Oak Forest HS Students Earn Cook County Sheriff's Youth Service Medal of Honor

The hardest working students at Oak Forest High School are the nine students who recently learned that they have earned the Cook County Sheriff’s Youth Service Medal of Honor. Students who received the award are: Jodi Bushnell-Aleman, James Crosetto, Joseph Crosetto, Matthew Donley, Claire Holewa, Marley Majetic, Amelia McDowell, Jack Neylon, and Nicholas Pochinskas. This award is given to young people throughout Cook County who have contributed at least 100 hours of volunteer service to their communities.

Oak Forest High School student Nicholas Pochinskas is a prime example of the type of student that earned this award. He volunteered for 102 hours doing a variety of work. He earned some volunteer hours at his church, where he helped organize intramural sports like basketball and kickball for the community, and coaching the 7th and 8th grade boys’ basketball team. He also helped run a kids’ camp for the Posen Fire Department in the summertime, as well as working with Oak Forest High School Football Coach Brian McDonough in organizing football gear at the end of the season. Pochinskas likes volunteering and decided that he is going to continue his volunteer efforts next year. “Helping others get stuff done by making it easier for them” is what he likes the best about volunteering.

Seniors Jodi Bushnell-Aleman and Jack Neylon volunteered hours at Palos Hospital. Bushnell-Aleman was a candy striper in the sterile supply processing department. During her volunteer work, she set things up for surgery and delivered them. She said, “I found out that I don’t like blood!” Neylon set up hospital rooms for incoming patients and helped nurses out with projects they had for him. He also volunteered for his church on mission trips in which he assisted the less fortunate by doing yard work.

Students volunteered at hospitals, Gigi’s Playhouse, their churches, Oak Forest High School, and for many other community events.

Pictured are Amelia McDowell, Matthew Donley, Jack Neylon, Joseph Crosetto, and Marley Majetic. Not seen in the picture are other Oak Forest recipients Jodi Bushnell-Aleman, James Crosetto, Claire Holewa, and Nicholas Pochinskas.