CHICAGO—December 3, 2021—De La Salle Institute (De La Salle) is pleased to announce that 11 students from the graduating class of 2022 have been designated as Illinois State Scholars. The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC), the state agency committed to helping make college accessible and affordable for Illinois families, confers this prestigious recognition to top Illinois high school students annually. This year, more than 17,340 honorees join the other top students who have been honored for their academic achievements since the designation was first introduced in 1958.
“On behalf of De La Salle, we proudly congratulate our young women and men for achieving Illinois State Scholar status,” said Thomas Schergen, principal. “We believe that our school fosters a rich and rewarding learning environment that allows young people to shine in their academic, extracurricular, and spiritual lives. Each of these scholars represents our diverse and talented pool of students. They work hard every day and are dedicated to our school’s Lasallian mission of becoming people of faith, service, community, and social justice.”
Illinois State Scholars represent approximately the top ten percent of high school seniors from 757 high schools across the state. Illinois State Scholars are chosen based on a combination of exemplary ACT or SAT test scores and sixth semester class rank.
The following De La Salle students were named 2022-23 Illinois State Scholars:
- Isabella Brogan, St. Andrew (Roscoe Village)
- Kaitlyn Carpenter, St. Gabriel (Bridgeport)
- Kenneth Clayton, Frances Xavier Warde (North Kenwood)
- Saul Garcia, Immaculate Conception (South Chicago)
- Chelsea Guardiola, Kinzie (Garfield Ridge)
- Nicolas Haran, Kinzie (Garfield Ridge)
- Arman Hussein, St. Bede the Venerable (South Loop)
- Ivan Martinez, Our Lady of the Snows (Midway)
- Gianna Pawela, Skinner Classical Mark (Bridgeport)
- Zoe Watts, Frances Xavier Warde (Bronzeville)
- Amanda Zavala, Immaculate Conception (South Chicago)
“On behalf of ISAC, congratulations to all of the Illinois State Scholars for their hard work and commitment inside and outside of the classroom,” said ISAC Executive Director Eric Zarnikow. “In the past two years students and families have faced unprecedented difficulties as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic; from financial and personal ordeals to all of the challenges of remote learning. The achievements of these students are a credit to their perseverance and resilience, and to the support and encouragement of their families, principals, teachers, mentors, counselors, and others invested in their growth and success.”
The Illinois State Scholar acknowledgement is a non-monetary award. Each State Scholar designee receives a congratulatory letter and Certificate of Achievement from ISAC, and can download an official Illinois State Scholar badge to display on their online profiles and social media platforms, as well as share with their high school counselors, colleges, employers, family members and others. *Note that the Program designates honorees based on the year they would begin any postsecondary education, not based on the year they graduate from high school.
To help ensure that every student in Illinois can make the most informed choices possible about education after high school, all high school students are encouraged to complete the 2022-23 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or, if eligible, the Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid (Alternative Application).
De La Salle Institute, founded by the Brothers of the Christian schools, has served the students of Chicagoland for over 130 years making it the third oldest Catholic High School in the Archdiocese of Chicago. De La Salle fosters the Lasallian values of faith, service, community and a passion for academic and athletic excellence.
Media Contact:
David Terry, terryd@dls.org; 312-842-7355 x 145
https://www.dls.org/apps/forms2/?f=22689
