Mayor of Aurora, John Laesch honored Marmion Academy’s boys swimming, (top photo) and wrestling teams at the April 14 City Council meeting. The teams captured multiple Illinois High School Association (IHSA) State championships in late February. Marmion’s Boys Swimming Team led the charge, with athlete Brayden Capen winning both the
Scott Mortenson was named the 2025 Volunteer of the Year during the Forest Preserve District of Will County’s annual volunteer celebration in April. A volunteer since 2020, Mortenson was recognized for his positive attitude and willingness to help wherever needed. “Mortenson has taken dependability to a whole new level this
Laurie Lasseter of Woodridge won the Forest Preserve District of Will County’s March portion of the Preserve the Moment photo contest with her picture of a gull fighting with a bald eagle over a fish at Whalon Lake in Naperville.
Eight area residents were inducted into the Fox Valley Arts Hall of Fame at an awards banquet Friday evening, March 27, at Eagle Brook Country Club in Geneva. Inductees are: Kelly Barr, classical music; Denise Crosby, journalism; Leslie Hunt, popular and progressive music; Stanley Konopka, classical music; Mary Beth McCarthy,
The FECK Awards, a powerful new national recognition program celebrating individuals who embody the transformative values of Forgiveness, Empathy, Compassion, and Kindness, revealed the winners of its inaugural awards. Created by Chaz Ebert, CEO of Ebert Digital LLC and a longtime champion of empathy in storytelling and leadership, the FECK
For the first time in school history, Rosary College Prep’s All Girls Math Team earned first place overall at the ICTM Regional Math Contest held February 27 securing a spot at the Illinois Council of Teachers of Mathematics (ICTM) State Finals Saturday, April 18. Competing against top regional schools, Rosary
Selected from nearly 600 nominations statewide, Jennifer Van Dusen, a fifth grade general education teacher at Prairie Point Elementary School in Oswego, is one of just 30 finalists for the 2026 Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching, recognized for the impact she is making in the classroom. Jennifer Van
Rank Country Gold Silver Bronze Total1 Norway 18 12 11 412 United States 12 12 9 333 Italy 10 6 14 304 Germany 8 10 8 265 Japan 5 7 12 246 France 8 9 6 237 Switzerland 6 9 8 238 Canada 5 7 9 219 Netherlands 10 7
Mayor of Aurora, John Laesch, center, presented the Mayor’s Award of Excellence to 10 East Aurora High School (EAHS) students in attendance Tuesday, at the Aurora Committee of the Whole meeting.
The Village of Montgomery proudly announced the recipients of its inaugural Employee Awards Program, a new peer-nominated initiative recognizing outstanding employees whose work reflects the Village’s strategic priorities and core values. The awards program includes three honors—Impact Award, Innovation Award, and Core Values Champion Award—each aligned with the Village’s commitment
Celebrating MLK Day, Aurora held a 41st annual MLK ceremony Monday, Jan. 19, at East Aurora High School auditorium. “Beyond the Dream” was the theme. Keynote speaker was Stacy Davis Gates, president of both Chicago Teachers Union and Illinois Federation of Teachers. The leading national voice in the fight for
Celebrating M.L. King, Jr., Day January 19, more than 100 clergy and lay people attended the 12th annual M.L. King, Jr., community prayer breakfast. Sponsored by Aurora-based Fox Valley Christian Ministerial Alliance (FVCMA), the two-hour event was held at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Aurora. “Strength to Love” was the theme.
Three former athletes and a coach were inducted into East Aurora High School’s Athletic Hall of Fame Friday, Jan. 16. Inductees were Frank Schuster, Aurora, Class of 1970, baseball pitcher; Tim Young, Colorado Springs, CO, Class of 2015, wrestler; Abraham Kanneh, Milwaukee, Class of 2013, soccer; and Calvin “Cal” Tyson,
West Aurora High School’s Athletic Department and Blackhawk Sports Boosters host the 2026 Athletic Hall of Fame Reception and Induction Saturday, Jan. 17. Inductees were Devin Vaughn, 2010 alum, basketball, volleyball and softball athlete; Bob Fowler, 1989-present, football, wrestling and track coach; Joe McWilliams, 2003 alum, tennis athlete; Cathy Hofer,
Richard “Rick” Armstrong, center, accepts the IHSA Distinguished Media Service Award January 9 at West Aurora High. Left is IHSA executive director Craig Anderson and Jason Buckley, West Aurora athletic director.
By Jason Crane Mayor of Aurora, John Laesch, and the City Council, honored an Aurora high school marching band that represented the City on the international stage, performing in Rome, Italy’s New Year’s Day Parade. The Waubonsie Valley High School Marching Warriors embarked on a Rome New Year’s Tour from
The West Aurora High School Athletic Department and the Blackhawk Sports Boosters will host the West Aurora High School Athletic Hall of Fame Reception and Induction Saturday, Jan. 17. The event will begin at 3 p.m. in the Veterans Fieldhouse, followed by the induction ceremony in the Main Gym at
Collecting 900 shoes for a charity added up to an Eagle Scout award for an Oswego teen. Seth X. Arndt, 18, received Scouting America Three Fires Council’s highest award in a court of honor Saturday at Wesley United Methodist Church in Aurora. A Scout for 12 years, Arndt is a
Rick Armstrong, who has covered high school sports for newspapers in Illinois for approximately 50 years, will be presented with the IHSA Distinguished Media Service Award Friday, Jan. 9 at West Aurora High School, 1201 W New York St., Aurora, as a part of a varsity girls/boys basketball doubleheader between
Aurora mayor John Laesch visited the home of longtime Aurora resident Jessie Rangel Bourge, who celebrated her 101st birthday December 25. Bourge was born and raised in Aurora, before getting married at the age of 21 and moving to Mexico. Following a 20-year stint in Mexico, Bourge moved back to
