Senior Angel Lopez, along with fellow National Honor Society member David Pachon Dimate, hosted a soccer tournament at the West Chicago Community High School’s Memorial Stadium on November 22.
Lopez, a member of the National Honor Society (NHS), organized the event as part of his required community service hours. He collaborated with his colleague, David Pachon, to create a fun and engaging opportunity for students who enjoy soccer while simultaneously raising funds.
“I’ve wanted to make a soccer tournament because I thought it would’ve been fun, but I felt like I didn’t have the power. Once I joined NHS and heard about the PLP, I realized that I could do it with a purpose, which was that I could turn it into a fundraiser to help out the kids who love soccer but don’t have the money to play with a good ball, good shoes, or good mentors,” Lopez said.
The tournament featured several teams competing in three games, followed by semi-finals and a championship game. The winning team received medals and a trophy. Tickets were sold for $4, and Lopez raised over $200 by selling snacks, such as chips, and drinks, including hot chocolate. Pachon contributed by bringing snacks and designing promotional flyers for the event.
“The tournament went very well. As someone that didn’t play and was refereeing, I enjoyed every moment. I could see that everyone playing was also having lots of fun,” senior Marvin Maldonado said.
“A lot of people showed up to support Angel. I liked the people that went—we had fun. Something that surprised me was that my team won, and we received medals and a small trophy,” senior Diego Flores said.
Initially uncertain about the event’s success, Lopez expressed satisfaction with the results. The money raised will benefit a good cause through his participation in NHS. Boys from the high school participated in teams during the event, which lasted from approximately 4 to 7 p.m. on November 22. Lopez plans to organize similar events in the future to foster inclusivity and build on the success of this tournament. Participants shared their pride in Lopez’s efforts and their enjoyment of playing at a competitive level.
“I think there was a lot of competition and love for the sport. Something that surprised me was the level of determination to win,” senior Carlos Hernandez said.
