Vol. 60, Issue 7, Senior Issue

The graduating class of 2024 spreads their wings and says their final goodbyes to Maine South.

CLASS OF 2024 NEST LEAVING THE

Department Awards

CTE Business Education Award

Clark Simpson

CTE Family & Consumer Sciences

Avery Nelson

English Award

Evan Saurer

Mathematics Award

Oliver Marszalek

Music Award

Adam Malinowski

Health & Wellness Award

Jack Defilippis

Speech/Drama/ Broadcasting Award

Tyler DeMott

Science Award

Conor Foley

Art Award

Angela Novakovic

CTE Applied Technology Award

Ella Sieburg

World Languages Award

Elliott Natura

Social Science Award

Sophia Pop

2024 of the class of RECOGNITION

Art/Photo Club Scholarship

Natalie Coletti, Athletic Booster Scholarship Olivia DeLuca, Brandon Huovie, Michael Mizwicki, Sofia Sclafani, Betty Houlihan Memorial Scholarship Brandon Huovie, Kaitlyn Brown, Brett J. Harman Endowment Fund Theodore Flores, Chance Walker 2nd Chance Scholarship Hana Brkic, Oliver Gajda, Chris Harris Memorial Scholarship Elliott Natura, DISTRICT 207

EDUCATION ASSOCIATION: Helen Dobbins Avery Nelson, Elizabeth Greenhill Memorial Panhellenic Scholarship Livia Jolineau, Elyssa’s Mission Scholarship Isabela Alvarado, Izabela Bisiak, Giona Maccaferri, Sofia Nigro, Evans Scholars Jack Conway, Beatrice Poindexter, Gene Haas Foundation

Postsecondary Scholarship

Daniel Krzesinski, Gordon McClean Scholarship Adam Malinowski, Iota Sigma Pi Outstanding Young Women in Chemistry Katherine Kolz, Jim Kilburg Memorial Scholarship Michael Mizwicki, Sofia Nigro, Ken Reese Senior Service Award Emma Donohue, Lloyd Spear Scholarship Courtney Miller, Maine South High School Student Council Award Emma

Donohue, Maine South Music

Boosters Izabela Biziak, Hana Brkic, William Dolan, Emma Donohue, Joseph Lennon, Isabelle Nawara, Mia Pearl, Maine South Outstanding Female and Male Athletes Meegan Fahy, Theodore Flores, Dominic Mazurek, Maine South Parents’ Scholarship Club Marete Austrins, Elizabeth Biederman, Sophia Calderon, Liam Charley, Owen Charley, Sophia Gianaris, Brandon Huovie, James Johnston, Mia Jolineau, Veronicka Kubisova, Alex Lohens, Courtney Miller, Elliott Natura, Isabelle Nawara, Sofia Nigro, Brendan Owens, Daniela Rescigno, Conielena

Siatos, Michael Simmons, Maine South Parents’ Scholarship Club: Clyde K. Watson Michael Mizwicki, Maine South Parents’ Scholarship Club: Jan Cannon

George Lohens, Maine South Parents’ Scholarship Club: Martin McGovern/Scottie Wind Ava Amelio, Izabela Bisiak, Kaitlyn Brown, Anne Honan, Livia Jolineau, Mia Pearl, Alana Voris, Maine South Parents’ Scholarship Club: The Amina Grace Memorial Award Kara Chaplin (JR), Lily Heneghan (JR), Ava Jurek (JR), Caitlin Vengazo (JR), Andrew

Zimmerman, Maine South Parents’ Scholarship Club: The Good Food Pantry Award Olivia DeLuca, Maine South Parents’ Scholarship Club: Virginia Feurer Ava Romero, Maine South Speech, Drama, Broadcasting Boosters Elle Barruffi, Kaitlyn Brown, Hana Brkic, Kalyna Brush, Emilia Buckley, Tyler DeMott, Alexander Konwal, Seamus Lynch, Giona Maccaferri, Courtney Miller, Daniel Paprocki, Daniela Rescigno, Maine 207 Foundation Outstanding Student Tutors Sarah Kosiorek, Katelyn Whitlock, National African American Recognition Award David Rindfleisch, National Merit Scholarship Program: Commended Students Izabela Bisiak, Joseph Habisohn, Dexter Kelleher, Mary Keller, Katherine Kolz, Jack Koteles, Joseph Mullarkey, Elliott Natura, Joseph Russell, Evan Sauer, Ella Sieburg, National Merit Scholarship Program: Finalists Conor Foley, Niles Chamber of Commerce Katelyn Whitlock, Norridge/Harwood Heights Rotary Club Katelyn Whitlock, Park Ridge Kiwanis Key Club Sophia Rentas, Ava Romero, Katelyn Whitlock, Park Ridge Panhellenic Scholarship

Kaitlyn Brown, Mia Jolineau, Park Ridge Rotary: Make a Difference Elizabeth Biederman, Olivia DeLuca, Sophie Jaroch, James Johnston, Ava Romero, Conielena Siatos, Park Ridge Soccer - Scott Wade Memorial Soccer Scholarship Livia Jolineau, PEO Star Scholarship - Chapter DA Katherine Kolz, Robert and Joan Lee Family Scholarship Payton Littrell, Katelyn Whitlock, Robert V. Simonson Award Julia Cholewa, Sophia Pichinos Scholarship Riley Melby, Steve and Vicki Lee Family Foundation Scholarship Emilia Buckley, Sophia Gianaris, Veronika Kubisova, STROLL Park Ridge Nathaniel Bradley, The Kalo Foundation - The Don Pegler Scholarship Hannah Goetz, Angela Novakovic, Thomas Ziemek Memorial Scholarship Leo McDonald, Twenty-First Star Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution: Good Citizen Award Mia Thurman, Twenty-First Star Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution: Peggy Ross American History Scholar Award Jason Hennes, 20th Century Club of Park Ridge William Burns, Courtney Miller, Angela Novakovic

Maine South Goodwill Award Winners

“Oh,

the Places you’ll go!”

Class of Post-Secondary Plans 2024

*Based on the CCRC Senior Survey self-reported data of 313 students

Arizona

Arizona State University–Elle Barruffi, Marisa Dalessandro University of Arizona–Jillian Harmon, Frederick Wessel

California

Loyola Marymount University–Tyler Demott, Andrew Zimmermann San Diego State University–Skylar Shipp

Colorado

Colorado School of Mines–Brandon Huovie

Colorado State University–Emma Schertler

University of Colorado, Denver–Joseph Lennon

University of Denver–Katherine Kolz

Connecticut

Connecticut College–Elizabeth Bowe

D.C.

George Washington University–Ava Amelio

Florida

Florida State University–Allison Currey, Kathryn Kinnavy

University of Miami–Francesco Anzaldi, Patrick Bayraktarov

University of Tampa–Brandon Griffin

Georgia

Emory University–Alexander Konwal

Georgia Institute of Technology–Matthew Foley, Annika Wallace University of Geogia–Elizabeth Biederman

Iowa

Iowa State University–Kalyna Brush, Cesar Garcia, Payton Littrell, Alexander Zdravkovic

University of Iowa–Madison

Basquin, Charlotte Baumann, Sophia Calderon, Amelia Cole, Patrick

Galinski, Anastasia Gritsonis, Eleni

Gritsonis, Sean Hamilton, Ryan

Kearney, Mary Keller, Chloe Lollino, Gabriella Mccants, Mia Pearl, Brian Seidel, Eugenia Simandirakis, Ryan

Sladky, Izabella Stachowicz

Idaho

Boise State University–Charles Habetler

Illinois

Augustana College–Grace Gustaveson

Concordia Univerity - Chicago–Katelyn Whitlock

DePaul University–Lorenzo

Abbate, Alen Beharic, George Breic, Hana Brkic, John Dempsey, Nicole Dynowski, Stavroula Koukios, Bennett Lovett, Lia Margaris, Danilo Marsenic, Tatiana Martinez, Conielena Siatos

Dominican University–John Fasolo

Eastern Illinois University–Jalissa Alicea

Elmhurst University–Adam Krenek

Harper College–Jake Besenjak, Samuel Middendorf

Illinois State University–Nina Adamovic, Colleen BrosnanJack Fadin, Kier Fogel, Sarah Melissa Mata, Avery Nelson, Ann O’Grady, Anthony Serbekian, Anthony Serpico, Olivia Thompson, Ryan Verheyen, Blaze Wening

Judson University–Samuel Cooper

Knox College–Matthew Trombley

Lake Forest College–Mary Ann

Andonova, Martyna Piorek, Sofia Stojakovic

Lewis University–Harry Marinov

Loyola University Chicago–Amaan

Baki, Amedeo Bimbi, Julia Cholewa, Daniel Firs, Emily Fudali, Charles Havens, Cole Henderson, George Karamouzis, Diego Larco, Odyssey Liakopoulos, Elizabeth Martin, Vesela Meteva, Edgar Reyes, Kenzo

Trespeces-Winck

North Park University–Sophia Rentas

Northeastern Illinois University–Gabriella Coscino

Northwestern University–Oliver Marszalek

Oakton College–Atalia Adam, Emily August, Kyra Bennett, Solomia Chekh, Defne Genc, Michaela Navez, Bradley Rupprecht, Michael Spatola, Henry Sues, Noah Van Hees, Aidan Walsh

