St. Bede seniors recognized nationally by College Board

SPRING VALLEY — St. Bede Academy seniors, Jayce Ladzinski and Henry Orteza, have been recognized by the College Board’s National Representation Programs for underrepresented students.

Ladzinksi and Orteza are two of 32,000 students from across the country to earn academic honors from the board.

These academic honors can be included on college and scholarship applications and help to connect students with universities across the country, enabling them to stand out during the admissions process. Colleges and scholarship programs use these honors to identify students from the following underrepresented groups: African American, Hispanic or Latina, Indigenous and/or attend school in a rural area or small town.

Ladzinksi received recognition as a CBNRP Hispanic scholar and CBNRP rural and small-town scholar. He is the son of Thomas and Angela Ladzinski of Peru and attended Holy Family Grade School. Ladzinski is on the football team and will play baseball in the spring.

Orteza received recognition as a CBNRP Indigenous scholar and CBNRP rural and small-town scholar. Henry is the son of Dr. Norah Toraason of Peru and Joe Orteza of Peoria and attended Trinity Catholic Academy. Henry is on the cross country team and will participate in wrestling and track.

Both students earned this recognition by excelling on their PSAT/NMSQT and in other academic areas.