Western Springs Student Recognized by Cook County Sheriff for Community Service

Katie King of Western Springs has earned the 2014 Cook County Sheriff’s Youth Service Medal of Honor for volunteering more than 100 hours in the past year.

A total of 359 high schoolers will receive the award at a ceremony Dec. 9 at Moraine Valley Community College in Palos Hills, according to a Cook County Sheriff’s Office news release.

The cumulative community service performed by the 359 winners was more than 40,000 hours.

Students volunteered in homeless shelters, animal shelters, nursing homes, hospitals and rehab centers, according to the news release. Some students helped organize 5K walks, build homes, form not-for-profits and lead mission trips.

The distinguished youth speaker this year is Nikole Crane, a senior at Trinity High School in River Forest.

“Nikole made, packaged, and sold lip balm and donated the profits to Smile Train, an organization that fixes cleft lips and palates in developing countries,” according to the news release. “Along with raising awareness for Smile Train, Nikole raised over $3000 for the charity, which provided 12 surgeries for children with cleft lips and palates.”

The following students in La Grange and La Grange Park were also recognized:

La Grange

• Alyssa Birica
• George Chavez
• Robyn Collins
• Angela Freda
• Juliana Halpin
• Brianna Hicks-Jones
• Nolberto Pina

La Grange Park

• Isabel Donile
• Priscilla Gonzalez
• Kiara Hampton
• Amerald Wheatley-
• Johnson

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