(Minooka, IL) – Minooka Community High School (MCHS) Principal Jamie Soliman is pleased to announce that 71 students from the graduating class of 2025 have been designated as Illinois State Scholars. Illinois State Scholars possess strong academic potential and are chosen based on a combination of exemplary ACT/SAT test scores and sixth semester class rank and are recognized for their exceptional academic achievement.
The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC), the state’s college access and financial aid agency, confers this important recognition of academic achievement to exceptional Illinois high school students annually. This year, more than 16,500 honorees join the other outstanding students who have been honored since the designation was first introduced in 1958.
The following Minooka Community High School students were named 2025-2026 Illinois State Scholars: Noah Allen, Jillian Alsip, Gracie Anderson, Davian Atwood, Jonathan Beck, Madison Berti, Drew Briick, Nathaniel Brown, Kira Cailteux, Gabriella Carlson, Jacob Carr, Mayson Carr, Ehryana Chillis, Trevor Cichon, Addison Ciesielski, Isabella Collins, William Cook, Rhiannon Curiel, Kobey Dannenberg, Natalie Debold, Daniel Divello, Owen Dolbee, Kevin Driscoll, Tyler Edwards, Antonio Encinas, Elizabeth Frazier, Filippo Galati, Veronica Grey, Taya Gummerson, Phoenix Hanna, Ayden Hollingsworth, Marina Hristov, Samantha Hulick, Sterling Johnston, Ava Kay, Elliot Kimbarovsky, Evan Kiper, Owen Kopecky, Zachary Kunkle, Aubrey Laken, Josef Landers, Cameron Loudermilk, Annie Lukasik, Evan Lundeen, Alejandro Manzo, Aidan Martinez, Ever MCCulloch, Andrew McIlheran, Brianna McMillin, Ethan Minch, Jocelyn Morales, Courtney Murphy, Jada Neill, Alexis Olsen, Peyton Pech, Dino Persicketti, Zachary Puracchio, Timothy Quinn, Jaisin Ramirez, Charlotte Robinson, Mark Rodeghero, Arianna Rodriguez, Taylor Rodriguez, Tlanextli Sanchez, Robert Schiffbauer, Kody Serr, Felicity Serrano, Makayla Undesser, Marie Walston, Caleigh Werve, and Ashley Whalen.
“On behalf of ISAC, congratulations to all our Illinois State Scholars for their hard work and persistence in achieving this academic honor,” said ISAC Executive Director Eric Zarnikow. “The efforts and engagement of these students can pay off not only as they embark on their postsecondary journeys, but also later in their approach to a job and career. As we recognize our honorees, we also acknowledge the invaluable support of families, counselors, teachers, principals, and communities in helping our students succeed.”
While this distinguished recognition is a non-monetary award, recipients will receive a congratulatory letter and a Certificate of Achievement. Additionally, awardees can download an official Illinois State Scholar Program badge to display on their online profiles, social media platforms, and share with their high school counselors, on college applications and scholarships, employers, family members and others. In addition, students and their parents should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), or in some cases, the Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid (Alternative Application) when the applications become available early this December.
Students and families can visit the ISAC website, and in particular the ISAC Student Portal, for free tools and resources to help with college and scholarship search and career exploration. They can also contact the ISACorps, a group of recent college graduates who are trained to serve as near peer mentors. The First Generation Scholars Network offers support and resources to students transitioning to and in their first year of college who will be the first in their family to earn a college degree. Learn more at https://www.isac.org/.