Highland Park Chamber of Commerce Presents 50th Annual Student Honor Dinner

Photo: Kathy Morris (HPHS Class of ’68), former Chamber of Commerce honoree and now a career counselor for law students and lawyers, will be the guest speaker at the Chamber’s 50th Annual Student Honor Dinner.

For the 50th year, members of the Highland Park Chamber of Commerce will host 23 Highland Park High School students as their honored guests at the annual Student Honor Dinner, Wednesday, April 29, at the Renaissance Chicago North Shore Hotel, 933 Skokie Boulevard, Northbrook. These remarkable young people have been selected by their high school counselors, teachers, coaches and club sponsors, not only for their achievements in academics, community service and extra-curricular activities, but also for their outstanding character.

Highland Park High School Principal Tom Koulentes will individually recognize each student, and the Highland Park Chamber will present Certificates of Recognition. The students will be featured in a touching documentary video produced by the high school Media Department. The evening’s guest speaker, Kathy Morris, is a graduate of HPHS Class of ‘68, and a former Chamber of Commerce honoree. Now a career counselor for law students and lawyers, Ms. Morris observed, “Nothing is more important than the future of our talented youth. Their lives and careers will unfold, as have mine, in unpredictable and wonderful ways. I want to encourage the students being honored by the Chamber to open their vistas and enjoy looking ahead to work that truly matters to each and every one of them.”

The students to be honored this year are: Noah Apter, Juan Barrios, Samuel Brief, Diana Cruz, Perla Delgado, Ma’Kayla Fenner, Martin Gold, Caleb Goldstein, Noah Guthman, Joshua Hoffman, Beth Jackson, Sydney Janitschke, Andrew Kaufmann, Michael Kemel, Christopher Kingwill, Raizel Lieberman, Bianca Oviedo, Alison Perlman, Lily Roter, Nina Sonneborn, Samantha Soren, Isa Spoerry, and Alfredo Valle.

As a student in high school, Dr. William S. Bradford received an honor, which in later years inspired him to
create the Student Honor Program. “While serving as Chamber President in 1965, Dr. Bradford recalled the
impact his own award had on his education, career and commitment to community service,” says Chamber Executive Director Ginny A. Glasner. “The Chamber continues this recognition, in the hope that it will have a similar impact on the lives of the students honored. We are grateful to First Bank of Highland Park as our 2015 Presenting Sponsor, as well as all of our member businesses who contributed to make the Student Honor Dinner possible, and especially grateful to First Bank of Highland Park as our 2015 Presenting Sponsor.”

“Congratulations on 50 years,” says First Bank of Highland Park President and CEO, Randy Green. “First Bank of Highland Park is proud of our affiliation with the Chamber in this event and the many other endeavors we have shared over the last 60 years!”

In addition, the Highland Park Chamber and its member businesses will present several $1,000 college scholarships to selected students. This year’s scholarship donors include: Martha & Lorry Hershenson (the William S. Bradford scholarships); First Bank of Highland Park; Ravinia Festival; NorthShore University HealthSystem – Highland Park Hospital; Galaxie Professional Cleaning Service, Inc.; D & R Autoworks; Highland Park/Highwood Lions Club; Academic Tutoring Centers, Inc; and the Highland Park Chamber of Commerce.

Anyone – parents, teachers, family, and friends – can sponsor a student for this very special community-building event. Sponsorship of this event provides excellent visibility and recognition, while also giving back to the community, as it is an investment in the potential business and community leaders of our future.

Donations of any amount are accepted throughout the year. Please contact the Chamber of Commerce to make a donation, become an event underwriter and/or attend the dinner, which is open to the public. Tickets are $50 per person, or $450 for a table of ten. Tickets may be purchased by contacting the Chamber at 847-432-0284, or by mailing a check payable to the Highland Park Chamber of Commerce, 508 Central Avenue, Suite 206, Highland Park, IL 60035. Tickets must be purchased by April 23.

About the Highland Park Chamber of Commerce

The Highland Park Chamber of Commerce is a private, nonproft, community benefit organization, whose membership includes businesses, service organizations and individuals. The Chamber’s mission is to help all member businesses prosper by providing programs and services to encourage business development and promotion, networking, education/training and advocacy. For more information, visit www.chamberhp.com.

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