The 2025 National Honor Society Awards and Senior Send-Off Ceremony at West Chicago Community High School recognized student achievement and leadership through a night of reflection, service awards, and new traditions. With music by Ella Moffatt and Nick Riconosciuto setting the tone, families gathered in the auditorium to celebrate the accomplishments of this year’s NHS members.
The evening opened with remarks from NHS adviser Leslie Fireman, who thanked families for their support and acknowledged the many achievements that made the program especially full.
Keynote speaker Aaron Hayes, a math teacher selected by students, reflected on the importance of remembering who one is serving. He emphasized giving people what they need when they need it—a mindset that he encouraged students to carry into their future acts of leadership and service—before introducing NHS President Miranda Bucio and Vice President Jessica Thunberg for their officer farewells.
“The speeches that we had from some of the students along with Mr. Hayes were really great, and they gave some good advice to everyone in NHS,” Thunberg said.
Fireman also introduced the incoming officer team for 2025–2026: Lesley Garcia (President), Cristal Salinas (Vice President), Isabella Arreola (Secretary), Valeria Ballines and Alexis Leszczewicz (Service Officers), and Alina Ortiz (Publicity Officer).
“I am feeling very excited and full of lots of good ideas,” Garcia said. “I’m also very excited for ideas that come from other members of NHS, and for more collaboration.”
Marc Wolfe, activities director, led the awards presentation, assisted by Hayes, and juniors Julia Bloss and Grace Kuehn. He highlighted the chapter’s 3,000+ collective service hours and presented students with United Nations Association certificates for their contributions.
Zero Hunger Awards:
- Blue Award (8+ hours): Taylor Frake, Joshua Kotke, Khashika Narain, George Kotke, Zachary Kreitzer, Camila Terrazas, Kody Leano
- Green Award (20+ hours): Daniel Guevara, Julia Koput, Joshua Janowick, Jessie Myers
Service Hour Awards:
- Merit Award (30+ hours): 21 recipients, including Isabella Arreola, Valeria Ballines, Isabella Colburn, Andrea Garcia, Sneha George, Annaliesa Herbst, Eilynne Hernandez, Joshua Janowick, Xochil Lopez, Michaela Miller, Lia Montoya, Gwenneth Nika, Alina Ortiz, Karina Reyes, Alejandra Rocha, Cristal Salinas, Hailey Teran, Camila Terrazas, Nataniel Valenzuela, Ja’Nyah Villa, Ella Warsaw
- Honor Award (60+ hours): Stephanie Alfaro, Daniel Guevara, Addison Jeffery, Julia Koput, Jessica Thunberg
- Ambassador Award (100+ hours): Lesley Garcia, Sophia Garcia, Alexis Leszczewicz, Jessie Myers
“They put in all this hard work throughout the entire year… helping people and becoming a leader. I think it’s really important to just recognize them for trying their hardest and really just putting in the extra hours,” Warsaw said.
The Program of the Year Award went to Leszczewicz for her leadership in organizing the Community March Madness basketball tournament, which raised over $1,000 for the Hundred Club of DuPage County.
Committee chairs were also briefly recognized for their contributions to fundraising, event coordination, and school service initiatives.
In a new tradition, seniors were honored individually with tassels, medals, and a symbolic leaf drop into the NHS planter box – representing the values and intentions they leave behind for future members. Each graduate also signed the NHS chapter banner, joining the legacy of past members.
The ceremony concluded with flashlight beams raised by the audience, honoring the seniors’ lasting impact, as junior Nick Riconosciuto played on the piano. Emily Hanania offered a thank-you to Wolfe for his support, and Wolfe delivered the final remarks to close the evening.
