The Examiner U-46 News Feed

U-46 Board recognizes students for performances

By Seth Hancock
  The Board of Education in School District U-46 recognized a group of students for their performances at the Illinois Future Problem Solving Bowl as well as the district’s music program at its Monday, April 25 meeting.
  Students placing first and second at the bowl will compete at the International Future Problem Solving Bowl in Massachusetts this summer. The U-46 students were all coached by teacher Ellen Smith at Streamwood’s Glenbrook Elementary School.
  “I am very proud of all my teams,” Smith said in a district press release. “They endured competing during the pandemic when all the competitions were virtual and now they were able to return to an in-person state meet and do really well. I continue to coach because of the students’ enjoyment, and the benefits I feel they gain from their participation in this academic competition.”
  Neda Bazys (Streamwood’s Canton Middle School) was first in the individual competition. Sophia Lee, Aiken Navarro, Andrew Punnoose and Zinnia Saher of Glenbrook were first in the junior division. Michelle Cardozo, Nishi Sheth, Katelyn Wong and Svanik Yachavaram of Elgin’s Larsen Middle School were first in the middle division and also earned the Bucky Award “given to only one team at the whole competition, for their creative and futuristic solution to a problem,” the release stated.
  Mannat Ashta, Yuvan Ganne, Veer Gupta and Risha Lakkadi of Glenbrook were second in the middle division.
  The district’s music department was recognized after being one of 22 Illinois districts named Best Communities for Music Education by the National Association of Music Merchants. This was the fourth straight year for the recognition.
  Jaimie Giraldo, fine arts coordinator, said for the release: “In U-46, we already know how wonderful our thriving music programs are, but this recognition allows the public and our greater school district community to recognize the fantastic musical opportunities happening here. We are proud of our music programming, and look forward to continuing to share our successes with our community.”