Twin sisters Karen and Elizabeth Skylakos, recent West Leyden High School graduates, both aspire to become teachers. They recently took a step toward that path when they were honored as Golden Apple scholars.
At West Leyden, the girls were involved in several activities, including Best Buddies International, Key Club, orchestra and volleyball. When they were about to graduate, they knew they wanted to apply for Golden Apple recognition.
“We have a friend who’s in Golden Apple, and she told us about it,” Karen Skylakos said. “We nominated ourselves.”
According to goldenapple.org, Golden Apple “is a nonprofit organization that works to inspire, develop and support teacher excellence in Illinois, especially in schools of need.”
As part of the application process, the twins had to write four essays. They then had to go in for an interview. They were among those inducted into the 2016 Golden Apple scholars class in May at St. Xavier University in Chicago.
According to goldenapple.org, 1,990 Illinois students were nominated for the award, and 200 were chosen.
The twins will receive a scholarship each year for the four years of their undergraduate degrees. This summer, they are attending a four-week Golden Apple Summer Institute at DePaul University. They will be taking classes, as well as receiving hands-on experience in classrooms. Each summer while pursuing their undergraduate degrees, they will take additional classes.
“We just started our on-site [program] where we go to Chicago schools, and we work with a lot of children in schools of need,” Elizabeth Skylakos said.
“For the first five years after we graduate college, we have to teach at a school of need in Illinois,” Karen Skylakos said.
Elizabeth Skylakos was involved in the Best Buddies International program at West Leyden, and she’s inspired to become a special education teacher. She plans on working with children who are blind or have low vision.
Karen Skylakos plans on teaching elementary education. She said that her third-grade teacher, John Sopron, was her biggest inspiration.
“He inspired me because he would go out of his way to make students feel confident and comfortable,” Karen Skylakos said. “He was also great at teaching and making his class fun. Personally, he helped me to come out of my shell, and he always looked out for me which I will always remember.”
Both Karen and Elizabeth Skylakos plan on attending Illinois State University in the fall and majoring in education.
Maryann Pisano is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
