PRESS RELEASE: LFHS Hosts 5th Annual Alumni Panel as Part of “See It To Be It” Career Connections Series

Lake Forest, IL — Lake Forest Community High School welcomed graduates back to the Raymond Moore Auditorium before Thanksgiving break on November 25, for the 5th Annual LFHS Alumni Panel, a signature event in the See It To Be It Career Connections series.
Hosted by the LFHS Association of Parents and Teachers (APT) with support from the LFHS Alumni Association, the program gives current Scouts the chance to hear directly from alumni who were sitting in their seats just a few years ago.

Moderated by senior Tanishtha Chandra, the panel featured an accomplished and diverse group of returning Scouts representing fields spanning international affairs, commercial real estate, entertainment, finance, nursing, education, and Division I athletics.

This year’s speakers included:

• Isabelle Montagne (Class of 2012) – Senior Vice President, JLL Commercial Real Estate
• Will Oakley (Class of 2012) – International Affairs Instructor, United States Military Academy at West Point
• Amanda McMahon (Class of 2013) – Account Executive, The Walt Disney Company
• Eleanor Van Antwerp (Class of 2019) – Registered Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Nurse, Northwestern Memorial Hospital
• Tommy Glyman (Class of 2019) – Wealth Management Associate, Compass Financial Partners
• Thomas Jacob (Class of 2021) – Special Education Teaching Assistant at LFHS
• Haylee Rios (Class of 2025) – Student at Eastern Illinois University; Midfielder, EIU Panthers Women’s Soccer
• Katherine Yakes (Class of 2025) – Student at the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) Pursuing a Bachelor of Business Administration

The annual discussion is designed to help students explore both the immediate and long-term steps ahead—whether that means college, military service, career training, or discovering new interests along the way. Alumni shared honest insights about navigating life after high school, adjusting academic or career paths, managing uncertainty, and staying open to evolving goals.

“We want students to see real examples of how careers and futures take shape,” said LFHS APT Career Connections representative Tanner Van Dusen. “Hearing from graduates who were recently in their shoes helps make the next steps feel more approachable, flexible, and full of possibility.”

The LFHS APT and LFHS Alumni Association extend their gratitude to the speakers who returned to share their experiences and to the student attendees who continue to make the Alumni Panel a valued school tradition.

For media inquiries, please contact:
Melissa Oakley
Chief Communications Officer, District 67 and District 115
moakley@lfschoools.net