Roosevelt University–Brianna Barriga

Triton College–Sandra Nakonieczna University of Illinois, Chicago–Christos Karageorgis, Ajdi Kryemadhi, Nicholas Milkowski, Sidney Oke, Justin Skariah, Nicola Slater

University of Illinois, UrbanaChampaign–Lain Amer Abalos, Lukas Alexanian, Ryan Besenjak, Sebastian Bremmer, Ryder Butterfield, Maggie Clark, Jack Conway, Cristian Correa, Ethan De La Navarre, Daniel Duca, Julia Flores, Avram Fogel, Isabel Frede, Ashley Gricius, Elizabeth Handley, Crystal Heard, Jason Hennes, Matthew Hirstius, Hannah Hoffman, Stamatina Ioannidis, Anna Jeludeva, James Johnston, Livia Jolineau, Katharine Kolton, Athanasios Loutrianakis, Adam Malinowski, Ryan Moore, Ava Romero, Joseph Russell, Lilien Schirazi, Sofia Sclafani, Klement Silo, Antonio Smeriglio, Amelia Stanek, Ivan Sudmalis, Sofia Tesija, Julia Thompson, Peter Thompson, Luca Tricarico, Alexander Ziminski

Indiana

Butler University–Gabrielle Beauvais

DePauw University–Jack Defilippis

Indiana University–Petar Bogicevic, Samantha Fogarty, Micah Shannon Purdue University–Marete Austrins, Efstathios Bournias, William Dolan, Dexter Kelleher, Soterios Koukios, Maeve Lawlor, Lauren Marogil, Jacob Mascort, Dominic Mazurek, Joseph

Mullarkey, Michael Simmons, Emma Tworek

Kansas

University of Kansas–Ajayo Bernabei, Cate Cienkus, Sophia Yates, Maya Zimnoch

Kentucky

University of Kentucky–Lauren Forte, Kyle Gilbert, Arianna Hirsh, Tyler Matz, Jenna Noth, Mia Zeman

University of Louisville–Barlet Selani

Louisiana

Loyola University New Orleans–Nicholas Ingles, Ava Sullivan Tulane University–Sophia Gianaris, Sophia Pop, Emma Spychalski

Michigan

Michigan State University–Lilly Broutman, Natalie Colletti, Isabel Cuitino, Ethan Fogarty, George Lohens, Helen Piatek-Sidorowicz, Ella Sieburg, Lorelei Smith, Jack Stelter, Mia Thurman

University of Michigan–Lucas Cosma, Theodore Flores, Elliott Natura

Western Michigan University–Eduardo Contreras, Cara Heneghan

Mississippi

University of Mississippi–Mia Callahan

Minnesota

St. Olaf College–Kaitlyn Brown University of Minnesota–Catherine Connolly, Madeline Parrino

Missouri

University of Missouri-Columbia–Caroline Almquist, Nathan Barina, William Barker, Payton Cassidy, Charles Currey, Lola Hernandez, Jessica Johnson, Gianluca Modica, Grace Nilles, Abigail Rice, Izabela Woziwoda, Lydia Zweifel, Nel Tyszka

North Carolina

Duke University–Anthony Benbenek

FAFSA update causes delayed decisions

Charlotte Chapman News Editor

The class of 2024 was the first group of seniors to use the updated version of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA. This revised form was supposed to be more efficient to fill out; however, many experienced difficulties and delays in the process.

For Illinois students, filling out the FAFSA is a graduation requirement. It’s also the first step in receiving any type of financial aid, including scholarships, grants, and loans.

Trademarked as “The better FAFSA,” the new application aimed to streamline the process for students and their families.

“Two main reasons they wanted to simplify [the FAFSA]: they wanted to shorten it to make it easier and quicker to fill out to provide better access to more people, and they wanted to upgrade or recalculate some of the formulas that go into factoring how much aid students receive in order to expand the number of Pell grants awarded,” Post-secondary counselor Ms. Robyn Moreth said.

Pell grants are need-based federal grants awarded to low-income

Elon University–Evan Zeman

Nebraska

Creighton University–Celia Flynn University of Nebraska, Lincoln–Shane Rothenberger

New Mexico

University of New Mexico–Emily Kral

New York

Fordham University– Charlotte

King

New York University–Daniela Rescigno

Syracuse University–Hannah Goetz

Ohio

Bowling Green State University–Alana Voris

Miami University–Ann Barry, Kamila Filip, Julian Moman-Turner, Sloan Pareti, Aidan Schmidt, Milana Voutiritsas

Ohio State University–Bridget Purcell

Ohio Wesleyan University–Hanna Brozell

University of Cincinnati–Emilia Buckley, Rohan Cham, Sarah Kosiorek

University of Dayton–Brendan

students. Increasing the amount of Pell grants allows more low-income students to be able to afford college.

However, the simplified form also led to significant delays for many students.

“I would say the last, let’s call it five-to-seven years, the FAFSA has been available starting Oct. 1 of the senior year,” Ms. Moreth said.

This was not the case for the class of 2024.

“Because of the changes, the FAFSA did not launch until Dec. 31,” Ms. Moreth said. “It was a soft-launch, so for students who tried to access the FAFSA in the early period, often they would find that the website was down for maintenance or just not working at all.”

Some students experienced issues with their information being left unsaved or even erased.

“It would tell me the information I had put in was not able to be saved, so I just had to login everyday until it eventually did save,” senior Madeline Parrino said.

“While filling out the form, my progress would get erased multiple times,” senior Oliver Marszalek said.

There were additional problems

Kapcar, Angela Mazukelli

Xavier University–Caroline Keeley

Pennsylvania

Carnegie Mellon University–Michael Mizwicki

Penn State University–Estelle Wendorf

Temple University–Victoria Doroshkevich, Seamus Lynch

Clemson University–Geraldine Giustino

South Carolina

Coastal Carolina University–Anthony Neumayer

University of South Carolina–Jack Haley, Joseph Murges

Tennessee

University of Tennessee–Zane Gurney, Anne Honan, Johnathan Larson, Madelyn Rutherford

Vanderbilt University–Izabela Bisiak

Virginia

Virginia Tech–Alexandra Frantsve

Wisconsin

Carroll University–Ella Billinge, Courtney Miller

with the submission requirements.

“I couldn’t submit the form right away because it required my signature, but the form wouldn’t let me provide it,” Marszalek said.

Because of these issues, fewer students have been able to submit their FAFSA than in previous years.

“We try really hard to get a 100% completion rate,” Ms. Moreth said. “Three weeks ago we were sitting at 50% completion, and one week ago we were at about 75%, so we’re doing pretty well.”

Unfortunately, with the late financial aid packages, students have been hesitant to commit to a college.

“There are students waiting on financial packages and unable to make a final decision,” Ms. Moreth said.

On the other side, colleges are also experiencing delays due to the later financial aid packages.

“Because of the delays, a lot of the enrollment deadlines have been pushed to either May 15 or June 1 because there are students who have still not gotten packages,” Ms. Moreth said. “There could be a lot of shifting over the summer and enrollment numbers as they are on May 3 could look a lot different on July 3.”

Carthage College–Margaret Honan

Marquette University–Nathaniel Bradley, Rece Dykla, Connor Farrell, Jake Gentile, Deklan Ide, Olivia Kennedy, Maura Lawlor, Mark Magnanao, Daniel Paprocki, Neal Pithadia

University of WisconsinMadison–Ava Bertsch, Matthew Breslin, William Burns, Alexandra Conopeotis, Matthew Dabisch, Olivia Deluca, Emma Donohue, Liam Henehan, Jessica Hoffman, Sophia Jaroch, Mia Jolineau, Jack Koteles, Ryan Mullarkey, Sofia Nigro, Brendan Owens, Lola Stojakovic

University of WisconsinMilwaukee–Mira Schreiber

University of WisconsinWhitewater–Cristian Abdala

Gap Year

Constantine Andrews, Sophia Clerigo

Apprenticeship

Luke Disparte, Marko Kotur

Military

Marine Corps–Jinwu Nunez

Workforce

Gianni Spallone

363

32 30 48

5 taking a gap year

3

Based on the most recent selfreported CCRC data of 420 students going to a fouryear college or university entering the workforce different states attended going to Oakton (highest enrollment numbers for going to UIUC (highest enrollment numbers for a 2-year college) a 4-year college)

2 enlisting in the military

Emmy Buckley

by Jacob Mascort

If you have ever had the pleasure of running into Emmy in the hallways or having a quick conversation with her in a class, you would know that she is eternally positive, compassionate, optimistic, and committed to everything she does and will ever do.

In all of her classes, she excels and maintains her high GPA and excellent relationships with her friends and classmates, but the impact she has left on Maine South goes beyond the classroom to her devotion to Fine Arts productions. As the stage manager for this year’s spring musical, “Pippin,” she worked closely with directors, cast, and crew, overseeing and producing this show for multiple months and throughout all seven nights of the show.

