D230 students awarded Cook County Sheriff’s Service Award

Congratulations and thanks are in store for 78 Consolidated High School District 230 students at Sandburg, Stagg and Andrew High Schools. Each provided a minimum of 100 hours of voluntary, unpaid community service, qualifying for the Sheriff’s Office Commitment to Service Award. This award is given to residents of Cook County, grades 9-12, who have provided meaningful volunteer service to their communities from September 2022 to August 2023.

While District 230 has a 25-hour community service graduation requirement, the Service Award requires a minimum of 100 hours, above and beyond hours served as a school requirement.
Several of the students have received this prestigious award multiple times and several more have donated upwards of 500 community service hours throughout their high school careers.
This year’s Cook County Sheriff Award Winners have a combined grand total of 16,963 hours of community service over their high school careers as of February 8, 2024.
District 230 students volunteer at local park districts, summer programs, police and fire departments, faith organizations, local schools, Beds programs, soup kitchens, summer camps, help with special needs kids and adults, museums/zoos, community theater, youth sports and cheer programs, missions trips and local libraries throughout the local communities.
Sandburg junior Samantha Rose says, “The thing I like the best about volunteering is that I get to see so many people smile just by doing simple tasks that I’m passionate about. Once you find something you are passionate about, it will never feel like a chore when volunteering, and volunteering is something that can teach so many life skills and give you so many unique experiences.”

Classmate senior Mohammad Atiya has logged more than 300 hours to date and spent his childhood volunteering at the food bank his grandmother, who was a social worker, introduced to the Chicago Lawn area. He says, “It was there that I loved helping others because it gave me a form of authority at a young age. I continue to help at the food pantry, but now I understand where people come from. Being a part of Model UN at Sandburg, I can apply what I have learned from volunteering in writing resolutions and advocating for people in need. I genuinely feel that this type of first-hand experience in communities of need drives one to create social change.”

For so many of the students, volunteering is more than fulfilling a graduation requirement. Atiya says, “Volunteering not only allows you to positively impact others' lives but also provides invaluable opportunities for personal growth and skill development. By dedicating your time and energy to helping those in need, you not only contribute to the betterment of your community but also gain a sense of fulfillment and purpose that is truly unparalleled.”

Andrew T-bolt Hailey Parke with more than 400 volunteer hours says the best thing about volunteering is the people with whom she works. She suggests bringing friends along when volunteering. “It just makes it a lot more fun and the time flies. Just remember to be respectful to those you’re working with as you can make more friends that way!" Parke said.

Andrew High School hosted their ceremony on February 13. Sandburg’s ceremony was February 26, and Stagg will honor their volunteers in March. Below are the 2023/24 Cook County Sheriff Award winners and their total hours of service as of February 8, 2024.
Andrew

Zaid Adi - 185.5
Lucia Cannonito - 131.25
Michelle Cordova - 385.5
Rimonda Gerges - 203.75
Luke Herzic - 289.0
August Jakubauskaite - 194.0
Erin Kammerzell - 207.0
Mohammed Mustafa - 488.5
Hailey Parke - 440.0
Katrin Rafael - 265.75
TOTAL: 2,790.25

Carl Sandburg

Dania Al-Hayek - 193
Mohammad Atiya - 319
Sophia Bonaminio - 563
Brianna Borgman - 373
Hatice Caliskan - 154
Leah Colby - 161
Leah Conway - 149
Kenya Cooley - 291
Kiera Delaney - 173
Hannah Dvorak - 287
Anthony Edelen - 142
Gianna Elizondo - 165
Nicholas Elizondo - 125
Isabella Escobedo - 191
Cayla Evans - 266
Christiana Floerke - 126
Sarah George - 159
Zena Issa - 140
Christine Jaeger - 362
Jack Johnson - 134
Edward Joy - 187
Riley Kelly - 130
Ella Ko - 186
Leila Lakkis - 184
Ashley Lawler - 172
Addison Manning - 142
Quinn McElligott - 127
Ayah Mehyar - 142
Hamza Mishal - 135
Sara Niedziela - 165
Maura O'Connor - 177
Taran Polavarapu - 220
Reese Rodriquez - 252
Samantha Rose - 478
Zuzanna Skiba - 134
Courtney Stevenson - 1272
Matthew Swais - 126
Harrison Weidemiller - 226
Nathalia Wyszomirski - 153
Paige Zikmund - 301
TOTAL: 9382

Stagg
Maryam Alaani - 233.5
Bana Barham - 439
Tala Barham - 422
Samaher Eljubeh - 175.5
Danya Hasan - 236
Mohammed Ismail - 136
Ilianna Jurevis - 158
Nikolaos Kounavis - 182
Natalia Mazurek - 352.25
Shahd Mohammad - 590
Cecilia Pescetto - 343.5
Pilar Pescetto - 125
Hiba Saada - 176
Sereen Salem - 264
Karolina Sliwa - 256.5
Ruth Thrall - 121
Gabriella Vazzana - 303.5
Abigail Zemgulis - 277
TOTAL: 4,790.75
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GRAND TOTAL: 16,963