BERWYN – As the names of the 10 finalists in the North Berwyn Park District's Best of Berwyn Junior Citizen Program were being counted down, Jocelyn Garcia, 14, kept hoping she wouldn't hear hers. And she didn't – at least not until the very end.

Jocelyn, an eighth-grader at Lincoln Middle School, was announced as the winner of the prestigious program at a special banquet May 2 at Skylite West Banquets in Berwyn.

The Best of Berwyn program annually honors the top eighth-grade students in the city of Berwyn. Jocelyn is not only one of the top students in her class, but she also teaches Sunday school at her church, St. Mary of Celle Catholic Church in Berwyn, and volunteers to help at parent teacher organization events at her younger brother’s elementary school.

“It was down to the last two names, and when they called mine as the winner, I was in shock. It seemed so surreal,” she said. “I was excited and happy. When I was giving my speech, I kept trying to remember to speak slowly and clearly, but I was overwhelmed.”

Every year since 2002, staff members from public and private schools in Berwyn, as well as leaders of nonprofit organizations, can nominate an eighth-grader to receive the Best of Berwyn honor. This year, 28 students out of 901 Berwyn eighth-graders were nominated, and all went through an interview process with city officials, the heads of fire and police departments, school administrators and community leaders. The 28 were narrowed down to 10 finalists, who go through another interview process.

Nominees are judged on their grades, community service and speaking skills. Inara Canino, marketing coordinator at the North Berwyn Park District, said the program looks for an overall well-rounded student.

“We’re looking for someone who stands out in the community. This is a prestigious award. The Best of Berwyn represents the top 3 percent of all eighth-graders in Berwyn,” she said.

Joe Vallez, executive director of the North Berwyn Park District, said the program is an opportunity for the schools to recognize their best students and a way the Park District can highlight the city’s young people.

He said Jocelyn is an outstanding student who leads a “high ethical and moral” lifestyle. She attended preschool at the Park District, and Vallez said her parents told him part of her success now is owed to the district.

“She’s come full circle and is certainly deserving of the honor. All of the judges thought she was outstanding, but the top three students were very close in credentials,” he said. “Every year I’m more impressed with our young people. They’re doing well in school, volunteering in the community and also managing challenges that adults struggle to manage.”

Jocelyn’s father, Berwyn alderman Edgar Garcia, said just being nominated for the competition is an honor, and her entire family is “super proud” of her.

“Anyone who knows her knows that this is something she earned on her own,” he said. “She’s always been very driven and focused on her studies, but also very involved and very caring. She’s always been a step beyond her years in maturity and has been fiercely independent from a young age. She’s just a great kid.”

The top three finishers in the program each received a financial award that must be used to pay for educational expenses. Jocelyn plans to use her winnings on school supplies and a new laptop computer. She will attend Morton West High School in the fall.