Dupage Policy Journal

Wheaton City Council, during its May 15 meeting recognized local high school students for academic success, a state championship and acts of positive citizenship.

During the meeting, which was streamed online, Mayor Phillip Suess was joined by the council and members of the DuPage community to recognize area high school students who were recipients of National Merit Scholarships for a proclamation in their honor. It was noted during the meeting that the National Merit Scholarship Program, established in 1955, honors the academic achievements of the top students nationwide, with about 1.5 million entrants and 16,000 semifinalists chosen, just 15,000 move on to become finalists.

“Merit Scholar designees are selected on the basis of their skills, accomplishments and potential success in rigorous college studies,’ Suess read from the proclamation during the meeting.

Suess then read each student’s name and they were presented with a certificate. The scholars honored at the meeting included Elija P. Berry, Sangeetha Santhanu and Maya Bose, all from Wheaton Warrenville South High School. From Wheaton North High School, Molly Robben, Dixon Stapleton, Luke Wells and Micah Yoder, and from Wheaton Academy, Luke Dederich, Vander England and Kate Johnston.

Scholars also honored but not in attendance were Ashley Huang and Aaditi Wadia, Wheaton North High School; Nathan Gilbert, Benet Academy; and Griffin James Burke, Glenbard South High School.

Community Relations Commission member Meg Beasly recognized the Good Citizens Award recipients, handing out those awards to three students, including Jacob Halter, Wheaton North High School; Dylan Ochs, Wheaton Academy; and Charlie Surber, Franklin Middle School.

“We have hosted this Good Citizens Awards for the last 20 years,” Beasly noted.

The council also honored the Wheaton Warrenville South High School Speech Team, comprising 70 students, which earned first place honors at the 2023 Illinois State High School Association Speech State Championship Tournament. This marked the team’s 11th state championship, the most recent before this year’s title in 2021.

During the meeting, it was noted that several members of the team excelled in individual events, including David Allgood, Jacob Purdue, and Sam Rizzo, who each took first place in their respective categories. Several other members of the team, including Tori Barson, Olivia Bouchard, Santiago Mosca, Colin O'Malley and Emily Sklenicka, also placed in their events.