Naperville Youth Service Award Ceremony Recognized 20 Area Youth for Outstanding Volunteerism and Service

KidsMatter, together with Mayor Chirico and the Naperville City Council, honored 20 young people for their significant community service efforts during the 2015 Naperville Youth Service Awards celebration on Monday, November 16. Proud family and friends of the students packed the Council Chambers at the City Municipal Center in support of these outstanding youth.

Since 1993, the City of Naperville has presented the Naperville Youth Service Award to recognize and honor outstanding volunteer efforts by local Naperville area students and to encourage all youth to get involved in community service.

Nominations for this year’s awards came from 18 local organizations and agencies that specifically provide young people with opportunities to volunteer their time and energy. These volunteer opportunities give teens a sense of purpose, provide them with valuable hands-on experiences, and ignite the volunteer spirit that has helped make Naperville the thriving community it is today.

During the award ceremony members of the Council honored each individual student and also recognized their nominating organization. Each student received a Naperville Youth Service Award Pin, a framed certificate and a custom frame into which they will be able to place a photo of themselves receiving their award from Mayor Chirico.

The Young Naperville Singers performed musical selections and there was a post-award reception and dinner compliments of Lou Malnati’s Downtown Naperville Pizzeria. This program was partially supported by SECA, Edgewood Clinical Services, Thrivent Financial, Illinois Energy, Windows and Siding, and The Education Center.

Mayor Chirico, the City Council and KidsMatter are proud to honor the 20 students who have given their time, energy and heart to make a positive difference in the lives of other people and to make Naperville a better place in which to live.

See below for a complete list of both the nominating organizations and the award recipients.

Youth Award Recipient(s) / Nominating Organization

Kristen Basgall and Ezgi Ulger/ 360 Youth Services
Jane Boettcher/ The Alive Center
Allie Guidish/ DuPage Symphony Orchestra /
Spencer Majerik/ DuPagePads
Shehla Chowdhury/ Edward Hospital & Health Services
Shwetabh Tarun/ Feed My Starving Children
Lukas Solak/ Forest Preserve District of Will County
Anjani Maley/ GiGi’s Playhouse Fox Valley/
Ben Mazza and Ritvik Tandon/ KidsMatter
Austin Peyton/ Kidz Kabaret
Elisabeth Krakora/ Loaves and Fishes Community Services
Katie and Molly McCarthy/ Morton Arboretum
Corinna Siu/ Naper Settlement
Grace Van Meter/ Naperville Park District
Grace Hong/ Naperville Public Library
Anjani Maley/ St. Patrick’s Residence
Avi Goyal/ Western DuPage Special Recreation Association
Claire Moran/ Young Hearts for Life