The Maine Township High School District 207 Board of Education honored three students in the area of career exploration naming them “207’s Best” at a recent meeting. The students honored were Ingrid Berki (right) from Maine South, Dalesha Jeanty (center) from Maine West and Joshua Potts (left) from Maine East.
The following information was written about each honoree as a part of the nomination by their school principal: Dr. Antwan Babakhani at Maine South, Dr. Eileen McMahon at Maine West and Dr. Melissa A. Pikul at Maine East.
INGRID BERKI, MAINE SOUTH
It is my honor to recognize Ingrid Berki as Maine South’s 207’s Best recipient for Career Exploration. Ingrid is a motivated and driven student. Her strong work ethic reflects the values her parents instilled in her after immigrating to the United States to create greater opportunities for their family. She consistently challenges herself, strives for excellence, and approaches every opportunity with purpose and dedication.
Throughout high school, Ingrid has actively explored her interests, ultimately choosing a future in healthcare and nursing. She was accepted into Maine South’s competitive Certified Nursing Assistant program and has spent the past eight months volunteering and interning at Lutheran General Hospital. Twice each week, she gains valuable hands-on experience in the hospital’s postpartum unit, caring for mothers and newborns. Ingrid plans to attend nursing school after graduation to become a Registered Nurse, with the long-term goal of becoming a Nurse Practitioner. Reflecting both initiative and ambition, she is also exploring the possibility of earning her real estate license. A member of the National Honor Society, Social Science Honor Society, and English Honor Society, Ingrid demonstrates strong academic achievement and leadership. Her teachers consistently describe her as responsible, dedicated, and someone who leads by example.
Catherine Schroeder, Business and Internship Coordinator, shares, “Ingrid has been dedicated to her career exploration throughout her time at Maine South. She has excelled in rigorous coursework, including Biology, Chemistry, Anatomy, Medical Terminology, Introduction to Healthcare, and CNA, all of which have prepared her well for her future. As a senior, she interns at Lutheran General Hospital, she has proven herself valuable and trustworthy, consistently exceeding required hours and earning outstanding feedback. Ingrid approaches her future with curiosity, hard work, and positivity, and we have no doubt she will excel in whatever she pursues.”
Heather Sinnott, a CTE Teacher and HOSA Future Health Professionals Advisor, shares, “Having taught Ingrid in three courses, including Medical Terminology and Introduction to Healthcare, I have seen her strong academic performance firsthand. Beyond her success in the classroom, her genuine passion for healthcare and unwavering kindness truly set her apart. She is exactly the kind of compassionate professional the healthcare field needs.”
Mark Zambrano, her counselor, offers, “I have had the privilege of serving as Ingrid’s school counselor this year, and it has truly been an honor to support her during her senior year. Ingrid is a respectful, ambitious, and bright student who consistently holds herself to high standards. She approaches her future with intention and maturity, thoughtfully planning her next steps and taking ownership of her goals. Even in the short time I have worked with her, Ingrid has shown resilience, discipline, and a strong work ethic. She carries herself with confidence and purpose, and she is not afraid to challenge herself. I have no doubt that her determination and drive will lead to continued success in whatever path she chooses.”
Brian Lorenz, a Health & Wellness Teacher, adds, “I’ve known Ingrid for four years—first as her freshman volleyball coach and now as her senior-year Yoga and Fitness teacher. She is always willing to participate and lend a hand. You can count on her to arrive with a smile and a positive attitude. What stands out most is how she looks out for others, whether that’s checking in on a classmate or helping someone with equipment. I’m thrilled to see her receive this recognition.”
Kevin Stock, an English teacher, states, “Ingrid represents the ideal student—intelligent, compassionate, thoughtful, competitive, and fully engaged with both her coursework and her classmates. Her intellect, collaborative spirit, and genuine care for others will be greatly missed at Maine South, and I have no doubt she will continue to make a positive impact wherever she goes.”
Lastly, Jayati Lunagariya, a math teacher, shares her insight, “ Ingrid was an exceptional student who brought thoughtfulness and determination to every class. Having grown up in another country like me, she often shared how she related to some of my experiences. In my Precalculus class, Ingrid thrived due to her consistent effort and genuine growth throughout the year. She also connected well with her peers, contributing positively to the classroom community. It was a pleasure to see her confidence and skills develop, and I’m proud of her accomplishments!”
Congratulations, Ingrid!
DALESHA JEANTY, MAINE WEST
Odds are, most if not all of the people in this room have run across the creativity, diligence, and attention to detail that Dalesha Jeanty brings to her work. As an intern in District 207’s own Communications Department, she has posted for us on social media, written news releases, and contributed to special projects over the last several months. She is a deeply thoughtful, creative young woman who somehow doesn’t seem to know just how much of an impact she has made in our school. Her teachers, her internship supervisors, and our Careers Coordinator all see that there is so much to this quiet, humble superstar.
