Windy City Warrior and Wheaton Warrenville South senior Erik Todd signed his letter of intent at school to play for the University of Missouri. Todd will join the wheelchair basketball team in the fall of 2012.“I am so thrilled about signing on with Mizzou,” says Todd. "The University of Missouri has a very good reputation in giving support to students with disabilities.  Of all the colleges I looked at, Mizzou does the best at offering me an opportunity to play ball with a great team and to pursue a degree that will offer even more opportunities for the rest of my life." Todd got the chance …

More than 80 Benet Academy students from Wheaton made the fall semester honor roll. First Honors are given to students whose academic average falls between 92-100 and Second Honors for those students between 85-91. Congratulations to the following students: First Honors Seniors: Gregory Arend, Stephanie Blagaich, Lauren Cziesla, Connor Doyle, Madeline Girard, Austin Lantero, Kristin Lillie, Grace Nelson, Frances Roskam, Hope Rubenacker, Jessica Smetana, Kevin Weithers Juniors: Conor Flynn, Colleen Hickey, James Hickey, Lucas Masse, Erin McHugh, Joseph Moran, Courtney Oei, Vincent Stephen …

Name: Henry "Addison" Euhus Age: 17 School: Wheaton North High School Key to Awesomeness: Addison was the only student from Community Unit School District 200 to be selected as one of 3,000 candidates for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program. The program, established in 1964, recognizes the nation's most "distinguished graduating high school seniors," according to its website. Addison is also a National Merit semifinalist. He scored a perfect 36 on the ACT, placed in the top three in the two times he competed in the Illinois Council of Teachers of Mathematics State Math Competition and is …

When the combined teams of Bartlett, Wheaton North, West Chicago, St. Francis, Elgin Academy and Wheaton Christian Academy are not on the ice mixing it up with other local area teams,they are out in the community making other people’s worlds much brighter. The boys gathered earlier in the season to sell bags of groceries for a donation to charity. Last weekend they took gifts and food to the Midwest Shelter. Sunday, Dec. 18, the boys each brought in a toy for the toy drive they conducted during the Fan Appreciation Night held at Fox Valley Arena. The toy drive was for the Help the ELF Program…

Boy Scout Troop 35 of Wheaton is once again gearing up for its holiday wreath and greenery sales. Troop 35 has been selling the holiday favorites for more than 25 years. They will have some new products this year including boxwood wreaths, spruce tops and mailbox swags. The Troop kicks off their sales by participating in the Wheaton Christmas Parade on Friday, Nov. 25. You can also visit them at Gary United Methodist Church on the following dates: Friday and Saturday, November 25-26th 9am-4pm, Sunday, November 27th 10am-4pm and Saturday 12/3 9am-4pm. Their largest retail location is at the …

After finishing their season with an 8-2 record, the Wheaton Park District U9 girls Wings soccer team celebrated at a party where they made Christmas gifts for children who may not otherwise have any this year.  The team of 10 girls filled two shoeboxes with gifts for the Operation Christmas Child Initiative, which sends them to third world countries and impoverished areas of the United States. The Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes include a toy, an educational gift, a hygiene item, sweets and a personal note from the giver. The Wings made two boxes for girls, ages 5-9, Sammons said.  "It's…

Name: Lauren Liebman, 15 and Marianthie Wank, 16 School: Wheaton North High School Key to Awesomeness: Last May, Lauren Liebman and Marianthie Wank each earned a coveted spot playing in the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra (CYSO) at the Concert Orchestra Level. Practices are every Saturday with the girls catching a 7:53 am train and not returning home until 5:30. They also practice 15-20 hours each week, maintain a rigorous course load and find time for other activities. Liebman plays the French horn and is co-principal, meaning she plays either first or second chair depending on the piece of…

Benet Academy's Advanced Placement Program last week recognized students who achieved outstanding scores on multiple AP exams. This year, 103 students from the Classes of 2011 and 2012 were honored as AP scholars. Ten of the students are Wheaton natives. AP Scholar Awards, granted to students who received grades of 3 or higher on three or more AP exams, were given to:  Brendan Flynn ’11  Jack Haines ’12 Emily Jendra ’11 Alicia Kranjc ’12 Frances Roskam ’12 Sara Spittler ‘11 AP Scholar with Honors recognitions were granted to students who received an average grade of at least 3.25 on all AP …

Name: Ethan Sebela Colangelo, Age: 12 School: Hubble Middle School Key to Awesomeness: Ethan Sebela Colangelo, 12, raised $150 to buy food and supplies to donate to People's Resource Center (PRC) during Make A Difference Day last weekend.  Sebela Colangelo is involved in his church youth group, he is the first chair in Hubble's 6th grade orchestra, and he devotes his time to volunteerism in and outside of the classroom. With the assignment to do something charitable in the community for his 6th grade social studies class, Sebela Colangelo researched PRC and found their list of most needed …

Name: Drew Stoneburner Age: 12 School: Monroe Middle School Key to Awesomeness: Drew Stoneburner is bewildered at how US veterans are treated and how many end up homeless. “It’s really sad,” he said, “They’ve done so much for our country and we’re putting them on the street. It kills me. They deserve our respect and so much more.” Last year, when Stoneburner was in fifth grade at Emerson Elementary, he entered a Rotary contest, devising a plan to raise funds for the Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans. “He won second place, thus giving him an even bigger incentive to continue,” said Melissa…