She has upheld numerous leadership titles such as student set designer, painting crew head, and co-president of the Maine South Theatre Technicians Guild, which put together volunteering opportunities and group gatherings of crew members throughout the school year.

Her work as a set designer backstage is perhaps where her impact is felt most actively. Her design of the set for last year’s spring musical, "The Addams Family," led to a nomination and win for Best Production by Broadway in Chicago.

Furthermore, her impressive artistic portfolio led her to be chosen to be a part of the selective crew for the All-State Musical “She Kills Monsters,” which was performed at the Illinois Theatre Fest at Illinois State University in early January.

In the fall, Emmy will be attending the University of Cincinnati to study Scenic Design, continuing to master her craft by doing the thing she loves most: crew.

In the eight years that I have known Emmy, she has always treated everyone with the same respect and appreciation. Her never ending motivation will take her far and her achievements backstage in high school are just the start of her career.

Daniel Duca

by Josie Hennes

Ihaveknown Daniel Duca for my entire life and can honestly say that he is one of the most hardworking, kind, and generous people I have ever known. Many can attest to his cheerful and positive personality that never fails to put smiles on people's faces, but beyond his kind personality, he has dedicated his time in high school to helping his peers and ensuring that they feel valued.

Daniel actively looks for ways to help and include people. For the past four years, he has worked to create a welcoming environment that makes for a smoother transition for new students as an active member of Hawk Links. By showing them around the school, helping them find classes, and being a friendly face in the hallways, he truly exemplifies what it means to be a Hawk.

Daniel is strongly connected to his Italian heritage. As an Italian National Honor Society officer and member of Italian club, he works to share his pride in Italian culture with all students and promotes the appreciation of all cultures.

On top of rigorous school work and many extracurriculars, Daniel has also dedicated countless hours volunteering for CRUX, a Catholic teen youth group. During this time, he has been a leader for multiple retreats, where he worked to create a welcoming and inviting environment where teens could talk about their life experiences and feelings.

Furthermore, Daniel has participated in many service events, including Feed My Starving Children and helping sort donations at the Our Lady of Angels food pantry.

Daniel is a reliable friend. Whether one is in need of a laugh, guidance, or to feel included, Daniel is always that person. Daniel Duca has gone above and beyond inside and outside the classroom, demonstrating many admirable qualities. I am so proud of him and all his achievements and know he will continue to have great success in the future.

Ryan Faraji

by Matthew Hirstius

Iknew Ryan before we even set foot in Maine South and have had the pleasure of watching a kid who was once unsure of where the winds of life would take him, transform into a man ready to take the reins and guide his own story.

Ryan has committed to Purdue-Indianapolis for Mechanical Engineering, and I, along with anyone else who knows him, can tell you that he deserves every bit of prestige that comes with getting admitted to such an esteemed program.

Ryan started off freshman year by taking a CAD class and quickly distinguished himself from his peers. The next summer, he took on an internship with Pepper Construction to help with the renovations here at Maine South.

His sophomore year, he joined the ACE (Architecture, Construction, Engineering) Mentor Program and has worked on projects like designing sustainable housing for immigrants and flood prevention systems for at-risk areas.

Ryan is also the Auto Club president, having been an active member since his sophomore year. Every time I pass by the C-wing before school and see Ryan in the shop working on the High Mileage Vehicle as he is getting it ready for competition, I am in awe.

Along with interning, traveling for leadership conferences, designing houses for those in need, getting up bright and early for Auto Club, and staying on top of his regular schoolwork, Ryan found the time to participate in and become the state champion of the 2024 SkillsUSA Drone competition.

Ryan is an exceptional individual—an individual who, when given a goal, will produce miraculous results no matter how much he has on his plate.

I am beyond proud of the things Ryan has accomplished here at Maine South, and I am even more excited to see what Ryan can achieve with the resources afforded to him at Purdue. Good luck Ryan—we are all rooting for you.

Lia Margaris

by Elizabeth Handley and Thomas Hurley

Whenit comes to the most kind-hearted, welcoming, and down-to-Earth students at Maine South, Lia Margaris easily ranks at top of the list—she is simply one of those people who you feel as though you’ve known them forever.

On top of being an astounding figure skater and mentor for young skaters, Lia is also greatly involved in our school community. She is an Eyrie staffer, Greek club member, wind ensemble member, and a renowned drum major for the marching band. As a drum major, she created an inclusive, loving environment—especially for underclassmen.

“Her natural instinct is to serve and care for others,” band director Mr. David Hutter said. “She’s the first person to show up and the last person to leave. She actually cares and connects with the human first and cares about results second.”

Although the marching band was the main group Lia offered her kindness to, she was a familiar friend to many people throughout Maine South.

When asked about Lia’s impact on the school and fellow students, senior Emma Donohue said, “I have truly never met a better person than Lia; everyone knows her because she smiles and shares kind stories with everyone. If there was a Ms. Maine South, it would be Lia because she embodies everything ‘Hawk PRIDE.’”

Walking down the hallway at Maine South, Lia is quick to say hello and strike up a conversation. Her energy is warm not only to her friends, but to staff, peers, or strangers alike.

However, one of Lia’s most striking qualities is her humor. Her ability to make others laugh with her wit and relatability is genuinely unmatched, and is what makes her personality so inviting and distinctive.

“Lia always comes into any situation with a smile on her face and the kindest actions," Donohue said. "She is so sweet and has so much enthusiasm making it difficult not to smile around her—her positivity is positively infectious."

Elliott Natura

by Lilien Schirazi

Elliott

Natura is one of the kindest, most selfless people you could ever meet. As president of the Environmental Club, he organized frequent forest preserve clean ups in the fall, weekly Friday recycling sortings, and made the Maine South community more aware of ways to stay eco-friendly. These activities also gave students opportunities to earn service hours and volunteer experiences.

Even outside of these club activities, Elliott is involved in many extracurriculars such as the Mandarin National Honor Society, the Spanish National Honor Society, and varsity tennis. With all that he does he demonstrates true leadership, never hesitating to offer a helping hand to anyone who may need it.

I remember being in the same Math 3 Compression class as Elliott during our sophomore year of high school, and Elliott would frequently go around the class and help anyone who needed it. Elliott has never failed to prove his selflessness, ambition, and dedication.

Not only does Elliott successfully manage a variety of leadership roles, but he also maintains a schedule packed with numerous AP classes, including both AP Spanish and AP Mandarin, for which he earned a seal of biliteracy and even won a scholarship award as well.

He is described by his peers as dependable, good-hearted, and compassionate, which I have experienced throughout second semester as one of my lab partners in AP Chemistry.

Elliott will be attending the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor in the fall to study architecture. This university being ranked so highly only further demonstrates the incredible hard work he has put towards his career. No matter where Elliott ends up in the future, I know that he will only continue to inspire and support the community around him. His kindness, determination, and commitment truly shows how deserving Elliott is of the honor of an Unsung Hero, and he will undoubtedly accomplish amazing things.

Grace Toomey

by Eliza Goldwasser

Whethershe is gracing the catwalk during fashion week or posing for a photoshoot, Grace Toomey is no stranger to the spotlight.

However, what makes her an Unsung Hero in our eyes is the incredible work she has done for the Hawk Pals program.

Grace created the Unified Dance Team, which fosters connections and friendships between students with and without disabilities through the medium of dance.

Grace facilitated daily practices and increased the number of students in the program. Through her hard work and dedication to the team, they were able to participate in the State Competition.

In addition to the Unified Dance Team, Grace is a teacher aid for the Adaptive PE class.

Grace works first hand with students who have disabilities and helps them participate in class activities.

Because Grace has developed such meaningful relationships with the students in the class, she is able to serve as an extension of the teacher, Mr. Harrier, and get students involved in activities they may not be interested in doing at first.

Grace’s devotion to the Hawk Pals program is truly admirable, and the programs that she has helped build or helped grow will continue to serve members of the Maine South community for years to come.

Beyond Hawk Pals, Grace is someone who goes above and beyond for her classmates and friends. She is described by many as caring and empathetic, and as someone you can go to for advice. Grace exemplifies what it means to be a Hawk: she is kind, dedicated, and contributes positively to our school community.

Grace is unsure about where she wants to go to college, but she knows that she will spend her next four years exploring different interests and career paths.

Wherever she ends up, it is clear that Grace has a bright future ahead, and I cannot wait to see it.

It’s never to late to find your passion

Mr. Johannes Beer CTE Teacher

In the summer of 1996, I sat down at my desk in my cubicle at Quill Corporation and I realized that if the company were not paying me, I would not be there. There was nothing there that I really wanted to do.

That was it. That was the moment I realized that while my degree in accounting helped me get that job, it wasn’t really doing anything for me. It was a good job, the pay and benefits were good, but it was not professionally rewarding.

During my 10-year career in accounting, I often thought about doing something else with my life. Teaching seemed like it might be a good fit.

After that fateful morning, with the encouragement and support of my wife, I went to speak with a counselor at Roosevelt University, and within a week, I began the process of transitioning from a career in business and accounting to teaching. It was a challenging two-andhalf-year process. While taking the

coursework to get my teaching degree, I also needed to continue working full time. I am very grateful that I kept at it; I earned my teaching degree, and in the summer of 1999, I was offered a teaching position here at Maine South teaching computer programming and Introduction to Business.

