Lauren Milanak

The Lake Forest Varsity Dance Team lives by five words that exemplify who they are and what they strive to be throughout their season: confidence, execution, persistence, integrity, and unity. Senior Lauren Milanak possesses all of them.

If you’re in search of a girl who proves day to day she can do it all, stop looking because senior Lauren Milanak is the perfect example.

From being one of the three captains of the pom’s team at LFHS to participating in a number of clubs, both inside and outside of school, Milanak has numerous amount of accomplishments and activities to put on her resume. But despite her busy schedule, Milanak always finds a way to complete everything she does with excellence.

Milanak made the varsity dance team as an incoming freshman, which if you don’t know, is both extremely rare and impressive. And now three years later she was voted to be one of the captains of the team alongside seniors Emma Drowne, and Ava Douglass. Being the captain of a nationally ranked team comes with challenges, but some may say that Lauren was born a leader, and made for the job. Junior Viola Swartout admires how much Milanak does for the team, and knows that she and her teammates are thankful that Lauren will always have their backs.

“When I think of Lauren the first thing that comes to mind is her natural leadership ability, I know I can always count on her to steer the team in the right direction… she truly embodies the role of a captain,” Swartout said.

Since her freshman year, Milanak has spent every fall season under the Friday night lights, and now Milanak’s last performance on the field is approaching quicker than she would like.

“It feels like just yesterday when I was freaking out right before my first football game freshman year, to say it goes by quickly is truly an understatement. I am so excited to perform alongside my five other seniors and the rest of the team. There really is no better way to put an end to the season than spending it with my 17 sisters,” Milanak said.

Although her final football season is coming to an end, there is so much more to come for her.

She looks forward to the upcoming competition season, and embarking on nationals for her fourth and final time alongside senior and captain Ava Douglass, who said Lauren is, “One of the hardest working people I know.”

Douglass has admired her dedication and passion for the team, and with their last season together approaching fast. Douglass said, “I’m beyond lucky to have been able to be on a team with her all these years.”

Last May during pitch night, Milanak’s business team received a whopping 5k+ in funding to kickstart their idea, “The Brush Bestie.” Milanak is a partial owner of the Brush Bestie and focuses on the finance area of the business. Alongside seniors Colin Martens, Julia Grum, and Ally Galiene, a multi-use portable makeup brush was created.

An idea turned into a reality, these seniors, including Milanak, are stepping up to the plate to exceed their own expectations to begin the process of actually producing and selling this product. Colin Martens recognized just how hard Milanak works to improve their business to make it the best it could possibly be.

“She’s been an extremely dedicated and valued member to Brush Bestie. She knows when to take charge or when to sit back and let others shine,” Martens said. “She completes everything expected of her and then goes the extra mile for the sake of our business. I loved working with her all of last year and I am so excited to see what’s next.”