Jessica Kavanagh

Walking out of the Senior Directed One Acts auditions, the directors knew one thing — freshman Jessica Kavanagh was a force.

“I knew from the moment that I saw Jess in auditions that I wanted her to lead our production,” senior and director Nora Sharman said.

Kavanagh stepped on the LFHS stage at the beginning of the year, starring in two One Acts. She performed as Manny in Hot to Trot, and Gail Staverson in I Quit: A Guide to Leaving Your Job in Style.

“She was extremely easy to work with, while also making it really fun for everyone involved,” senior and director Katie-May Newman said. “She came to rehearsal everyday with an amazing attitude.”

Kavanagh has been acting for many years, performing in shows at Deer Path Middle School and The Performer’s School.

“You could tell she’s had lots of experience before,” Sharman said. “All the other actors should take cues from her.”

Kavanagh recently earned the roles of Davina Arlington and Geraldine in the freshman/sophomore show, Alibis. The show will be Nov. 14-16.

“I cannot wait to student direct Alibis with Jess,” Newman said. “She gets into character so fast. I’ve never seen someone be so in character, always. It’s so impressive.”

While she’s evidently impressive on stage, Kavanagh brings her impressiveness offstage too.

“The moment she walks into the room, the room is immediately lifted,” sophomore Nico Caputo said. “She’s just a light to the world and she makes rehearsal 10 times better.”

Aside from the attitude she brings to rehearsals, Kavanagh’s friends are always excited to see her outside of these activities.

“She’s just like a ball of energy,” Sharman said. “It always makes my day to see her in the hallway. She is an incredibly funny person.”

Mr. Steve Clegg

Mr. Steve Clegg has been a vital staff member at LFHS for 30 years. With plans to retire in 2026, Clegg is committed to making his last few years as a coach and teacher count. 

Clegg’s journey at the high school began in 1992 as a social studies teacher. He arrives to school before 7 a.m. every morning and stays later during his sports seasons, dedicating his time to the busy lifestyle. 

He’s worked alongside Mr. Greg Simmons for 22 years, since Simmons arrived at LFHS, both teaching various social studies courses. The two have a very similar sense of humor and a “genuine” friendship.

“For me as a coworker… I can depend on him. If I ask [Clegg] to do something, it’s gonna get done, and it’s gonna get done well. In life there’s just not that many people that you meet who are utterly dependable, and he is. He is a rock,” Mr. Simmons said.

Students in his AP Economics class notice that his playful nature is reflected in the curriculum.

“My favorite memory has to be making paper airplanes that simulated a part of the economy. It’s a serious class, but it was a fun activity,” senior Matthew Chabraja said. 

Outside of the classroom, Clegg is a passionate Girls Cross Country and Track Head Coach. In both seasons, he is committed to strengthening the girls’ abilities.

He plans out practices before the season even begins, and his “structured” workouts prepare the team for upcoming races, said senior captain Gianna Lagunas.

“He brings a lot of passion to the sport, and inspires us to do the same,” she said. “We all really look up to him as a coach.”

The methodical planning behind each workout is intense, and he holds the team to a high standard. However, he also gets the team merch and ice cream on occasion, which maintains a strong sense of community within the team.

With years of experience fueling him, Clegg continues to motivate the girls to perform their best on race day. When senior captain Shalini Krishnaswamy didn’t have her best day at the Sectional race, Clegg gave her a pep talk before the State Final to motivate her to push past the setback.

“His words were very impactful to think about as I raced. He truly cares about everybody on the team” Krishnaswamy said.

Clegg’s dedication to the team’s success pushes the team to success day in and day out. 

“Everyone on the team can tell that he has so much passion for the sport of cross country,” Krishnaswamy said. 

Max VanDusen

Many of us have passions that, initially, force us out of our comfort zone, but once we feel that we’ve gotten the hang of them, we tend not to venture too far out of that realm. Not sophomore Max VanDusen, though. As soon as he came to the high school, VanDusen made a brave effort to get involved in all that LFHS has to offer, from the academic opportunities, chances to befriend new people, to even the sporting events, where he can often be found on the sidelines capturing the excitement of the game as a passionate photographer.

“Max is always a great friend, he is super funny and never lacks energy. He is willing to take photos whenever and for whatever just to become better at photography. He’s trying to grow his editing skills, and when he comes to take pictures of my lacrosse team, you can definitely see his skills improving from the photos,” sophomore Emmet Lee said. 

Tanner VanDusen, VanDusen’s mother, says that his love of photography and motivation to be an active community member circle back to his curious personality. 

“Max is like the calm in a storm. He’s an outstanding student, friend, and quiet leader who throws himself into things he’s interested in. Beneath his laid-back demeanor, lies a witty sense of humor, a deep sense of empathy, and an innate sense of kindness,” Tanner VanDusen said. “He genuinely wants to be helpful to those around him – whether that is teaching a friend to ski, helping the elderly with their technology support needs, working at the Winter Club, doing photoshoots for his friends, or hosting study sessions before big tests.”

VanDusen’s ability to lift others up has also been noticed and appreciated by his peers in the classroom. 

“Max is a really fun person to be around. This year, he’s also been a great classmate by helping me out with math,” sophomore Blake Helms said.

Eliya Cummins

Sophomore Eliya Cummins has already created a strong presence at LFHS. The three-season athlete competes in volleyball, basketball, and track and field. She is also a member of the student council and the Fill a Heart for Kids Junior Board. 

FAH is a local organization that works to provide children in the Chicago area with clothes, school supplies, and fun, holiday events. The organization recruits high school students to be apart of their junior board. As a board member, Cummins is responsible for attending monthly meetings and initiating service projects. 

Joining extracurriculars can be intimidating, and sometimes overwhelming. Cummins has found the perfect balance of trying new things, and sticking with what she likes. Whether she is playing on the court or giving back to those in need, she brings a vibrant, bubbly attitude which inspires those around her. 

“I’ve known her since elementary school and she has always been so supportive. She puts 100% into everything she does and she always motivates me to work harder,” said sophomore Leyton Rice. 

She may be an underclassmen, but Cummins’ work ethic mixed with humor and kindness is a rare trait, admired by many grade levels. 

“Eliya is one of the funniest and sweetest people you will meet. Her hard work in school and extracurriculars is so inspiring,” said junior Maddy Cummins.

“She is such a fun person to be around. If you’re ever in a bad mood, Eliya is guaranteed to change that.”

Arjan Jawanda

Senior Arjan Jawanda has made a big impact not only on the football field, but by helping foreign exchange students find a place in the LFHS community.

As the President of the Student to Student Club, Jawanda helps introduce new students to their teachers and helps direct them around the school. He also helps assign kids to other members of the club, if he believes they are a good fit to help them around. Moving to a brand new place can be tough, and Jawanda helps make these students feel at home. 

On the football field, Jawanda is a stud lineman who helps lead the Scouts’ strong offense. He has contributed to the team in many ways, most notably as a vocal leader.

“He always communicates with the younger kids to make sure they play to their best ability,” said junior quarterback Braden Hoskins.

He is not afraid to step up and lead the o-line or the team, which adds onto his multiple impressive football attributes. 

Jawanda also takes part in other activities, such as occasionally helping coach the Junir Scouts football team or golfing with friends. He has added many positive aspects to the Lake Forest Community and High School.

“He’s a great kid and makes everyone feel welcome,” said Wellness teacher and Football Coach Joe Busse.