Willowbrook presents 2025-26 first-quarter Outstanding Students and Outstanding Teacher

On Oct. 16, 13 Willowbrook students were recognized as Outstanding Students for the first quarter of the 2025-26 school year.

Criteria to be chosen for that award include:

• Demonstrating extraordinary achievement, outstanding effort, commendable attitude and motivation
  
  
• Ability to overcome obstacles
  
  
• Continuous exemplary performance

During the event, Willowbrook Principal Dr. Daniel Krause and Assistant Principal Dr. Jamie Gourley welcomed the recipients and their families, as well as the staff members who nominated the honorees.

The Outstanding Students are:

Art: Senior Norah Luedtke

Career and Technical Education (CTE): Seniors Charles Roelle and Thomas Roelle 

English: Sophomore Anika Urbonas          

Learning services: Junior Suleyka Hernandez

Literacy: Junior Ghazal Alkadi 

Math: Sophomore Quintyn Fuqua

Music: Senior Allison Smaczny 

Physical education: Senior Travis Jones

Science: Senior Jaclyn Bryers 

Social studies: Junior Kyri Burritt

Warrior Resource Center (WRC): Freshman Angela Macias

World languages: Senior Bashar Mansur 

Willowbrook Career and Technical Education (CTE) teacher Laura Lopez received the Outstanding Teacher award and was presented by Willowbrook sophomore Alyssa Alcozer and junior Haroon Baig. To earn the Outstanding Teacher award, a staff member must treat teaching as a passion – not just a job, create a positive learning environment where students feel encouraged and supported, use a variety of strategies to engage students, be willing to offer extra support when needed, provide prompt and effective feedback to students on their learning, and relate to and understand the viewpoints and perspectives of students.