Schools and students named for honors and wards around the county.
Mundelein
Award: Fremont School District 79 was awarded the prestigious national Meritorious Budget Award (MBA) for the third year in a row. Only 9 percent of districts nationwide receive this honor. The Association of School Business Officials International (ASBO) issued the announcement in mid-February. District 79 has received ASBO’s MBA for its 2014–2015 annual budget. The award reflects the commitment of Director of Business Services Michael Tanner and the School Board of Education achieving the highest standards of school budgeting. The Meritorious Budget Award designation is the result of an objective external evaluation of the overall management and communication of the school district’s budget.
Award: Mundelein High School senior Judith Gil was honored for her exemplary volunteer service with a President’s Volunteer Service Award. The award, which recognizes Americans of all ages who have volunteered significant amounts of their time to serve their communities and their country, was granted by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program on behalf of President Barack Obama. MHS nominated Gil for national honors this fall in recognition of her volunteer service. Gil is currently the president of a joint venture between the high school and the village of Mundelein called After School Coalition. The group aims to instill anti-drug and anti-alcohol messages among Mundelein youth in order for them to make good choices and avoid peer pressure. Individually, Gil also serves as a peer tutor in the Mundelein Learning Center and works part time at Identity Fitness in Mundelein.
Waukegan
Honors: The North Shore Illinois Branch of the National Association of University Women (NAUW) recently honored two Waukegan School District 60 administrators as its Educators of the Year. Clearview Elementary School Principal Sarah Bankhead and District 60 Literacy Coordinator Dr. Verna Wilson were recognized recently during NAUW’s annual Salute to African American Educators. They earned the Outstanding African American Educator of 2015 award. The award is for their many distinguished years of outstanding performance as educators and their tireless dedication to the children of the community. Bankhead is in her first year as interim principal at Clearview, and has worked in Waukegan schools since 1992. Dr. Wilson has worked in District 60 for 16 years, and recently earned a Ph.D. in executive leadership from the University of Illinois.
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