Engagement award for Moraine Valley alum; Eisenhower students lauded for volunteerism
Louwaillen Krupa, alumna of Moraine Valley Community College, has won the 2021 Abraham Lincoln Civic Engagement Award, which honors one noteworthy senior from each four-year degree-granting school in Illinois.
Krupa currently attends National Louis University-Kendall College.
“I was chosen for this award because they recognized my hard work and my dedication,” Krupa said. “I also proved that I was different from other applicants, and I’ve learned a lot from my past experiences.”
Students selected for this award have exhibited the virtues Abraham Lincoln possessed: courage, empathy, honesty and integrity. They are honored for their leadership, service and overall excellence in curricular and extracurricular activities. The governor bestows the awards upon the selected students, who then become Student Laureates of the Lincoln Academy of Illinois.
Krupa completed her associate degree in culinary arts management at Moraine Valley, finishing cum laude in 2020. She has completed her bachelor’s degree and is in pursuit of her master’s degree while working full time as a line and banquet cook at Butterfield Country Club.
While at Moraine Valley, Krupa learned important fundamental culinary arts skills including cooking, baking and how to properly manage a kitchen.
“I was not behind when I started attending NLU,” she said. “I already learned a lot of techniques and had a good foundation of culinary knowledge.”
Krupa will receive her award on June 23.
“We couldn’t be prouder knowing that Louwaillen won the 2021 Lincoln Laureate Award,” said Lampros Tzimas, associate professor of Culinary Arts & Hospitality Management at Moraine Valley. “It was very well deserved, as she was always a passionate and energetic culinary arts student who went above and beyond to expand her professional and educational horizons.”
Eisenhower students named Volunteers of the Year
The Blue Island Park District recently honored Eisenhower High School juniors Xania Oliva and Ximena Oliva as Volunteers of the Year.
“They’ve been volunteers at the Blue Island Park District since they were very young, almost at every event,” said Sue Morgan, activities facilitator at Eisenhower. “They are always there to help in whatever they need; people that the Park District can rely on.”
Evergreen Park’s Head named Thrive Scholar
Jamia Head, a junior at Evergreen Park Community High School, is among the newest Thrive Scholars.
Thrive Scholars are named throughout the United States to help high-achieving and underrepresented students get into and graduate from top colleges and become equipped to achieve their full career potential.
Head, who is an honors student and involved in many activities at
EPCHS, will attend a mentorship program this summer. She also will receive two years of help with academics and two years of assistance through a career adviser in college.
WIU Phi Kappa Phi spring inductees
Western Illinois University’s chapter of the Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society held its 50th annual induction ceremony on April 7, which included Montero Servin Dagoberto (Chicago Heights) and Elizabeth Willson (New Lenox).
Peotone’s Vowell playing softball for UW-Stout
Grace Vowell, a first-year student at the University of Wisconsin-Stout, is a member of the women’s softball team.
Through April 24, Vowell had appeared in 13 games for the Blue Devils.