Congratulations to the 19 Joliet Public Schools District 86 students who were named recipients of the annual Joliet Region Hawk Education Scholarship. Students in grades 4-8 who maintained a grade point average of 3.75 or above on a 4.0 scale and demonstrated service to their school or community were nominated by school officials for the award to encourage them to start planning for their future educational goals. The $1,000 scholarships will be held in a Joliet Chamber Foundation trust until the students graduate high school and enroll in a college, university, or trade school.
This year there were 42 winners including the following Joliet Public Schools District 86 students: Natalya Contreras, T.E. Culbertson Elementary; Geovanna Garcia, M.J. Cunningham Elementary; Kennedy Sims-Houston, Dirksen Junior High; Tyler Semplinski, Eisenhower Academy; Citlaly Montero, Farragut Elementary; Raquel Chavez, Forest Park Individual Education (I.E.); Edgar Cornejo-Murillo, Gompers Junior High; Leonel Mireles, Hufford Junior High; Ivan Martinez, Thomas Jefferson Elementary; Ariel Arciga, Edna Keith Elementary; Jazlyn Reyes, A.O. Marshall Elementary; Evelyn Brambila, Pershing Elementary; Ramon Mejia, Sator Sanchez Elementary; Jacob Little, Carl Sandburg Elementary; Jesus Camacho, Isaac Singleton Elementary; Sophia McCaffrey, Taft Elementary; Jillyan King, Lynne Thigpen Elementary; Marc Santos, Washington Junior High; and Matias Serna Gomez, Woodland Elementary.
The students were recognized by the Joliet Public Schools District 86 Board of School Inspectors at their May school board meeting. Each student received an award trophy, media, and yard sign to display at their home.