Señora Levinson 

Señora Levinson is the kind of teacher who makes every class feel like a fiesta.  With her trademark sweater vests that make an appearance every Thursday (because, obviously, Thursday calls for a sweater vest), she brings an unmatched vibe to the classroom.  

Learning a foreign language can be challenging for anyone.  Speaking from personal experience, it is very stressful when you can’t understand or communicate in a different language.  

Levinson – known to her students as “Señora Lev” – makes sure she prioritizes learning whilst making it engaging and interesting.

According to Spanish teacher Andrea Serrato, Levinson is an important part of the Spanish department.  “Sra. Levinson is a passionate and caring teacher. She is dedicated to making sure her students feel comfortable in her classroom and that every student can succeed.” 

It’s not just her love for Spanish – or Abraham Lincoln – that makes her classes different, it is how she approaches teaching. Many students have commented on her teaching styles and how effective they are. One of them is watching movies entirely in Spanish to expose her students to fluent and realistic Spanish.   

“Without this class, I would never have watched movies in Spanish and I have loved all of them so far. They are super entertaining and give a better insight into Spanish culture that I otherwise would have missed out on,” senior Spanish 5 student Emily Witte said.  

She isn’t only about conjugating verbs — she is a very vibrant and bubbly person making learning a different language actually fun.

Classes can get even more exciting when she brings out her amazing singing to a song by her favorite, Prince Royce.  

“Her positive energy and total commitment to her job makes her a true standout in the school,” Serrato said.  “She has worked hard to prepare herself to be highly knowledgeable in her content area, from studying in Spain to taking AP teacher prep courses offered by the College Board.” 

Let’s not forget about Levinson’s Merienda tradition! Every Friday (aka the best day of the week), a student from her class brings in a treat for all of the students to share. How can you beat that? Someone even said one time two students brought in a personalized cake with Señora herself on it!

“The meriendas are always something I can look forward to every week,” Witte said.

As if teaching foreign languages isn’t impressive enough, she is also an assistant coach for the Lake Forest Girls’ Varsity Cross Country Team.  She has worked alongside the head coach of the cross country team, Steve Clegg, for the past 12 years.  

“When I asked her to join the staff, I knew she would be a great coach, but I didn’t realize she would become such a great friend as well.  We’ve had a great run together!” Clegg said.

Coaching a sports team can be a very challenging task as it requires confrontation, commitment, and leadership.  Levinson has found ways to make her coaching just as special as her teaching through making adjustments to best fit where her students or athletes are currently at.      

“She keeps a very good pulse on the team and where they are both physically and mentally,” Clegg said.  “This is critical for our training as she can really help to make the adjustments we need to help the athletes maximize their potential.” 

Sarah Griffin

Sarah Griffin carries qualities that are abnormal among most freshmen. Though many know her for her pronounced lacrosse skills and academic drive, her friends know her for her sweet disposition and kind nature. 

Griffin is an exceptional athlete who is highly committed to her club lacrosse team, Team One. Balancing athletic and academic success is a difficult task, but one that Griffin achieves. 

“As a friend, she has the biggest heart and is always there for me when I need someone to talk to,” said freshman Avery Lynch. “Whereas in lacrosse, she is always helping little girls or even some of my friends get better at the sport.”

Freshman Bridget Dacy is lucky to be one of Sarah’s nearest and dearest friends.

“Sarah is the sweetest girl. We have been on the same lacrosse team since we were in second grade, and she is such a great teammate to have. She is so kind to everyone and is such a hard worker in school and sports. Sarah and I have the best relationship because she is always there for me,” said Dacy.

Griffin’s kindness and sweet disposition are recognized by many.

“Sarah always has a warm smile on her face, lighting up any room she enters,” said freshman Grant Gundlach. “Her genuine kindness and positivity make her a joy to be around, and she always finds a way to uplift those around her. Whether it’s in good times or bad, her cheerful nature and joyful spirit are contagious to everyone she meets.”

We can all strive to be a little bit more like Griffin, lifting others and making the world a more positive place. Griffin’s unique qualities will take her very far in her years at LFHS.

Johann Meissner

Senior Johann Meissner’s great sense of humor and energetic spirit make him stand out among LFHS students. 

Balancing two sports is not easy as a student, but Johann is always determined to focus on his school work and achieve his goals. He always strives to be a good teammate and is a great person to turn to for support.

