Willowbrook names December recipient of 88’s Best recognition

Left: Pictured is Willowbrook senior Thomas (Tommy) Florey, who has been named as the school's December recipient of 88’s Best recognition for his outstanding academic accomplishments. Right: Florey (pictured at left in the second row) is recognized as Willowbrook's December recipient of 88’s Best recognition during the District 88 Board of Education meeting on Dec. 14.

Thomas (Tommy) Florey has been named as Willowbrook’s December recipient of 88’s Best recognition for his outstanding academic accomplishments.

Florey, a senior, was recognized during the Dec. 14 District 88 Board of Education meeting. To listen to his 88’s Best presentation, click the audio file above.

As a student, Florey consistently pursues the most rigorous courses available at Willowbrook. At the conclusion of his high school career, Florey will have completed 10 Advanced Placement (AP)/college-level courses, four Project Lead The Way (PLTW) courses and a multitude of honors courses. As a result of his academic success, Florey has been recognized with the Outstanding Student Award by the Career and Technical Education (CTE) Department, is an AP Scholar and has been named to the Distinction Honor Roll each semester of his high school career.

Beyond the classroom, Florey further commits his time and talents to a variety of events, clubs and activities at Willowbrook. He is a member of the Boys Track and Field Team and the Boys Cross-Country Team and has participated in soccer, swimming, Scholastic Bowl, Science Olympiad and Theatre Tech Crew. During his free time, Florey also volunteers annually for a Christian summer camp and has assisted as a swim instructor.

“Florey was a standout participant in my Advanced Algebra and Trigonometry Honors class,” said Liz Zwart, Willowbrook math teacher. “He is witty, a great problem solver and shows the ability to think on his feet. Florey is a kind young man with an awesome personality, who helped to brighten up our math class daily.”

Willowbrook social studies teacher and coach T.J. Artman agreed.

“Florey is an intelligent and forward-thinking individual, who is always thinking through the process and working to make it better,” Artman said. “He is always ready to engage in a higher-level, meaningful conversation about academics, sports and life in general. I will miss having Florey on the cross-country and track and field teams after he graduates.”

Florey also demonstrates his passion and creativity through Willowbrook’s Robotics Club and competing in the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Challenge, a nationwide contest designed to boost interest and proficiency in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) and challenge public school teachers and students in grades 6-12 to show how STEM can be applied to help improve their local community. Last year, the Willowbrook team focused its project on vaping and used the PLTW Engineering Design Process to help solve this problem. Florey served as Project Manager, researching vaping and building an Arduino-based device that could monitor the air for vaping vapors. The team was named as a State Winner and received $15,000 in technology and classroom materials.

“Last year, Florey really wanted to compete in a robotics competition, and – after many requests – Career and Technical Education (CTE) teacher Kevin Quinn and I served as sponsors, while Florey served as captain of Willowbrook’s Vex Robotics Team,” said Josh Zwart, Willowbrook math teacher. “Florey and his team built a Vex claw bot and then competed at the Vex Robotics Competition in February 2020. The claw robot did fairly well, but more importantly, Florey pushed me to be a better teacher, to start a robotics club and to give students more opportunities.”

Florey plans to pursue his passion for engineering at University of Minnesota; University of Washington; University of California, Berkeley; University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign or Purdue University.

• District 88 values the hard work and achievements of students and wants to make sure students are honored and recognized for their accomplishments. The District 88 Board of Education and administration created the 88’s Best award to highlight students’ success. That award recognizes nine Addison Trail and nine Willowbrook students each school year for reaching their personal best in various areas. Recipients are honored during a District 88 Board of Education meeting in one of the following areas: academics, highly improved performance, extracurricular activities, service work or performing arts/electives. They receive an 88’s Best glass sculpture and a certificate to a local restaurant.