People

Bonnie Winfrey, president of the Zonta Club of Joliet Area, said the club has bestowed Woman of the Year award to a Zonta Club member every year since the club was founded in 1973.

Former Joliet resident Steve Kost of Palos Park, a member of The Art Movement in Joliet and the Romeoville Art Society, created 36-inch long, 65-pound cicada from scrap metal that he entered into the sculpture category at ScrapFest in Lansing, Michigan.

Valarie Woodkirk, a direct support professional at Trinity Services, was named the ANCOR 2024 Illinois DSP of the Year.

Dave Marco was a paraprofessional at Joliet West for nearly 17 years and a huge supporter of the school’s sports programs. He died on March 6.

Betty Orlando, who will turn 100 on Dec. 1, said she doesn’t do any actual bowling anymore. But that doesn't stop her from having an active, independent life.

Sandy King of Joliet will donate a kidney to her son Nolan King on Oct. 16, who will turn 13 before the transplant. The family has a GoFundMe page to raise money for medical bills.

Destiny Griffin is a JJC alumna and previously worked for the college, first as a student worker and then as a campus safety officer

In December Joseph “Jo Jo” Awinongya Jr. of Joliet won the USA Boxing Nationals 2022 for his weight class. He also recently received a full scholarship to the University of St. Francis in Joliet.

Features of the Joliet East High School all-class reunion include a DJ, access to food trucks and a cash bar.

As part of "Juneteenth in Joliet," panelists discussed the evolution of race relations, adapting to change, bridging economic gaps, and strengthening the community’s foundation to better support diversity, equity and inclusion.

Lisa Pappas, executive director of the Plainfield Area Public Library, serves on the club's executive board and is actively involved with Zonta's social media, website, podcast and two committees: public relations and LUNAFEST.

Timbers of Shorewood resident Paula Polechla, 79, and Hank Vasel, age 6, performed a duet on June 4 at the Shorewood rental retirement community.

One group of graduating students earned a cumulative grade point average of 4.0 for all fours. Another group of graduating students achieved perfect attendance all four years.

Jaron Nabors, president of 2morrowstartz2day, is hosting the talent show at St. Mark Christian Methodist Episcopal Church in Joliet, where Nabors is also hosting discussions on collaborative ways to improve the Joliet’s South side for its youth.

Even after she retires from Channahon School District 17, Renee Bogacz hopes to remain a resource for educators.

The co valedictorians at Minooka Community High School were Gabrielle Kics and Rachel Karceski. The salutatorian was Caleb Getz.

This year’s student speakers were Alexa Hadley (Lincoln-Way Central), Jenan Halawa (Lincoln-Way East) and Jack Towner (Lincoln-Way West).

“No matter how difficult it might be to pick yourself back up, please learn from your failure and choose to be better – but only better than yourself and for yourself,” Lillian Borbas said during her commencement speech from the Romeoville High School football field.

In advance of Joliet Catholic Academy’s graduation ceremony on May 21, Luke Pekol and Zach Pekol briefly commented on their post-graduation plans and offered advice to incoming high school freshman.

Funds from the 2023 John Whiteside Memorial Golf Outing benefit the the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery Memorial Squad.

Branden Hoolehan, a paramedic with the Joliet Fire Department, volunteered with Team Rubicon as part of an EMT team from March 26 to April 15.

Beny Bamburac, 12, graduated from Joliet Junior College in December after pursuing an associate degree in associate degree in internet technology and participated in JJC’s graduation ceremonies on Friday. He’s currently studying computer science at Lewis University.

Andrea Barron, an undocumented student and member of Joliet Junior College’s class of 2023, addressed the audience as student commencement speaker at Joliet Junior College’s graduation ceremony on Friday night.

Ryan Bates and Avery Kittl were named 2023 Mr. and Ms. Alpha Omega at senior awards on May 10.

Rafael Gutierrez and Madison Schlismann were named 2023 Mr. and Ms. J at a banquet held on April 26 at the Jacob Henry Mansion in Joliet.