During Dalesha’s freshman year she attended one of Ms. Nelson’s Career Exploration Workshops. Since then, she has attended virtually every single one, taking every possible opportunity to inform her choices about her career path. When one of those workshops featured journalism and communications, Dalesha went during her lunch period. From there, Ms. Nelson connected her to Mr. Clark. Mr. Clark made himself available, and Dalesha started an internship for her senior year, collaborating with Ms. Thevenin on social media and releases. During sophomore year, Dalesha took Digital Art and designed a poster that the teacher selected to publicize the Fine Arts Showcase. Dalesha saw her work all over the school, and found herself designing more flyers, for bake sales and club events, becoming the go-to designer for the National English Honor Society. As a gifted writer, she has realized that she finds it compelling to put messaging out into the world, with both words and visuals. Dalesha told me that she started pursuing a career path early because she had the impression that “other kids seemed to know what they wanted to do.” I think her path, through career panels, her internship, job shadowing, and coursework demonstrates a much more deliberate and reliable approach to finding her way. Dalesha has taken thoughtful, informed step after thoughtful, informed step, and is clearly well on her way to learning the tools and finding the platforms to put her distinctive voice out there.
Dalesha’s teachers are so grateful for her emerging voice and quiet impact in her classes. Ms. Betthauser, who taught Dalesha in Intro to Business, observed that Dalesha “always put her BEST foot first and stood out amongst her peers. She put genuine effort and interest into every task, even if it was not her favorite. She is an amazing student and I am very excited to see what her future has in store for her!”
Her English teacher, Ms. McGowan, draws on two years of coursework with Dalesha to share this: “Always putting in extra effort and curious about how to extend her skills, Dalesha was a shining star in English II accelerated, and I’ve been delighted to have the good luck to teach her again this year as a senior. She has written thoughtful critiques of American consumerism — and our obsession with water bottle brands and Beats headphones — as well as meaningful analysis of current events. Her ability to ask insightful questions and dig into challenging topics makes her a stand-out student in any classroom.”
Ms. Archer seemed to capture just how such a quiet young woman made such an impact in class: Dalesha was such an incredible addition to Interpersonal Relationships. I always valued her steady, positive attitude and her genuine eagerness to work with everyone. Even in a room full of big personalities, she never lost her focus; instead, she had a natural way of bringing others along with her. I truly enjoyed the time she spent in my class.
Even classes that don’t directly tie to her career path were places where Dalesha shined. In Yoga, Ms. Jacob said, “Dalesha is a pure delight. Every day she had a great attitude and a smile on her face. She is a hard worker and always did her best in Yoga. I am thrilled she is receiving an award!” And Ms. Voigt, also from the Health & Wellness Department, raved about her: “This is so great! Dalesha is a fantastic kid! She is a quiet leader and someone who leads by example. She is kind and respectful to everyone. Go Dalesha!”
Mr. Clark, who has worked with Dalesha on her internship, highlighted her commitment to excellence and goodwill: “Dalesha is a joy to be around. She is an extremely positive person in her quiet way. She is always smiling and seeks feedback with an eye toward learning… I recently read a news release she prepared and I usually have tons of edits for student work. In this case, there were very few changes because of the work she put in on the project. If Dalesha decides to pursue a career in communications, she will be successful because of her skills, ability and attitude toward hard work.
Ms. Thevenin enthusiastically agrees: “It’s been such an honor to have Dalesha on our team as a communications intern this semester and I couldn’t be prouder to see her recognized as 207’s Best. She’s bright, reliable, responsible and incredibly kind. Dalesha always shows up with a positive attitude and is not afraid to ask questions. She’s done such a great job so far with writing press releases and social copy and I’m eager to see how her skills continue to blossom and grow over the remainder of the semester. I know Dalesha will go on to do great things and I’m excited to see what she does after her time at Maine West. To Dalesha, thank you for choosing our office – we’re so happy to have you – and congratulations on this well deserved honor!”
Finally, Ms. Nelson, who nominated Dalesha for this award, highlighted her focus and resourcefulness: Dalesha is a thoughtful and determined student who has gone above and beyond to explore a variety of career paths. Since her sophomore year she has always looked for ways to learn more about herself and the industries that best suit her. She has participated in several career exploration workshops, attended yearly career panels, led informational interviews, and interned at 2 different internship sites. Even in her own exploration she has excelled in utilizing all the career tools available to her and was highlighted positively for doing so. I know Dalesha will continue to obtain meaningful career experiences in college and succeed in any career she chooses.
