Recognition
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| MHS Football Coach Vince DeFrancesco (right) nominated MHS senior football player Miguel Hernandez for the Chicago Bears Community High School All-Star Award. |
MHS Senior Wins Chicago Bears Community Award!
Mundelein High School senior Miguel Hernandez has earned plenty of accolades from his play on the football field and his achievements in the classroom. But on March 4, he added another to the list: The Chicago Bears Community High School All-Star Award.
The award recognizes high school football players who make a positive impact in their community and school. Miguel was the first of nine winners from throughout the state who are chosen because they exemplify service, leadership and character. Each winner receives a custom hand-painted football, a Bears backpack filled with swag, an invitation to a future Bears event and a $500 donation to a charity of their choice. Miguel selected the Center for Immigrant Progress as his charity.
MHS Football Coach Vince DeFrancesco, who nominated Miguel for the award, turned the award presentation into a surprise event at the school’s athletic office on Friday afternoon. Waiting in the office were two representatives from the Chicago Bears, MHS Athletic Director Troy Parola, Principal Anthony Kroll and other coaches and staff members.
“You embody everything that Mundelein football wants to represent,” DeFrancesco told him. “Tough, super hard-working, humble, leader, you just check all the boxes. We’re super proud of you.”
Miguel is a four-year honor roll student enrolled in AP college-level courses, a two-way starter (and captain) on the Mustangs football team, a two-year Academic All-Conference recipient, and the MHS representative of the 2021 North Suburban Conference Sportsmanship Award.
The MHS senior thanked his coaches for believing in him and pushing him to be the best version of himself both on and off the field.
“Throughout my experience in high school, I learned I could make a difference not only with my peers but in my community,” Miguel said. “I want to get better; leave my footprint in the school. I want to show the younger kids what it is to get better and how to take the extra step that really takes the program to another level.”
DeFrancesco called Miguel “one of the hardest working players in the football program” and “a major contributor to the MHS community.”
“Miguel really earned this award,” DeFrancesco said. “He not only competes on the field, but in the classroom. He’s been heavily involved in our community as a volunteer, leader and mentor. Miguel is truly a stand-out individual who impresses everyone he meets.”
Miguel regularly volunteers for community service at the Chapel of Mundelein, has worked on Mundelein Community Food Drives in the past two years and is a two-year peer tutor for the MHS Avid program, where he mentors and tutors fellow students who may be falling short of their academic potential. He also volunteers with the A-May-Zing Mundelein program which pairs a volunteer with a local police officer to help elderly and disabled residents with spring clean-up and handyman chores.
“It feels good just to help out the community,” Miguel said. “They give us so much, so it feels good to give back.”
MHS Students Read to Washington Elementary Students
High School students from the Student Equity Committee met
with K-2nd graders at Washington Elementary School to read and get to know each
other. The purpose for the visit is for the students to mentor the younger
students and foster healthy relationships. It was a great time, and there are
already more requests for the high schoolers to go back!
MHS students who participated are: Enayda Bustos, Sarai Herrera, Gloria Cruz-Cisneros, Adriyanna Tesimu, Tyler Thomas, Sophia Petridis, Naomi Cabachuela, Aliyaah Atade, Janitza Jarillo, Samantha Torres, Elian Orellana, Alex Navarrete and Vanessa Gonzalez.
MHS students shine at Illinois High School Art Exhibition (IHSAE)
Last weekend, MHS art students participated in the annual IHSAE Awards Ceremony Event. The best student artists from 100 Illinois suburban, public and private high schools compete and celebrate the power of art in their lives. The event was held at the Bridgeport Art Center. MHS students received a combined $1,420,000 in tuition scholarships for their work!
Here a few pieces of art for our students on display at the Bridgeport Art Center.
Activities
Winter guard came in 2nd place this weekend at the Hersey HS competition. With this performance they qualified for Championships on Apr 2nd.
