Dupage Policy Journal

The Elmhurst District 205 School Board honored several students for their achievements during a meeting on Dec. 13.

The district recognized several academic and sports teams, including E-Sports, which had three players make it to the top 100 in state competition; the girls' tennis team, which placed sixth in state; girls' swimming and diving team, which won the sectional championship; the girls' volleyball team for winning the regional championship; and football team which won a conference championship with a 9-0 record, setting a record for the most victories in a season.

The board also read a proclamation honoring Assistant Athletic Director Nicole Bellecomo-Young, who was named Illinois Assistant Athletic Director of the Year for Division 3A and 4A by the Illinois Athletic Directors Association. 

"I just think it's so appropriate," board Secretary Courtenae Trautmann said during the meeting. "We were supposed to give Nicole this proclamation at our last board meeting. Scheduling conflicts arose, and I just think it's so appropriate that we're doing it tonight when we have all these amazing accomplishments being highlighted."

Bellecomo-Young was recognized for her commitment and care for student-athletes.

"I think that we all know if you're a parent of a kid in any type of sports, it's the people behind the scenes like Nicole that make all the magic happen so that all of these things run smoothly," Trautmann added, "so without you, I can't even imagine what it would look like. So thank you from the bottom of my heart for all you do for your work and all of our students here, and especially in the athletic program."

The board also recognized the York High School Journalism department for its recent efforts in the JEANSPA Fall National High School Journalism Convention, where York students earned two awards for excellence and five honorable mentions across categories such as editorial writing, sports writing, news editing, press/law/ethics, yearbook, and more.

The York High School girls' cross country team was recognized for placing second in the state meet and earning the best score in school history. Coach Lauren Deangelis was named Coach of the Year for by the National Federation of State High School Associations. 

The boys' soccer team was recognized for placing fourth in the state and winning regional, sectional, and super-sectional champs along the way. Head coach Jordan Stopka, was named Coach of the Year by the Illinois High School Soccer Coaches Association.