LHS Matches School Record With Three Medals At IDEA State Competition

LEMONT, IL — Lemont High School matched school records with five entries and three medalist finishes at the 2024 Illinois Design Educators Association State Competition, which was contested at Illinois State University on April 20, according to a release from the school.

Senior Natalia Zagata was the state runner-up in Architectural Board, sophomore Mirella Miazga was the runner-up in Introductory Board, and sophomore Aidan McIntyre placed third in Introductory CAD. Junior Ania Liptak (Architectural Board) and sophomore Greg Kasper (Introductory Board) also advanced to the 2024 IDEA State Competition.

Each Lemont student was making his or her state finals debut, and they earned their berths thanks to their performances in regional competition, the school said.

Zagata placed first in Architectural Board, extending Lemont’s regional win streak in that category to 11 years, dating back to 2014. McIntyre and Miazga won regional titles in their competitions as well, while Kasper and Liptak posted regional runner-up finishes. Students who finish among the top two in individual regional competitions earn state finals berths, as do first-place finishers in team events.

Under the tutelage of teacher Scott Duensing, Lemont has had at least one IDEA state qualifier in 16 of 17 years, according to LHS. It has earned multiple medals in state competition five times, with a high of three state medals in 2015, 2021 and 2024.

It first advanced a school-record five entries to the 2020 state competition, but it was cancelled due to COVID-19.