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

Pictured are the Willowbrook students who were recognized as Outstanding Students during an event in their honor on Dec. 11. They are (back row, from left to right) sophomore Sofia Abraham, junior Bryce Raffen, junior Siddartha Mamidi, senior Seth Rodrigues, freshman Tadhg Hurley, senior Mark Rainey, freshman Muhammad Husain, (front row, from left to right) senior Zerriah Watson, senior Isabel Weaver, junior Bethany Yurich, senior Mariangela Popoca and freshman Yui Jacobs. Photo by Lifetouch

On Dec. 11, 12 Willowbrook students were recognized as Outstanding Students for the second 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: Sophomore Sofia Abraham

Career and Technical Education (CTE): Senior Seth Rodrigues

English: Junior Bethany Yurich

Learning services: Senior Zerriah Watson

Literacy: Freshman Muhammad Husain

Math: Senior Mark Rainey

Music: Senior Isabel Weaver

Physical education: Senior Mariangela Popoca

Science: Junior Siddartha Mamidi 

Social studies: Freshman Tadhg Hurley

Warrior Resource Center (WRC): Freshman Yui Jacobs

World languages: Junior Bryce Raffen

Photo by Lifetouch

Willowbrook Career and Technical Education (CTE) teacher Liam McKenna received the Outstanding Teacher award and was presented by Willowbrook junior Madeline Carine and sophomore Odin Gay. 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.