Three seniors selected by Maine Township High School District 207 as "207's Best” for November were recognized during a Board of Education on November 7.  All three – Izaan DuToit of Maine West, Milica Radanovic of Maine East and Allison Sakowicz of Maine South  – were recognized for Community Service.

Izaan is ranked 39^th in West’s senior class of 519 and has earned a 4.2 grade point average.  Izaan’s community service includes regularly volunteering at the Heartland Animal Shelter, and she is currently completing an internship at a veterinarian clinic.  At West, she is in her third year as president of the service-oriented Key Club.  She also has been a member of Amnesty International, French Club, History Fair, Tri M and Science Olympiad.  In her introductory letter, West Principal Dr. Audrey Haugan wrote that “Izaan is the kind of student we wish all our students would emulate.  She is talented academically and works extremely hard in her classes.  However, she gives of herself freely and with an unmatched enthusiasm.”  Izaan told the Board that she plans to major in biology at Duke University.

Milica has been active in service-learning projects conducted by East’s Lyceum Gifted Program, in which she has earned a 4.24 GPA that places her in the top 5 percent of the senior class.  She performs volunteer work weekly for the inpatient hospice unit at Midwest Palliative & Hospice Care Center in Glenview, where, the Director of Volunteer Services says, Milica “provides a gentle presence, a calming smile, and a kind word to patients and families.” She also does volunteer work with autistic children. Last summer Milica earned the Islet Transplantation Summer Internship that had her working with doctors at the University of Illinois at Chicago in the Chicago Diabetes Project.  Milica told Board members that she has been accepted by Carthage College and UIC and is awaiting word from Loyola University.

Allison ranks in the top 25 percent of her class and is a member of the National Honor Society, a Hawk Pride Leader and a STARS leader.  She is a member of the Speech and Scholastic Bowl teams and plays varsity tennis and badminton.  As the country’s youngest DONA-certified doula, she supports young mothers in the birth experience.  She volunteers at Advocate Lutheran General’s Mother/Baby Unit and at Northwest Community Hospital.  She has been part of a program in Park Ridge-Niles School District 64 working with autistic children.  In his introductory letter, Principal Shawn Messmer quoted one South teacher as stating that “Allie is very special.  At her age, she has a clear idea of what she wants to do, and pursues that objective with dedication.”  Allison said she hopes to attend Wake Forest University and later go to medical school.

The "207's Best" program recognizes outstanding students monthly throughout the school year.  Academic achievement awards are given in four months.  Extracurricular achievement, community service, improved performance and electives/performing arts are given one month each.  Teachers nominate students, and an executive committee makes final decisions.  Honorees are then recognized by the Board of Education, which instituted the program.