York High School Announces 2016 Illinois State Scholars

Submitted by Elmhurst Community Unit School District 205.

Elmhurst, IL - York Community High School Principal Diana Smith is pleased to announce that 176 York students from the graduating class of 2016 have been recognized as Illinois State Scholars.

The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC), the state agency committed to helping to make college accessible and affordable for Illinois families, bestows this prestigious recognition to top Illinois high school students annually.

This year, nearly 19,000 elite honorees join the other top state students honored for their academic achievements since the designation was first introduced in 1958.

Illinois State Scholars possess strong academic potential and are chosen based on a combination of exemplary ACT or SAT test scores and sixth semester class rank. State Scholars rank in approximately the top 10 percent of high school seniors, representing 652 high schools across the state.

“Achieving Illinois State Scholar status is an important recognition for this exceptional group of students. It demonstrates a high level of academic focus and commitment. We are proud that 27 percent of our seniors rank in the top 10 percent of students statewide,” said York Principal Diana Smith.

The following York High School students were named 2016-17 Illinois State Scholars:

Grace Achepohl, Zainab Ahmed, Katie Albin, Lilian Alexandrova, Lauren Aloia, Caroline Amann, Jack Anderson, Lauren Anderson, Kayla Arroyo, Nora Barrett, Emma Baubly, Alexander Berger, Thomas Blake, Jake Bohringer, Daniel Bolivar, William Bowbin, William Brigham, Alexandria Cahill, Lauren Cairo, Ryan Camp, Francesca Carfagnini, Joseph Ciannella, Jordan Ciccarone, Alexandra Ciullo, Eric Comings, Julia Conversa, Maxwell Craig, Stephanie Cui, Justin Dale, Daphne David, Devin Davies, Maxwell Denning, Jessica Depaul, Alec Deuter, Thomas Devereux, Cristina Diaz, Kathryn Dierksheide, Krastiu Dimov, Charles Dochoff, Kaitlyn Douglas, Katie Douglas, Ioan Draganov, John Drake, Emily Drost, Michael Ducey, Jillian Dunbar, Clare Dyra, Mark Edakara, Abigail Emich, Sheila Evans, Lydia Faber, Emily Fjeldstad, John Fleshood, Ellen Foley, Quinn Gaughan, Francesco Gianni, Lucie Gleason, Lucas Gough, Margaret Greer, Michael Griffin, Elizabeth Hagstrom, Robert Hanrahan, Shannon Hansen, Amanda Healy, Madison Hoffmann, Joshua Hovance, Anna Hubert, Christopher Jaeger, Ajay Jain, Gordon Johnson, Jordan Jopes, John Julian, Sarina Kao, Manuel Kappen, Amanda Karnatz, Kevin Kastholm, Kaylin Kenny, Katie Kesslering, Charles Kett, Ethan Kett, Kayman Klaas, Laila Klang, David Kociak, Alan Krance, Paige Kurczek, Suraj Kurian, Brenda Lehrer, Joseph Levin, James Licata, Leonard Liebeno, Matthew Loffredo, Katherine Lothian, Anna Lubertozzi, Ethan Madsen, Ally Mann, Timothy Manning, Cameron Markuson, Miranda Marnik-Said, Jonathan May, Brennan McGovern, Claire Meyer, Tara Meyer, Matthew Miller, Azam Mohsin, Sophia Mordini, Reed Morley, Emily Morris, Erin Muckian, Gabriela Navar, Claire Niewiara, Adora Nnam, Paula Nolte, Erik Nyberg, Jeffrey O’Brien, Walker O’Brien, Molly O’Connor, Katherine O’Dell, Sarah O’Donnell, Michael O’Malley, Rachel Orum, David Paprocki, Joseph Parayil, Jacob Pardue, Brandon Parr, Katherine Pasternock, Emily Patterson, Alyssa Patti, Stephen Pierzchala, Kelly Polte, Max Pozen, Samuel Rafac, Owen Rehling, Matthew Riecker, Hayley Rossiano, Maxwell Rouzer, Luca Ruhlander, Audriana Sadowicz, Collin Salek, Peter Salek, Sajini Samuel, Maggie Schlecht, Allegra Sciaccotta, Michael Seaborg, Anthony Senese, Kenneth Sidoryk, Cody Sieber, Adela Skowronski, Matthew Southworth, Michael Allen Speers, Caroline Stasica, Bailey Stearns, Brandon Stevens, Rayanna Stevenson, Lena Stojiljkovic, Bridgette Strawbridge, Amanda Strezo, Kate Sullivan, Vishruth Sunilkumar, Laura Swain, Alexander Tase, Rachel Teague, Edward Thomas, Robert Tomaska, Graeham Toomey, Elisabeth Trenta, Halle Truett, Kristen Viola, Seamus Ward, Michelle Wiese, Jackson Wiesenmayer, Alyssa Woodward, Natasha Yarlagadda, Jessica Yohannan, Carli York, Taylor Zars, Jessica Zellinger.

“It is always an honor to announce another extraordinary group of State Scholars,” said Eric Zarnikow, ISAC executive director. “At a time when postsecondary education could not be more important to future job and career success, these students have demonstrated the kind of effort and dedication that will help them advance not only their futures, but the future of the state as well. We wish each of them the best as they pursue their chosen educational path.”

While this distinguished recognition does not include a monetary prize, recipients are encouraged to cite the honor on applications for college admission and scholarships. In addition, students are urged to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible after January 1, 2016. The FAFSA determines eligibility for federal and state aid. ISAC offers free financial aid and college access events to assist students and families with the college-going process. Students can also visit the ISAC website and in particular the new ISAC Student Portal for college planning, financial aid and financial literacy information and free tools, as well as information on how to contact the ISACorps, a group of recent college graduates who act as near-peer mentors, for one-on-one assistance and mentoring.