A few years later, I put my accounting degree back to work, and I began teaching accounting at Maine South.

In contrast to my accounting jobs,

teaching has been very rewarding. I have truly enjoyed my years working with the students and sharing my knowledge and experiences with them. I have also treasured my experiences working with awesome teachers and staff.

Specifically, some of the most rewarding experiences as a teacher have come from helping students explore their future career ambitions. First, for some students, this would occur in my accounting classes.

Most students taking accounting would have no idea what the class was about. All they knew was it included math.

Yes, accounting includes math, but it specifically covers the accounting system which businesses use to gather and report their financial results.

For a select group of accounting students, accounting just made sense—it clicked.

After taking the class, those students had discovered what they wanted to study after high school.

I have enjoyed helping them find that path and then later hearing

from them on how their careers were unfolding.

Another group of students I enjoyed helping were the students who joined and participated in DECA, the Maine South business club.

DECA is an international organization of high school business students. The competitions that DECA offered helped students explore several possible business careers including accounting, finance, marketing, and others.

Through DECA students were able to leave the school building and compete in business competitions at the regional, state and international level. For many of these students, DECA is included amongst their best experiences in high school.

My closing advice to students is to be open to trying new things, new classes, clubs, or, when the opportunity arises, a new career. You never know where it might lead.

As Robert Frost wrote, “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.’”

Record-level success at DECA internationals

Charlotte Chapman & Charlotte King News Editors

OnApril 28, Maine South’s DECA team competed at the International Career Development Conference (ICDC) in Anaheim, California. Eight students attended the conference, the most Maine South has sent in over 20 years. This year, juniors Abby Kladis, Violet Spychalski, and Cailin Vengazo placed in the top 20 for their event, moving on to the final rounds of competition.

The ICDC hosts more than 50 categories of business-related topics.

“Three of our students were able to participate in role-play events,” DECA sponsor Mr. Johannes Beer said. “They take a test and then they are put in a business scenario where they have to come up with a solution. The other five students were competing in written events, so they wrote a report in advance, and they had to give a 15-minute presentation.”

While the presentation process at internationals was similar to the state conference, internationals saw more intense competition.

“The international one is the most competitive because it’s the best students not just from the U.S., but from other countries as well,” Mr. Beer said.

Leading up to the ICDC, students worked both independently and in groups to thoroughly prepare for their events.

“[Kladis, Vengazo, and I] created a business surrounding a product called ThermaWrap, which is an athletic grip tape that heats up or cools down,”

Spychalski said. “We lab tested the chemicals going into the product with Ms. O’Halloran before beginning the project. Then we wrote a 20-page essay and made a prototype, a tri-board poster, and pamphlets.”

After months of preparation, students then presented to judges in Anaheim.

“We had 15 minutes to present our project in front of a judge and answer any questions they might have,” Kladis said. “Our event was similar to Shark Tank, so we were trying to pitch them an idea for a new product to invest in.”

At the awards ceremony, Kladis, Spychalski, and Vengazo were announced for making the top 20.

“It was so cool to walk across the

“A lot of [the success] revolves around the students, how invested they are, and how much effort they put in,” Mr. Beer said. “They’re motivated and invested, and they did well.”

In addition to Kladis, Spychalski, and Vengazo, four seniors and one sophomore attended the ICDC.

“We had some returning seniors in the students who went to internationals,” Mr. Beer said. “Four were seniors, two of which went to internationals last year as juniors.”

Senior William Dolan and sophomore Brennan Dolan competed in Business Growth Plan. Seniors Charlotte King and Anthony Benbenek competed as a team in Business Law and Ethics. Senior Jimmy Johnston competed in Food Marketing.

stage in front of DECA members from all over the world,” Kladis said.

Many Maine South students have had the opportunity to compete at internationals, however very few make it to the final rounds.

“Making it to finals is a big deal,” Mr. Beer said. “That’s really good and it doesn’t happen for us very often.”

This year’s success came largely from the dedication of students.

Not only was the ICDC the final competition for the four graduating seniors, but it was also Mr. Beer’s final DECA competition before his retirement. The 2023-2024 DECA season was Mr. Beer’s 23rd and final year and as an official sponsor, ending on a successful note.

“This [internationals trip] was definitely a high-water mark for Maine South,” Mr. Beer said.

DOWN TO BUSINESS

Juniors Abby Kladis, Caitlin Vengazo, and Violet Spychalski (left to right) celebrate making the top 20. The three competed with an Independent Business Plan.

Teaching is a ‘Once in a Lifetime’ opportunity

Mr. Dan States Social Science Teacher

Strangely enough, I have never looked at my life and done a full inventory. But now, with my retirement from teaching imminent, I cannot help but do so. The 1980s band The Talking Heads had a hit song called, “Once in a Lifetime,” that had the line “How did I get here?” which seems appropriate to the moment.

In reflecting back upon my teaching career, it is difficult to fathom that I have been teaching at the high school level for the past 32 years (24 of those years at Maine South). Indeed, time certainly does have a way of getting away from you. As a teacher, your focus is honed in on the educational building blocks: daily lessons, weekly plans, unit plans, semester plans, or for the next school year. You are always organizing and preparing for the next group of students to cross the threshold and enter your classroom each period of each day. You push forward and meet the challenges. “Same as it ever was, same as it ever was.”

With all of this in mind, you are then tasked with presenting a particular curriculum that you hope to successfully impart upon students of widely varying degrees of interest, enthusiasm, and engagement. You hope, you pray, that somehow you are able to pry open the door of curiosity to a teenager’s mind, even if only for an instant. You struggle daily to create a safe, welcoming, and comfortable classroom environment for all of your students, even if others are often oblivious to your

struggles. In the end, you strive to simply have a positive impact on every one of your students on a daily basis. Did I accomplish this task? Did I make a difference today? I hope, I pray—I wonder. “My God, what have I done?”

Teaching was not a career that I initially pursued or even thought about. In fact, I began my collegiate studies in Civil Engineering before realizing a different path was more to my interest in the field of Political Science and History. I went on to a further degree in International Relations with a specialization in National Security Policy and took to a career path in National Security in Washington, DC. Following the federal government downsizing

after the end of the Cold and Gulf Wars, I found myself in search of another path. Lo and behold, I was suddenly presented with the opportunity to teach social studies and coach soccer. Despite not being certified, I began a new career path, and additional educational endeavors, but with an uncertainty as to whether I would remain on this teaching/coaching path or return to Washington. What I never anticipated was the impact the personal relationships and encounters that you can have as a teacher and as a coach could have upon young people. Quite frankly, it changed the path of my life. “I found myself in a beautiful house, with a beautiful wife, and I asked, how did I get here?”

Teaching and coaching has been a wondrous path that I am most grateful for. I have had the unique opportunity to work with so many outstanding teachers and coaches in my time at Maine South. I am particularly thankful to those teachers in the Social Science Department that I have worked directly with over the years—you are all amazing! I am also thankful to all of those who have coached in the Boys’ Soccer Program—you are the very best! Of course, I am most thankful to all of the thousands of students and athletes whose talents I was able to witness and take part in through my years at Maine South. All of the lessons, simulations, presentations, practices, games, championships, plays, musicals, parades, senior activities, proms, and graduations have left an indelible mark upon me—for that, I thank you all! “How did I get here?”

This ride may be ending, but another one begins

Ms. Linda Ryan Librarian

WOW

. . . what a ride it has been since 2001. My time at District 207 has been similar to riding the Demon at Great America for the first time.

This ride went super fast, a little bumpy and head banging at times, a couple of loops were thrown in unexpectedly, but overall, it was an exciting and thrilling ride, and I would do it all over again.

I started my career here at South as a student teacher, and when a librarian position opened at Maine East, I was hired.

After a couple of years, I was transferred to West, and in 2012, I was transferred to South to make the complete circle. What an honor to have worked at all three schools.

When I was hired, we were on an eight-period day, and students had big hair, wore Hollister and Abercrombie, and were using floppy discs to save their papers.

Auto save and Google Drive were non-existent. The internet was new and computers were big and bulky.

Technology, clothing styles and bell schedules have changed multiple times since then, but one thing that hasn’t changed is the staff and students’ passion for being the best, dedication to their

school, and willingness to be there for each other unconditionally.

I want to take a moment to thank each and every one of you for making these 23 years truly unforgettable.

From the exciting discussions about the latest YA novels, to researching countless curriculum projects, especially the History Fair, to allowing me to share my passion for education, the personal connections and “aha moments” are my most treasured memories.

To the students: You are the heart and soul of this school. Thank you for letting me be a part of your journey, for trusting me to help you find that perfect book or navigate through the databases to find answers to your questions.

Keep reading, keep exploring, and never stop questioning the world around you.

To my fellow teachers and staff: You’re the real superheroes.

Your support and camaraderie have meant the world to me.

Whether we were collaborating on a project or just sharing a laugh across the circulation desk, I am grateful for every moment.

The fast rides are behind me now. I will be hanging in the kiddie area now, as my new path will be to find the slower rides, the ones that allow me to see every detail.

