Students Honored for their Community Contributions – 2023

Four students from the Naperville area received scholarships from the Naperville Unit Education Association (NUEA) in the amount of $1500 each.  The Naperville-based teachers’ union annually gives three scholarships to high school seniors who are children of members, and one scholarship to an education major in their third year of study.  Scholarships are awarded based on extracurricular participation and contributions to the community. These scholarships were awarded in April, 2023.

The high-school scholarship recipients are Mark Park from Naperville Central High School, Felicity Abbott from Glenbard South High School, and Elijah Matas from Lake Park High School. The NUEA Future in Education recipient is Maria Gabrielli from Loyola University-Chicago.

The NUEA scholarships were created by certified staff in District 203 through their union to recognize outstanding contributions among area high school seniors.  The Future in Education Award was added to help support a collegiate student entering the field of education.  The scholarships are funded by member dues and represent a small portion of the local support provided to the community through scholarships, volunteerism, and charitable giving.

Mark Park

This fall, Mark will be attending Saint Louis University with a major in entrepreneurship within their Business Scholars Program.  As a student at Naperville Central, Mark participated in Drum Show, Marching Band, Concert Band, and gave private lessons to percussion students at all levels.  Mark launched several start-up businesses, including Scent Snacks, Melo, and Redhawk Records. Mark is the Vice-President of the Naperville Central chapter of DECA, an international organization which prepares future business leaders in the areas of marketing, finance, hospitality, and management.

Mark also excelled in his pursuits outside of NCHS.  He is active as a worship team leader at his church.  Additionally, he is the Vice President of Finance for the Naperville Children’s Business Fair.  Despite all of that, he still found time to work as a busser at Meson Sabika/Santo Cielo.  He also served on the ALIVE Teen Advisory Board as the co-leader of the Diversity Committee.  Mark’s wide array of experiences make him an ideal candidate for this scholarship.

Felicity Abbott

Felicity will be attending the University of Illinois in the College of Media this fall.  She is an artistic athlete, excelling at both sports and the arts while a student at Glenbard North High School.  Athletically, Felicity played tennis during her junior and senior year.  She also played volleyball for three years and basketball for all four years.  Perhaps most impressive, however, was her leadership as a soccer player, earning JV Captain during her sophomore and junior years.

Even with her busy schedule, she still found time to excel musically and academically.  Felicity played in the orchestra for all four years of high school.  Additionally, she served in several leadership roles for Best Buddies and Student Council.   She was a member of the French Honors Society, the Principal’s Advisory Board, the Council of Presidents, the Key Club, and the National Honors Society.  She also excelled as a Section Editor and Editor in Chief of the student newspaper.  Through these activities, Felicity’s leadership acumen and drive for distinction clearly show that she is deserving of the NUEA scholarship.

Elijah Matas

Elijah will travel to Purdue University this fall to study Civil Engineering.  Elijah’s four years at Lake Park High School illustrate a clear balance between his academic excellence and his community support.  Elijah is a gifted soccer player, earning a spot on the 2022 All-Academic Team.  He also served as a PE leader, wrestling score keeper, and a soccer referee.  Outside of the realm of athletics, Elijah also was a gifted student.  He always made the High Honor Roll, and participated on the Math Team, Earth Club, and National Honor Society.  Elijah’s interest in AP Physics and AP Calculus helped drive him to pursue civil engineering.

Outside of school, Elijah’s community support was clear.  He provided several hours of community work through the Willow Creek Community, which included working for Phil’s Friends and Feed My Starving Children.  He worked the concession counter at Trinity Lutheran Middle School for various sporting events.  He also helped distribute books for the West Campus Book Distributor and the Spring Hills Book Fair.  Elijah hopes that his focus on civil engineering can help him tackle some of the world’s greatest challenges, such as climate change, poverty, and discrimination.  His aspirations are admirable; hopefully this scholarship can help him achieve those lofty goals.

Maria Gabrielli

Maria currently attends Loyola University-Chicago with a major in Curriculum Development.  She is passionate about instilling critical thinking, creativity and curiosity, and helping students develop a real love for learning that will last a lifetime.  Maria also sees the larger perspective of her work: By teaching, mentoring, and advocating for her students, she believes that she can help to create a more equitable and just society.  Education is a powerful tool for social change and every child deserves quality education, regardless of their background.

Maria credits her past schooling for helping her to prioritize her tasks, stay organized, and manage her time.  She also learned the importance of empathy.  By empathizing with others, she is able to communicate effectively, collaborate productively, and develop a sense of community with a global awareness.  Maria will be an articulate advocate for her students, and very deserving of this award.

