Addison Trail names January recipient of 88’s Best recognition

Lettia Hoda (pictured above) has been named as Addison Trail’s January recipient of 88’s Best recognition for her stellar involvement in extracurricular activities. Hoda, a senior, was recognized during the Jan. 30 District 88 Board of Education meeting. To watch her 88’s Best presentation, click on the video above.

Throughout her four years at Addison Trail, Hoda has proven to be a great role model for her peers and has spent her high school career balancing all of it with a positive attitude and a contagious Blazer spirit that has had a lasting effect on her teachers and classmates.

Hoda said her grandparents have contributed greatly to her success.

“Ever since I was a kid, they taught me to prioritize school and always encouraged me to do my best,” Hoda said. “They always asked me about my grades and loved hearing about my accomplishments. My grandpa passed away (recently), and I wish he could have been around to hear about this award, because he would have been extremely happy. I just told my grandma about it, and she was very excited.”

Involvement at Addison Trail:

  • Member of the Girls Cross-Country Team

  • Member of the Girls Track & Field Team

  • Member of Orchestra

Future plans:
Hoda plans to attend Lake Forest College and major in neuroscience. She also plans to run cross-country and track.

Hoda said her favorite class at Addison Trail has been Medical Careers, because it provides an opportunity to shadow doctors and other health care professionals at a local hospital.

“I really value this (experience), because I want to work in medicine one day, and being exposed to the hospital environment as a senior is really rare, and I really love it.”

Staff member comments:

“Hoda was a great student in AP Physics 1, and I am so grateful I was able to be her teacher. She is mature, respectful and focused – those qualities and more will take her far in life.”

- Kira Bonk, Addison Trail science teacher

“I have had the pleasure of having Hoda in my orchestra for four years. During her time in the Music Department, Hoda has shown hard work and dedication to being a fantastic musician. She has taken on leadership roles in the orchestra, demonstrating her ability to work well with others and help foster a warm and welcoming classroom environment. I can always count on her to give her best effort every day. The Addison Trail Music Department is very lucky to have Hoda as a musician.”

- Alex Stombres, Addison Trail Orchestra Director

“Hoda embodies what District 88’s Best is all about. She has a long list of impressive accomplishments, both in the classroom and during extracurriculars. As one of her coaches for cross-country and track & field, I would like to share some of what she has achieved while running. In the past year, Hoda has done all of the following: broke 6 minutes in the mile, finished 11th at Regionals (which qualified her for Sectionals) and ran the fourth-fastest 3-mile time in Addison Trail history. These are all tremendous achievements, but it is Hoda’s attitude, work ethic, humility and sense of humor that truly set her apart and make her so deserving of this award.”

- Michael Barnd, Addison Trail special education teacher and Girls Cross-Country and Track & Field Assistant Coach

“I have been privileged to see Hoda in both the classroom as her Precalculus Honors teacher, as well as watching her grow during her junior and senior years as an exceptional cross-country athlete. As a student, she was disciplined, organized and extremely dedicated to learning the material. All of these traits were evident in cross-country as well. Hoda began running as a cross-country athlete her junior year. She started the season with a time of 26:57 for 3 miles and, by the end of the season, had improved by 4 minutes and 30 seconds with a season-best time of 22:27, placing her 24th on the all-time fastest Blazers list. During her senior year, she kicked it up another notch. She trained and prepared consistently during the summer and racked up many accolades throughout the season. She placed 1st in the Conference dual meets against Proviso East, Willowbrook and Downers Grove South. At the Conference Championship, she placed 6th overall. The next week, she placed 11th overall at Regionals and qualified as an individual for Sectionals. She closed the season with yet another personal record and finished her cross-country career as the fourth-fastest Blazer in school history.”

- Kirsten Olson, Addison Trail math teacher and Girls Cross-Country Head Coach

  • 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.