I am looking forward to more time spent with family and friends, slow moving on my pontoon boat, chilling by the pool while David Bowie and Tina Turner serenade me, and what would retirement be without a sprinkle of world travel?

I will carry with me the memories we’ve made and the friendships we’ve formed. And hey, who knows? Maybe our paths will cross again someday. Until then, keep being awesome, keep chasing your dreams, and never underestimate the power of a good book.

Life happens, but you just need to keep at it

Dr. Richard Jones English Teacher

WhenI was a kid, I’d gather the other kids in my neighborhood into my carport (no not garage—we lived in the south) and play “school.”

My mom was a kindergarten teacher, and she had one of those portable blackboards at home.

I’d carry it out to the carport and set it in front of a few lawn chairs; then, I’d give a “lesson” on “storytelling” to other eight year olds.

I can’t remember the content of a single one of those lessons, but I do remember how cool I felt, writing on the blackboard.

During these early days of “playing teacher,” I would also get my mother, who would recruit other mothers, to help me stage “history pageants.”

I was enamored of the history of early America, and my neighborhood pals and I would dress up as “colonists” or the “British” and shoot each other with cap pistols while reenacting the battles of Saratoga or Yorktown.

It was 1976 and America’s Bicentennial, after all.

The neighborhood mothers would go all out and make us “costumes”— which were really just old dress shirts that had once belonged to our dads, decorated with fabric paints.

We’d even charge a dollar for admission to the other neighborhood kids not in our troupe.

Those were the days—the battle lines of the Battle of Green Mountain, drawn on the small patio of our splitlevel house in Tucker, GA and $11 to split 6 ways!

I didn’t really pursue my early love of “teaching”—the blackboard faux lessons and the “history plays”— much beyond fifth grade.

Later, in high school, I remember my football coach asked all the players to write down what they wanted to be when they grew up. I submitted my slip with “journalist for a big city daily,” and this text appeared in our team program for the season. The caption under each senior’s picture revealed those “future plans.” I’d moved on to something else as my goal.

As an English major at Davidson college, I did consider becoming a journalist, but my father, who was an attorney, thought I should go to law school, and while I aimed for that, I was not an exceptional student. I

spent too much time reading short stories, hanging out with my fraternity buds, drinking beer, and just generally procrastinating. I wasn’t focused, and then I took the LSAT.

Ugh. A terrible score I’ve blocked out. And there went the idea of law school, which, to be honest, was more of a place holder than an actual aspiration.

Maybe I should go to seminary? I know from beer-drinking college-kid to minister seems a stretch, but my beloved and religious grandmother was always on my mind, reminding me of my ability to entertain those “history plays”—and my ability to “explain” those “storytelling lessons.”

I was still waffling, and then I graduated. And, as all the adults say, “life happened,” and I ended up in Chicago with my new wife.

I needed to work, and—Lesson One, young people—keep moving forward.

I enrolled at DePaul for a master’s

degree in writing, and I took education classes to become certified as a teacher.

“What the heck?” I thought. “I could teach for a while and then decide.” Thirty-three years later and here I am still teaching. Life happens.

My first job was at Naperville North. It was the early ‘90s—grunge and Rodney King. Then, OJ.

I taught kids who are now your parents’ age, which is why I’ve had such good conversation fodder at “parent night” for the last three years!

Then it was on to York and St. Charles North as a department head. I was moving forward!

I was at Maine West, also as a department head, when I had a revelation—I don’t really like adults that much.

School administration, which I was not good at, is not really like teaching.

I once explained to South’s former, long-revered principal David Claypool that, as a department head, I felt like I was at a Blackhawks’ game, but I spent the entire game in the club-level bar, watching on the closedcircuit feed.

The game was only 50 yards away, back at my actual seat, and I was in the arena watching a game from behind a screen.

I needed to get back in the classroom—back to the first hand experience of “the game.”

So, I transferred to Maine South, where I’ve taught for 12 years now. Other than getting married and moving to Chicago, this was the best

decision of my life.

Maine South is head-and-shoulders above the other four schools where I’ve worked.

The students are friendly, hardworking, (generally) goal-oriented, and, even if a tad too “grade focused,” do care about learning.

With the Hawks, I’ve done my best teaching. I’ve been able to try new ideas, use technology in meaningful ways, have great conversations, and shepherd students through actual early-college-level work.

I’ve also advised the Eyrie, which became the best project of my career.

When I look back, I’m not going to care much about being an inaugural administrator for the opening of St. Charles North or being District 207’s first department head to utilize the Common Core Standards, as I did at Maine West.

I’m going to beam with pride that Herff-Jones selected the Eyrie for the “National Sales Showcase,” and we won four CSPA Gold Circles, six NSPA first-places, and two NISPA Golden Eagles. (Check us out for yourself: south.maine207.org/eyrie.)

Here at the end of it all, what are my takeaways?

(1) Don’t forget what gave you joy when you were young.

(2) Involve people in your endeavors—think about how you relate to them and how you can connect with them.

(3) Keep at it, whatever it is. Life happens and then you retire!

I’ve loved (almost) every minute with you Hawks. Hawk yeah!

Walk down memory lane, and reminisce about key moments, features, and changes at Maine South from the past four years.

SENIOR C R

with Oakton Community College at Maine South.

17. This was a week seniors had at the end of their freshman year designed to help get students’ grades up.

19. The 2024 retiring yearbook advisor.

20. This former Maine South Fine Arts chair took on the role of cointerim principal

27. This unsanctioned senior tradition was canceled under a week into its start.

29. The abbreviation for a council club at Maine South.

30. This popular Park Ridge gym first opened in 2016.

competitions and field trips.

7. The marching band theme our freshman year.

8. The last word in the Hawk PRIDE acronym.

10. The total number of Wall of Honor inductees Maine South has had.

12. An annual talent contest held at Maine South where junior and senior boys compete for this title.

Education chair also serves as one of the two interim principals.

26. The theme of the only homecoming dance to be held outdoors.

28. The popular brand of tool used in the unsanctioned senior game held in the second semester.

Graduating with honors in “yapping”

Ceylan Yildiz Production Editor

Thisis my second and last commentary of my years in Southwords. Even though I didn’t get to write much, I spent quite a bit of time behind the scenes on the artistic side of production.

So thanks to Mr. Stathakis for “forcing” me to be on staff. I had fun. Anyway, back to me! Being a part of the Maine South community has opened me up to many opportunities, including this newspaper.

I was able to meet many people that I now call my friends and will miss them dearly as we move on with our post-high school plans. (Shout out to my three best friends and twin brother—you guys are stuck with me).

I never thought I’d be writing about myself for

GETTIN’ THAT MONEY Even at age six, I was determined to be financially wealthy.

an article. Don’t get me wrong, I love to talk but it’s odd to talk about myself. My favorite things to talk about typically involve TV shows, movies, pop culture, and comics.

My top three favorite comics are “Batman: Joker’s Asylum,” “Injustice: Gods Among Us, Vol. 1,” and “Spider-Geddon” which holds issues 0-5 as well as issues 1-2 from Vault of Spiders.

After I graduate, I will be attending Loyola University Chicago, double majoring in Political Science and Criminology & Criminal Justice, following the pre-law track.

If you can connect the dots by now, I am just rambling about anything at this point to fill the void of my page. Which is appropriate, considering that I will be a Rambler next year.

The secret to creating friendships

Madison Basquin Editor in Chief

After 18 years of being alive and four years of high school, I have finally realized the secret to making friends as a teenager.

Unfortunately, it took me my whole life to finally figure it out, but luckily I did, and I now have a solid group of close friends along with many other friendships I am deeply grateful for.

The brief explanation of this “secret” really is that there is no secret, but that’s not helpful for anyone to hear.

What I mean by this is you cannot force a friendship or expect one to come from copying what others do. Also, try not to forget that almost everyone is struggling with the same nerves.

Being a teenager can feel like one of the scariest times of your life with all of the changes ahead of you, and doing it alone feels almost impossible.

Finding your group of people eases that pressure and anxiety that follows most high school students

PRINCESS TREATMENT

At the age of three I had no shame waltzing around in a princess costume at any time of day. I may not be dressed head-to-toe in tulle with a crown on my head anymore, but I still like to waltz around in a dress from time to time.

everywhere they go.

With the people who know you best rooting for you, it is much easier to enjoy your teens rather than counting down the years until it’s over.

The most common advice on how to make friends in high school tends to be joining activities to connect you with people with similar interests.

This does work, but it doesn’t exactly make it any easier to reach out to people—it just puts you in close proximity to them.

The actual struggle for most is the social aspect. Saying “hello” to someone you have never met before and trying to strike up conversations, all while fighting the thoughts of whether or not you are “cool” enough for them is the real root of the problem.

Those inner debates in your head are what you need to fight to make friends and put yourself out there.

You cannot listen to the idea of you not being “good enough,” you just need to believe in yourself enough to fight through the anxiety.

For me, this has always been my biggest struggle—trying to be someone that I think people would like.

However, after years of trying to make people like me, I realized that once I stopped trying so hard to fit what I thought people wanted me to be, that was when I really found

myself and the people I am friends with today.