Students Honored for their Community Contributions – 2022

Four students from the Naperville area received scholarships from the Naperville Unit Education Association (NUEA) in the amount of $1500 each.  The Naperville-based teachers’ union annually gives three scholarships to high school seniors who are children of members, and one scholarship to an education major in their third year of study.  Scholarships are awarded based on extracurricular participation and contributions to the community. These scholarships were awarded in May, 2022.

The high-school scholarship recipients are Adam Johnson from Neuqua Valley High School, Christopher Comer from Naperville Central High School, and Garrett Dahn from Naperville North High School. The NUEA Future in Education recipient is Cora Ondrus from Quincy College.

The NUEA scholarships were created by certified staff in District 203 through their union to recognize outstanding contributions among area high school seniors.  The Future in Education Award was added this year to help support a collegiate student entering the field of education.  The scholarships are funded by member dues and represent a small portion of the local support provided to the community through scholarships, volunteerism, and charitable giving.

Adam Johnson

This fall, Adam will be attending Michigan State University to study accounting.  Adam expertly balances his school life and work-life by participating in a wide variety of activities in both areas.  As an athlete, Adam participated in both Cross County and Track early in his high school years.  As a senior, he shifted to intramural sports, playing both basketball and volleyball.  Adam is also passionate about the benefits of lifting weights and healthy eating.

In the meantime, Adam has also been busy outside of school, especially as an employee and as a volunteer.  Adam has held jobs as a lifeguard and as a food service worker at two different restaurants.  Adam volunteers at Feed Our Starving Children, the Winged Foot Foundation, Giftmart, and the Salvation Army.  Despite his hectic schedule, Adam is still an AP and Honors student at Neuqua Valley High School.  He credits his family and his 9^th grade teachers for significantly impacting his ability to study and succeed in school today.

Christopher Comer

Christopher will be attending the Colorado School of Mines to study Electrical Engineering with a focus on renewable energy.  As a student at Naperville Central High School, Christopher has been especially impacted as a member of the Track and Field Club.  There he learned the value of teamwork and selflessness, which led to him being named as a co-captain of the team his Junior and Senior years.  This idea of teamwork was manifested clearly when he organized his team to assist with the cleanup of the 2021 Naperville tornado.

Christopher was not just a Track and Field captain.  He also founded the Speed Club, geared towards helping athletes create speed-improving workouts.  Additionally, he played Junior Varsity Soccer for three years and he was a captain of the Galaxy Soccer Club for three years.

His academic accomplishments and his entrepreneurship skills demonstrate his creativity, perseverance, and business acumen.  Christopher is a member of the National Honor Society and has won an NCHS Academic Excellence Award.  He is an Illinois State Scholar and he is in the Redhawk Leadership Academy.  While focusing on academics, Christopher also volunteered for Harvest Sunday Feed My Starving Children.  As an entrepreneur, Christopher also created and managed two businesses–one as a deck refinisher and another manufacturing Fidget Spinners.

Garrett Dahn

Garrett will be attending Iowa State University to study aerospace engineering.  Garrett credits the wide variety of course choices at Naperville North High School to help him find his niche in the engineering world.  “Research and Design” and “Architectural Drafting” have been particularly impactful courses for him.

Garret has served as captain of not one, but two varsity athletic teams at Naperville North High School—wrestling and gymnastics.  Despite the time commitment required of each team, Garrett also found time to volunteer for the City Council Campaign of Ian Holzhauer.  It was by participating in Holzhauer’s campaign that Garrett discovered organizational and leadership skills that helped him be successful in other areas of his life.

Cora Ondrus

Cora currently attends Quincy University with a major in Elementary Education.  She is driven by her desire to help others, particularly those who come from less-than-ideal circumstances.  She states, “I hope to make a difference in these kids’ lives and let them know that they’re loved for, cared for, and can be successful in life.”

Cora is a proponent of investing time and resources into foundational learning in the primary grades.  The reading and writing skills learned in kindergarten and first grade are so important prerequisite skills for later grades, yet some students fall behind without the expert care of an excellent teacher.  Furthermore, Cora believes that an important key to learning is allowing oneself to take academic risks.  If the teacher has established a trustful learning environment, then students will be more likely to move away from their comfort zone, which is where real learning begins.

