Happy Valentines Day! Tomorrow is the designated day for showing love, but we find plenty of examples in our town of how to lead with one’s heart every day. To these people, we bestow our 2020 “valentines.”
• Liz Joseph puts her heart into her volunteer work at Elm School, serving as vice president of the PTO exec board and overseeing all the room parents, class parties, teacher gifts and more. She also devotes many hours to the Art Appreciation program and SELAS activities, from conception to fruition.
• Hinsdale Central’s Alexandra Collins and Phillip Mathew were among eight students named Distinguished Finalists for Illinois’ top youth volunteers of 2020. Sophomore Alexandra started “Students Against Ethylene Oxide with her sister. Senior Phillip Mathew worked with his brother to develop the mobile app “Got Food?” to connect its users with nearby food pantries and soup kitchens and determine their eligibility for food and housing benefits.
• Margaret Gross, the Madison School librarian from 1979 until she retired in 2010, is a gifted storyteller who continues to share her talent with Madison students as one of the school’s favorite senior readers.
• In December, Hinsdale Central’s Graham Singer, Zamaan Qureshi, Lily Hart, Megan Michaels, Mia Dhillon, Mason Giacchetti and Marc Maritz, all members of the school’s Citizens Club, served brunch to families staying at the Ronald McDonald House in Winfield and presented the organization with a $500 check to support the guests as their children receive treatment at Central DuPage Hospital.
• Kelly Yadava has served on the executive board of The Lane School PTO for the past two years. She also has co-chaired various events and always jumps in on short notice when additional volunteers are needed.
• Katey Goll, director of the Exceptional Learners Center at St. Isaac’s Jogues, had the vision to offer speech and occupational therapy services to students on campus. She also organizes PreK-8 Skill Groups, early intervention for students with dyslexia, increased the number of Reading Specialists in the building and continues to partner with parents to provide an environment where all children are successful.
• HMS PTO President Karin Rohn has devoted countless volunteer hours over a number of years (starting at Madison School). She is tireless and follows through on every task, leading with patience and motivating board members to serve the school to the best of their ability.
• Members of the Red Devil Service Club last weekend set up the Community Presbyterian Church in Clarendon Hills for DuPage PADS and also made and served a meal for the homeless guests.
• Julie Saunders and Tracy Tingler have headed up the Monroe School yearbook for the past several years. They work the entire school year to document everything that goes on at Monroe in a wonderful keepsake.
• Hinsdale Central senior and Hannah Ahdab has helped freshmen make their transition to high school academically and socially successful as a peer leader the past two years. Serving a co-president of the Peer Leadership program this year, she helps plan activities and works to ensure that everything runs smoothly and efficiently.
• Denys Kang volunteers in numerous capacities at Oak School. She organizes student birthday lunches and teacher/staff appreciation days, plans Oak’s annual International Fest, runs Oak’s very successful Lunch-In program and plays a lead roll on the 2020 Oak School Benefit Auction team.
