ACS is a hub of student artistry!
Congratulations to the following Aurora Christian Schools students on being published in the 2026 NAHS News Magazine:
ACS’s High School Visual Arts program also received two-page spread highlighting student-created murals through the years, offering insight into other schools on how to cultivate meaningful community engagement. Way to represent ACS on a national stage!
Second-grade students at Grace McWayne Elementary in Batavia School District 101 held a Potato Olympics to wrap up their Ancient Greek Civilization Unit!
Each student got the chance to represent a country, design their own potato athlete, and compete in team-oriented events. Students and staff donned togas and filled the hallways with creativity. This unit is part of the new English Language Arts curriculum at Grace McWayne, where students have explored the influence of Ancient Greece in our language, government, art, the Olympics, and more.
IMSA juniors Charlotte Okulaja and Benas Stonys were named one of the top five North American teams and Global Finalists in the 2026 Ascend Berkeley Stock Pitch Competition. The Ascend Berkeley Stock Pitch Competition invites high school students from around the world to evaluate publicly traded companies and present a well-supported investment analysis to expert judges.
Their recognition as Global Finalists highlights their exceptional business acumen, critical thinking, and presentation skills in competition among peers worldwide.
Giselle Martinez is a Political Science and Public Policy and Business Administration double major at Aurora University. She is active in civic leadership organizations who recently secured an internship with Illinois State Senator Karina Villa ‘03.
For Giselle, her studies in Political Science and Public Policy help her understand systems of power and community impact, while her business studies prepare her to think strategically about how to create meaningful impact through public service. A member of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) Voces Nueva program, the HOPE College Leadership Program, and the Up to Us Leadership Network Civic Leaders Cohort, Martinez is on her way to changing her own community for the better.
Aurora Central Catholic student, Adeline, earned an Honorable Mention at the Regional Scholastic Art Competition. There were over 2,000 entries from the Northern Suburban region of Illinois, making this an incredible achievement!
Her artwork will be on display at Downers Grove North High School this month. Way to go, Adeline!
East Aurora High School is proud to announce that 37 students have been recognized as Illinois State Scholars for the 2026–2027 academic year!
The Illinois State Scholar Program is administered by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) and identifies outstanding high school students across the state based on a combination of academic achievement, standardized test performance, and class rank.
2026 - 2027 Illinois State Scholars
Ninel Alvarez, Jose Arredondo, Miriam Calzada, Angel Camacho, Alejandro Cantarero, Edgar Cantu Salas, Vianey Castaneda, Elizabeth Corral Moreno, Lilia Deltoro, Ivan Escobedo, Olena Ftoma, Samantha Gamino, Kayla Garcia, Diego Gonzalez Trejo, Yurem Horta, Ziyaan Laliwala, Giancarlo Ledezma, Andrew Lee, Kathy Madera, Fernando Mancinas, Raquel Martinez, Sergio Martinez, Bryan Nevarez, Angel Nunez, Nicole Olivo,
Arianna Overstreet-Vinnett, Jasmine Pina, Matteos Ramirez, Guadalupe Reyes Vera, Ricardo Rios, Raul Rodriguez, Juan Sosa, Dariana Valerio, Odalis Velazquez, Joanna Villagomez, Bryan Xique and Giselle Zaragoza.
Indian Prairie School District 204 recently recognized three students as District Spelling Bee Winner! Congratulations to Shruthi, Sachin, and Kiara!
The Kaneland High School Chess Team made it to State! Way to go, Knights!
Congratulations to Christopher Quail ‘27, who performed with the Illinois Music Education Association (ILMEA) All-State Senior Chorus in Peoria last month!
This prestigious honor is awarded to the top one or two singers in each voice part from every district!
Plank Junior High School's robotics team, the Octobots, competed at the Illinois FIRST LEGO League Challenge Illinois State Championship! They finished 6th on the Robot Game table with an impressive 515 points.
10 students at Rosary College Prep make up the Class of 2026 Illinois State Scholars!
Congratulations to Lena Collette, Natalie Gutierrez, Giana Legner, Abigail Leurck, Ariyana Nieckula, Samantha Ochoa, Margaret Patzer, Michaela Siener, Madalyn Sperlakis, and Callie Vallort.
The Illinois State Scholar designation is awarded by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission and recognizes students who rank among the top academic performers in the state. These young women exemplify the dedication, discipline, and intellectual curiosity that defines the True Blue community.
West Aurora High School’s Drama Club took to the stage for its Winter One Acts performances this month. The showcase featured Deep Waters, written and directed by students Michael Frederick and Saffire Iglar-Mobley, and The Audition, directed by Charles Nash and Maria Reavis-Valtierra.
Staging a live, theatrical production requires teamwork, empathy, dedication, and passion! We commend these students on their performance.
Waubonsee Community College recently celebrated twelve outstanding students who embody Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s vision through leadership, service, and a commitment to equity. These students were presented to the college’s first-ever RISE to the Dream Awards.
The twelve outstanding student recipients are: Kaylany Aburto, Taya Benson, Malachi Boyd, Iris Choi, Kelsey Corken, Emmanuel Diaz, Evelyn Espinoza, ZaMya Fowlder Barrett, Aspen Grometer, Luke Hartsell, Germaine Mwizerwa, and Manuel Velasquez.
Congratulations to these promising young students, who represent Aurora well!