Students Honored for their Community Contributions – 2021

Four students from the Naperville area received scholarships from the Naperville Unit Education Association (NUEA) in the amount of $1500 each.  The NUEA annually gives three scholarships to high school seniors who are children of NUEA members, and one scholarship to an undergraduate child of an NUEA member who is pursuing a career in education.  Scholarships are awarded based on extracurricular participation and contributions to the community.  These scholarships were awarded in May 2021.

The high-school scholarship recipients are Madeline Sniadecki from Naperville Central High School, Zack Stokes from Waubonsie Valley High School, and Samantha Weigel from Naperville Central High School.  The undergraduate scholarship winner is Kayla Hoffmann from Judson University in Elgin, Illinois.

The NUEA scholarships were created by certified staff in District 203 through their union to recognize outstanding contributions among area high school seniors.  The scholarships are funded by member dues and represent a small portion of the local support NUEA provides the community through scholarships, volunteerism, and charitable giving.

Madeline Sniadecki – High School Senior

Madeline Sniadecki will be attending the University of Iowa majoring in Communication Sciences and Disorders.  While at Naperville Central High School, Maddie has been a leader in all aspects of student life.  Maddie participated in cross-country, track, soccer, and basketball, serving as a captain of the cross-country team her senior year.  She also participated in the National Honor Society and Spanish Honor Society.  She was a member of the Student Advisory Council and served as an Executive Board member and Chairwoman for the Mr. NCHS committee.

Outside of school, Maddie has been a confirmation retreat leader and youth group member at Saint Raphael Church.  She partnered with WaterStep her junior year to organize a shoe drive at Naperville Central.  She collected over 200 pairs of shoes which were resold to provide money for a filtration system for clean water in a small village in Africa.

Zack Stokes – High School Senior

Zack Stokes will be attending the University of West Florida to study accounting and play baseball.  Zack carefully balances his time between his church community and his school community.  He has served as a member of his high-school church youth group and as a volunteer for vacation bible school, Feed My Starving Children, and the middle school youth group.  Zack traveled with his youth group to Colorado on a mission trip to help less privileged individuals find success in life.

Zack has played baseball on various traveling teams since he was nine years old and has been a member of the Waubonsie Valley Baseball Team for all four years of high school. He also worked as a lifeguard during the summers.

At Waubonsie Valley High School, Zack was chosen as a student leader for the LINK Leadership Team.  As a team member, he met weekly to help Freshman acclimate to the high-school environment.  Zack used his own experiences to help create a positive example for others to follow.

Samantha Weigel – High School Senior

This fall, Samantha will be attending Grand Valley State University to swim and study Elementary Education.  Samantha is a highly decorated swimmer at Naperville Central High School, but she also finds time to participate as a LINK Leader and Commissioner and as a member of the National Honor Society.  Samantha also earned the Silver Award as a Girl Scout Cadette her Freshman year.  She is a PE student leader, swim teacher, and lifeguard in the summers.

Samantha’s swim career is just starting, but already impressive.  She participated as a swimmer at Naperville Central High School for four years, earning varsity letters each year.  She also was an Academic All-Conference Athlete, state qualifier, and national qualifier for three years.

Kayla Hoffmann- Undergraduate Future in Education Award

Kayla will be a junior at Judson University in Elgin, IL for the fall 2021 school year studying Elementary Education with an LBS1 endorsement. She just completed her second practicum this past semester in a 4/5 split classroom where she spent over 50 hours working with some amazing students and building confidence in her teaching skills. She was admitted into Kappa Delta Pi (International Honors Society in Education) and named to the KDP officers as the Event Coordinator for Judson University. Kayla has loved working with children since she was young and gives credit to many of the inspirational teachers that she had growing up in District 203 attending Elmwood, Lincoln, and NCHS.

Her passion to make a difference in the lives of children was strengthened as she volunteered from 7^th through 12^th grade for over 500 hours mentoring elementary students at her church.  Teaching in the Redhawk Preschool for Early Childhood Education and at Maplebrook Elementary School for the “Introduction to Teaching 2” class gave Kayla a unique opportunity to experience teaching firsthand.

NUEA AWARDS $4500 IN LOCAL SCHOLARSHIPS – 2020

Salvation Army: Thank you, NUEA!

– On December 22, volunteers from NUEA participated in the 2017 Red Kettle Campaign by ringing the bell on the corner of Main and Jefferson.  NUEA members Jill Ryan (Scott), Monica Hernandez (JJHS), Maribel Guerrero (Mill St.), Kristyn Reed (Scott) and Christine Bell (NNHS) were joined by musicians from Madison Jr. High.  The weather was warm for our bell ringers and musicians, as passers-by continued to donate freely to the Salvation Army.  Nary a dry eye stood on the corner while the musicians performed a beautiful rendition of Silent Night to all who could hear.  Thank you, NUEA!

