Willowbrook names September recipient of 88's Best recognition

Mustafa Ali has been named as Willowbrook’s September recipient of 88’s Best recognition for his academic accomplishments. Ali, a senior, was recognized during the Sept. 26 District 88 Board of Education meeting.

As a student, Ali consistently pursues the most rigorous courses available at Willowbrook. When he graduates, Ali will have taken 14 Advanced Placement (AP)/college-level courses, as well as a multitude of honors courses. Ali also has been recognized as an AP Scholar with Distinction and an Illinois State Scholar and has been named to the Willowbrook Distinction Honor Roll each semester of his high school career. Ali earned Outstanding Student honors for the Science Department as well, and he is an inductee of Willowbrook’s Social Studies Honor Society (Civitas), Math Honor Society and World Language Honor Society.

Beyond the classroom, Ali is an active member of Business Professionals of America (BPA), Science Olympiad, Econ Challenge and Scholastic Bowl and serves as President of Willowbrook’s Muslim Student Association. He has competed at the regional, state and national levels for BPA, earning 5th place overall in the nation for Computer Modeling and 7th place overall in the nation for Computer Animation. Ali also was a member of the Econ Challenge and Science Olympiad teams that competed at the state competition. Outside of Willowbrook, Ali can be found volunteering for numerous organizations and events, including the Islamic Circle of North America Festival and serving as Media Coordinator for the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Muslim Student Association.

“Ali is one of Willowbrook's greatest assets,” said Cristy Hebreard, Willowbrook world language teacher. “He is helpful, respectful and extremely friendly. His work ethic is unrivaled. Ali’s drive to excel and improve is incredible, and I know wherever he goes, he will go above and beyond to be the best he can be. I cannot wait to see all of the success he will have in the future.”

Brett Blair, Willowbrook English Department Chair, agreed.

“I wish I had an opportunity to know Ali longer …,” Blair said. “He is a bright and talented writer and thinker, and he immediately finds humor at the start of every class period. Students seem to gravitate toward him, and he truly is a pleasure to have (in class) each day.”

Ali plans to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign to study industrial design and computer science.

• District 88 values the hard work and achievements of students and wants to make sure students are honored and recognized for their accomplishments. The District 88 Board of Education and administration created the 88’s Best award to highlight students’ success. That award recognizes nine Addison Trail and nine Willowbrook students each school year for reaching their personal best in various areas. Students are honored during a District 88 Board of Education meeting in the areas of academics, highly improved performance, extracurricular activities, service work or performing arts/electives.