Southtowners: District 230 musicians, artists recognized, and more

All-State musicians from Sandburg, Stagg play, croon their way to top

Sandburg and Stagg high schools had 10 students selected as All-State musicians this year.

Sandburg’s All-State selections included Allison Belair (honors chorus) Jack Farrell (band), Gianna Nardella (orchestra), Mofetioluwa Odusola (chorus), Neel Patel (orchestra), Nick Scuderi (band) and Simon Zuckert (ILMEA commercial music composition).

Stagg’s All-State selections included Keaton Kazin (honors chorus), Natalie Midura (honors chorus) and Samantha Padgurskis (honors band).

District 230 artists win big at Moraine Valley Art Show

Consolidated High School District 230 student artists from Sandburg, Stagg and Andrew recently competed and earned recognition in the Moraine Valley Community College High School Art Exhibition.

Held at the Robert F. DeCaprio Art Gallery, the exhibit celebrated its 40th anniversary of the annual high school showcase of talented students from eight local high schools.

Stagg senior Marta Kepka won the Moraine Valley Art Award and received a scholarship for 12 credits at Moraine Valley Community College. Kepka also won first place for the watercolor “Cal Sag” and second place for the watercolor “Chalupa.” Julia Onyszko took third place for gouache and collage, “Made With Love.” Petra Kotas, Yaxanie Salas, Maya Jaron Czyk, Alejandra Garcia, Alessandra Serrano, Lena Turek and Wiktoria Sedzik received honorable mention accolades for their creations.

Sandburg’s Bryanna Tuscher won first place for mixed media, “Marilyn Composition,” Migle Acas took second for mixed media, “Sinking with my Trash,” and Sarai Maya was awarded third for mixed media, “Tea Time.” Sam Rose, Vivianne Nicole Abistado, Opal Hester, Nora Murray,  Alex Vallianatos, Ashley Lawler and Cameron Molinets received honorable mentions for their submissions. Grace Bryant received the American Academy of Art award for drawing and Diana Hamed was recognized with the Creative Vision Award (College for Creative Studies) for jewelry.

Andrew’s Sol Flores received the Judges Award for the photograph “Pink Flock” and Ryan Gordon received the American Academy of Art Award for pen and ink. Gabriele Siusis received first place for her mixed media piece, “How Internet Effects Psychology,” while Ryan Gordon’s pen and ink, “The Alien” earned second place and Delaney DIllon’s mixed media creation “Walk of Memories” earned third place. Avery Santiago, Eunice Gonzales, Sean Kammerzell, Ruby Musselman, Nicole Cronk, Emma Friel and Alexandra Markaceviciute were among the Andrew student artists who received honorable mention recognition.

Oak Lawn student’s artwork added to hospital mural

Oak Lawn Community High School senior Rounak Yassin earned fourth place in the Advocate Christ Medical Center “Live from the Heart” art contest.

Rounak’s creation will be on permanent display at the Advocate Christ Medical Center.

“It would be an honor to have my piece hung up in the hospital to inspire and give hope to patients,” she said. “I want them to feel the love and care in this project and realize they aren’t alone in anything they do. I want them to be able to look at my artwork and feel some comfort at the hospital.”

Will County regional spelling bee winners

Ribhu Chaher (Channahon Junior High) won the Will County regional spelling bee on March 14 at Lincoln-Way West High School in New Lenox. Chaher’s winning word was ignominious.

Noah Wachter (Homer Junior High) took second place and Greyson Denny (Peotone Junior High) was third.

The competition, which welcomed 32 spellers from equally as many local schools, lasted 17 rounds and was sponsored by the Regional Office of Education and Exxon-Mobile.

UW-Whitewater softball team includes local flavor

The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater softball team, the defending Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference champion, which began the 2024 season March 17 in Clermont, Florida, included Tinley Park’s Delaney Becker, who is majoring in environmental science, and Evergreen Park’s Keira Jarrett, who is majoring in psychology.

Emporia State University December graduates list

Derrick Lamar Maxwell, Country Club Hills

Rhodes College Fall honor roll list

Catherine Prabish, New Lenox

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