NUEA Awards Scholarships 2017

Three students from the Naperville area received scholarships from the Naperville Unit Education Association (NUEA) in the amount of $1500 each.  The NUEA annually gives three scholarships to high school seniors who are children of NUEA members.  Scholarships are awarded based on extracurricular participation and contributions to the community.

The scholarship recipients are Philip Dohm from Wheaton North High School, Maddison Paladino from Downers Grove South High School, and Whitney Smith from Naperville North High School.

The NUEA scholarships were created by certified staff in District 203 to recognize outstanding contributions among area high school seniors.  The scholarships are funded by member dues and represent a small portion of the local support NUEA provides the community through scholarships, volunteerism, and charitable giving.

Philip Dohm

Philip Dohm will be attending the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign this fall as an Actuarial Science major.  While at Wheaton North High School, Philip was heavily involved in soccer, eventually serving as team captain and a member of the Falcon Athletic Leadership Council.  He also served as referee for club and park district soccer events.  His athletic contributions were balanced by his participation in academic clubs such as the Math Team, Chess Club, National Honor Society, French Honor Society, and Math Honor Society.

Philip remarked that his teachers and coaches at Wheaton North helped him become more flexible, more punctual, and more prepared for college life.  He added that many of today’s students seem to feel entitled to respect, recognition, and awards.  This attitude is detrimental to his generation because when students feel entitled, they make little effort to earn the skills and knowledge they need to advance the community as a whole.

Maddison Paladino

Maddison Paladino will be attending Oberlin College in Ohio, where she will major in Biochemistry and play softball as a Yeowoman.  Maddison has been active at Downers Grove South as an athlete, leader, and a volunteer.  She played softball all four years, eventually serving on the Student Athlete Academic Leadership Team and the Athletes Committed to Excellence Club.  She exemplified leadership by serving on the Student Council for four years, the Key Club for four years, and she served as a class leader in PE her junior and senior year.  As a senior, she became a member of the Earth Action Club and the Google Innovative Incubator Club.  She was recognized for her hard work through inductions into the National Honor Society and Spanish National Honors Society.

Despite her extensive involvement at Downers Grove South High School, Maddison stated that her most impactful activity was her service on the Downers Grove Township Peer Jury.  The jury was tasked with assigning consequences to students who were arrested for misdemeanor offences.  Maddison felt that the program was a powerful and rewarding avenue to help students learn from their mistakes without leaving a permanent record.  Maddison commented, “Consequently, I do not judge people by their actions, but how they respond to the consequences of their actions.”

Whitney Smith

This fall, Whitney Smith will be attending Illinois State University with a major in biology and zoology.  Whitney’s achievements reflect a heartfelt belief in the value of faith, volunteerism, and collaboration.  She has been active volunteer in her youth group at The Sanctuary Church, serving on the Student Leadership Team and assisting at Feed My Starving Children, the Bolingbrook Food Pantry, and the Bolingbrook Christian Health Center.  She has also participated as a volunteer and lifeguard at the Timber-Lee Ministries Summer Camp in East Troy, Wisconsin.  At Naperville North High School, she participated on the girl’s Swim and Dive Team for all four years, assisted with boy’s dive team meets, and advanced to team captain her senior year.  She also was a PE class leader and she served as a K9 mentor for her peers at Naperville North.

Whitney is appreciative of her experience at Naperville North.  She commented that her teachers helped her grow her ability to collaborate with a diverse group of people and her ability to become a self-directed learner.  She stated, “Naperville North High School has prepared me for future challenges by affording me the opportunities to work with many diverse peoples by incorporating social interactions in the execution of this semester’s curriculum.”  She also cited the Freshman Learning Initiative program as a particularly strong influence toward helping her develop independent learning strategies and problem solving skills.

Helping the Naperville Kiwanis

NUEA members helped at the Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast, held on March 18.  For pictures of the event, please login to NUEA Connect.  Congratulations, NEA, for making a difference!

NUEA Helps Salvation Army 2016

On December 23, volunteers from NUEA participated in the 2017 Red Kettle Campaign by ringing the bell on the corner of Main and Jefferson.  NUEA members Cari Chidley, Deb Mitchler, and Christine Bell were joined by musicians from Madison Jr. High.  Even a slight mix of rain and snow didn’t slow down our bell ringers and musicians, as passers-by continued to donate freely to the Salvation Army.  Nary a dry eye stood on the corner while the musicians performed a beautiful rendition of Silent Night to all who could hear.  Thank you, NUEA!

