Adam Gutshall, a member of the Princeton Police Department for 18 years, has served as the resource officer at Princeton High School since January 2020 and says the role offers a refreshing change from patrol duty.

For Seneca High School Resource Officer (SRO) Ken Sangston, there is one clear cut responsibility that is above all others in his position.

A PE teacher who turned grief into a mental health movement. A school resource officer who never says he's too busy. A Marine who's always there. Meet the Illinois Valley's reader-nominated 2026 Everyday Heroes.

Raikes traces his commitment to service back to his childhood in Marseilles, because he had role models who instilled the importance of putting community before self.

Shaped by his own experience battling a heroin addiction, Tomsha has built a support system for those shaped by his own experience.

Applebee is retiring after 34 years at Seneca High School. In her final year, former students and colleagues are reflecting on how she transformed literature into lived experience – and created a classroom where every student felt safe to be themselves.

Meet Joshua Jahn. His wife and two small children were struck and killed by a drunk driver in 2008. He's spent most of the past two decades speaking to DUI convicts and getting them to rethink their decisions.

For 68 years, Walker has been in Princeton Elementary School District 115 helping and guiding children in numerous ways.

After tearing her ACL in high school, Gina Martin decided she wanted to go into athletic training. For the past 26 years, Martin has helped La Salle-Peru athletes get on the field and recover from injuries.