For the first time since the Illinois High School Musical Theatre Awards (IHSMTA) began in 2012, all four Community High School District 155 high schools have been nominated in at least one category.

This year, three District 155 students earned nominations in individual performance categories:

• Corey Atkinson (Crystal Lake Central) was nominated for Best Performer in an Actor Role for his portrayal of Harold Hill in The Music Man.
   
• Lydia Jensen (Prairie Ridge) was nominated for Best Performer in an Actress Role for her role as Katherine Howard in SIX: Teen Edition.
   
• Aaron Yaccino (Cary-Grove) was nominated for Best Performer in an Actor Role for his role as Jack in Into the Woods.

In addition, two District 155 school productions received recognition:

• Crystal Lake Central’s production of The Music Man was nominated for Best Ensemble and Best Production.
   
• Crystal Lake South’s theatre director, Ben Stoner, was nominated for Best Direction for The SpongeBob Musical.

Ashley Winikates, a senior at Cary-Grove, is the first student in District 155 to earn a College and Career Pathway Endorsement. To achieve this, she completed Dual Credit Intro to Education and additional college-level coursework, fulfilled over 60 internship hours through her Micro-Internship class, and tackled two team-based challenges: Bridging the Gap, supporting students transitioning from 8th to 9th grade and Combating the Teacher Shortage.

Ashley is headed to the University of Wisconsin Madison to study elementary and special education.

“Ashley is such a driven and dedicated student, and I know she will be the best teacher!” said Rachael Fischer, teacher.

Cary-Grove High School’s National Honor Society (NHS) students raised approximately $3,000 to benefit the Family Health Partnership Clinic in Crystal Lake, a nonprofit clinic that provides high-quality healthcare to the uninsured.

To find the right recipient for their fundraising efforts, NHS board members researched and contacted several local organizations. The Family Health Partnership Clinic was one of the first to respond, offering insight into how a donation could make a meaningful difference. After reviewing the clinic’s mission and needs, students determined it was the right fit for their project.

“We wanted to do more than just raise money; we wanted to make a real difference,” said Cary-Grove senior Katherine Gross. “By supporting the Family Health Partnership Clinic, we helped fund vital services and raised awareness about the healthcare needs in our community.”

Over several months, NHS members led a series of initiatives to raise funds and spread awareness about the clinic. The group created and sold handmade bubble candles for $5 each and organized food fundraisers in partnership with Portillo’s and Panda Express.

The $3,000 donation was used to purchase two dental handpieces, an essential tool for providing dental care, and 40 blood pressure monitors that will be distributed to patients managing hypertension at home.

“The clinic was grateful for the students' hard work in helping us get these items,” said Suzanne Hoban, Executive Director of the Family Health Partnership Clinic. “We rely on support from the community, and this generous gift is critical in helping us keep our patients healthy. We are completely blown away by the commitment of these amazing students to make a difference. They’ve impacted many lives with this gift.”

Performance Dates & Times: 

March 7 - 7:00 p.m.

March 8 - 7:00 p.m.

March 9 - 2:00 p.m.

March 13 - 7:00 p.m.

March 14 - 7:00 p.m.

March 15 - 7:00 p.m.

Ticket Information:

Tickets are $13 each, student activity passes are accepted at the door. 

Purchase Tickets Here