Lincoln-Way Mu Alpha Theta Inductions

The following is from a Lincoln-Way District 210 news release:

Community service is part of the honor code for students in the National Honor Society (NHS) and Mu Alpha Theta at Lincoln-Way West. The student members of the NHS and Mu Alpha Theta decided to honor a former school board member and Lincoln-Way Foundation charter member by naming their community award after him, the Ron Kokal Award.

Last March, at the first West NHS Induction Ceremony, the students selected a community member that exhibited and portrayed the ideals of NHS in everyday life to honor with the NHS Community Member Award. The students selected someone who had a strong dedication and love for the continued success of the students and community in the Lincoln-Way area: Mr. Ron Kokal.

“Most unexpectedly, Mr. Kokal passed away within a short month after we were fortunate to honor him and hear his words of guidance. This year, we would like to honor Mr. Kokal and all he did for our community with the establishment of the Ron Kokal Award,” stated Renae Goldie, English department chair and sponsor for NHS.

Dr. Lawrence A. Wyllie, Superintendent, presented the award to Mr. Tom Bartkus, Associate Principal for Curriculum and Instruction at West, stating, “Tom, on behalf of the Lincoln-Way West chapters of National Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta, I am honored to present you with the first Ron Kokal Award for your continued dedication to the Lincoln-Way students and community and for exemplifying to our young leaders and scholars your integrity, honesty, and passion for learning and helping others.”

Parents, teachers and community members were welcomed to the induction ceremony for sixty-seven new National Honor Society inductees and eighty-two new Mu Alpha Theta inductees on Monday, March 14 at the West Fine Arts Center, New Lenox. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Rhiannon Davis, vice-president of Mu Alpha Theta, and Ashley Sichak, vice-president of National Honor Society. The National Anthem was sung by Eddie Brennan, Natalie Muckian, Rachel Muckian and Ariel Ruttenberg, all members of NHS. Natalie and Ariel are also members of Mu Alpha Theta.

Jessica McDonald, president of NHS, and Nate McMullin, president of Mu Alpha Theta, addressed the audience of several hundred guests, including the son, Kip Kokal, and daughter, Kim Kokal McArdle, and four grandchildren, Keegan and Brayden Kokal and Trevor and Camden McArdle, of Ron Kokal.

Currently there are eighty-five members of the Lincoln-Way West National Honor Society, and sixty-seven inductees for the ceremony. Along with Jessica McDonald serving as president, Ashley Sichak is vice-president; Katrina Prospero is secretary for attendance; Leo St. Amour is secretary for community service; and Nikki Sieger is treasurer. Renae Goldie is the teacher sponsor.

Lincoln-Way West’s Mu Alpha Theta currently has seventy-six members while inducting eighty-two members in the induction ceremony on March 14. Serving as an officer with Nate McMullin and Rhiannon Davis is Chelsea Rocha as secretary/treasurer. Tracy Plesek and Melissa Sweeney are teacher sponsors.

“An invitation to tonight’s ceremony truly is the highest honor we bestow at Lincoln-Way West. The Warriors you meet here are our best and brightest, and tonight we are proud to be adding to their ranks. I hope that you will find at least one moment where you will see your sons and daughters through our eyes – as the young men and women that set the example for excellence at Lincoln-Way West each and every day,” stated Dr. Monica Schmitt, principal.

  Lincoln-Way West National Honor Society inductees are: Patrick Allen, Emily Gallagher, Amanda McDonald, Lindsey Anderson, Jose Galvan, Jennifer McGowan, Michael Baio, Liam Gascoin, Nathan McMullin, Lauren Baltas, Lea Gindville, Trevor Moore, Jacob Bartels, Jessica Govern, Katherine Nork, Hailey Baumstein, Madeline Harty, Emily Owens, David Bechtel, Jordan Harvey, Danilo Panici, Joseph Belonger, Aimee Heinrich, and Ashley Pavlak.

Additional Lincoln-Way West inductees to the National Honor Society are: Angela Bieser, Alisa Hojnacki, Justin Pertile, Hannah Bovard, Libby Horvath, Alexus Petrongelli, Allison Buldak, Amanda Hozzian, Jezreel Pimentel, Anthony Ciocci, Christopher Hunsaker, Danielle Pinta, Kevin Cucci, Trevor Jablonski, Abigail Richmond, Ryan Curry, Cody James, Michalla Rodey,

Dominic Delia, Matthew James, Luke Scalone, Amanda DeSalvo, Katherine Kelly, Shane Senyard, Dino DeSalvo, Jr., Colleen Kinsella, Alexis Skiniotes, Taylor DeYoung, Evan Kirkeeng, Ryan Spain, Deanna DiMonte, Mitchell Kirkland, Matthew Srygler, Michelle Fairbairn, Ashley Kowalsky, Justin Thrall, Amber Frederiksen, Brigita Kurtinyte, Dominic VanDyke, Kelsey Frost, Emily Leddin, Lauren Wojdyla, and Cory Lotz.

Lincoln-Way West Mu Alpha Theta inductees are: Jessica Govern, Briana Novak, Michael Baio, Lukas Grekavicius, Jacob Bartels, Rachel Gullicksen, Emily Owens, David Bechtel, Madeline Harty, Ashley Pavlak, Joseph Belonger, Jordan Harvey, Tricia Pawlowski, Alisa Hojnacki, Mark Pedziwiatr, Jessica Blatzer, Brad Hughes, Justin Pertile, Gabriel Jaramillo-Salgado, Edward Brennan, Brooke Jessen, Brittany Pole, Kayla Bryant, Rachel Johnson, Victoria Pryzdia, Kevin Buldak, Jaime Juhas, Lisa Quigley, Jessica Campbell, Joel Ramey, Sara Carse, Rachel Kasperek, and Eva Roesel.

  Additional inductees for Lincoln-Way West Mu Alpha Theta are: Kelsey Christiansen, Shane Senyard, Erica Crimmins, Madeline Katcher, Kristyn Shoaf, Kevin Cucci, Katherine Kelly, Ryan Spain, Dominic Delia, Mitchell Kirkland, Shaun Stapinski, Amanda DeSalvo, Brigita Kurtinyte, Ryan Starkus, Dino DeSalvo, Jr., Matthew Lough, Deanna DiMonte, Nicholas Lowman, Cody Drozd, Alexis Lucia, Myranda Eckberg, Maxx Macica, Danielle Thompson, Danielle Enders, Kristyna Marks, Casey Toomey, Michelle Fairbairn, Conor McGrath, Dominic VanDyke, Joel Firneno Jr., Nicholas Mikoff, Jason Vargas, Helen Fishbeck, Courtney Miller, Brittni Voltolina, Kelsey Frost, Trevor Moore, Christopher Wilkes, Kara Winans, Kaitlyn Neiheisel, and Jason Yaeger.