NL_120816

14 | December 8, 2016 | The New Lenox Patriot School
newlenoxpatriot.com
the new lenox patriot’s
Standout Student
Sponsored by Marquette Bank
Union School District 81
to reimburse homeowners
For more information
call (708) 326-9170 ext. 16
or visit
www.22ndcenturymedia.com/events
Riley McLaughlin,
Lincoln-Way Central
Riley McLaughlin was picked
as this week’s Standout Student
because of her academic performance.
What is one essential you
must have when studying?
When I’m studying, I
like to have some noise in
the background. I’m a huge
music and movie person, so
I like to play one of those
while I work. Silence is too
distracting to me.
What do you like to do when
not in school or studying?
I love to act. I’m involved
in the plays and musicals
here, so that’s a nice, bright
spot to my day.
What is your dream job and
why?
My dream job is to be a fiction
author, because writing
is my favorite thing to do in
the world.
What is one thing people
don’t know about you?
A lot of people don’t know
that I love to watch basketball.
My dad was a coach
when I was growing up, so
I used to go to games every
Friday night as a kid. March
Madness is like Christmas in
my house.
Whom do you look up to?
As many know, I’m a huge
David Bowie fan. I love how
he was a proponent for individuality,
and how he pushed
boundaries through his music
and theatrics.
Who is your favorite teacher
and why?
Although I have a few,
my favorite is Mr. Hopper. I
love how devoted he is to his
Photo Submitted
teaching, and he tells awesome
stories.
What is your favorite class
and why?
I really love English. Besides
reading really some really
great books, that class really
helped me become a better
writer over the years. Also, I
love the discussion-based aspect
of the class, and expressing
opinions, and hearing
what my friends think, too.
What is one thing that stands
out about your school?
One thing that is really a
staple of Lincoln-Way Central
is definitely the school
spirit. It’s so much fun to go
to the football games and see
everyone come together to
support our team.
If you could change one thing
about school, what would it
be?
I wish that the theater department
got more attention at
Central. Although we do get a
pretty good turnout for the musicals,
not too many people see
the plays, and it would be cool
if they were more popular.
What is your best memory
from school?
My favorite memory so far
at Central was being in “Footloose”
my freshman year. I’m
a huge fan of the movie, so to
actually be in that show was a
dream come true for me.
Standout Student is a weekly
feature for The New Lenox
Patriot. Nominations come from
New Lenox area schools.
Submitted by Union School
District 81
artists
From Page 9
November in Normal during
the IAEA Conference, where
Snider – now a Lincoln-Way
Central freshman – was recognized
on stage during the
reception, and there, she was
finally able to see her work
framed along with the other
winners.
“There was art all over,”
Snider recalled from the
event. “It was so cool to see
my art, but it was really inspiring
to everyone else’s
art, especially the kids in
kindergarten or the seniors
in high school. You see such
a change over time as you go
from grade to grade.”
Snider’s art, which was inspired
by the lion Aslan from
“The Chronicles of Narnia,”
will be seen as far south as
Shipman and make its way
approximately 275 miles
north to Lake Zurich. From
watching the movie, she said
the still image of Aslan “was
so powerful” and wanted to
capture that in her art.
Taxpayers of Union
School District 81 benefit
yet again from sound financial
practices.
In a time when many
school districts are scrambling
to find revenue, the
Union School District 81
Board of Education has approved
the reimbursement of
tax funds to its homeowners.
Since 2012, Union School
District 81 has gone from the
worst financial rating in the
state (Financial Watch) to the
best (Financial Recognition).
“Due to an unexpected
surplus derived from additional
funding and expenditures
coming in under budget,
we are pleased to refund
an average of $150 per home
in our district”, said Superintendent
Tim Baldermann.
“Although the district could
keep the funds, we believe
it should be returned to the
taxpayers.”
“Our Board of Education
and Superintendent continue
to strive hard to benefit students
and taxpayers alike,”
added Board President Patrick
Sweeney. “We pride
ourselves on being responsible
to those we serve”.
Residents should receive
their checks in the mail no
later than Dec. 9.
Union School District 81
serves parts of New Lenox
and Joliet.
But what caught the eye of
those at the reception, Nicholson
said, was the lion’s image
through the unique printing
technique.
“[People] were really impressed
with just the idea that
it was done through carving
and not through painting or
drawing, which is something
others are used to seeing,”
Nicholson said.
Snider’s dad and grandparents
joined her on the trip to
Normal, but she was excited
to reconnect with Nicholson,
who she hasn’t seen since
she left Martino. She credits
Nicholson for believing in
her work enough to submit it
to the IAEA art show.
“Without [Mrs. Nicholson]
putting my art into the show, it
wouldn’t have gotten accepted,
and I wouldn’t have all of
this opportunity,” Snider said.
“She really pushed me as an
artist, and I learned so much
from her – from shading to
painting to cutting a piece of
linoleum. She changed how
I view art and helped me become
the artist I am today.”