla Elliott; Frankfort: Kathleen Atherton
Pennsylvania Western University spring dean’s list
Jennifer Wisanwanit, Palos Park
Rockford University distinguished scholars list
Sauk Village: Jaiden Walker; Tinley Park: Mia Cosentino
Southern New Hampshire University winter dean’s list
Beecher: Niko Rodriguez; Bridgeview: Jamacia Carter; Evergreen Park: Tomorrow Moore; Frankfort: Lukas Isakson; Homewood: Shalotta Mason; Lockport: Shaun Heintz; New Lenox: Jacob Keagle; Steger: Nicole Tennison
St. Norbert College summer graduates list
Chicago: Genevieve Fialkowski; Crestwood: Jacinta Maslanka; Monee: Emily Fredona; Oak Lawn: Nicole Condon; Orland Park: Emma Hurley; Tinley Park: Alexa Morrow
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee spring graduates list
Chicago: Isabelle Beltran; Homewood: Aisha Kendrick; Oak Lawn: Juliana Filippo, Natalia Suwaj; Tinley Park: Aidan Gallagher, Alyson Lopez
University of the Cumberlands summer graduates list
Beecher: Kelly Toppen; Oak Forest: Codie Hoop
University of Dubuque spring dean’s list
Chicago: Eve Carr, Jacob Loaiza; Country Club Hills: Dylan Rogers; Flossmoor: Andrew Robinson; Orland Park: Zachary Floss, Kaylynn Murray, Patrick Rafferty, Giorgos Vallianatos; Tinley Park: Brianna Haggerty
Northwestern College spring graduates list
Luke VanDyke, Homer Glen
University of Evansville spring dean’s list
Beecher: Emily Palmisano; Manhattan: Nico Borrelli; Orland Park: Kevin McCormick
University of the Cumberlands spring dean’s list
Codie Hoop, Oak Forest
University of the Cumberlands spring president’s list
Frankfort: Jeffrey Nyman; Homewood: Brian Nwachukwu
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