LHS Junior Achievement Wins 'Company of the Year'

LEMONT, IL — Lemont High School’s Junior Achievement entry, LHS Publishing, Inc., was cited with Company of the Year accolades at the 2023 Chicagoland Junior Achievement competition, which recently was held at DePaul University.

Senior Lauren Meyer and juniors Lydia Pelen and Cael Whitchurch each earned top honors within their respective team leader divisions, the District said in a news release.

LHS Publishing, Inc.'s product this year was, a 2023 “Lemont 365” calendar, which is a daily tearaway calendar that is community based and filled with inspirational quotes and fun facts about the Village of Lemont and Lemont High School.

All 350 calendars were sold within two weeks during the presale period. LHS Publishing, Inc. was able to donate $500 of its profits to Lemont’s Hope and Friendship Foundation in December, and an additional $1,000 to benefit the National Honor Society’s “Lemont v Hunger” event in May, according to the District.

The remaining profits were returned to stockholders in the form of a 1,004 percent dividend.

This marks the ninth time in 15 years Lemont’s entry has picked up Junior Achievement Company of the Year honors. It most recently had won in 2018, 2019 and 2020.

The officer team – which included Meyer, Pelen, Whitchurch, and seniors John Vranas (Team Leader of Management) and junior Nathan Tilly (Team Leader of Supply Chain) – represented LHS Publishing, Inc. at the Chicagoland area competition. The group presented its product and business plan, and answered questions from Chicagoland Chief Executive Officers and entrepreneurs about the company and its product, the district said.

Each of the team leaders participated in a separate interview process to be considered for the top team leaders in their respective divisions.

Meyer was cited as the top Team Leader of Customer Service and Sales, Pelen was tabbed as the top Team Leader of Finance, and Whitchurch was awarded top Team Leader of Marketing accolades. Vranas was the runner-up in his grouping.

Lemont’s Junior Achievement organization annually builds a business from scratch, the school said. A student-led board creates a product, sells stock in the company and markets the product, with a goal of reaping dividends for its shareholders.

Lemont’s Junior Achievement faculty advisor is Business teacher John Aspel.