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Round Lake honors Benjamin Ortega Hernandez as Exchange Club Youth of the Year
Summary
At its April 20 meeting, the Round Lake Area Board of Education recognized Benjamin Ortega Hernandez as the Exchange Club Youth of the Year, citing a 4.41 GPA, 21 honors/AP courses, leadership roles and community service; Benjamin said he plans to study artificial intelligence at Illinois Institute of Technology.
The Round Lake Area Board of Education on April 20 recognized Benjamin Ortega Hernandez as this year’s Round Lake Exchange Club Youth of the Year.
A school presenter introduced Benjamin, highlighting his academic record (a GPA reported in the presentation as 4.41 while taking 21 honors and AP courses), leadership roles including Panther Crew and National Honor Society, a summer IT internship, and community service such as organizing backpacks and volunteering at church events. The presenter said those activities and Benjamin’s leadership were the reasons he was chosen to represent Round Lake High School.
Benjamin accepted the honor and thanked supporters. “I am honored to be the recipient of the Youth of the Year award,” he said, and credited his faith and his parents for the opportunity to become a first-generation college student. He told the board he has been accepted at the Illinois Institute of Technology and plans to study artificial intelligence, describing a goal to make technology accessible for all.
The board’s recognition was part of the meeting’s special-recognition agenda; no formal vote was required to present the award. The district’s presenter said Benjamin’s selection reflected both academic achievement and service to peers and the broader community.
