Spirit of Excellence Awards
Nearly two-hundred guests attended the first annual Lake Park Spirit of Excellence Celebration
Dinner on Thursday, March 19. The awards and dinner were sponsored by the Lake Park
Educational Foundation. The evening was filled with excitement and promise. The Spirit
of Excellence Awards were created to honor excellence at Lake Park High School. Awards were
given to distinguished alumni, staff, and senior students.
Spirit of Excellence Alumni Honorees:
James Zielinski (Class of ’83) – Jim is a video game designer for Incredible Technologies, the leading manufacturer of coin-operated video games in the United States. Jim and a colleague invented and developed the video game “Golden Tee Golf”, which has become the most successful coin-operated video game of all time. Besides co-designing the game, Jim is also the sole golf course architect. He has designed over 90 Golden Tee golf courses since the game’s inception nineteen years ago. It has averaged over $157 million in earnings annually, which is ten times more than the average Hollywood movie. Jim has won numerous awards in his field, including the Innovator Award from the American Machine Operators Association in 2008 for Golden Tee LIVE and the 2005 Operator’s Choice Award from Play Meter Magazine for the Best Video Game for Silver Strike Bowling.
Commander Thomas Zwolfer (Class of ’84) – Thomas graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1988 with a B.S. in Naval Architecture. He also earned an M.A. in Business Administration while he was stationed at Pearl Harbor from Chaminade University in Hawaii. Commander Zwolfer has dedicated his career to the U.S. Navy. He has served as the commanding officer for the nuclear submarine, USS Bremerton, and as an executive officer for the nuclear submarine, USS Charlotte. He is currently assigned to the Pentagon as the Undersea Analysis Team Lead. Last year, he attended the Joint and Combined Warfighting School at the Joint Forces Staff College in Norfolk, Virginia. Commander Zwolfer’s awards and decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, and Navy Commendation Medal.
Spirit of Excellence Staff Honorees:
Don Fulmer – Don has been a social studies teacher at Lake Park High School West Campus for the past 11 years. Don’s innovation in the classroom and commitment to student learning is shown through his ongoing work with the Johnson Presidential Library and Museum partnership. Don combines his dry sense of humor with a deep knowledge of his craft to create engaging and motivating lessons for his students. He is admired by his peers, holding leadership roles within the Lake Park Education Association. His collaborative style, high quality work and integrity as a leader are helpful when challenges arise. Don has also been instrumental in recent curriculum renewal efforts.
Kristin Harrington – Kristin is a veteran teacher, having taught at Lake Park for 22 years. Each year, Kristin volunteers to teach the lowest track of math courses at East Campus. Kristin’s investment in each student’s success is shown by her willingness to tutor her students before or after school and her ability to diversify her teaching strategies so that every student can learn. Many teachers are inspired by Kristin’s kind-heartedness, professionalism, and her belief that all can achieve. In addition to being an excellent teacher, Kristin helps new teachers make the transition into the classroom as smooth as possible by taking them under her wing. Kristin has worked on numerous projects and committees, including co-creating the Geometry B math course.
Lynnae Koroll – For the past 11 years, Lynnae has been a one-person welcoming committee at East Campus, greeting visitors, students and staff with her smiling face and warm attitude. She takes extra care with our new students, getting to know them during their lunch periods and asking about their interests. She then introduces them to other students with similar interests, encouraging them to get involved in one of Lake Park’s many extracurricular activities. Lynnae also helps students who can’t afford supplies by either collecting gently used supplies or purchasing them herself. She is just as concerned about her colleagues and makes everyone feel special, particularly when someone is going through a difficult time.
Rosa Novielli – “Smiling”, “caring”, and “amazing” are three words colleagues used to describe Rosa. She has worked at Lake Park High School for 23 years; 13 years in food service with Marriott and Sodexo and 10 years in the duplication department at West Campus. Rosa keeps well ahead of schedule with her jobs so that when last minute requests come in, she is also able to complete those for staff. Rosa makes everyone feel special by taking the time to listen.
Spirit of Excellence Student Honorees:
Patrick Brambert has a GPA of 5.0 and is a member of the National Honor Society. He has been on the LPHS soccer team for four years and the track team for three years. He has volunteered in a variety of community-related activities, including: YWCA Addison Child Development Center; Bloomingdale soccer pee-wee league; and the Westfield Middle School summer band. Patrick takes the seed of an idea and not only makes it grow but then asks, “ How can it be even better for the greater good?”
Kelsey Coleman has a GPA of 5.0 and has helped children with special needs since she was in third grade. While in middle school, she initiated a peer mentoring/tutoring program called STARS – Students Teaching and Reaching Students. When she started at Lake Park, she began this program through her involvement in Student Council and also helped bring Special Olympics to the school. Kelsey was named to the Daily Herald Leadership Team. She has been on the swim and gymnastics teams and served as captains for both of those teams this year.
Zorina Disheva has a GPA of 5.3 and has taken no less than fourteen honors and AP courses while at Lake Park while earning the highest honor roll each semester. She tried cheerleading her sophomore year but later chose to volunteer with a local, youth cheer squad for the past two years. Zorina is a natural leader. As analytical and expressive as she is, she is always ready to help others. She participated in Lake Park’s exchange program with Helene-Lange Gymnasium and also hosted a student here.
Meghan Finley has a GPA of 5.1 and has been a cheerleader for the past four years, in choir for three, and in jazz choir and chamber choir for the past two years. She has also been a cast member of the Spring Musicals for the past three years. At church, she plays in the Allegro Bells and has taught Vacation Bible School for several years. Meghan has done all this while achieving the highest honor roll for the past seven semesters at LPHS. When things get tough, Meghan shows a deep inner strength.
