Select D58 Eighth Graders Awarded for Service

Submitted by Downers Grove Grade School District 58. Photos courtesy of the District 58 Community Relations Office. Photo 1: O'Neill Select 58 students. Photo 2 Herrick Select 58 students.

Downers Grove, IL - Downers Grove Grade School District 58 celebrated this year's Select 58 recipients at a formal awards banquet at Herrick Middle School on Wednesday, April 6.

Select 58 is an Education Foundation of Downers Grove District 58 program that honors eighth graders who provide outstanding service to their school and community.

The event featured introductions by Herrick Principal Matt Neustadt and Superintendent Dr. Kari Cremascoli; entertainment by the Downers Grove North Chamber Choir; speeches by District 58 alumni Grace Marino and Lauren Conklin; and a delicious Aramark-catered dinner.

The recipients also enjoyed a unique focal point -- a beautiful cake that depicted all Select 58 students, courtesy of Downers Grove resident Cathy Oriatti. The event closed with the distribution of Select 58 plaques, courtesy of Blooming Color, and sweatshirts, courtesy of Holy Cow Sports.

The event also featured photography services by Miles Boone Photography and flowers/decorations courtesy of Phillip’s Flowers and Gifts and Aramark.

Congrats to the 2016 Select 58 award recipients!

Daniel Adam
Alexis Adamo
Audrey Anderson
Matthew Bair
MacKenzie Barton
Eva Bednard
Karly Bernhard
Taylor Born
Lily Buehler
Ryan Canfield
Griffin Casella
Jacob Casella
Cecelia Cogger
Lucas Crowley
Ellissa Dennis
Mark Dennison
Audrey Dwyer
Mateo Garcia
Samantha Gergits
Sophie Goray
Anastasia Grogan
Kelly Hopkins
Matthew Isenman
Marley Jakubczak
Mackenzie Johnson
Matthew Johnson
Maureen Kelliher
Peter Kowalski
Emma Krause
Katherine Leinart
Katherine Marek
Sophia Marro
Kira Matheson
Erin Miller
Braden Moore
Grace Mulligan
John Norris
James Nuttall
Judith Nwonye
Eli Pfotenhauer
Madeline Raftery
Naomi Rajesh
Katherine Riley
Ann Ruddy
Lauren Schenk
Karin Schroeder
Jillian Scott
Megan Seranko
Daniel Sigale
Samantha Simmons
Madeleine Spencer
Drake Steed
Miles Teague
Katherine Tokash
Alyssa Venckus
Caroline Venetis
Rebecca Waden
Lily Wenger
Nathan Wiechec

This year’s Select 58 judges included Foundation directors Janet Alikpala, Roberta Diehl, David Olsen and Laura Taylor, as well as community members Jill Donaldson and Bruce Swanson.

The planning committee included Community Relations Coordinator Megan Hewitt, Herrick Secretary Ann Russ and Foundation Director Laura Taylor, with assistance from Herrick Principal Matt Neustadt, O’Neill Principal Matt Durbala and O’Neill Secretary Cathi Loris.