Updates from 86
Weekly news and information from District 86
U.S. Presidential Scholars Program
In February, we announced that seven seniors from District 86 had been named candidates for the 2022 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program. Last week, we were notified that two of them, Jui Khankari and Grant Zhang from Hinsdale Central, are among the 21 students from Illinois and 620 students from across the country who have been named semifinalists for the award.

The next step in the process is for the Commission on U.S. Presidential Scholars to select the scholars for this year. That is scheduled to occur in May. In the meantime, you can learn more about the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program by visiting http://bit.ly/31emBy6.

We congratulate Jui and Grant on this incredible honor, and wish them the best of luck in the next phase of the selection process.
Brennen Novak
District 86/Transition Center alum Brennen Novak was recently featured in a story by CBS Chicago about how AutonomyWorks, which is based in Downers Grove, helps create job opportunities for people with autism.

In October 2020, "60 Minutes" did a piece about companies seeking employees with autism that featured information about AutonomyWorks and interviews with several adults on the autism spectrum, including Brennen. After the segment aired, AutonomyWorks received hundreds of inquiries that led to partnerships with a variety of companies. One of those companies is Grainger, which brought Brennen on board to help ensure the accuracy of its data.

You can check out the CBS Chicago story by visiting https://cbsn.ws/3MhaMxp and the "60 Minutes" piece by visiting https://cbsn.ws/3MfRmJi. You can also learn more about AutonomyWorks by visiting https://www.autonomy.works/.

We congratulate Brennen on his tremendous success, and thank the faculty and staff from the Transition Center for all they do to help young adults with disabilities prepare for life after high school.
Saanvi Sita Mylavarapu
Hinsdale Central freshman Saanvi Sita Mylavarapu took her love of being a Red Devil to new heights during her recent visit to the Khumbu region in Nepal.

Saanvi's adventure featured hikes that lasted an average of seven hours per day over the course of 12 days. She trekked more than 100 kilometers during that time period, and reached an elevation of nearly 19,000 feet during her ascent to Everest Base Camp (EBC) and the summit of Kala Patthar. You can check out the message of encouragement she recorded for her classmates during her stop at the EBC by visiting https://bit.ly/38eDqRa

We congratulate Saanvi on her accomplishments, and cannot wait to see what she does next.
Day of Silence
On April 22, hundreds of thousands of people participated in the annual Day of Silence. On this day, students and their allies from across the country and around the world took a "vow of silence to protest the harmful effects of harassment and discrimination of LGBTQ+ people in schools.”

District 86's efforts to raise awareness for this important issue and show support for our LGBTQ+ students and staff were led by the Gender Sexuality Alliance from Hinsdale Central and PRISM from Hinsdale South. Great job, Red Devils and Hornets.

You can learn more about the Day of Silence by visiting https://www.glsen.org/day-of-silence.
World Language Students of the Month
Each month, the world language teachers from Hinsdale South nominate individuals for recognition as the World Language Students of the Month. These students have a strong interest in a world or classical language, demonstrate the traits of being accountable, respectful and engaged, and perform actions and exhibit an attitude that exemplify what it means to have South Pride.

Below are the students from South who earned this honor for April.
  • Aariz Ali
  • julian Cruz
  • Ansh Desai 
  • Adrian Drynan
  • Kai Grzybicki 
  • Leva Heininga 
  • Edward Lau 
  • Evan Lopresti 
  • Kayden Miller
  • Peyton Miller 
  • Rey Nwakudu 
  • Ryan Owens 
  • John Pappas 
  • Sammie Plzak
  • Sam Rallo 
  • Jamiee Ritz 
  • Noelle Waterman
Hinsdale Central in the News
Below are links to articles about members of the Hinsdale Central community that appeared in last week's edition of The Hinsdalean.


  • Teen hopes to see Red Devil Nation a little greener - Piece about the efforts that sophomore Ritvi Khurana and the other members of Central's Ecology Club are undertaking to raise awareness about the dangers our planet is facing and inspire action to address them. Photo credit to Jim Slonoff from The Hinsdalean.