NUEA Awards Scholarships 2016

Three students from the Naperville area received scholarships from the Naperville Unit Education Association (NUEA) in the amount of $1000 each.  The NUEA annually gives three scholarships to high school seniors who are children of NUEA members.  Scholarships are awarded based on extracurricular participation and contributions to the community.

The scholarship recipients are Emily Forsythe from Metea Valley High School, Kurt Simpson from Neuqua Valley High School, and Ashlyn Bell from Naperville Central High School.

The NUEA scholarships were created by members to recognize outstanding contributions among area high school seniors.  The scholarships are funded by member dues and represent a small portion of the local support NUEA provides the community through scholarships and charitable giving.

Emily Forsythe will be attending the University of Alabama in the fall as a biology major.  She eventually wishes to enter the field of medicine.  Emily has been an active athlete on several area teams, including Metea Valley girl’s basketball, Chief rugby, and the Strikers Fox Valley Premier Soccer Club.  She volunteered in the Peer Partners program, Principal’s advisory board, Student Athletic Leadership Team, and the Yearbook Committee while at Metea Valley.  She has also dedicated time to Special Olympics, Feed my Starving Children, and the Hesed House Community Service Project, in addition to her work as a religious education volunteer in her church at St. Thomas the Apostle.  Emily’s mother is an academic support teacher and her step-father is a science teacher.  Both parents work at Madison Junior High School.

Kurt Simpson will be attending Indiana University as an education major this fall.  While at Neuqua Valley, Kurt was a member of the football team and the baseball team.  He was a P.E. peer partner and a Project Unify volunteer.  He has supported students with special needs through his work with the Capernaum Camp, Special Olympics, and the Best Buddies Program, for which he served on the board his senior year.  He has also donated time to Safety Town, Rebuilding Aurora, and the organizing team for the Tom Schlegel 5k Run.  Kurt’s mother teaches Kindergarten at Beebe Elementary School.

Ashlyn Bell will be attending Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis(IUPUI).  She is planning on double majoring in marketing and international business with a minor in Spanish.  Ashlyn is the President of Central’s chapter of DECA, a member of Art Club, and a member of the National Honor Society.  She served as a captain of the Cheerleader squad sophomore and junior years.  She has also volunteered her time to Feed My Starving Children, the Naperville Humane Society, the Epilepsy Foundation, Naperbridge, and Special Olympics.  Ashlyn’s mother teaches Career/Technical Education at Naperville Central High School.

About the NUEA

The NUEA is the association of 1400 certified staff members who work in Naperville School District 203.  They are a unified voice advocating for students and the teaching profession.  Led by President Mark Bailey, they work with the community, administration, students, and parents in District 203 to help provide the best educational experience possible to residents of Naperville, Bolingbrook, and Lisle with District 203.

NEA Foundation Awards Grant to Naperville Teacher – The National Education Association Foundation announced on January 15, 2016, that Madison and Maplebrook teacher David Carroll was the recipient of a national Learning and Leadership Grant.  The grant, in the amount of $2000, will be used to help fund Carroll’s study investigating the relationship between music literacy and text literacy.  In particular, the money will be used to offset the costs of instruments, materials, and facilities related to the study.  The study is based on the premise that sharing literacy strategies between music and text strengthens both by providing additional contexts in which to apply them.

Five NUEA Members Earn IEA SCORE Grants – The Naperville Unit Education Association has announced that five District 203 teachers have earned service-oriented grants from the Illinois Education Association (IEA) for their schools.  The grants are part of a new grant program available to educators who are in the first 10 years of their careers.

SCORE, Schools and Community Outreach by Educators, will award as many as 100 grants across Illinois in amounts up to $1,000 to allow early career educators a chance to build service-oriented programs in their schools or their communities. Grants for more than $1,000 may also be considered.  These grants are designed to allow educators to find ways to address unmet needs and fund helpful programs to solve them.  From after-school tutoring programs to school improvement projects, from reading programs to partnerships with community organizations, the possibilities are limitless.

The five District 203 grant winners were Alexandra Morrow (Ranch View), Regina Lackowski (Beebe), Zachary Gibson (Prairie), Cindy Lopez (Mill Street), and an anonymous recipient from Kennedy.