Naperville District 203 teacher’s union awards scholarships
The Naperville Unit Education Association has awarded four scholarships to high school students who are children of union members and one scholarship to a college student entering an education-related field.
University of Iowa student Maddie Sniadecki, originally from Naperville, is the union’s Future in Education Award winner.
Sniadecki is studying speech-language pathology and audiology and is a straight A student, receiving dean’s list and president’s list honors from her college, a news release said.
She is enrolled in the Clinical Linguistics and Disparities Lab in the Neighborhood Centers of Johnson County Project, where she works with underprivileged groups of multilingual preschool children.
Lydia Park, a Naperville Central High School student, will be attending St. Louis University to study occupational therapy. Lydia ws a member of her school’s cross country and track and field teams and was a state qualifier for three years. She also worked as a Sunday School teacher at Redemption Church, as a nanny and as a volunteer at the Hesed House, where she helped prepare meals for homeless people.
Other scholarship recipients were Owen Driscoll from Oswego High School, Marc Townsend from Oswego East High School and Santino Dill from Addison Trail High School.
The $2,000 scholarships are awarded based on extracurricular participation and contributions to the community, the NUEA said.
Solstice Century charity bike ride to benefit six nonprofits
The 2nd annual Solstice Century 100-mile bike ride aims to raise $100,000 for six nonprofit organizations when held Friday, June 20.
One hundred riders will complete 100 miles around Whalon Lake in Naperville and Bolingrook starting at 6:30 a.m. After the event, riders, volunteers and supporters will celebrate with a party featuring dinner, music and drinks from 6 to 9 p.m.
Riders complete the 100-mile goal by riding multiple times around two different 10-mile loops throughout the forest preserve area, organizers said. Food, drinks and volunteer support will be provided along the routes.
Each cyclist is asked to raise $1,000 for charities that support mental health services, housing services and international youth outreach, organizers said.
Proceeds will be split between SamaraCare, Grow Wellness Foundation and Max’s Mission that provide mental health services; the Hesed House and DuPage Pads, which support housing initiatives and 4:13, an organization that helps children around the globe dealing with poverty.
Last year, the bike ride raised more than $100,000, organizers said.
For more information, go to www.solsticecentury.com.