  • Student athlete profile - Q&A with senior Michael D'Aprile from the boys water polo team that features information about his first experience with the sport, his pre-game rituals, his goal for the season and his plans for next year. Photo credit to Jim Slonoff from The Hinsdalean.
Bob Berlin
Last week, DuPage County State’s Attorney Bob Berlin stopped by Hinsdale South to visit the school's Constitutional Law and sociology classes.

We thank Mr. Berlin for taking the time to share his insights and experiences with our students and staff.
Boys Tennis at Hinsdale Central
The varsity boys tennis team from Hinsdale Central took to the courts a couple weeks ago to help the homeless.

The team held a Red/White Scrimmage on April 16 that raised more than $3,500 for Bridge Communities, which is a non-profit organization that offers transitional housing and support services to homeless families in DuPage County.

Well done, Red Devils.
Hinsdale South Athletes of the Week
Seniors Nikki Berger from the softball team and Drew Duckhorn from the baseball team are the latest Hinsdale South Athletes of the Week.

Nikki batted .529 (9-for-17) in games against Nazareth, Downers Grove North, Fenwick, Hinsdale Central and Muchin College Prep. This was highlighted by a 3-for-4 performance against Nazareth that included a single, a double, and a home run with two RBIs and three runs scored. She also has a .966 fielding percentage this season following her move to shortstop. 

Drew went 8 for 16 with three doubles, a home run, and six RBIs during a three-game sweep of Addison Trail and a victory over Glenbard West. He also threw a complete game against Addison Trail that featured a pitching line of one run on four hits with one walk and 13 strikeouts.

We congratulate Nikki and Drew on this recognition.
Transition Center
After a few years on hiatus, the Transition Center's annual Dinner Dance made its triumphant return this spring.

The young adults from the program enjoyed a Mardi Gras-themed night on the town at the Chateau Orlean in Darien that featured music, dancing, a photo booth, dinner, and an opportunity to socialize with old friends and make new ones.
Parent Network Event
Dr. Maha Zayed from the OCD & Anxiety Center in Oak Brook will be the featured speaker at an event being hosted by the District 86 Parent Network on April 27.

During this event, which will be held at Hinsdale Central from 7-8:30 p.m., Dr. Zayed will talk about common anxiety disorders, the signs and symptoms of those disorders, the factors that contribute to anxiety in teens and what students worry about. She will also provide tips and strategies that families can use to help their children manage anxiety.

You can access a flyer for the event by clicking the image on the right. You can also learn more about the Parent Network by visiting https://bit.ly/3MfNisy.
Deaf Drama Play
Students who receive educational and support services from the district's deaf and hard of hearing department will be part of the cast and crew for the Deaf Drama production of "The Hallmarks of Horror."

The performance will take place in the auditorium at Hinsdale South on April 29 at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $6, and voice interpretation will be provided. You can access a flyer for the show by visiting https://bit.ly/3tggdpB.
STEMCON
The College of DuPage (COD) will be hosting its annual STEMCON event on April 30 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. During this event, COD staff and industry experts will provide attendees with information about some of the most in-demand and cutting-edge career opportunities.

You can learn more about STEMCON by visiting https://cod.edu/stemcon.
Board Meeting - April 28
The next District 86 Board of Education meeting will be held on Thursday, April 28. The agenda and packet of materials for the meeting will be posted on BoardDocs (https://bit.ly/394u9as) and shared via email tomorrow (April 26).
COVID-19 Data Dashboard
Please visit https://bit.ly/3d93aws to access the latest COVID-19 data for our district, community and county. As a reminder, below are the metrics we plan to update on a weekly basis.

  • Transmission level in DuPage County
  • Vaccination rates for District 86
  • Positive case count for District 86
  • Weekly new case rate per 100,000 people in our local communities and DuPage County