COLLEGE STUDENTS MAKE DEAN'S LISTS
These Hinsdale students earned a place on the dean's list or equivalent for the spring 2024 semester.
• Blake Baird, University of Minnesota Twin Cities
• Patrick Boyle, College of the Holy Cross
• Quinn Cain, Tufts University
• Maya Conway, Augustana College
• Katie Dollens, University of Delaware
• Noah Lim, University of Minnesota Twin Cities
• Sarah Lotsoff, Tufts University
CENTRAL GRAD A MERIT SCHOLAR
Hinsdale Central High School senior Nikolas Theotikos earned a National Merit Purdue University Scholarship.
He is one of 800 seniors to receive a scholarship financed by a college or university.
Officials of each sponsor college selected their scholarship winners from among the Finalists in the National Merit Scholarship Program who will attend their institution. College-sponsored awards provide $500 to $2,000 annually for up to four years of undergraduate study at the institution financing the scholarship.
MISSION TEAM TRIP A SUCCESS
A team from Union Church of Hinsdale traveled to San Juan, Guatemala, June 23, for a mission trip.
The journey was focused on building connections, learning about the Mayan people and creating tangible change. The team set out to construct smokeless stoves and support an educational program for Mayan children.
The smokeless stoves project aimed to improve health conditions by reducing indoor air pollution, while the team's time at Hope and Dreams, the educational program run by Fredy Perez, sought to empower children through knowledge and connections.
The team included leader Trayce Biancalana and members Jane Grimm, Robb Knuepfer, June Scott, Cathy and CJ Mitchum and Hugh, Nate and Bella Robinson.
GALASSI NAMED EDGAR FELLOW
DuPage County Board member Kari Galassi of Hinsdale is one of 41 public policy leaders from across the state who has been selected for the 2024 class of the Edgar Fellows Program.
The group is meeting for the first time this week at an Executive Leadership Training Program at the University of Illinois campus in Urbana-Champaign.
Established in 2012, the Edgar Fellows Program is a leadership initiative designed by former Illinois Gov. Jim Edgar to inspire respectful collaboration in addressing the state's major challenges. The Fellows selected for the class of 2024 reflect Illinois' political, racial, ethnic and geographic diversity. They include elected and appointed officials from all levels of government, leaders of nonprofit and labor organizations and individuals who are influencing public policy in the business world.
"Each year, the Edgar Fellows Program brings together a group of leaders with different backgrounds and different politics from across Illinois," Edgar said. "Though they each have their own unique life experiences, they find out that they have more in common than they have that separates them.
"With each class, it has been gratifying to watch people who were strangers on Sunday become good friends by Thursday. It's what the Edgar Fellows program is all about, finding common ground and respect, so that our Fellows can work together to help shape a better Illinois."
During their time in Champaign, the new Fellows will engage with experienced public policy practitioners who are experts in issues that include artificial intelligence, the SAFE-T Act, workforce development, climate change, philanthropies, Medicaid and the state budget. More importantly, they will learn from each other and begin building relationships that will last throughout their careers.
The 2024 class will bring the number of Fellows who are part of the program to nearly 500. After completing the initial training seminar, Fellows continue to meet at alumni gatherings designed to increase their knowledge and help build their professional networks.