Dalesha described herself to me as quiet but emphasized how much is there beneath the surface. One might be tempted to say that she keeps to herself, but that would be inaccurate because she gives so much to others. She’s helping me expand my musical tastes, for example, and she’s the reason people at school know about some of the events that enrich students’ lives. Dalesha is honing her voice and building the skills to make sure it is heard, and I am excited. She may be quiet, but that voice will not be denied.
JOSHUA POTTS, MAINE EAST
It is my pleasure to honor Joshua Potts as Maine East High School’s honoree for this month’s 207s Best Award, with a focus on career exploration. Joshua exemplifies what it means to be a thoughtful, adaptable, and forward-thinking student who has actively engaged in discovering his strengths, interests, and future goals.
Throughout his time at Maine East, Joshua has taken full advantage of opportunities to explore a wide range of career pathways. He has participated in multiple career treks, including the Union Trades Fair and a STEM trek to Yaskawa, and he committed to the Plumbers Bridge Program, traveling to Chicago twice a week for ten weeks to learn directly from union professionals. He also participated in a small-group hands-on experience at ABT Electronics, where he practiced plumbing fundamentals, electrical basics, and equipment installation techniques. He ultimately was encouraged to apply for ABT’s apprenticeship program. These authentic experiences helped Joshua move from exploration to clarity, ultimately identifying electrical work as a career path that aligns with his interests and strengths.
Joshua’s journey has been shaped by reflection, adaptability, and resilience. He intentionally explored plumbing to determine whether it was the right career path, and through hands-on experiences in his Building Trades course, he discovered a stronger interest in electrical work. After completing an electrical unit and participating in field-based experiences Joshua was able to clarify that electrical work aligned more closely with his interests and strengths.
Academically, Joshua has explored a wide range of coursework to better understand his interests and future goals. He has taken introductory business and marketing courses, participated in the Schuler Scholar program with its rigorous academic expectations, and explored courses such as autos, cybersecurity, culinary, and Building Trades. Through these experiences, Joshua thoughtfully determined that a trades pathway may be the best fit for his goals, while continuing to challenge himself academically.
Joshua has consistently demonstrated maturity and adaptability. He has reflected on changes in his interests, coursework, and activities, describing these shifts not as rushing decisions, but as being adaptable and intentional about finding what truly fits. With strong family support and a clear sense of purpose, Joshua has embraced exploration as a pathway to clarity and is working toward a future in the trades with confidence and determination.
Joshua’s teachers have enjoyed watching him grow and consistently highlight his character, leadership, and commitment to learning.
Emily Deleon shared, “Joshua is a diligent, kind and focused student. He never lets doubt tamper his belief in himself and I have admired this about him. Josh’s perseverance is something I’ll always remember from his freshman year, and how he still stops to check in whenever I see him three years later! That’s just the type of person he is. Joshua is going to be amazing in the real world and I am so excited for him.”
Wil Greenwald noted, “Joshua always had an excellent attitude every day and was excited to learn. He could be counted upon to ask excellent questions in our investing class. He was a pleasure to have in class.”
Rob Payne commented, “Joshua is a very motivated student in the Building Trades class. He approaches both the theoretical and the application sides of the class with equal enthusiasm and has shown himself to be a calm and consistent group leader. Joshua leads by example and also encourages other students to contribute to the construction projects. In addition to the dedication Joshua has shown within the class, he has also extended his own experiences with Building Trades outside of the classroom. He participated in the Plumbers Union Bridge program during the first semester, where he traveled to the union training facility in Chicago two nights a week for 10 weeks. Joshua has been a great student to have in the Building Trades class and we are looking forward to seeing what he does in the future.”
Chris Peters reflected, “Josh is a terrific student and person. One of the things that stands out most is that Josh is very thoughtful. As a member of the track team, Josh was one of the most consistent members and was always good about communicating with the coaches. Because of his kind and laid back personality, Josh was able to earn the respect of his peers. Josh was always willing to help and support his teammates and as a result he developed into a leader on the track and field team. Finally, Josh is a driven and fierce competitor on the track and he carries that same sense of purpose over to other aspects of his life. Josh has a plan for life beyond college and is working toward those goals this year. He is setting himself up for success beyond the classroom.”
Alen Ibrahimovic added, “Joshua is one of the most polite and kind students I have had in a long time. Throughout his time at East, he has been actively exploring his career interests through courses he has taken and extracurricular opportunities he has engaged with. About halfway through junior year he started expressing an interest in a career in the trades. Since then, he has taken our Building Trades and Autos courses, attended multiple relevant career treks, participated in the plumbers bridge program, and continued to solidify a strong academic foundation for the trades through courses like Precalculus and Physics. Through his positive personality, work ethic, and strong academic foundation—he will make an excellent member of the trades!”
Joshua Potts represents the very best of Maine East: a student who is curious, hardworking, kind, and intentional about his future. We are proud to recognize him for his outstanding commitment to career exploration and for the example he sets for his peers.