CNF: Following graduation, what are your educational plans—in which institution do you intend to enroll, and what will be your major field of study?
AM: I will attend the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. I will study under the Agricultural and Consumer Economics program with a concentration in Environmental Policy and Economics.
CNF: Which of your achievements at Lisle High School do you hold in the highest regard?
AM: In high school, I got inducted into the International Thespian Society, which was the result of multiple years of being a part of middle school and high school theater productions. After a couple of years of being inducted, I have won Techie of the Year as a junior and Thespian of the Year as a senior, giving recognition to the work I put in as a stage manager. I am also extremely proud of my Seal of Biliteracy in Spanish, which I started learning in 7th grade. Even earlier, in 6th grade, I joined the Science Olympiad. I am proud of my high school state competition medals: 1st place for Designer Genes from my freshman year and 2nd place for Ecology from my senior year. In addition, my hard work in academics shows through my status as an AP Scholar with Honor and a National Merit Finalist.
CNF: Which educators or staff members at Lisle High School had the most significant impact on you, and what made them so influential?
AM: Many teachers I have known for many years, and thus have been very influential to me. Mrs. Bylsma (English) and Mr. Stellmacher (Choir) are teachers I have had for many years, starting from freshman year. In both of their classes, I can look back to freshman year and clearly see how I have grown in confidence and skill. Being in their classes is a fun experience, so in the moment it can be hard to recognize the improvements made. Yet, if time is taken to look back on the past year, especially the past four years of high school, there is so much that I know I have grown in. I also met Mrs. Honzel (Chemistry) during freshman year, and now, as a senior back in her class for AP Chemistry, I look back fondly on those memories. Mrs. Honzel has a special knack for making a subject like chemistry fun and understandable. Very few teachers are able to say that they make chemistry “easy” (at least easier than expected). Another teacher who is able to make a hard class easy is Mr. Jaegle (Math). He was my coach on the Math Team for four years and was my AP Calculus teacher for my senior year. Going into the class, calculus can be intimidating, but Mr. Jaegle was able to give us the right amount of practice and guidance to make learning calculus as natural as possible. I have also known Mr. Anderson (Science) for four years due to a club: Science Olympiad. Through this activity and in his classes, especially AP Environmental Science, I was able to develop my interest in environmental sciences, which pushed me to pursue further education in this field. Mrs. Schwartz (Science) was also a strong influence on my interest in this field. Taking her Earth Science class and being able to participate in Envirothon due to her organizing the chance to attend the competitions allowed me to learn more about the topics that interested me. I also have to thank Mrs. Meyer, my counselor, for helping me choose my coursework through the years and informing me of all the opportunities I had. With her help, I was able to try new classes as well as push myself to exceed my own expectations. As a Student Ambassador, under her guidance, I was able to also help other students, be a leader, and overcome my own fears. All of these teachers and staff members have played an integral role in my high school experience, allowing me to grow to be a better person.
CNF: After reaching your next academic milestone, what personal or professional goals do you aim to achieve?
AM: After a bachelor’s degree, I hope to get a graduate degree in my field. As a career, I would like to work with policymakers to improve and implement better environmental policies or even go into a research field. Later, I would be interested in teaching others about what I know. As a personal goal, I hope to continue to sing in choirs and be a part of theater programs. These have brought me joy and have become treasured memories, so I hope to continue the experiences in the future.
CNF: The Lisle Alumni have contributed significantly to the CNF scholarship program, and as a recipient of a $4,500 award: please express to the alumni what the award means to you and how it will assist you in accomplishing your objectives. The alumni have given over $300,000 for the CNF program over the years, and it would be helpful if we could relay your personal gratitude for their support.
AM: Through getting the Beverly Fiore Scholarship, I feel that my efforts in the theater do not go unnoticed. As part of the stage crew and as a stage manager, there are many factors of the show depending on us, yet there is not nearly the same recognition as for the actors. Having recognition through this award helps justify the long hours and hard work that is put in behind the scenes in so many shows. The money from this award will also help to relieve the financial worries that come with attending college. The University of Illinois or Urbana Champaign has a great program for environmental sciences, so I was very interested in attending the school. This award will lessen the worry about the cost of attending. I am extremely grateful for the amount that has been awarded to me. Thank you!
