Mundelein Village presented recognition to Carl Sandburg Middle School's eighth-grade symphonic band after the group was ranked the highest middle-school band in the state at a competitive festival.

Molly Gupta, band director at Carl Sandburg Middle School, told the board the ensemble recorded audition materials in February, was selected from many applicants and performed at the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign on May 9. "Little did we know, in the next couple of days, the judges and, the people running the festival reached out to us and let us know that we were ranked the highest band in the state of Illinois," Gupta said. She said the recognition marked the school's highest placement since 1997.

Gupta credited years of student practice and support from the school districts (District 75 and District 120) and the community. The village presented a temporary recognition to the group and invited the students and director to the village to accept the award and pick up the school presentation for later installation.