Name: Jonny Behrens Age: 17 School: Wheaton Warrenville South High School Key to Awesomeness: Jonny Behrens, self-described as "optimistic, motivated and dedicated," is a senior who thrives when leading others to give back to the community and is passionate about improving the world. Behrens has been involved with South Outreach since the club began his freshman year. He took over as the leader during his junior year. South Outreach is dedicated to spreading awareness about poverty and the homeless. The club arranges speakers, including previously homeless individuals. It also participates in…

Name: Michael Herrmann Age: 13 School: St. Michael Parish School Key to Awesomeness: Michael Herrmann, a seventh grader at St. Michael Parish School, plays the organ for all school masses and for St. Michael Church. He’s been playing the piano since first grade and became interested in learning to play the organ after tinkering with his Grandma’s organ. Herrmann bugged his mom, Maureen, for organ lessons for an entire year before she agreed. “Michael was enthralled with playing the organ because it has so much more to offer than the piano,” said Maureen Herrmann. When her son was in fourth …

Name: Laura Hagen Age: 17 School: Wheaton Warrenville South High School Key to Awesomeness: Laura Hagen is a senior at Wheaton Warrenville South with a passion for animals. For eight years Hagen has volunteered at the Naperville Area Human Society, where she goes on outreach events and walks and socializes with the cats and dogs there. "It has been a wonderful experience," she said.  In addition, Hagen is a Junior Zookeeper volunteer at Cosley Zoo, something she has done for 6 years. She handles animals, educates the public about conservation and native Illinois species, and attends monthly …

Instead of recognizing one of the many Whiz Kids in Wheaton this week, Patch recognizes those who support them after Wheaton proclaimed September as PTA Membership Recognition Month Tuesday.  This summer, Twelve District 200 school Parent Teacher Associations (PTA) gifted $197,000 to the district and gave 29 scholarships to Wheaton Warrenville students this year.  As the largest child advocacy association in the nation, PTA organizes and provides assemblies, field trips, events, charity drive and volunteer efforts that give District 200 students the opportunities and tools to become the Whiz …

Three Wheaton residents have earned Presidential Scholarships to North Central College in Naperville. Presidential Scholars from Wheaton who will begin their studies at North Central College in September include (student name, high school, area of study): Martyna Lach, Wheaton-Warrenville South High School, radiation therapy James Maher, Wheaton North High School, computer science Molly Reese, Wheaton-Warrenville South High School, psychology Since 1978, North Central College has offered the Presidential Scholarship to academically talented and highly motivated students. The Presidential …

Name: Jason Soderlund School: University of Illinois Urbana Champaign Key to awesomeness: Soderlund, enrolled in a dual-degree master's program at the University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign, received one of three scholarships awarded by the Northeast Illinois Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). Scholarship Committee Chairman at AIA, Steve Mihelich, said the recipients are "the future of our profession ... the scholarships promote the profession of architecture."

Name: Ben Karmis Age: 17 School: Wheaton North Key to awesomeness: Ben Karmis is busy this summer starting his own electronics repair business—and donating some of his proceeds to charity—and volunteering with Buddy Baseball and the Refugee Ministry at St. Michael’s Church. He got the idea to start a business when his X-Box broke. “I paid—I think—$100 for Microsoft to fix my X-Box and then it just broke again awhile later ... I had it fixed again by another company, but it didn’t last. I was fed up and decided to look up some videos online and learn how to do it myself,” he said. Soon, Karmis…

Name: Micah Tryba School: College of DuPage, formerly Wheaton North Age: 19 Key to awesomeness: For the second consecutive year, Tryba sang the national anthem before the fireworks in Wheaton Sunday, Jul. 3. Tryba said that a show choir friend recommended her to their dad, who was on the planning committee for the Fourth of July festivities. "I was super thrilled that they asked," Tryba said. Was it a nerve-wracking performance? "A little bit," she said. "It's practically me singing in front of the entire town of Wheaton—Just a tiny bit of pressure," she laughed. "I've done the national …

Names: Harper Rowland, Molly Farrell and Katie McElheney.  Grade: Recent high school grads Accomplishment: Rowland, Farrell and McElheney were three of 22 students who received $50,000 in scholarships for post-high school education in the greater Chicago area by the Marianjoy Scholarship Program. The students, some of which are former Marianjoy patients, are attending colleges and universities all across the country including the University of Illinois, University of Illinois-Chicago, Illinois State University, DePaul University, Southern Illinois University, Arizona State University, Western…

Name: Sarah Cook Age/grade: 17, recent WNHS grad Accomplishment: National Merit Scholarship finalist Key to getting there: Cook was surprised to find out she was a National Merit Scholarship finalist. "I filled out the application, wrote the essay, and took the SAT like everyone else. I didn't think I'd get it," she said. Wheaton Mayor Mike Gresk honored Cook and other finalists at the City Council meeting Monday, Jun. 20. The National Merit Scholarship Corporation works with colleges all over the country to provide scholarships to its finalists. "It feels really great. Many of the colleges I…