AM: I will attend the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. I will study under the Agricultural and Consumer Economics program with a concentration in Environmental Policy and Economics.
CNF: Which of your achievements at Lisle High School do you hold in the highest regard?
AM: In high school, I got inducted into the International Thespian Society, which was the result of multiple years of being a part of middle school and high school theater productions. After a couple of years of being inducted, I have won Techie of the Year as a junior and Thespian of the Year as a senior, giving recognition to the work I put in as a stage manager. I am also extremely proud of my Seal of Biliteracy in Spanish, which I started learning in 7th grade. Even earlier, in 6th grade, I joined the Science Olympiad. I am proud of my high school state competition medals: 1st place for Designer Genes from my freshman year and 2nd place for Ecology from my senior year. In addition, my hard work in academics shows through my status as an AP Scholar with Honor and a National Merit Finalist.
CNF: Which educators or staff members at Lisle High School had the most significant impact on you, and what made them so influential?
AM: Many teachers I have known for many years, and thus have been very influential to me. Mrs. Bylsma (English) and Mr. Stellmacher (Choir) are teachers I have had for many years, starting from freshman year. In both of their classes, I can look back to freshman year and clearly see how I have grown in confidence and skill. Being in their classes is a fun experience, so in the moment it can be hard to recognize the improvements made. Yet, if time is taken to look back on the past year, especially the past four years of high school, there is so much that I know I have grown in. I also met Mrs. Honzel (Chemistry) during freshman year, and now, as a senior back in her class for AP Chemistry, I look back fondly on those memories. Mrs. Honzel has a special knack for making a subject like chemistry fun and understandable. Very few teachers are able to say that they make chemistry “easy” (at least easier than expected). Another teacher who is able to make a hard class easy is Mr. Jaegle (Math). He was my coach on the Math Team for four years and was my AP Calculus teacher for my senior year. Going into the class, calculus can be intimidating, but Mr. Jaegle was able to give us the right amount of practice and guidance to make learning calculus as natural as possible. I have also known Mr. Anderson (Science) for four years due to a club: Science Olympiad. Through this activity and in his classes, especially AP Environmental Science, I was able to develop my interest in environmental sciences, which pushed me to pursue further education in this field. Mrs. Schwartz (Science) was also a strong influence on my interest in this field. Taking her Earth Science class and being able to participate in Envirothon due to her organizing the chance to attend the competitions allowed me to learn more about the topics that interested me. I also have to thank Mrs. Meyer, my counselor, for helping me choose my coursework through the years and informing me of all the opportunities I had. With her help, I was able to try new classes as well as push myself to exceed my own expectations. As a Student Ambassador, under her guidance, I was able to also help other students, be a leader, and overcome my own fears. All of these teachers and staff members have played an integral role in my high school experience, allowing me to grow to be a better person.
CNF: After reaching your next academic milestone, what personal or professional goals do you aim to achieve?
AM: After a bachelor’s degree, I hope to get a graduate degree in my field. As a career, I would like to work with policymakers to improve and implement better environmental policies or even go into a research field. Later, I would be interested in teaching others about what I know. As a personal goal, I hope to continue to sing in choirs and be a part of theater programs. These have brought me joy and have become treasured memories, so I hope to continue the experiences in the future.
CNF: The Lisle Alumni have contributed significantly to the CNF scholarship program, and as a recipient of a $4,500 award: please express to the alumni what the award means to you and how it will assist you in accomplishing your objectives. The alumni have given over $300,000 for the CNF program over the years, and it would be helpful if we could relay your personal gratitude for their support.
AM: Through getting the Beverly Fiore Scholarship, I feel that my efforts in the theater do not go unnoticed. As part of the stage crew and as a stage manager, there are many factors of the show depending on us, yet there is not nearly the same recognition as for the actors. Having recognition through this award helps justify the long hours and hard work that is put in behind the scenes in so many shows. The money from this award will also help to relieve the financial worries that come with attending college. The University of Illinois or Urbana Champaign has a great program for environmental sciences, so I was very interested in attending the school. This award will lessen the worry about the cost of attending. I am extremely grateful for the amount that has been awarded to me. Thank you!
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