Community Corner
19 Illinois People To Remember From 2019
Take a look back at these amazing people we've featured on Illinois Patch pages this year.
ILLINOIS — At the end of every year at Patch in Illinois, we like to take a look back at some of the most compelling people stories our reporters have told throughout the year. The state always has an incredible amount of incredible people, and some of their stories are truly remarkable.
We started back in 2016 by highlighting 16 people to remember from that year, and have upped it by one every year since. So here's a look back at 19 Illinois people to remember from 2019.
Kayla Schmitz, a Downers Grove native and former Lockport resident, shared her story of developing breast cancer at the young age of 24 in a film she created called "VINCIBLE." She said she chose to share her story because she did a lot of things that weren't traditional when it comes to fighting cancer.
Find out what's happening in Across Illinoisfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Find out what's happening in Across Illinoisfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Amber Christensen, a student at Eisenhower High School in Blue Island, created an Instagram page to document the "yucky" cafeteria food she and other students at the school had been subjected to.
Baiz, an 8-year-old Grayslake boy with autism, lived out his dream this year by finally getting to meet Santa at the Gurnee Mills mall.
Mike D'Antonio, an Orland Park resident who has yet to graduate high school, is already the CEO of a company. He has actually held that position since he founded "StockedUp," a stock market education and trading company more than two years ago when he was just 15 years old.
Read more via Tim Moran / Orland Park Patch
Bryant Fritz, a Central Illinois fisherman, saved the life of a caged dog he found floating in Kaufman Lake in Champaign and has since given a new home to the pooch named Dory.
Read more via Rebecca Bream (Hughes) / Champaign Patch
Corey Winchester, an Evanston Township High School teacher, was one of just 10 Illinois winners of the Golden Apple Award for teaching. After he was surprised with the award during school one day, he spoke to Patch about what part of the job he's most passionate about.
Read more via Jonah Meadows / Evanston Patch
Vinny Ramirez, at just 6 years old, may have saved the lives of his neighbors when he alerted his mother to smoke coming into their Oak Lawn apartment during a fire back in September. "This is exactly what we teach children to do if they smell or see smoke: to quickly tell an adult. He did just that and it made a difference," Oak Lawn Fire Chief Mike Montgomery said.
Read more via Lorraine Swanson / Oak Lawn Patch
Jayne Crouthamel, a 16-year-old girl from Burr Ridge, has already gone through more than most adults will have to during their entire lives. She suffers from hydrocephalus, a condition in which fluid builds up in the brain and has already survived 13 brain surgeries. But that doesn't stop this "Hydro Warrior" from succeeding in life as a student at the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools. She remains involved in competitive swimming and is a playwright.
Bett Barnett, a fashion designer for 43 years in Highland Park, retired and moved to Arizona this year. She's the co-founder of downtown Highland Park's "Fashion Week" and has been involved civically as a member of the city's Business and Economic Development Commission and the local Chamber of Commerce.
Read more via Jonah Meadows / Highland Park Patch
Evan Younge, a student at Crystal Lake Central High School, was one of a select number of students recognized for his teamwork and kindness as part of the school's Tiger Pride initiative. According to English teacher Shannon Levitt, Evan has been "so kind and helpful to another student in my class who struggles to make relationships." Evan was observed helping a student study and helping that same student become more socially involved in the classroom setting.
Read more via Rebecca Bream (Hughes) / Crystal Lake-Cary Patch
Dana Bezanis, a Palos Park woman, competed for the Miss Illinois USA 2020 title and continues vigorous efforts to help her brother who was seriously injured in a diving accident 11 years ago. She spoke with Patch in July about what drives her to continue to compete in beauty pageants.
Read more via Lorraine Swanson / Palos Patch
Jessica Bogacz, a new teacher at Tinley Park High School, took it upon herself to partner with a local garden center on turning one of the school's open courtyards into a garden created by some of her speech students. The garden benefits both the students by targeting key academic and communication skills like semantics, vocabulary development, utilizing context clues to define unfamiliar words, and the entire school community by beautifying the courtyard.
Read more via Tim Moran / Tinley Park Patch
Benjamin Polony, a 19-year-old, was on the ballot for trustee in Glenview after a group of residents questioning his petitions dropped their objection.
Angela Becker, an 18-year-old from Crystal Lake, led efforts to organize, raise funds and distribute over 150 bags of toys, games, toiletries and more to foster children and children living in shelters. She was honored just last week by Art Van Furniture in Algonquin as a hometown hero.
Read more via Amie Schaenzer / Crystal Lake-Cary Patch
Adam Miller, the Aurora police officer who was shot in the face during the Henry Pratt shooting on Feb. 15, was back on the job in November. His "resilience and fighting spirit have been an inspiration to us all," Aurora police chief Kristen Ziman said.
Read more via Lisa Marie Farver / Aurora Patch
Abby Kasch, a Palos Park native who was a contestant on a season of NBC's "The Voice" this year, came back home from Nashville this summer to perform a series of concerts and gigs in Chicago's south suburbs.
Read more via Lorraine Swanson / Palos Patch
Deb Folta, active in the Sertoma United advocacy group at the Sertoma Centre in Alsip, does not let her own visual impairment get in the way of helping others with disabilities achieve success.
Read more via Lorraine Swanson / Alsip-Crestwood Patch
Susan Oczkowski, known to students at Morgan Park Academy over the past four decades as "Coach O," retired this year after 44 years as a coach and physical education teacher at the school. "She means a lot to everybody here," said MPA student Eli Moss. "She's always been a sweetheart to us."
Justin Canvin, a fifth-grader at Sward Elementary School in Oak Lawn, won a national photo contest by taking a reflective photo of his dad's hands.
Read more via Lorraine Swanson / Oak Lawn Patch
A look back: 18 to remember from 2018 / 17 to remember from 2017 / 16 to remember from 2016
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