Orland Park Teen Among 40 McAuley Seniors Named Illinois State Scholars

The Illinois Student Assistance Commission has recognized 40 students from Mother McAuley Liberal Arts High School’s Class of 2016 as Illinois State Scholars.

ISAC is the state agency tasked with helping to make college accessible and affordable for Illinois families. Illinois State Scholars represent the top ten percent of high school seniors, hailing from 671 different high schools across the state.

Selection is based on SAT, ACT or Prairie State Achievement Exam scores, and/or class rank at the end of the junior year. High school guidance counselors work with ISAC to determine the winners.

This year, over 18,800 elite honorees join the other top state students honored for their academic achievements since the designation was first introduced in 1958.

“I am excited to see 40 of our students receive the Illinois State Scholar distinction this year,” McAuley principal Eileen Boyce ’03 said. “These girls are wonderful representatives of Mother McAuley. They’re not only our top students academically, but among them, you can find our student council officers, our athletic stars, our theatre and music leaders, our award-winning artists, and so much more. I’m proud and happy to see their hard work being recognized.”

The following Mother McAuley students were named 2016-17 Illinois State Scholars: Ariale Alzona (West Lawn), Macy Andlinger (Merrionette Park), Amy Balich (Palos Park), Molly Clifford (Mt. Greenwood), Mya Cox (South Shore), Jane DeJarld (Evergreen Park), Katherine Fennessey (Mt. Greenwood), Gabriella Galvan (Bridgeport), Amy Geraghty (Mt. Greenwood), Margaret Hackett (Mt. Greenwood), Deja Harden (Ashburn), Andrea Horn (Oak Lawn), Salena Ibrahim (Oak Lawn), and Caitlin Jandacek (Palos Heights).

Mary Jennings (Oak Lawn), Kaitlyn Johnson (Matteson), Sandra Khouri (Palos Hills), Kristyna Kresic (Oak Lawn), Sarah Law (Palos Heights), Christine Leahy (Oak Lawn), Colleen Liston (Chicago Ridge), Yinshuo Liu (Hyde Park), Alyson Lopez (Blue Island), Erin Ludwig (Country Club Hills), Gabrielle Marback-Pehler (Chicago Ridge), Isabella Mueller (Beverly), Nora Murphy (Mt. Greenwood), and Maeve O’Rourke (Beverly).

Kiera Plioplys (Oak Lawn), Jaclyn Prucha (Mt. Greenwood), Rebecca Rimkus (West Lawn), Ishbel Rodriguez (West Lawn), Meghan Rokas (Palos Heights), Anna Strahlman (Beverly), Rachel Todd (Orland Park), Lauren Turnbull (Plainfield), Margo Vandeveld (Beverly), Francesca Velcich (Tinley Park), Miranda Velez (West Elsdon) and Scarlet Wickert (Morgan Park).

Photo caption: Front row, left to right: President Mary Acker Klingenberger ’75, Gabrielle Marback-Pehler, Ishbel Rodriguez, Gabriella Galvan, Kiera Plioplys, Jaclyn Prucha, Jane DeJarld, Isabella Mueller, Caitlin Jandacek, Nora Murphy, Rachel Todd, Colleen Liston, Anna Strahlman and Principal Ms. Eileen Boyce ‘03

Middle row, left to right: Scarlet Wickert, Andrea Horn, Ariale Alzona, Alyson Lopez, Christine Leahy, Lauren Turnbull, Kristyna Kresic, Margo Vandeveld, Mary Jennings, Meghan Rokas, Molly Clifford, Amy Geraghty and Amy Balich

Back row, left to right: Sandra Khouri, Maeve O’Rourke, Rebecca Rimkus, Deja Harden, Katherine Fennessey, Francesca Velcich, Sarah Law, Macy Andlinger, Miranda Velez, Kaitlyn Johnson, Yinshuo Liu and Salena Ibrahim

Not pictured: Mya Cox, Margaret Hackett and Erin Ludwig