Lindsay Flanagan is a very hard working student and athlete with a GPA of 4.9 and is the best girls’ runner in Lake Park history. She is captain of the girls’ track and cross-country teams. She has qualified for state three years and was state champion this year. During this past season, Lindsay set seven course records. She is the first girl in Illinois cross-country history to be an All-American in both National Championship races by finishing 5th in the Nike National and 9th in the Footlocker National. She holds school records in the 1600 and 3200 and was the indoor state champ in the 3200 last year.
Meredith Francsis has a GPA of 4.5 and is an active member of the Lake Park theatre and International Thespian Society. She has organized three LPHS improvedy performances to raise thousands of dollars for various charities. Her ideas and creativitiy encourage her peers. She has spent countless hours backstage over the past four years teaching her fellow Lancers how to construct sets and prepare the lights for various productions. Whenever someone needs help, Meredith is there to lend a hand. She will graduate with the highest accumulation of Thespian points in Troupe 3516’s history!
Joelle Jach has a GPA of 5.5 and is a National Merit Scholar. In addition, she is in National Honor Society and has been in Youth and Government the past three years and was on the cross-country team for three years. Joelle has been on the highest honor roll since she was a freshman. She volunteers at the Danada Equestrian Center four hours per week, feeding and watering the horses and cleaning their stalls. Joelle also volunteers to tutor grade school students at the Bloomingdale Public Library.
Bryant Honsa has a GPA of 5.0 and is a state champion swimmer. To reach the level of swimming excellence that Bryant has achieved requires great talent, and so much more. Such excellence does not occur without extraordinary self-discipline and focus. What makes his success even more impressive is his ability to achieve academically while attaining success outside the classroom. While serving as captain of the boys’ swim team for the past three years, he also earned the highest honor roll all four years. Last year, Bryant was the state champion in the 500 freestyle and placed 4th in the 200 freestyle.
Katie Kilbridge has a GPA of 5.5 and shows her diverse strength in the activities she has been involved in while at Lake Park. She has been on the girls’ golf team, student council, and German club during her entire career at Lake Park. She is currently president of both the National Honor Society and the Student Council and does this while still taking three AP classes. She was instrumental in setting up “Homework Buddies” at the Bloomingdale Library and organized an electronic database for all the NHS members. Katie is intelligent, honest, kind, funny, self-starting and has a true passion for learning.
Ugne Klibaite has a GPA of 5.6 and has been on the girls’ track team the past four years. She has also been on the math team and science club the last two years and is vice-president of the National Honor Society. Ugnes has turned her seven-period day into an eight-period day for the past two years. She begins her day at 6:30 am with early bird PE and ends at 2:16 pm with AP Biology. Ugne was a member of marching band for two years but realized that her real passion was track and field, especially pole vaulting. She constantly strives to do her best in whatever she takes on and is humble about her accomplishments (she’s ranked #1 in her class).
Kevin McKeown has a GPA of 4.7 and has been on the boys’ golf and track teams for the past four years. He is also captain of his hockey team. Kevin’s work ethic has made him a leader on the teams. He does things the right way because it is the right thing to do. He never hesitates to help younger athletes on the team and therefore serves as a great mentor. Despite his impressive workload, Kevin still finds the time to serve his community by volunteering as a baseball coach and helping with several charitable organizations.
Tiffany Parrillo has a GPA of 5.2 and has been on the class council and badminton team the past four years. In addition, she has also been active in her church and at the Roselle Public Library. Early on in her academic career, Tiffany’s placement in a couple of classes was not at the honors level. However, through her own advocacy and hard work she demonstrated that she was more than capable of taking on the challenges of honors and AP courses. She has always sought the important challenges and followed through with the work ethic needed to succeed. Tiffany is also a three time state qualifier in badminton.
David Pileski has a GPA of 4.4 and has been a member of the student council for four years. He has been president the past two years. He is also a member of the Illinois State Student Council the past two years and is president of the Northeast District. David is also in Youth in Government and the community peer jury. David is not only a dedicated organizer, but also a very capable leader who builds capacity and involves others. David takes into consideration all of the student body when planning and organizing activities and fundraisers.
Catherine Rivera has a GPA of 5.4 and has played piano at the Bloomingdale School of Music since she was six years old. She is also a member of the Aspire Dance Company in Bloomingdale and has been dancing since she was three years old. Last year, she was part of the National Dance Championship Small Group Jazz division. She also is an assistant dance teacher. She volunteers as a Crew Leader in the summer bible camp at her church and tutors three fellow Lake Park students.
Sydney Seal has a GPA of 5.2 and has been a member of the symphonic band/wind ensemble for the past four years. She was in marching band for three years. She is also a member of the concert choir, jazz/swing choir and musical theater. From a very young age Sydney has inherently done the “right” thing, guided by an innate sense of responsibility. She looks at a problem not as a problem, but as a mystery waiting to be solved. Piece by piece, she assimilates information, constantly searching for answers as well as questions yet to be asked.
Kaele Way has a GPA of 5.1 and has been a member of the marching band and pit orchestra for the past three years. She was the drum major this year. By participating in the marching band program, Kaele not only exemplified what it means to be a member of the well-respected, award winning band program but she also led the entire group of band members with her ongoing level of determination, pride and a lot of hard work.
Jonathon Winarski has a GPA of 4.5, was Mr. Lancer last year and has been an active member of the fine arts program at Lake Park. He is a board member of the Thespian team, on the Speech team, and in group interpretation. In addition, he serves on the Roselle/Itasca Peer Jury and volunteers with the youth ministry of his church. His enthusiastic personality draws other students to join because they enjoy being around him and he makes the activity fun. Jon is someone who always has a kind work, smile to give, or will help pick up your books in the hallway, even if he does not know you.