In middle school, I was convinced that the voice in my head was right and I needed to change my behavior for people to like me.

Then once COVID hit, I had almost too much time to myself and realized that there was no point in me caring so much about how others perceive me.

If I made friends with people who only knew the tweaked version of myself, then they weren’t really my friends.

I needed to shut down that voice in my head and just be who I am, regardless of how loud that voice can get.

So, the not-so-secret “secret” to making friends in high school is really just to be who you are and tear down the walls your inner insecurities put up for yourself.

The people who truly are your friends will appreciate you for yourself, not the modified version you think you need to be.

Loving to learn in school is timeless

WhileI was writing my final commentary of my high school career it took me some time to solidify what I wanted my final message to be.

Over time in Southwords, I’ve written countless articles dedicated to people in my life and lessons I’ve learned at Maine South.

That being said, one thing that I’ve come to know trumps all others, and that is that it will never be embarrassing to try in school.

A stereotype often seen and normalized in movies, television, and generally the media are the people who try exponentially hard in school being seen as “nerds.”

This is a negative image that pushes people away from getting too involved or striving too much in school.

This can especially affect underclassmen, specifically freshmen, who haven’t had the chance to figure things out for themselves yet.

These misconceptions can really intimidate new students and make them afraid of being labeled as nerdy or antisocial.

But here’s what I want to say: putting a great amount of effort into school is equally as important, if not more important than the other aspects of high school.

Everyone gets to high school and finds a new found sense of freedom. This often makes people ignore their school work to maintain their social life.

It’s all about encouraging a healthy

Putting your energy into academics is nothing to be ashamed of—in fact, it can create an outlet for creativity and imagination for many.

I can guarantee that some of your most social peers are also the smartest.

One of the best pieces of advice I received growing up was that these “nerds” will one day become your CEOs, scientists, doctors, engineers, and teachers.

This realization was a huge motivator for me, as it shed a light on how hard work and dedication will ultimately never go unrecognized, even if it’s not always valued as much during our teenage years.

If I could go back in time and relive my years as an underclassman, I would tell myself that school should always be a top priority, rather than superficial things that we tend to prioritize when we’re younger.

At the end of the day, nobody will laugh or make fun of you for being deeply considerate and responsible for your learning.

It’s actually a powerful tool that can set the foundation for your future education and connections.With

schooling, there will be struggles along the way, and that is totally okay. Don’t be too hard on yourself and instead remember that rejection or mistakes are simply redirecting you towards something better.

That being said, create study groups, and while you’re at it, learn how to actually study, ask questions, don’t be afraid to ask for help as needed, get involved, and relish every moment.

Like everyone says, high school goes by before you even begin to notice it. So, you shouldn't waste any of it being too scared to learn.

Not only should you have a passion for academics, but also find friends who will share your interests and will empower and celebrate you.

High school is something you should experience with the help of others.

Friends and family are an amazing backbone and support system, and I am so eternally grateful to have such incredible people in my life.

Life goes by too fast to be concerned with what others have to say about you, so embrace who you are and learn how to fall in love with being a “nerd.”

balance of both.

FULL CIRCLE Graduation has always been something to look forward to, even in preschool. Now that I am a senior in high school, I have a new one to look forward to.

Elizabeth Handley Editor in Chief

Out with the old, in with the new

In//

Lilien Schirazi Features Editor

Irememberbeing in eighth grade at the District 64 leadership program POWER when I got my first piece of advice from a high school senior.

My senior POWER leader told us that once we got into high school, it was likely that we wouldn’t be friends with the same people we were friends with then, so we should try to branch out of the circle we were so accustomed to.

Hearing those words felt like a punch in the gut; growing up, I was a very reserved child and was often afraid to go out of my comfort zone and talk to the other kids in my class.

Especially when I was first learning English after moving to the U.S in elementary school, I was terrified to even try to socialize with anyone, so once I was in middle school and had found a group of friends that I felt I truly belonged with, I was reluctant to believe that I would lose people with whom I had built such strong friendships.

DRESS TO IMPRESS

My 5-year-old self would always wear this pink, sparkly dress in kindergarten to show off to my friends. We would always bond over our favorite things.

Freshman year, one member of our circle of four ended up transferring to another high school, and our circle shrunk to three.

However, we soon gained another member and the group went back to four.

Joining a high school swim team freshman year was also one of the

most unforgettable experiences of my high school career.

Starting the season before even regular school started allowed me to meet so many new people outside of my primary circle of four, and many became my close friends and teammates for four years.

We suffered and succeeded alongside each other, sharing experiences that my other friends may have been able to sympathize with but not truly experience as my teammates could.

My elementary school self would have thought it to be unbelievable that I had built all these friendships and close relationships with all these people whom I met along the way of finding myself.

Then sophomore year, when I became an editor for Southwords, I gained another opportunity to add to the friendships I had gained so far.

I would have never expected that my former co-editor from junior year would end up being one of my closest friends and even be one of my roommates at University of Illinois

Urbana-Champaign next year.

These are just a few of the many extracurriculars that gave me the opportunity to meet all these wonderful new people with whom I ended up building such strong bonds.

I encourage everyone to get out of their comfort zones and get involved in extracurricular activities or even just talk to all the new people around you.

You will never know who may end up becoming a close friend or even your future roommate one day.

While I have been preaching the importance of building new friendships, I must also emphasize the importance of cherishing the main circle of friends as well.

My circle of four has been there for me throughout everything, we have laughed together, we have cried together, and most importantly we made it through these four years at Maine South together.

I only hope that we continue to stay together and keep in touch as we each find our own path through college and beyond.

You don’t need to settle on a career at 17 years old

Jacob Mascort Commentary Editor

The college application process is arguably the most stressful time of one’s life.

The fear of not knowing if you will get into your dream school is one that affects many, but a deeper fear that many teenagers have is not knowing what they want to pursue in their adult years.

I have struggled with this issue and it has affected every aspect of my life; from whether or not to hang out with my friends because of studying for tests related to my possible career or course selection as a whole, I simply could not decide on one career to choose for the longest time.

However, I got lucky one day, and during my freshman year, I had an epiphany that I wanted to pursue something related to astrophysics and do research related to the unknowns of the universe.

Not everyone in high school will have this realization, but that is not something to be afraid of; the unknown is something that I wish I had taken advantage of in high school

because of how much you can explore.

Despite my sights being set on a career in astrophysics, I had to overcome AP Physics 1.

Although that class bruised my dreams of a career in astrophysics and had me second-guessing myself and my major just weeks before my college applications were due, I stayed set on my passions and didn’t let one “bad” grade in a class define what I was capable of or what I would be capable of in the future.

Ever since I was in kindergarten, I knew I wanted to pursue a career in the STEM field.

Starting with my 5-year-old dreams of being just like that meteorologist on the television screen, I wanted to do something to help others in my career or do something to transform and impact the field that I wound up going into.

However, my decision wasn’t that easy. Before I decided to pursue astrophysics, I went through a multitude of career choices, as any child does.

I wanted to be a teacher, doctor, firefighter, environmental activist, veterinarian, computer engineer,

SMALL KID, BIG DREAM

From a young age, I have always dreamed big beyond the capabilities I thought I had. Younger me would be so proud to see how far I have come in a short amount of time.

and more, but looking back on it all, that was just me being curious and wanting to do things that I was briefly interested in.

If it wasn’t for that “spark” that I had during my freshman year, I probably would’ve scrambled to settle on a major or simply applied to all of my schools each with different majors. However, do not be ashamed if you decide to commit to your university

undecided; it may be the best decision you ever make.

The biggest reason for my stress in my career is because of how timeconsuming it is.

Nine to ten years of school after high school plus understanding how to be an adult and handling all of this college busywork surely is stressful, but I just had to slow down and focus on what I could control now, and that was setting myself up for success after high school.

College is one of the most important and exciting times of your life, so don’t be scared to take risks and attend your desired university without knowing what you want to pursue.

Or, even if you have that “spark” in the middle of your college application process, do not stress yourself out; it will all work out in the end, but it will take time.

You are responsible for your own future, and instead of making that scary, make it fun.

So take risks in high school; take that chemistry class, go to that football game, and don’t forget to be yourself and never settle for anything less than you deserve.

Do what you are truly passionate about

Charlotte King News Editor

How will this look on my College Application? Will this make me stand out to admissions officers? Can I win an award for this activity?

Almost every student asks themselves these questions at one point during their four years of high school.

And while it’s very important to consider these questions, it can easily become all-consuming.

As the oldest sibling, I had no one to ask advice on how to “successfully” navigate high school.

Instead of wondering what was out there, I tried it all, throwing myself into as many classes and activities as possible so that I could stay ahead of the curve.

It was that strategy that led me to mastering the middle split in cheer, running the 400-meter dash in track, and beginning (and ending) my political career as student council

SWINGING INTO GRAD

At the age of four, I was able to appreciate life for what it was. Even though I was unaware of the future, I was still able to find time to celebrate small victories and live in the moment.

officer.

But by the end of my sophomore year, when I was halfway done with high school, I began to realize my heart wasn’t in most of my activities.

