Bilingual Education Student Earns Valedictorian Honors at SD170's Washington-McKinley School

Monserrat Lara, an eighth grade student enrolled in Chicago Heights School District 170’s Transitional Bilingual Education (TBE) Native Language Program, has earned co-Valedictorian Honors at Washington-McKinley School.

She shares the mantle of Class Valedictorian with Diamond L. Boston and Aliesha D. Williams.

Lara, whose cumulative GPA is 4.0, is the first member of the TBE Program to earn the prestigious acknowledgement as Class Valedictorian.

Recognized for both her academic achievement and outstanding citizenship, Lara’s efforts also earned her a nomination for the district’s coveted William D. McGee Award.

In addition to her academic endeavors, Lara also is involved in extra curricular activities both in and out of school.

She is a flutist with the school band, a member of the Washington-McKinley PTO, and participates in the school’s martial arts program, where she has earned an orange belt in Taekwando.

Outside of school, Lara sings and dances with a local Mexican folk group called Maquetzalli. The performance group, based out of Chicago Heights, entertains all across the south suburbs of Chicago.

“Monserrat is a fine young lady who is most worthy of recognition as an Outstanding Student in her graduating class,” said Washington-McKinley Principal Gretchen Sutherland.

“Since relocating to Chicago Heights from her native Mexico just a few short years ago, Monserrat has made excellent progress in both her academic and personal activities,” said Alejandro Cisneros, her classroom teacher. “It truly has been a pleasure to watch her develop and grow during her years at our school.”