The Indian Prairie Educational Foundation (IPEF) announced the honorees for this year's Excellence in Education program. Each year, the IPEF recognizes students from each of the high schools' 11 academic departments based on their academic performance, a minimum score of 25 on the ACT, and leadership qualities. As part of the recognition, each student is asked to name a teacher who served as a source of inspiration for his or her academic success.
Metea Valley students, followed by their influential educators, are: Art– Joyce Lin (Kathryn Parenti) and Samatha Steier (Kathryn Parenti); Business– John Meyer (Brian Veit), Cole Lettieri (Claudio Torres) and Michael Loffredo (Christopher Rohde); English– Zoe Krey (Leonard DePasquale), Sean Fisher (Kristin Grapenthien) and Alyssa Ensminger (Matt Grigas); Family and Consumer Science– Alyssa Luurtsema (Sally O’Rourke) and Lori Obendorf (Megan Trant); Math– Anna Petersen (Dave Luedtke), Nachiket Joshi (Christopher Rohde) and Alexandra Peltier (Megan Trant); Music– Jonathan Tatar (Nathan Bramstedt), Kelly Koronkowski (Lynne White) and Jieun Kang (Mark Liu); Physical Education– Matthew Karlins (Craig Tomczak), Lindsay Raczak (Leonard DePasquale) and Kathleen Adolf (Eric Anerino); Science– Daniel Zhuang (Jessica Thomas), Tony Wu (Jeff Schmela) and Shreyas Vissapragada (Scott Kupiec); Social Studies– Kelsey Pukelis (John Riddle), Jenna Nygren (Jessica Thomas) and Kimberly Rothenberger (Ryan Doherty); Media, Technology and Engineering– Maddie Collins (Patrick Feulner) and Matthew Marsh (Andrea Palmer); World Languages and English Language Learners– Roger Roglans (Anne O’Neil), Sarah Hamilton (Scott Gregory) and Alexander Pronger (Patrick Feulner).
Neuqua Valley students, followed by their influential educators, are: Art– Kathy Tae (Robert Driscoll) and Katherine Dannessa (Steven Jones); Business– Tyler Rund (Kevin Geers), Victoria Haumann (Joseph Moreau) and Jennifer Augustian (Julie Hanson); English– Sharanya Sathyaprakash (Laura Dabezic), Andrew Beebe (Michael Rossi) and Veronica Mickley (Gillian Schneider); Family and Consumer Science– Emily Oscarson (Maddalena Camilleri) and Erin Kelley (Nathan Bramstedt); Math– Christie Jeung (William Savage), Alex Liu (William Savage) and Hariharan Ravi (Casey Solgos); Music– Virginia Randall (Susan Smith), Alex Stumphauzer (William Jastrow) and Tara Safavi (Tanya Carey); Physical Education– Brian Stevenson (Bill Jastrow), Erica D’Ambrose (Julie Bannack) and Dennis Thurow (Bill Savage); Science– Kenneth Hoffmann (Bart Carbonneau), Jamie Harkey (Ann Back) and Venkata Surapaneni); Social Studies – Kevin Wei (Kelli Tufo), Chad Myles (Tammy Schutzenhofer) and Shannon Price (Lisa Ryder); Media, Technology and Engineering– Craig Halicki (Corey Duzan) and Suzanne Nuyen (John Gelsomino); World Languages and English Language Learners– Haley Nippert (David Brouwer), Meha Desai (Lisa Lehman) and Jeffrey Ohmer (Gail Derrow).
Waubonsie Valley students, followed by their influential educators, are: Art– Kayla Scott (Phil Galow) and Erika tePoele (Joshua Chodoroff); Business– Kyle Neese (Angie Hysjulien), Michael Nicholas IV (David Owles) and Allyssa O’Brien (Mike Dwyer); English– Alec Kestler (Ray Piccininni), Brian Franklin (Jonathan Pardys) and Nadia Fayoumi (Jen Kastner); Family and Consumer Science– Emily Navoy (Gayle Thanepohn) and Katherine Drone (Phil Galow); Math– Kelly Mathesius (AJ Ruopoli), Melina Moussetis (AJ Ruopoli) and Gytis Savukynas (Jen Brinkman); Music– Rebecca Steele (Joshua Chodoroff), Alex Tadevich (Mark Meyers) and Monica Sliva (Krista Halvorson); Physical Education– Taylor Hughes (James Donahue), Timothy Eckert (James Donahue) and Jack Cicchini (Bernadette Jacobs); Science– Kyle Wong (Elaine Modine), Imesh Samarakoon (Carl Armstrong) and Sonia Kamdar (Samantha Sinding); Social Studies– Muhammed Alikhan (Ray Piccininni), Emma Burck (Nate Gehrt) and Nadia Gonzalez (Susan Fuhrer); Media, Technology and Engineering– Austin Johnson (Angela Zdenovec) and Sean Sarkauskas (Steve Skorup); World Languages and English Language Learners– Noelle Linden (James Donahue), Sarah Goldberg (Debra Samuelson) and Mariam Siaj (Terence Wister).
The Indian Prairie Educational Foundation was created in 1988 to complement and enhance the educational opportunities provided to students attending schools in District 204. With the help of private donations received from District businesses, civic organizations, parents and staff members, the Foundation supports the development of program enrichments and services not normally financed with tax dollars. A vital part of the Indian Prairie community, the IPEF provides "educational extras" that make the difference between a very good school system and an excellent one. For more information, visit IPEF.