Awards
Junior High Art Contest 2010
The Downers Grove Junior Woman’s Club is sponsoring a Junior High Art Contest. Any individual artwork such as pencil, ink, painting or sculpture may be submitted and need not be a special piece created for the contest. All entries should be matted for proper display with the exception of sculptures. This contest is open to 7th and 8th Grade students who attend school in District 58 and District 66 Winning artwork will be displayed at the Downers Grove Public Library.
2010 Art Award Winners
The Junior Woman’s Club sponsors a Junior High Art Contest each year, open to all seventh and eighth grade students in Downers Grove. The 2010 contest had 31 entries, which were judged by Sally Salvato of the Downers Grove Art Guild and artist Soo Chang of Chang Fine Arts. Community Bank of Downers Grove donated the monetary awards.
Best in Show overall was awarded to Lakeview Junior High seventh grader Samantha Cho for her oil pastel painting, “Flowers Amid.”
First place for seventh grade was awarded to Natalie Heniff from Avery Coonley School for her oil painting, “Cute Dog in a Chair”; first place for eighth grade was awarded to Alexa Simos from Avery Coonley for her pen and ink drawing, “The Great Warrior.”
Second place for seventh grade went to Angie Martino from Lakeview Junior High for her watercolor, “Once in a Blue Moon”; second place for eighth grade went to Meghan Keaveny from St. Joseph School for her acrylic painting, “Lighthouse.”
Receiving third place for seventh grade was Marwa Choudry from Lakeview Junior High for her drawing, “Tragedy”; receiving third place for eighth grade was Katie Portman from Avery Coonley for her pen and ink drawing, “Scarecrow.”
Receiving honorable mentions were Amanda Walsh from Avery Coonley for her photograph, “Two Different Worlds”; Dana Hughes from St. Joseph for her Exacto knife entry, “Felix”; and Jessica Stacko from Lakeview Junior High for her clay sculpture, “My Gizzmo.”
The students’ artwork will be on display at the Downers Grove Public Library through May.
Outstanding Teacher of the Year
The DGJWC Outstanding Teacher of the Year recognizes three teachers in Downers Grove area schools who are truly special and remarkable in the field of education. To participate, a student must write an essay (approximately 60 words for grades K-3, 100 words for grades 4-8 and 200 words for high school) describing the teacher and what makes him/her special or outstanding. The essay does not have to be about the student's current teacher. Parents help those who are too young to write, but the entries are in the child's own words. The student with the winning entry has the opportunity to honor the teacher with a plaque courtesy of the DGJWC at the club’s March meeting.
2010 Teacher Award Winners
The Downers Grove Junior Woman’s Club honored three District 58 staff members with Outstanding Teacher awards during the Club’s 18th annual education awards ceremony March 23.
This year’s winners were Pierce Downer third grade teacher Karyn Langdon; Sean Rhoads, who supervises the Developmental Learning Program for District 58 students at O’Neill Middle School; and Pierce Downer second grade teacher Mary Eagan.
Eagan was nominated by Pierce Downer student Danny Adams. She has been teaching in Downers Grove for 20 years, the last 16 at Pierce Downer.
“I feel blessed with the privilege of helping children discover new interests, fostering their love of learning, and instilling the values of respect and teamwork. I am inspired each day by at least one child’s words or gestures,” she said.
Langdon was nominated by Pierce Downer students Peyton Ferris and Mitch Rapach. She has been teaching for 10 years, two at Pierce Downer and eight at Belle Aire.
“My absolute favorite part of teaching is witnessing a student’s ‘a-ha!’ moment. ... I also love when I witness my students’ thinking being pushed to the next level,” Langdon said. “I deeply appreciate Peyton and Mitch’s acknowledgement—it really does mean the world to me!”
Rhoads was nominated by O’Neill Middle School student Megan Murray, who said Rhoads is always encouraging his students, and pushing them to do more than they thought they could.
“To be acknowledged and recognized as Megan Murray’s favorite teacher is truly an honor, and one of the best rewards a teacher could ask for. Thank you, Megan, for being an outstanding student with a smile that can light the world,” Rhoads said.
Each Outstanding Teacher award winner and nominee was presented with a plaque, and a book donated by Anderson’s Bookshop in Downers Grove.
