Willowbrook presents 2026-27 first-quarter Outstanding Students and Outstanding Teacher

Group photo caption (first photo): Pictured are Willowbrook students who were recognized as Outstanding Students during an event in their honor on Oct. 1. They are (back row, from left to right) senior Yaqoot Juda, senior Quentin Medinger, junior Adam Hajyasin, senior Nathan Borcean, sophomore Liam Bolan, sophomore Santiago Salgado, (front row, from left to right) junior Alexandra Lewek Herrera, junior Nushra Shareef, junior Angelina Manlapaz, sophomore Josimar Zambrano Bravo and junior Ryan Gooding. Not pictured is senior Gwendolyn Valle.

On Oct. 1, 12 Willowbrook students were recognized as Outstanding Students for the first quarter of the 2026-27 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: Junior Alexandra Lewek Herrera

Career and Technical Education (CTE): Senior Yaqoot Juda

English: Junior Nushra Shareef   

Learning services: Senior Nathan Borcean

Literacy: Sophomore Josimar Zambrano Bravo

Math: Junior Adam Hajyasin

Music: Senior Gwendolyn Valle

Physical Education: Sophomore Santiago Salgado

Science: Senior Quentin Medinger

Social Studies: Sophomore Liam Bolan

Warrior Resource Center (WRC): Junior Ryan Gooding

World Languages: Junior Angelina Manlapaz

Willowbrook English teacher Alexa Jurkus received the Outstanding Teacher award and was presented by Willowbrook junior Jaleesa Munoz (they are pictured in the second photo). 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.