Schaumburg High School Co-Senior of the Month - May, 2024 Kate Villarreal

Schaumburg High School is proud to recognize Kate Villarreal as the May Senior of the Month. Kate has embraced the spirit of our school and, in doing so, established herself as a person of influence in the SHS community. It is quite easy to see why: Kate exudes a charismatic confidence that allows one to feel comfortable in trusting her abilities.

Over the past three and a half years at Schaumburg High School, Kate has time and again demonstrated her ability to be trustworthy, engaging, resourceful, and determined in much of what she does. Kate excels academically and takes her studies very seriously, an approach that has served her well in the classroom. She has earned numerous academic accolades, including receiving high honor roll status all four years at SHS, as well as earning recognition as a National Hispanic Scholar from College Board, and as an ISAC State Scholar.

Outside of the classroom, Kate has been an integral member of the Saxon Community, with involvement in, among others, Business Professionals of America, National Honor Society, and as Saxon Lift Mentor. As an integral member of the Saxon band, Kate has earned the leadership position of clarinet section leader and was nominated to perform in the D211 Honors Band. She is also a player in the Pit Orchestra for musical productions at SHS. Her leadership in the band is also acknowledged through her membership in the Tri-M Music Honors Society.

With all that goes on in her life, Kate has still found time to volunteer with NHS, the Girl Scouts, and an annual walk for MS. When asked how she maintains balance and remains motivated within her busy life, Kate states “Academics are my first priority, but I also think that it’s important to set boundaries and make time to do the things you love.”

Kate truly has everything it takes to be extraordinary in her life and career: a relentless quest for knowledge, an endearing ability to make any individual feel like they’re the only person that matters at that moment, and a humility which comes only with a confidence in her own self-worth. Kate plans to study Business at The University of Alabama, and there is no question that she will find success in whatever she does in life. But it’s not just her drive for academic excellence, nor her leadership in numerous extra- and co-curricular activities that will define Kate’s future. It is her ability to connect with people on a personal level that will help Kate as she takes the next step in her life.

Congratulations to Kate Villarreal on the well-deserved honor of being named Schaumburg High School’s May Senior of the Month.

Schaumburg High School Co-Senior of the Month – May, 2024 Narin Kim

Schaumburg High School is proud to recognize Narin Kim as Senior of the Month. Narin is a talented young woman with a kind disposition, determined drive, and mature perspectives. She sets high goals for herself and achieves them through her willingness to dedicate time to her priorities, her persistence in the presence of difficulty, and her belief that she has the ability to realize her potential. When asked how she was able to maintain balance while pursuing success in so many different directions, Narin explained, “I keep a list of things I need to get done while focusing on the things most beneficial to me. I’ve built an active mindset of getting my priorities done, then honing in on activities so that I can excel. With time and patience, I was able to create a routine best for me and was able to make the most of every moment.”

Narin is motivated by the desire to learn new information and to achieve academic success. Narin has developed a pattern of going above and beyond the expectations of even her academically successful peers. Narin leads the way in many of her advanced courses. She consistently works at the highest level and reliably achieves assessment scores at or near the top of her classes. Narin’s questions reveal a desire to achieve a deep and thorough understanding of class content. She works well with her peers, and her classmates recognize that her hard work will be an asset to any group she is a part of. Narin graciously contributes while collaborating to complete work and communicates to reach consensus and move past obstacles to solutions. Narin has also been involved with Scholastic Bowl and a recycling initiative through our Science Academic Challenge club.

In addition to her academic success, Narin has excelled as a musician throughout her time in high school. Narin has played clarinet in the Chicago Youth Orchestra program since her freshman year and currently plays in the Symphony Orchestra, the top orchestra in the organization. She has been a part of the SHS Wind Symphony and District 211 Honors Band and Orchestra since her sophomore year and recently performed a concerto with the SHS Symphony Orchestra. She has been a member of the ILMEA District 7 Band all four years of high school and was selected for the 2024 Illinois All-State Honors Band, recognizing her as one of the top clarinetists in the state. On top of these accomplishments, Narin has been a two-year section leader for the Saxon Marching Band and is an outstanding mentor for younger students through the band program. Her high level of musicianship, work ethic, and humility truly set her apart from her peers. While reflecting on her time in the music program, Narin stated, “As an active leader in the music department, I have been able to connect with both upperclassmen and underclassmen throughout the years and create art with like-minded individuals. Through participating in a variety of ensembles through the school and district, I was able to spread the joy of music with others and create long lasting memories.”

Narin Kim exemplifies the qualities of an exceptional student—academic excellence, leadership, and a commitment to making a positive impact in her community. Narin will be attending Emory University in the fall to study nursing, and we are excited to see the positive impact she will have in the future.

Congratulations, Narin Kim, on your recognition as Schaumburg High School Senior of the Month!