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Spotlight On 205

Over $114,000 in scholarships and awards were bestowed upon 52 commendable members of the York Community High School Class of 2012 at the annual Scholarship Awards Night, held April 23 in the York Commons. The seniors, their families and award presenters were welcomed by Principal Diana Smith; opening remarks were delivered by Superintendent David Pruneau.

According to counselor Amy Thompson, of the York College and Career Resource Center, 28 various school-based and community groups, as well as private foundations within and beyond Elmhurst, granted these generous awards:

  • Russell Brian Gusloff Foundation: Alysse Lamz, Laurel Miner, Isabella Reinhofer and Kimberly Smaga   
  • Janet Bartecki Comings Scholarship: Allison Alexander and Daniel Maxon
  • Mary Wheeler Scholarship Award: Catherine Lawrence
  • Elmhurst Children’s Assistance Foundation: Alysse Lamz
  • Janice Newmann Memorial Scholarship of The DuPage Community Foundation: JacquelinePastuovic
  • Marsha Amerio Scholarship: Nicholas Barabolak, Austin Johnson, and Alysse Lamz
  • Jack Tucker Memorial Scholarship: Alysse Lamz and Mikayla McIntyre
  • Brian E. Wagner Scholarship Fund: Kristen Borel
  • Martha Ibbetson Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizen Award: Emily Vana
  • Fox Valley Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution Good Citizen Award: Joseph Gaudio
  • Community Bank of Western Springs: Erin McHugh
  • Brenda Grabacki Memorial Scholarship: Mikayla McIntyre and Isabella Reinhofer
  • PFC Shawn C. Edwards Memorial Scholarship: Sharise Lund and Nicholas Wheeler
  • Elmhurst Panhellenic Scholarship: Dana Chamberlin, Sarah Dantino, Catherine Lawrence, and Catherine Navarro
  • American Legion College Scholarship: Abigail Mazzocco and Connor Schonta
  • American Legion School Awards Medals Program T.H.B. Post 187: Abigail Arnold and Shane Dickinson
  • Elmhurst Rotary Club Scholarship: Marco Cufar, Sarah Dantino, Alysse Lamz, Mariam Mirza, Syed Musharraf, and Sarah Sasanelli
  • Elmhurst Masonic Lodge #941: Courtney Klatt and Nicholas Wheeler
  • Elmhurst PTA Council Scholarship:Joseph Gaudio, Adam Greer, Courtney Klatt, Aylsse Lamz, Catherine Lawrence, Sharise Lund, Jacob Ruprecht, Sarah Sasanelli, Joshua Sutherland, and Nicholas Wheeler
  • Doris and Everett Bernardo Family Foundation Scholarship: Carlos Vega
  • Elmhurst Memorial Hospital Guild Scholarship: Nimmy Kurian, Mariam Mirza, Tara Mitchell, Pallavi Mukherji, Lucas Rasnic, Enas Siddiqi, and Hari Sreedar
  • Jr. Unit of Elmhurst Memorial Hospital Guild Scholarship in Honor of Marilyn Graber: Nithin Kurian
  • York Drama Boosters Scholarship: Margaret Patchett
  • York Drama Mary Steffens Award: Caitlin McManus
  • Mary K. Steffens Foundation Distinguished Service Award: AnMei Hart, Caroline Hogan, and Kayla Spencer
  • Elmhurst Lions Club Scholarship: Mikayla McIntyre and Nicholas Wheeler
  • Elmhurst Lions Club Community Service Award: Dana Chamberlin and Isabella Reinhofer
  • Elmhurst VFW Scholarship: Keith Pierzchala

Of special note is the Brian E. Wagner Scholarship Foundation (BEWSF) Award, which was presented to Kristen Borel as its inaugural recipient. Kristen will receive $2,500 toward tuition costs for her first semester at college this fall. The BEWSF was established to commemorate the life of Brian Edwin Wagner after his tragic passing in an automobile accident during the summer of 1993, prior to his senior year at York High School.

The Foundation states that its mission is to “Encourage high school students to serve as a leader in their community by exercising sound judgment and committing themselves to volunteer programs that make a positive impact in their lives and the lives of others.” An application requirement of the scholarship is completion of at least 25 hours of volunteer outreach service that supports a cause to which the recipient would like to commit. 

Together with the Elmhurst community, the Foundation “Commemorates the life of our dear friend and family member by providing future generations the opportunity to reach their full academic potential as college students.” Brian E. Wagner’s mother, Barbara Wagner, and brother, Mike Wagner, presented the award on April 23.

For information on the additional 27 scholarships awarded that night, please visit the York High School scholarship webpage. Pictures from the event are posted on the District’s Spotlight On 205.

The York Academic Boosters sponsored the second annual “Signing Day” on May 1. On this day, seniors signed maps posted in the Commons, indicating what college they were attending and how much scholarship money had been offered to them. “The total amount of scholarship money extended to the YCHS Class of 2012 to help off-set college costs exceeds $1,000,000!” reports Amy Thompson. “This is in addition to the $114,000 presented on April 23 and comes from private scholarships, as well as college-based merit awards and does not include the purely need-based awards. We are so excited to have a sense of the kind of financial support our graduates receive because of their academic performance, volunteer efforts and service work in high school.”