Wheaton Commission Hands Out Good Citizen Awards

Photo Caption: Adult category winners included (from left): Susan Dansdill, Anne Wanzenberg, Kenna Anderson, Chris Ellerman, Ron Smith, Randy Carey, Heather Johnson and Lisa Mordell.

The Wheaton Community Relations Commission recently honored residents with awards recognizing many ways they have given back to the community.

From large-scale fundraising efforts to working one-on-one with residents in need, this year’s Good Citizen Awards recognized students, adults and groups who have made a difference in Wheaton.

Student Category award recipients include:

• Heidi Nassos, Wheaton Warrenville South High School, who raised $17,434 for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation through six years of lemonade stands and bake sales. The award also recognized her outstanding athletic and scholastic achievements.
• Patrick Fitzgerald, Wheaton Warrenville South High School, dedicated 80 hours toward his Eagle Scout project restoring the central water feature in the school’s Memorial Garden, which honors students and staff who have passed away.
• Ugna Dinsmonaite, Glenbard South High School, serves as a student leader in a program matching regular education students with students who have developmental disabilities and also serves as a bible camp leader and Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital volunteer, in addition to achieving high academic honors.
• Samuel Carlson, St. Francis High School, volunteered many hours as a religious education instructor at St. Michael’s parish and on a mission trip to renovate houses for people in need in a rural mountain area.
• Lisa Mordell, St. Francis High School, completed 30 hours of service as a dietary volunteer at Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital, working with patients with serious medical problems.
• Narra Moreen, St. Francis High School, volunteered more than 40 hours of service in the pediatric department of Marianjoy Rehabilitation Center, assisting speech and occupational therapists.

Adult Category award recipients include:

• Susan Dansdill is the Battle of the Books volunteer leader at Washington Elementary School. The award recognized the many hours she spends preparing for lessons and leading 30 students, in addition to teaching religious education at her church and being an Art Smart teacher at Washington Elementary School.
• Anne Wanzenberg has served as Longfellow’s PTA president, raising funds for students to participate in field trips who could not otherwise afford them. She also volunteers her time through the City’s Police and Fire Commission and through fundraising activities to serve others who are less fortunate.
• Kenna Anderson continually supports Wheaton Warrenville South’s academic and athletic programs, fundraising for a cancer fund she started in her daughter’s name, and she provided foundational support to fund a scholarship honoring celebrated teacher Tom Todd.
• Chris Ellerman has been the director of Outreach Community Ministries for more than 20 years. His efforts have focused on helping disadvantaged and troubled youth, mentoring them to self-reliance and adulthood.
• Ron Smith has served as a Cub and Boy Scout adult leader for 12 years. He has devoted much of his time mentoring scouts and attending training classes to become a better leader.
• Randy Carey, a retired Army Lieutenant, led children in boot camps at Lincoln and Whittier Elementary Schools, volunteered his time through Edison’s PTA, coached youth soccer and basketball teams and led a number of programs focusing on character and leadership at Wheaton Evangelical Free Church.
• Heather Johnson volunteers her time to Briar Glen Elementary School, including the overwhelmingly successful Science Club she started to inspire students to become more interested in science. Approximately one-quarter of the school participates in Science Club.

Group Category award recipients include:

• DuPage Master Gardeners of DuPage Convalescent Center volunteer their time to improve the quality of life of Convalescent Center residents through therapeutic horticulture. More than 30 Master Gardeners work weekly with resident gardeners in growing flowers and vegetables that are planted, harvested and enjoyed by residents or donated to the People’s Resource Center. The volunteers helped host a Garden Walk, won a grant to build a wheelchair accessible Rainbow Garden, and have been instrumental in the Convalescent Center building an outdoor classroom.
• Rick and Tammy Erickson created the Framed Reflections Project, which honored numerous servicemen and servicewomen in the community, displaying photos and memoirs of their service and culminating in a Veteran’s Day Service.
• High school students Emma Sporer, Christina Adams, Jess Stransky and Jordan Wicks created the Kickball Classic for the Ross K. MacNeill Foundation to end pediatric brain cancer. The event raised more than $3,500 for pediatric brain cancer research, and more than 100 people participated.

The Community Relations Commission’s awards help recognize and thank those who make quiet, generous and often extraordinary contributions to the community. This includes volunteer service for a school, church, nursing home, civic group or non-profit organization.