June 26, 2025
Features | Herald-News
Features

Lincoln-Way West celebrates inductees of National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta

By THE HERALD

Lincoln-Way West High School held its induction ceremony for the National Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta recently. Students gave the Ron Kokal community award to  Will County Judge Bobbi Petrungaro. Judge Petrungaro was presented the Ron Kokal Community Service Award by (left to right): Beth Biesen, NHS teacher sponsor; Dr. Monica Schmitt, principal; Kevin Staniszewski, president of NHS; Judge Bobbi Petrungaro; Jacob Gasparich, president Mu Alpha Theta; Kim McArdle, daughter of Ron Kokal and Tracy Plesek, Mu Alpha Theta teacher sponsor. (Photo provided)

NEW LENOX – On March 10, parents, teachers and community members were welcomed to the induction ceremony for Lincoln-Way West High School’s chapter of the National Honor Society (NHS) and the Mu Alpha Theta chapter at the West Fine Arts Center, New Lenox.

Kevin Staniszewski, president of NHS, and Jacob Gasparich, president of Mu Alpha Theta, addressed the audience of several hundred guests. Dr. Monica Schmitt, principal, presented the Ron Kokal Community Award to Will County
Judge Bobbi Petrungaro.

Petrungaro has been a Will County judge since 2005. While serving on the bench, she worked with school programs and was appointed by the Supreme Court to mentor judges. In 2010, Petrungaro was appointed as a director of the Lincoln-Way Foundation for Educational Excellence.

Currently there are 109 members of the Lincoln-Way West National Honor Society and 73 inductees for the ceremony. Along with Staniszewski serving as president and Sarah Bonamino serving as vice president, the executive board includes: Meghan Baltas, Alivia Bianchi, Hannah Fishbeck, Franco Pettinato, Michael Phillips, Lisa Pohlman-Zordan and Jennifer Richardson. Beth Biesen is the faculty advisor and reading teacher.

Lincoln-Way West’s Mu Alpha Theta currently has 141 members while inducting 135 members in the induction ceremony on March 10. Serving as officers with Jacob Gasparich, president, and David McManus, vice president, is John Nolan, secretary/treasurer. Tracy Plesek and Melissa Sweeney are faculty advisers and math teachers.

Lincoln-Way West National Honor Society inductees are: Nathan Adler, Ryan Hastings, Elizabeth Paul, Deena Baber, Michael Pratl, Hannah Baker, Tristan Hibler, Jordan Richards, Nicholas Bovard, Zachary Johnson, Max Rickerson, Michaela Bulthuis, Jakob Kagay, Joshua Rickerson, Abriella Caravette, Adam Knerr, Brooke Robbins, Jacob Carlson, Kelsey Knodel, Jason Roesing, Scott Christensen, Thomas Kowalkowski, Mallory Root, Kyle Cravens, Amanda Ruskowsky, Anna-Christina Crisman, Danielle Kuchler, Andrew Ryan, Mark Macha, Samantha Sayers, Timothy Cucci, Carly Senerchia, Rachel Czaja, Jonathon Marotta and Rachel Singh.

Also inducted into the National Honor Society are: Jenna Czart, Christopher Martos, Megan Smalter, Kaitlyn Daniluk, Stephanie McDonald, Kaitlyn Souder, Brianna Darlage, Daniel McGrory, Hailey Souder, Katie Davis, Emma Mierzwa, Ashley Stagner, Gianna Delia, Grace Monti, Gretchen Stellwagen, Joseph Delia, Julia Monti, Erika Tanquilut, Jacquelyn Moore, Mattie Taylor, Mitchell Feehan, Madison Mueller and Kevin Turay.

Additional Lincoln-Way West inductees to the National Honor Society are: Allison Fron, Sabrina Norton, Danielle Vargas, Brandon Galloway, Thomas O’Kane, Kyle Wardinski, Andrew O’Keefe, Paige Zawislak, Samuel Grubisich, Dario Panici and Matthew Zolfo.

Lincoln-Way West Mu Alpha Theta inductees are: Annie Albright, Ryan Hastings, Deena Baber, Breanne Jacobs, Joshua Rickerson, Benjamin Preston, Zaid Alnobani, Brian Heckler, Renee Propp, Alexander Alvarado, Michael Hernandez, Emily Ray, Haley Anderson, Jordan Richards, John Anderson, Bethany Houda, Max Rickerson, Zeusan Balquin, Dakota Jandek, Jason Roesing, Alessandra Beth, Kailey Kahl, Mallory Root, Alexis Biedrzycki, Jeremy Kambic, Amanda Ruskowsky, Nicholas Bishop, Alexia Karales, Haley Sawa, Nicholas Bovard, Jessica Karlic and Nathan Schueler.

Additional Mu Alpha Theta inductees are: Thomas Brennan, Justin Keuch, Jenna Serrano, Paige Bridges, Peter King, Rachel Singh, Michaela Bulthuis, Jenna Kirkeeng, Kaitlyn Souder, Nina Bumstead, Thomas Kowalkowski, Bridget Soukop, Divinity Burgos, Michael Kowalski, Morgan Staley, Abbegale Cagwin, Danielle Kuchler, Kyle Starkus, Abriella Caravette, Jeremy Lascola, Gretchen Stellwagen, Jacob Carlson, Taylor LeBeau, Rachel Sterkowitz, Anthony Castaneda, Anna Leo, Scott Christensen, James Lucia, Steven Suggett, Mark Macha and Sarah Suppes.

Additional inductees for Lincoln-Way West Mu Alpha Theta are: Carlyn Clarke, Anthony Marotta, Alexandra Sutor, Meghan Curry, Christopher Martos, Erika Tanquilut, Rachel Czaja, Daniel McGrory, Nicholas Trolian, Jenna Czart, Haley McHale, Justin Trout, Kayla Deacon, Nichole Medeisis, Tessa Valentine, Thomas DeFacci, Amanda Medendorp, Jacob Vanderwell, Olivia DeGroot, Alyssa Michalski, Danielle Vargas, Joseph Delia, Grace Monti and Daniel Wainwright.

Also inducted into the Lincoln-Way West Mu Alpha Theta math honorary are: Erin Dolan, Julia Monti, Carlee Wajchert, Regina Durling, Jacquelyn Moore, Kyle Wardinski, Madison Mueller, Alexandra Wasko, Madison Edwards, David Mulder, Natalie Waters, Kaelen Evon, Shane Murphy, Delayne Weston, Mitchell Feehan, Sabrina Norton, Michael Wexter, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Kylie O’Connor, Megan Weygandt, Caroline Floyd, Conor O’Hara, Matthew Wintercorn, Brandon Galloway, Thomas O’Kane, Kristin Wojnarowski, Alyssa Gasa, Dario Panici, Danielle Woodman, Sabrina Gerencher, Zak Pavlovich, Cecily Giaquinto, Maximillian Petrungaro, Jordan Young, Trisha Golec, Kyle Pigney, Cesar Zavala, Andrew Gray, Kaila Pohrte, Rachel Zielinski, Austin Griffin, Michael Pratl, Emily Griggs and Benjamin Zordani.