Going Out in Style

I had to drag myself to every practice and event. Everything started to feel like a strict obligation.

I can’t discount the experiences and lessons I got from each activity, but with some reevaluation, I realized it wasn’t fair to myself or the other students who were passionate about these activities to “just get through it.”

With that, I began to pull out of activities that didn’t bring me true fulfillment and turn my attention to ones that I wanted to give my all.

In the context of extracurricular activities, I focused more of my time on Mock Trial, finally being able to put more energy and focus into something I really loved.

I grew closer to my teammates and was able to help lead the team to nationals for the first time in school history.

I was also able to enjoy myself while I did this, unlike previous extracurriculars I had tried.

I also was able to dedicate more

time to DECA, giving myself the opportunity to place first in state with both of my events.

As for classes, I focused on ones that truly sparked my interest, spending hours poring over AP Economics to finish with a strong grade and understand our economy in a way I wouldn’t have comprehended before.

I made a plan to immerse myself in the Constitution Team, which paid off when we finished first in our division.

It wasn’t just the tangible achievements that I was able to take away from this focus—giving more time to things I really cared about laid out a clearer picture of my future beyond college.

So, while you can and should ask yourself, “How will this look on my College Application?” don’t get consumed by it. Find what you are genuinely passionate about and chase it.

By Rohan Cham

Senior Signees

BASEBALL

Chris Gonzalo

Montclair State University

Sean O’Dowd

St. Charles Community College

Logan Tomlinson

McKendree University

Billy Zitis

Carthage College

BASKETBALL

Ava Blagojevich

Washington University in St. Louis

Meegan Fahy

SIU-Edwardsville

CHEERLEADING

Maddie Parrino

University of Minnesota

Micah Shannon

Indiana University

Lola Stojakovic

University of WisconsinMadison

FENCING

Victoria Doroshkevich

Temple University

FOOTBALL

Evan Agosto

Miami University-Oxford

Sam Cooper

Judson College

Jack Defilippis

Depauw University

Michael Mizwicki

Carnegie Mellon

University

Luke Pedersen

Butler University

Clark Simpson

Depauw University

Ethan Stumpf

East Carolina University

HOCKEY

Vince Simonian

Florida Southern University

LACROSSE

Hanna Brozell

Ohio Wesleyan University

SOCCER

Cristian Abdala

University of WisconsinWhitewater

Isabela Alvarado

Benedictine University

Zach Malinsky

Harper College

Sam Middendorf

Harper College

Jakub Walendzewicz

Oakton College

SWIM/DIVE

Graham Arteta

Southern Illinois University

Dominic Mazurek

Purdue University

Sam Sacor

University of St. Thomas

Sophia Szymanski

University of Illinois

TENNIS

Austin Rajchel

Oakton College

VOLLEYBALL

Athena Tsalapatanis

St. Louis University

WRESTLING

Theodore Flores

University of Michigan

FALL SIGNING Top row (left to right): Theodore Flores, Dominic Mazurek, Sophia Szymanski, Hanna Brozell, Victoria Doroshkevich. Bottom Row: Ava Blagojevich, Meegan Fahy, Isabela Alvarado.

WINTER SIGNING Top row (left to right): Evan Agosto, Billy Zitis, Jack DeFilippis, Sean O’Dowd, Luke Pedersen, Ethan Stumpf. Bottom Row: Sam Cooper, Sam Sacor, Cristian Abdala, Athena Tsalapatanis.

SPRING SIGNING Top row (left to right): Graham Arteta, Austin Rajchel, Michael Mizwicki, Clark Simpson, Chris Gonzalo, Logan Tomlinson, Zach Malinsky, Sam Middendorf, Jakub Walendzewicz. Bottom Row: Maddie Parrino, Micah Shannon, Lola Stojakovic.

Jillian Rothenberger Badminton

Jillian Rothenberger was a threeyear varsity badminton player. She played #1 doubles in both her junior and senior years. She was also #1 singles this year. “While Jillian stands out athletically, people are drawn to her positive demeanor,” Coach Donna Schwan said. “She makes friends wherever she goes, including with her opponents. She recognizes the strengths of others. She acknowledges a good shot made by her opponent and always calls the lines correctly, while also being there to give a pep talk when one is needed.” Rothenberger will attend Auburn University in the fall.

Sean O’Dowd Baseball

Sean O’Dowd has been a pitcher on the varsity baseball team for two years. He currently has an ERA of 1.273, and teams are batting .205 against him this year. “Sean is a great representation of what it means to be a Hawk baseball player,” Coach Brian Lorenz said. “He is a player that goes about his business the right way. As a junior, he didn’t get much time on the mound, but he didn’t complain and he didn’t feel sorry for himself; he worked and got better to the point where he is the leader of a very deep pitching staff.” O’Dowd will be playing baseball when he attends St. Charles Community College.

Maddie Parrino Cheerleading

Maddie Parrino was a varsity athlete for four years and captain this year. During her time as a flyer, Parrino was a two-time CSL All-Conference athlete. She helped her team qualify for the State competition three times, in addition to achieving the highest score at the state championship in Maine South history. “She was a huge part of the team’s success this season,” Coach Stacy Pater said. “She was the biggest motivator for the team at practices and at competitions to continue to work hard and to not give up.” Parrino will be on the Division I cheerleading team at the University of Minnesota this fall.

Ethan De La Navarre

Boys’ Basketball

Ethan De La Navarre was a threeyear varsity athlete and captain of the boys’ basketball team. His dedication to the program and character left a lasting impression on his teammates. “Ethan embodied everything a high school athlete should be from a character standpoint,” Coach Colin Wehman said. “He will be remembered as a total team first guy, a guy who competed every day, and someone who consistently rose to the challenge of being our best defender. His teammates will remember him as a hard worker.” De La Navarre is currently undecided on where he will be attending college in the fall.

Conor Foley

Boys’ Cross Country

Conor Foley was a two-year varsity athlete and the captain of the cross country team. Although he qualified for State in the 800m race his junior year, setting himself up for a successful cross country season, he broke his ankle at the start of the summer, which set back his off-season training. However, he was able to overcome this injury and improved by 90 seconds in the three-mile cross country races. “Conor led by example,” Coach Greg Nordahl said. “He worked hard and competed to help the team in every race the best he could.” Foley will be attending the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Ava Blagojevich

Girls’ Basketball

Ava Blagojevich played varsity basketball for three years. She was a captain for two years and saw historical success while on the team. Within three years, the team won the CSL Conference and IHSA Regional three times and won one IHSA Sectional. The team’s record during those three years was 80-19, and 31-2 her senior year. “Her contributions to the program go well beyond her impressive statistics,” Coach Jeff Hamann said. “She was a role model to her teammates for so many reasons.” Blagojevich will be attending Washington University in Saint Louis and playing DIII basketball.

Olivia DeLuca Girls’ Cross Country

Olivia DeLuca was a top-seven runner on the varsity team for four years. She was All-Conference all four years, and helped the team win the CSL Conference meet and place in the top-20 teams at the IHSA State meet for the past three years. DeLuca also has the eighth-fastest three-mile time in program history. “Olivia is a great person with such a positive personality,” Coach Jeff Downing said. “She is always willing to assist a teammate and encourage them to strive to be a better runner, and this is a major part of her legacy.” DeLuca will be attending the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the fall.

Evan Agosto Football

Evan Agosto was a wide receiver, cornerback, and kick returner on the varsity football team for three years. During his time on the team, he had 20 touchdowns and 1,654 receiving yards on 102 receptions, which averaged to 16.2 yards per catch. “Evan’s play on the field, toughness, and leading by example, makes him an easy choice for our MVP,” Coach David Inserra said. “He’s quiet but a leader. He’s tough but one of the nicest people you will meet. An awesome player, but humble throughout the process.” This fall, Agosto will be playing DI football at the University of Miami in Ohio.

Jessica Hoffman Girls’ Golf

Jessica Hoffman was a three-year varsity golfer and captain and earned All-Conference honors this year. She also qualified for IHSA Sectionals twice and earned the most top-ten placements for Maine South this season. “Even the casual onlooker could spot some of the ways Jessica set herself apart from her competition on the course,” Assistant Coach Kurt Fester said. “On top of being a strong and technically proficient golfer, she consistently demonstrated characteristics perfectly suited for leading a team.” Hoffman will be studying Biology and Pre-Med at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Jack Koteles Boys’ Hockey

Jack Koteles was a defensive player on the varsity boys’ hockey team for three years. While on the team, Koteles was a two-time Illinois West League champion. “He was a talented defender, strong skater, and had a heavy shot,” Coach Greg Mrofcza said. “He was a good one-on-one defender and had a strong competitive nature. He held the program to high standards while he played just as the players before him…and as the coaches expect of those that play after him.” Next school year, Koteles will go on to study Computer Science at the University of WisconsinMadison.

Anastasia Gritsonis Gymnastics

Anastasia Gritsonis was on the varsity gymnastics team throughout high school. She was the top-scoring gymnast this season, and one of the top-scoring gymnasts in school history. She qualified for the state finals on Vault, Bars, Beam, and AllAround. Her fourth-place finish on Balance Beam with a score of 9.375 was the second-highest State score in school history. “Her work ethic and determination are second to none,” Coach Heidi Bowbin said. “She is a leader and a team player, always being there for every girl on the team.” Gritsonis will be attending the University of Iowa.

