Kacper Mierzejewski has been named as Addison Trail’s March recipient of 88’s Best recognition for his service work. Mierzejewski, a senior, was recognized during the March 24 District 88 Board of Education meeting.
Mierzejewski has committed himself to serving Addison Trail and the community, whether it’s through working as vice president of INTERACT Club, vice president of Key Club, co-president of Environmental Club, being a core member of Pay It Forward or being involved with many other service organizations.
Mierzejewski’s service to Addison Trail begins in the classroom as a role model for his peers. In the two years Mierzejewski has been at Addison Trail, he has challenged himself to take some of the most rigorous courses. He has enrolled in five Advanced Placement (AP)/college-level courses and three honors courses.
Outside of class, Mierzejewski has provided key leadership in many school organizations. He serves as a leader in INTERACT Club, Key Club, Environmental Club, Polish Club, Psychology Club and Pay It Forward.
“Mierzejewski is a transfer student who immediately became involved at Addison Trail by joining multiple clubs, including INTERACT Club,” said Jorge de Leon, Addison Trail social worker and INTERACT Club co-sponsor. “He has taken on a leadership role in the club. Within a very short time, he has accomplished not only a great deal of services, but he has inspired his classmates to follow suit. This has been a very successful two years for the club thanks to Mierzejewski’s leadership, hard work, consistency and commitment. Besides helping organize events and fundraisers, Mierzejewski is responsible for coordinating students to volunteer at the homeless shelter, PADS. Mierzejewski also has volunteered at other fundraising events, including Salvation Army Bell Ringing, the Spaghetti Dinner and buckthorn cleanup in the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County. Mierzejewski is the poster child of service for Addison Trail!”
Mierzejewski also has been active in community service projects and organizations. He has helped with Feed My Starving Children, Northern Illinois Food Bank, PADS homeless shelter, the Addison recycling event, Salvation Army Bell Ringing, the Centennial Park Cleanup, the Salt Creek Cleanup, the Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast and tutoring at Lincoln Elementary School.
“When I transferred to Addison Trail after my sophomore year, I wanted to make a change from sports,” Mierzejewski said. “Sports were not making me happy, and I wanted to find ways to volunteer and help others. Once I got to Addison Trail, I immediately began looking into all the clubs offered at the school as a way to meet new people and to help others.”
Since his family immigrated to the U.S. 12 years ago, Mierzejewski has watched his parents work long hours and make tremendous sacrifices for his family. He pushes himself academically and volunteers because he knows how much his parents have sacrificed to give him those opportunities.
Mierzejewski plans to study at College of DuPage for two years and then transfer to a four-year college or university, where he plans to enter the medical field.