GRAYSLAKE – Character Matters in Lake County, a committee of the YES (Youth Empowerment for Success) Coalition and the Lake County Regional Office of Education announces the recipients of the 13th annual Excellence in Character Award.
This year, 32 students and 26 staff members from educational institutions across Lake County received the award, which is given to individuals who demonstrate outstanding character and citizenship in their schools and communities.
The students and staff members, hailing from elementary, middle and high schools as well as two charter schools, a learning center and an academy, were honored throughout the spring and in their schools’ year-end programs.
Each award recipient received a certificate and a letter of congratulations. Students received Excellence in Character medals, and staff members received lapel pins.
“It is rewarding to see so many schools participate in this program year after year, and we are honored to hear the recipients’ stories,” said Ashley Ward, co-chairman of the Character Matters in Lake County committee. “Lake County is full of students and staff members who go above and beyond to help make their classrooms and schools welcoming and safe places to learn and grow. Thanks to all who have contributed to the development of the people on this list. It takes a village.”
The Excellence in Character Award program demonstrates Character Matters’ continuing efforts to celebrate positive character in communities. The attributes of this year’s nominees prove that Lake County schools are full of outstanding individuals who are highly regarded for their selfless actions, their generosity and compassion toward others, the news release stated.
Lake County Students 2018 Excellence in Character Award Recipients
Monserrat Aguirre-Lagunas, Hyde Park Elementary School, Waukegan
Eric Beauchamp, Fremont Intermediate School, Mundelein
Samantha Bradley, Grass Lake School, Antioch
Hope Brown, Lakes Community High School, Lake Villa
Paula Diaz, Grant Community High School, Fox Lake
Devon Drum, Fremont Middle School, Mundelein
Conner Eaton, Fremont Elementary School, Mundelein
Courtney Fitzgerald, Deer Path Middle School East, Lake Forest
Evelin Gallardo, Greenwood Elementary School, Waukegan
Holly Garcia, Gavin South Middle School, Ingleside
Julia Holodeck, Kipling Elementary School, Deerfield
Kendall Johnson, Antioch Upper Grade School, Antioch
Janaki Joshi, Aptakisic Junior High School, Buffalo Grove
Ellie Kasche, Daniel Wright Junior High, Lincolnshire
Connor Keppen, Antioch Upper Grade School, Antioch
Marialuisa Lopez Guifaro, Carman-Buckner Elementary School, Waukegan
Brayan Martinez-Montesinos, Pritchett Elementary School, Buffalo Grove
Aroterick “Ricky” McLaughlin, Warren Township High School, Gurnee
Lukas Mitchell, Wauconda Grade School, Wauconda
Ryan Moens, Antioch Upper Grade School, Antioch
Gabriel Ocampo, Learn 6 Charter School, Great Lakes
Abby Pecoraro, Antioch Upper Grade School, Antioch
Jonathan Petro, Stanton Middle School, Fox Lake
Hailey Rockoff, Meridian Middle School, Buffalo Grove
Emily Sechrist, Barrington Middle School – Station Campus, Barrington
Patrick Sheehan, Emmons School, Antioch
Spencer Sica, Gavin Central School, Ingleside
William Steck, Lake Forest High School, Lake Forest
Sona Surya, Tripp Elementary School, Buffalo Grove
Nicholas Tse, Prairie Crossing Charter School, Grayslake
Samuel Villaraza, Lincoln Early Learning Center, Mundelein
Ciani Williams, AJ Katzenmaier Academy, North Chicago
Lake County Staff Members 2018 Excellence in Character Award Recipients
Elvira Alvarez, Murphy Elementary School, Round Lake Park
Juan Alvarez, AJ Katzenmaier Academy, North Chicago
Amanda Ambrose, Gavin Central School, Ingleside
Jeremy Anderson, Grant Community High School, Fox Lake
Barb Comstock, Lakes Community High School, Lake Villa
Michael Dean, Gavin South Middle School, Ingleside
Adam DeBaker, Warren Township High School, Gurnee
Melissa Duitsman, Fremont Elementary School, Mundelein
Barb Floyd, Countryside Elementary School, Barrington
Janet Foltz, Greenwood Elementary School, Waukegan
Bridget Geary, Meridian Middle School, Buffalo Grove
Annie Gernady, Prairie Crossing Charter School, Grayslake
Dawn Heath, Fremont Intermediate School, Mundelein
Janice Hershkovich, Tripp Elementary School, Buffalo Grove
Lisa Karpiel, Emmons School, Antioch
Stacy Kingery, Grass Lake School, Antioch
Lynn Kozicki, Pritchett Elementary School, Buffalo Grove
Sue Laspisa, Fremont Middle School, Mundelein
Carlos Mesa, Hyde Park Elementary School, Waukegan
Mary Pum Ousset, Lincoln Early Learning Center, Mundelein
Xochitl Sanchez, Wauconda Grade School, Wauconda
Jeanne Sayner, Kipling Elementary School, Deerfield
Vicki Sostarich, Barrington Middle School – Station Campus, Barrington
Erinn Vincent, Daniel Wright Junior High School, Lincolnshire
Laurel Williams, Spaulding School, Gurnee
Ashley Zeinz, Adler Park School, Libertyville