North High School to Recognize Two Alumni with "Awards of Excellence"

Submitted by North High School.
Photos: Karen (Badendick) Laio and Dr. Kevin Michael Miles (in high school and current day)

North High has selected two alumni members to receive its “Alumni Award of Excellence” for 2014. Karen (Badendick) Laio, Class of 1973 and Kevin Michael Myles, Ph.D., Class of 1952, will be recognized at the all-school homecoming assembly, parade and reception on Friday, October 24.

A lifelong Downers Grove resident, Karen (Badendick) Laio served as a teacher for 33 years. Throughout her career in education, she worked with students of all ages and abilities. Laio taught in elementary, middle and high schools, including Districts 58 and 99 as well as Westmont 201. She has served as physical education K-12, science 7th and 8th and 2nd, 4th and 5th grade classroom teacher, as well as a coach for a variety of sports. She received a Bachelor of Science in Education from Illinois State University and a Master of Science in Adult Corporate Fitness from the University of Illinois at Chicago. After retiring in 2010, she was recruited by the Bulls Sox Training Academy to serve as a health and wellness speaker and has recently branched out into the corporate arena. In addition to her professional accomplishments, she has been a dedicated mentor to other teachers and an active community volunteer serving on numerous committees, including the Grove Foundation, which is a strong supporter of Helping Girls Navigate Adolescence (HGNA), Seaspar, and many other local community programs.

After graduating from Downers Grove (North) High School in 1952, Dr. Kevin Michael Myles received a B.S. and M.S. in metallurgical engineering and a doctor of philosophy in solid state physics from the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana. He directed a technical program to develop electrochemical technologies, resulting in the creation of lithium-ion batteries that are currently installed in Chevrolet Volt electric cars. He was deputy division director at Argonne National Laboratory, working to solve metallurgical problems in nuclear reactor fuels and to design terrorist-resistant nuclear-power reactors. He reached the rank of major in the U.S. Army and served in the Korean War. His unique background has led him to serve as an international energy liaison to the U.S. State Department as well as a technical advisor to congressmen and presidents. His significant community service includes serving as a member of the District 58 school board for nine years.

Laio and Myles will be introduced to the student body during homecoming at North High, and they will visit classrooms to share their stories with students and be recognized at an all-school assembly.

“We’re very excited to welcome both Karen and Kevin back to North High during homecoming week,” says North High Principal Scott Kasik. “They are both highly accomplished people and incredible representatives of our school.”

The “Alumni Award of Excellence” program was designed to recognize graduates of North High who have contributed in an exceptional manner to society, whether in the areas of science, government, community, humanitarianism, athletics or fine arts. This highest of Alumni awards recognizes those who have exhibited outstanding leadership, character and service.