Elizabeth Kulpinski and Marissa Massaro will both attend the University of Notre Dame after graduating from Providence Catholic High School.

The following seniors from the class of 2023 at Joliet Central High School and Joliet West High School are graduating at the top of their class with summa cum laude honors.

Local families are invited to submit photos of their high school graduates by June 6.

Connor Christian’s family and friends are now raising funds for scholarships and for brain cancer awareness and research through a foundation in his memory. The CC2 Forever Foundation is the recipient of funds raised at the Strike Out Cancer Event on Saturday in Lockport.

On April 26, the American Network of Community Options and Resources (ANCOR) presented the award to Charlene Vece, who came to Trinity Services in 2006.

Freshman and sophomore students from the University of St. Francis in Joliet executed the project with the Timbers of Shorewood. The project was part of USF’s recreation and sports management department.

During the first quarter of 2023, the Joliet Noon Lions collected 1,295 pairs of used eyeglasses, 29 used hearing aids, 23 ink cartridges, 24 cell phones, 4.8 pounds of keys and 4.3 pounds of pull tabs to help fund hearing and vision programs in Illinois.

Taylor Wiscons, director of development for Special Olympics Illinois’ Law Enforcement Torch Run, said Plane Pulls have been held at various locations in Illinois for the last 15 years. Lewis University hosted the first one in 2019 and a second in 2022.

Emmanuel Zamoras said he is thankful for living in the U.S. and sought the best way to give back to his country.

Lawson Sizemore, an associate coach at Joliet West, has Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type A, a disorder that affects the peripheral nerves. He plans to study journalism at the University of Illinois. Now, due to the community's support, he no longer needs his mother for rides.

For many years, Al Whitney of Cleveland, Ohio, ran 56 blood drives a year, while regularly donating platelets. He's donated platelets in every U.S. state twice and is working on his third tour.

Because of discrepancies in the way that Easter is calculated, Western Christians (Roman Catholics and Protestants), typically celebrate Easter anywhere from one to five weeks before Eastern, or Orthodox, Christians celebrate.

Nephronophthisis is a cystic kidney disease that is the most frequent genetic cause of end-stage kidney disease in people 30 and under.

The walk is in the spirit of Margaret D. Graves, who was an activist in Joliet.

Bob Campell's work included portrait and wedding photography, as well as commercial and fine art photography.

Jim Healy wrote the play to commemorate 350th anniversary of Louis Jolliet and Father Jacques Marquette’s expedition and voyage down the Mississippi River in 1673.

JCA's Key Club held its first Keyman program in December, where members coordinated and led 12 community service projects in 12 days.

Lorie Cristofaro of Bolingbrook, assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction at Lockport Township High School District 205, was recognized for Outstanding Commitment in Education.

Joliet Junior college alumnus and pastry chef Andy Chlebana earned his master pastry chef certification seven months after undergoing brain surgery to treat a rare endocrine disorder.

Pope Francis named Dražen Kutleša as archbishop of the capital city of Croatia. Dražen Kutleša is the cousin of Ivan Kutlesa, the husband of Ines Kutlesa, chief executive officers of Guardian Angel Community Services in Joliet.

Colby is the president and chief executive officer of Silver Cross Hospital, which opened its New Lenox campus in 2012.

Joseph "Jo Jo" Awinongya, 15 years-old, continues to dominate the amateur boxing division, while working on his associate degree from Joliet Junior College.

The theme of the Joliet-area LUNAFEST is, “Bossing Up” – Empowered Women, Empower Women.” The entire event “centers around films that inspire and champion change," according to the Zonta Club of the Joliet Area.

These funds will help expand the capacity of food and shelter programs in high-need areas in Will County,

Career opportunities for plant scientists include managing land for agencies on the county, state and federal level that do land restoration work, according to Andy Neill, vice president of the Kankakee Torrent Chapter and biology professor at Joliet Junior College.