He is always able to bring out a positive attitude on the football field and volleyball court, making him a very likable teammate.

“He is a great teammate. He is supportive and is one of the funniest guys on the team. His balance between being one of the funniest and one of the hardest working people is very admirable,” said senior Xander Prium.

Aside from sports, Johann’s personality is also present in the classroom.  In class, he has a lighthearted attitude and is able to make other students laugh, but when it comes time to work he knows when to focus.

He keeps a very rigorous schedule and challenges himself to keep good grades, which is not always easy with a challenging schedule and sports.

“I love working with him in class because he is always willing to give a helping hand, crack some jokes, and in our group test he put the whole group on his back,” said senior Huston O’Neil. 

Johann is a great example of what a LFHS student should be. He is always supportive of his friends and teammates, and he knows when to be serious in class while also cracking some jokes from time to time.

Charlie Hornberger

Sophomore Charlie Hornberger or “Chuck” is one of a kind, known for his good energy and athletic abilities. His looks and personality have earned him a positive reputation throughout the school. Charlie Hornberger is a one-of-a-kind football player. He smashes players into the ground and being the great person he is picks them up right after. You can also find him on the diamond where he loves playing baseball with his friends. The power hitter had a solid freshman campaign and looks to continue to help the Lake Forest Baseball Team grow.

Hornberger is very well-liked by his classmates. “He’s the best, I sit next to him in the second period, I can always count on him to make me laugh,” said sophomore Marissa Graham.  Hornberger also spends lots of time working out. Hornberger frequently hits the weights with his friend James Altounian. “He (Charlie) is always pushing me to be a better person and work harder,”  Altounian said.

“Charlie is a very hard worker,” said sophomore Wyatt Nelson. “He is exactly what people at this school should strive to be like.” 

Hornberger is also a great student consistently doing well and putting his best foot forward for everything thrown at him in school. “Chuck is what they call an academic weapon,” Altounian said. Hornberger is also a very highly regarded hacky sack player; he is always working on his craft during lunch, study hall, and breaks in the middle of block day classes. His commitment shows a lot about him as a person. “Chuck is one of the undisputed top hacky sack players of the underclassmen,” said freshman Charlie Sommers.

Connor Gustafson

While Lake Forest High School is filled with many exceptional students and many exceptional athletes, not many are known to be both. Junior Connor Gustafson is one of a few who excel beyond standards both in the classroom and out of the field. 

Connor Gustafson has shown his athletic talents on both the soccer field and on the track. As a freshman, he was pulled up to play with the sophomore soccer team. Unfortunately, he got injured and missed essentially his entire freshman season. 

Returning into his sophomore year, he joined the varsity soccer team and established himself as a starter in the preseason. Since then he has been a consistent starter for the Scouts and has earned a number of awards, including 

In addition, Gustafson joined track as a sophomore and will continue running this upcoming spring. 

In Gustafson’s sophomore soccer season, he showed his ability to play at a high level, but in his junior year, he really established himself as a standout and reliable defender. 

Helping lead his team to a conference championship, Gustafson started every game and often played the entire eighty minutes. 

“Connor was a very valuable member of our team. We always trusted him and he saved us many times in close games,” senior captain Tyler Bernstein said. 

Gustafson is a threat on both defense and offense. His height and size allow him to win 50/50 balls in the air and on the ground. Additionally, he is a big target for corner kicks and free kicks, most notably scoring in the last two minutes against Stevenson to tie it, a vital game for the Scouts to win the conference. 

“Connor is great to have on the team because he is a great player and teammate. He always gives all of his effort and is supportive of all of his teammates,” senior Tito Ford said. 

Additionally, Gustafson has a very positive presence on the team. He is a positive motivator and is well-liked and respected by his teammates.

“Connor is a nice guy and a great player. It’s been really cool to get to know him in school and on the field. He is a great leader and I think could be a very valuable captain next season. He deserves a lot of respect for his success both in sports and in school,” junior teammate Connor Phelan said.

Alongside his success on the field, Gustafson is a fantastic student. Gustafson takes many AP and honors courses including AP Calc BC, AP Language and Composition, AP US History, and AP Biology. 

With Gustafson’s abilities in both areas, he is a great example of who LFHS students should strive to be.