The Indian Prairie Educational Foundation (IPEF) announced the honorees for this year's Excellence in Education program. Each year, the IPEF recognizes students from each of the high schools' academic departments based on their academic performance, a minimum score of 25 on the ACT, and leadership qualities. As part of the recognition, each student is asked to name a teacher who served as a source of inspiration for his or her academic success.
Metea Valley students, followed by their influential educators, are: Art – Emily May (Kathryn Parenti) and Daniel Thomas (Karen Popovich); Business – Benjamin Reynolds (Brian Giovanini), Janaki Patel (Lacy Bugielski) and Michael Lawson (Ryan Rayburn); English – Brooke Eber (Adam Page), Kellee Clay (Kristen Kalivas) and Zachary Kolar (Barbara Thomas); Math – Vignesh Sarathy (Patrick Feulner), Emily Yoshikawa (Natalie Johnson) and Keith Kennedy (John Riddle); Music – Rose Thompson (Ryan Doherty), Victoria Turnbull (Glen Schneider) and Natalie Broschka (Nathan Bramsted); Physical Education, Health and Drivers Ed – Gianna Salerno (Ashley Hartke), Joel Delabre (Casey Solgos) and Samuel Hanson (Alyssa Battaglia); Science – Enkhzaya Amgaabaatar (Michelle Corlew), Mit Shah (Natalie Johnson) and Pranathi Gummadi (Margaret Stokes); Social Studies – Sabrina Im (Donald Pankuch), Tamara Zapata (Dave Luedtke) and Matthew Coley (Christopher Rohde); Media, FACS and TEE – Emily Dixon (Patrick Feulner), Conrad Long (Brent Bloem), Tess McAnally (Cindy Bell) and Rachel Sutphen (Corrine Higgins); World Languages and Early Language Learners – Steven Wei (Elizabeth Hagen), Gabriella Trevino (Heather Weisenburger) and Madison Moser (Ryan Doherty).
Neuqua Valley students, followed by their influential educators, are: Art – Angela Xu (Steven Jones) and Reilly Kincaid (Steven Jones); Business – Allison Kostopoulos (Todd Mertz), Michael Riesner (Matt Fehrmann) and Zach Dupre (John Hanson); English – Joseph Fabrigaras (John Desmond), Emilee Noh (Laura Dabezic) and Kathryn Sepeckels (William Savage, Jr.); Math – James He (Ardis Geighes), Nihar Sheth (William Yanisch) and Kevin Shah (Vanessa Liveris); Music – Katelyn Casey (David Johnston), Joyce Chung (Ann Heath) and Aaron Gatdula (Kelly Dimidik); Physical Education, Health and Drivers Ed – Morgan Smith (Jessie Lavin), Kayln Hugdahl (Laura McCarthy) and Nina Poloni (Shelby Thormeyer); Science – Katherine Guo (Jacqueline Burns), Jacob Hernandez (Michael Kennedy) and Anastassia Sorokina (Jacqueline Burns); Social Studies – Pallavi Sarup (Kelli Tufo), Saumya Jain (Kelli Tufo) and Anders Nelson (Tom Lakiotis); Media, FACS and TEE – Justin Killacky (Joanne Wagoner), Madison Goossens (Leslie Baumann), Jaclyn Kowalski (Corey Duzan) and Haley Champion (John Gelsomino); World Languages and English Language Learners – Avani Pai (Gregory Schwaegler), Shailja Sheth (Katie Ilic) and Kate Johnson (Emily Binde).
Waubonsie Valley students, followed by their influential educators, are: Art – Caroline Rubach (Phil Galow) and Madelyne Williams (Phil Galow); Business – Saaya Nath (Kim Haake), Madison Mullinax (Angie Hysjulien) and Casey Bucz (Brian Acevedo); English – Catalina Bode (Jen Kastner), Courtney Toth (Kim Haake) and Caitlyn Seed (Kelly Rose); Math – Demario Webb (Catherine McClure), Madeline Hunt (Jerrine Roderique) and Katie Benson (Cort Graske); Music – Cara Koepele (James Donahue), James O’Neill (Joshua Chodoroff) and Emily Palmeri (Mark Myers); Physical Education, Health and Drivers Ed – Alyssa Post (Dave Gowing), Matthew Carney (Matthew Ristow) and Erica Yu (Courtney Nowaczyk); Science – Gloria Griffin (James Donahue), Matthew Liu (Kelly Rose) and Darius Ansari (John Burck); Social Studies – Kayla Arroyave (Chris Wolak), Katyayni Gupta (Chris Wolak) and Anna Leger (Nate Gehrt); Media, FACS and TEE – Lauren Tarapchak (Mary Schobert), Kelly Connolly (Lynn Baranak), Jack Timberlake (Steve Skorup) and Tyler Klimcak (Brian Wience); World Languages and English Language Learners – Kushal Herur (Kelly Rose), Alyson Brinkman (Kim Haake) and Milap Madhu (Terry Wister).
The Indian Prairie Educational Foundation was founded in 1988 to complement and enhance the educational opportunities provided to students attending schools in District 204. With the help of private donations received from District businesses, civic organizations, parents and staff members, the Foundation supports the development of program enrichments and services not normally financed with tax dollars. A vital part of the Indian Prairie community, the IPEF provides "educational extras" that make the difference between a very good school system and an excellent one. For more information, visit
IPEF.