Jake Showalter Boys’ Lacrosse

Jake Showalter was a three-year starting varsity defenseman on the lacrosse team. “Since Jake has been a part of the lacrosse program, he has been an instant leader,” Coach Camerin Staffel said. “His ability to communicate with his teammates and coaches has been extremely impressive. He always supports his teammates in a positive way, and he loves lacrosse and the program. He has been an outstanding example of a player and as a student-athlete, and he has made an extremely positive impact on the program.” Showalter will be attending Miami University in Ohio in the fall.

Payton Cassidy Hawkettes

Payton Cassidy was a captain for two years, and a varsity athlete for four years. Cassidy was named Maine South’s CSL Sportsmanship Dance representative. As a captain, Cassidy led the team to first place at Nationals in 2022 and second-place in 2023 and 2024. “Payton’s passion for dance and her natural leadership abilities have left a lasting impression on her team and the program,” Coach Casey Fritz Said. “She demonstrates all the core values of being a Hawkette and is a role model for upcoming dancers.” Cassidy will be studying Elementary Education at the University of Missouri in the fall.

Sophia Gianaris Girls’ Lacrosse

Sophia Gianaris was a midfielder on the varsity team for four years. She was the all-time leading goal scorer in Maine South history, three-time All-Conference and AllSectional selection, and the team’s offensive MVP as a junior. “Sophia has been a pillar of the team for the past four seasons,” Coach William Pankratz said. “Her legacy on the field will certainly be remembered by her accomplishments and impressive statistics. However, what stands out even more to me is the legacy she is leaving as a teammate and person.” Gianaris will be attending Tulane University in the fall.

Zach Malinsky Boys’ Soccer

Zach Malinsky was the captain of the boys’ soccer team and a three-year varsity letter winner. He played as both a forward and attacking midfielder. He was a two-time All-Sectional player, and was also selected for the U.S. National Futsal Development Team, which played in Argentina. “Zach is a passionate and selfless young man with fierce determination, who lives and breathes the game,” Coach Daniel States said. “He has a competitive streak that is often covered by his disarming, personable nature and his good sportsmanship.” Malinsky will continue to play soccer next year at Harper College.

Sophia Yates Girls’ Soccer

Sophia Yates was a varsity midfielder for two years. As a captain on the team, Yates was an example and role model to underclassmen both on and off the field. She used her leadership to spread optimism and inspire improvement. “Her team would describe her as a positive leader who always wants to compete at the highest level,” Coach JJ Crawford said. “She is willing to sacrifice her personal stats for the good of the team. She has continued the tradition of great captains.” This fall she will be attending the University of Kansas and plans to try out for the college’s soccer team.

Sofia Stojakovic Girls’ Swimming

Sofia Stojakovic was a four-year varsity swimmer and a captain. She will be remembered for her leadership during her senior season and her mentorship to younger athletes. Her character also made her a beloved member of the team. “She has grown so much as a leader, swimmer, and especially a person over the past two seasons, “Coach Donald Kura said. “She was someone on the team that really reached out to and embraced developing relationships with the younger members of the team.” Stojakovic will continue her swimming career at DIII Lake Forest College.

Jessica Hoffman Softball

Jessica Hoffman was a three-year varsity pitcher and first baseman during her time at Maine South. Last season, she was both All-Conference and All-Area. As a pitcher, she has a 10:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio over three years with a three-year ERA of under 1.4. At the plate, she has a three-year batting average of over .450. “I think [the team] would say she is no nonsense, a hard worker, fun to be around, and gets the job done,” Coach Emmy Paiser said. “She does her job and does it well. When she is not on the field playing she can make you laugh with just a look or a silly comment.”

Giona Maccaferri Boys’ Tennis

Giona Maccaferri played at the top of the varsity lineup in both singles and doubles for four years. Ever since he was a freshman, he competed against the top players in both the conference and the state. That year, he helped the team win their first Sectional title in 20 years. He also won two matches at State that year, and four as a junior. “Giona was one of the greatest players to ever come through the Maine South tennis program,” Coach Jerry Smith said. “His hard work and dedication has inspired others in the program.” Maccaferri will be attending the University of Notre Dame.

Dominic Mazurek Boys’ Swimming

Dominic Mazurek is an eighttime All-State athlete and holds eight school records in the 200 Freestyle, 200 Individual Medley, 50 Freestyle, 100 Butterfly, 100 Freestyle, 200 Medley Relay, 200 Freestyle Relay, and 400 Freestyle Relay. “The legacy that Dominic will leave to future swimmers is multi-faceted and impressive,” Coach Donald Kura said. “His talent is undeniable, but his most lasting legacy will be how hard Dominic trained and being one of the best teammates and genuinely one of the nicest young men to be around.” Mazurek will be swimming at Division I Purdue University.

Amelia Stanek Girls’ Tennis

Amelia Stanek was a four-year varsity tennis player. Last season, Stanek qualified for the State tournament by winning the Sectional tournament in singles. This was the first Sectional win for Maine South since 2015. Stanek went on to win three matches at the IHSA State Tournament, finishing in the top 18 players. This season, she was named to the CSL All-Conference team. “Amelia was the most valuable tennis player this season for her accomplishments on and off of the court the past four years.” Coach Jerry Smith said. Stanek will be studying Chemistry at the University of Illinois in the fall.

Conor Foley

Boys’ Track & Field

Conor Foley was a middle-distance runner on the boys’ track team and was on varsity for three years. He qualified for the State meet his junior year in the 800 Meter Run and the 4x400 Meter Relay after earning AllConference honors. He continued to improve on his mid-distance event times throughout his senior season.

“Conor is as dependable an athlete as we’ve had,” Coach Jason Kacprowski said. “He never misses practice. He never cuts workouts short. If I had to walk down to the OK Corral, I’d want Conor by my side.” Foley plans to attend the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Girls’ Track & Field

Reese LaBorne has been on the varsity track team for all four seasons. LaBorne competed in multiple events, but specialized in jumps, sprints, and hurdles. She jumped over five feet in almost all meets this season, leading her to hold the indoor record in the high jump. “She is one of the best jumpers in the area and has been in the top three at conference and sectional track meets in each of her seasons,” Coach Jeff Downing said. “Her legacy has been showing all jumpers what it takes to consistently jump at the highest height.” In the fall, she will be attending the University of Iowa.

Max Fedorenko Boys’ Water Polo

Max Federenko played varsity water polo for three years as a driver. While on the team, he was an AllAmerican member of the swimming team. “He was very talented and the team’s ‘go to’ player,” Coach Terrence Lyons said. As captain on the team, Fedorenko showcased his knack for leadership, especially during adverse times and competitive moments.

“He has been instrumental in continuing the team excellence that has been evident since the pandemic,”

Coach Lyons said. This fall, Fedorenko will be attending the Merchant Marine Academy, where he will play club water polo.

Amadeo Bimbi

Boys’ Volleyball

Amadeo Bimbi was a three-year varsity volleyball player, as well as a captain for the 2023-24 season. He is a varsity starting setter, but is also one of the most effective blockers on the team. Amadeo was a thoroughly dedicated member of the team. His teammates would describe him as a smart, driven, calm, and competitive player. His dedication to the program helped improve the environment of practices. “Besides being our best blocker this season, Amadeo is a class act, through and through… one of my favorite players to have ever coached,” Coach Garrett Fechner said.

Theodore Flores Boys’ Wrestling

Teddy Flores was a three-year varsity boys’ wrestling member, as well as a three-time captain. He was the 2024 IHSA 3-A State Champion, and qualified for the State meet in 2021 as well. He also achieved the most wins in Maine South wrestling history, qualifying for CSL All-Conference consecutively for the past four years. “His accomplishments on the mat are matched by his leadership of this team as its captain,” Coach Kevin Hansen said. “His integrity as a person, his academic excellence and dedication to wrestling shine as examples of what is possible in our program.”

Girls’ Volleyball

Athena Tsalapatanis played varsity volleyball for three years, playing all positions at some point. As a junior, she was a setter and an outside hitter, and as a senior, she was a libero. She made over 500 digs, more than half of which were during her senior season, and earned AllTournament honors at the Conant Invitational. “Athena is an unselfish player who will do whatever is needed for the team to be successful,” Ms. Sona Torosian said. “She is the true meaning of a team player and she will be greatly missed.” Tsalapatanis will play Division I volleyball at Saint Louis University.

Mary Pinto Girls’ Wrestling

Mary Pinto wrestled in the first two years of the girls’ program’s existence, and was on varsity for both years. In 2022, girls’ wrestling officially became an IHSA-officiated and CSL sport, and Pinto competed in the inaugural Regional tournament. The boys’ team had enjoyed years of success and official competition, but Pinto’s junior year was the first time in state history that a separate team existed. “Mary is our senior MVP because they were dedicated to the sport and have a great passion for it,” Coach Juan Diaz said. “They had a positive attitude and were a supportive teammate.”

Reese LaBorne

Athena Tsalapatanis