College & Career
Do you want college advice from MHS students? Our 2022 College Ambassadors are presenting college information Monday 3/38-Thursday 3/31 at the CCRC. Register on Naviance today!
Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors, are you interested in joining the military or would like to take a free career exploration assessment? You are invited to take the ASVAB, the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery, on Thursday, March 31st at 7:30am. The test results can be utilized by the student to determine their career aptitude. This assessment is required by all military branches prior to enlistment, and your score on this test can also assist in determining your future career path while in service. Register on Naviance today!
College rep visits are happening in the CCRC- B105! Check out the calendar HERE .
Remember to watch for scholarship deadlines in your Naviance account. You can review all scholarships guaranteed to go to MHS graduates in the class of 2022 HERE.
Don’t forget to visit our virtual CCRC for more information about planning for your future! bit.ly/mhsccrc
Athletics
Softball
Coaches Corner: Kat McCreery
Thumbs up to a varsity softball pre-practice outing at Tropical Smoothie Cafe. The Mustangs will open their season vs. Trinity High School on Wednesday, March 16th
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| Softball uniform handout day |
Volleyball
Coaches Corner: Dressen & Willis
Our boys teams have been solidified after a week of tryouts, and now the teams are brushing off rusty skills and working on building new ones. Because of tight gym space, the JV and Varsity teams have been practicing at Carl Sandburg Middle School, and we are looking forward to getting back into the MHS gym next week during spring break. Our first game is Monday, March 28th at Palatine. Our first home game is on Wednesday, March 30th against Deerfield.
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| Boys volleyball managers |
Soccer
Coaches Corner: Seong Ha
Girls’ Soccer opened their 2022 spring campaign at home with a 5-0 victory over Amundsen (Chicago). GO MUSTANGS! 🐴⚽️
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| Soccer Home Opener |
Soccer
Coaches Corner: Dayton & Goodwin
Here is a picture of our JV girls soccer team with a team building activity. The weather has made it difficult to get outside, but it’s never too cold or hot outside to build community through teamwork. Girls were asked to complete puzzles blindfolded with only the help of teammates telling them where to place pieces. A lot of fun was had and the comradery should translate to success on the field.
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| JV soccer team building |
Cheerleading
Coaches Corner: Sara Ann Ellis
MHS Cheerleading is hosting a Yard Sign Fundraiser to support MHS Students. These signs are fully customizable to each Student, any sport/activity/club can be added, as well as Team # or Student Name. Show your Mustang Pride in your front yard with a sign this year! The online store for session one will be open through April 1st, signs are made about 10-12 business days after store closing. Pick up will be available at MHS. Thank you for your support. Go Mustangs!
Photos from the Week
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| During 6th period at the cultural fair on Wednesday, March 16, the South Korea booth shows off their cultural clothing to students in the commons.- Keely Murphy ‘22 |
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| At the cultural fair on Wednesday, March 16, Amelka Niedbalec '23, Alicia Brak '23, and Emma Vickerman '22 inform other students of Poland's history in the commons during 7th period.- Alexandra Brimmer ‘22 |
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| The club "Stand Up" brings in a guest speaker, Tom Farley Jr. to share his story with the parents and students on Tuesday, March 15. -Ivana Rosillo ‘24 |
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| During the Cultural Fair on Wednesday, March 16, the South Korea booth hosts a drum lesson for their peers to get an insight on their unique culture. -Jenna Santos ‘23 |
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| Last Wednesday, at the Class of 2026 night, the MHS Jazz Band plays for the incoming 8th grade students. |
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| Last Wednesday, at the Class of 2026 night, Link Crew students welcome the incoming 8th grade students. |
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| Last Wednesday, at the Class of 2026 night, Maverick the Mustang greets the incoming 8th grade students. |
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| Last Wednesday, at the Class of 2026 night, the MHS Show Choir performs for the incoming 8th grade students. |
