Addison Trail names October recipient of 88's Best recognition

Jessica Mell has been named as Addison Trail’s October recipient of 88’s Best recognition for her academic accomplishments. Mell, a senior, was recognized during the Oct. 26 District 88 Board of Education meeting.

By the end of her senior year, Mell will have taken 10 Advanced Placement (AP)/college-level courses and 10 Honors courses.

“Mell has always been my ‘right-hand girl’ in the classroom,” said Addison Trail AP English Literature and Composition teacher Jim Perusich. “She is an astute listener, whose ability to organize classroom lectures into strategic ways of thinking about reading and writing makes her one of the most aware and self-disciplined students I've ever taught. What is most notable about her, however, is her uncanny ability to correct me when I'm wrong and always, always tell me what we did last, what we should be doing next and why what we just covered could be explained better if I just gave her the chance to explain it to the class in her way with her own brilliant examples. She knows exactly what I'm talking about. And she's always delightfully right.”

Addison Trail AP Biology teacher Carolyn Erwin agreed.

“In the short time I have known Mell, I have been most impressed with her overall performance in AP Biology,” Erwin said. “Her attention to detail has contributed to her incredible success in this class and is indicative of her overall work ethic. She consistently demonstrates the traits of an excellent scholar, and it is truly a pleasure to have her in my class.”

Mell also is very involved in extracurricular activities at Addison Trail. During her freshman and sophomore years, she participated in basketball, and she has played volleyball all four years of her high school career. Her most rewarding accomplishment so far was winning the West Suburban Conference Gold Division Conference Championship in volleyball – the Girls Volleyball Team hasn’t won that title since 2006, and Mell was proud to be part of the winning team. Mell competes on a club volleyball team as well and was named Captain of that team last year.

“Mell took on the role of a silent leader immediately,” said Katie Prast, Addison Trail Varsity Girls Volleyball Team Assistant Coach. “When she earned a role on the varsity team, she made the transition flawlessly, consistently working hard every day to improve her own skills and the chemistry of her team. She regularly leads by example, being a selfless role model and a mentor for those around her. Mell is a very bright and intelligent young woman, who will positively impact those around her with poise, leadership and humor.”

Mell also has participated in Lettermen Club, Student Council, Pay It Forward and National Honor Society. She has worked with various community service organizations as well such as Feed My Starving Children, Kiwanis Peanut Day and Relay For Life. Mell was the Boy’s Volleyball Team Manager her sophomore year and plans to continue in that role this spring.

Mell is looking to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where she plans to major in mechanical engineering. Her parents own a foundry and machine shop in Chicago, and she would like to continue the legacy of her family’s business.