District 88 honors business partners and dozens of student state and national recognitions

DuPage High School District 88 used a recognition segment in its board meeting to honor two local business partners who host transition‑program students and to recognize scores of students and teams for state and national achievements.

The district honored Joe Mechatelli, owner of Shoeless Joe’s in Addison, and representatives from Spring Hill Suites for providing job and vocational training sites for students in the district’s transition program for young adults with disabilities. District staff explained the transition program serves students up to age 22 where participants learn independent‑living and vocational skills before leaving the district. Joe Mechatelli told the board he has hosted students for two days per week since before 2018 and said he values the partnership.

Administrators and coaches then recognized teams and individual students from both Addison Trail and Willowbrook who earned state‑level honors: the Science Olympiad team (multiple medals, state competition), the theater production of Things I Know to Be True (sectional winner, eighth at state and recipient of the technical teamwork award), boys track athlete Otis “OJ” Powell (sectional champion, 6'10" high jump and a seventh‑place finish at state), SkillsUSA automotive competitors (Braden Manek first place, Kohl Krueger fourth, Luke Waringa seventh), All‑State softball honorees Ally (All‑State) and Sonia (All‑State, committed to University of Indianapolis), math team pair Asher Hussain and Haruki Yamada (fifth in the two‑person state event), gymnasts Jay and Danny (multiple state finalist honors) and Special Olympics athletes Rehan Khan (silver, softball throw) and Aiden (two bronze medals). Coaches and sponsors briefly described each group’s achievements and the student speakers gave short remarks.

District leaders emphasized the value of community partnerships and parental and staff support, and noted several students used their experiences to pursue further study (one student enrolled in a hospitality vocational course at the College of DuPage after working at Spring Hill Suites). The board and administrators invited the recognized students and partners to a post‑meeting photo opportunity and refreshments.