Eloise Fairchild

Adolescence superfan, New York City aficionado, and multiple-time audience member of The Outsiders on Broadway, sophomore Eloise Fairchild is someone you’ll wanna know before she stars on the big stage herself.

Fairchild is an avid participant in theatre–she’s currently acting in the school’s production of The Importance of Being Earnest–yet she also shows that she isn’t afraid to go behind the scenes through her dedicated work in new media. This past fall, Fairchild was one of 11 new media students to travel to New York City and compete in the premier high school film festival by producing a short film in 56 hours. In addition to engaging with the various production departments to learn about all aspects of filmmaking, Fairchild thrived while acting alongside professional actors. 

“Fairchild’s talent, combined with her ability not just to receive feedback but to truly apply it, made her an incredible actress to work with. She approached every scene with intention and curiosity,” said the project’s director Gonzalo Zarazaga. “Her drive to learn the mechanics behind the scenes also deeply informed her acting, giving her performances a level of thoughtfulness and depth that really stood out.”

Her incredible acting cannot just be attributed to talent, however. Fairchild creates extensive documents to analyze the characters she plays, including their development and motivations.

“It’s really interesting to see how she takes these characters into her own,” said friend Sawyer Rice. “She researches these characters and what other people have done with them to then determine ‘Ok, what can I do to make this my own?’ She has a very mature way of working through the work she does.”

On top of acting with Rice, Fairchild co-wrote new media’s latest silent film project with him, and they continued to lead the project as Producer and Director. Throughout the entire process, Rice said he could rely on Fairchild to keep the narrative centered and understandable–an essential part of visual storytelling. 

“Fairchild always had fresh ideas [through the writing process]…She has very strong and detailed feedback, providing examples for why [choices] may or may not work. It shows how creative she is, but also how much she cares about what she’s creating and how she wants it to be well-received,” said Rice.

No matter what artistry she is excelling in, Fairchild prioritizes cultivating a positive and uplifting atmosphere. 

“When we were at The Performer’s School, [an acting academy], and were cast as Gretchen and Karen in Mean Girls, we really bonded. Every single rehearsal we would laugh with each other,” said friend Aibhilin Helms.

Although she may not be able to achieve her dream life yet–cutting her hair to a bob, eating a Magnolia Bakery cupcake, and living in New York City during the summer–Fairchild is putting in the work to get there. 

“She’s going to be so successful and famous when she grows up: everyone is going to know her. Acting is what she wants to do with her life, it’s what she’s been doing with her life… she strives so hard [to achieve her goal] and is very inspiring,” said Helms.  

With her drive surely leading her toward success, it’s no doubt that Fairchild will be a household name. Go and get her autograph while you still have the chance!

Maxim Cusack

If you’ve spent more than a few minutes walking the halls, chances are you’ve spotted Maxim, mid-conversation, mid-joke, or even mid-plan for what he’s doing the second he steps off school grounds.

Maxim is a true social butterfly with friends ranging from every corner and class of LFHS. He’s built a reputation for himself: He’s known for being welcoming, outgoing and contagiously funny. Although Maxim’s skills on the intramural basketball court are poor he uses his funniness to defeat the other team.

Maxim’s story started far from Lake Forest. He was born in Australia, later lived in France and Ireland, before he moved to the United States in 7th grade. 

“Maxim is an amazing friend who is always down to hang out and get out of the house,” said senior Fin Michael. “He moved here from Europe in middle school, which is usually very hard for kids, but he made friends right away which shows his outgoing personality.”

That ability to connect with people quickly and efficiently still defines him today. Whether it’s different friend groups, different interests, or different personalities, Maxim seems to fit in everywhere, not by changing who he is, but by lighting up every single room he walks into. 

According to senior Teddy Atzeff, one of his most underrated traits is his unimaginable vocabulary.

“Maxim is always the first person I go to when I don’t know what a word or phrase means. He knows when and where to use certain words, and I know this stems from his experiences from years spent across the pond in Europe,” he said.

The mix of global experience and his natural curiosity certainly shows in his interests too. When he’s not out with friends, Maxim can usually be found on his DJ deck, fishing, listening to Widespread Panic, or deep in a house music set …  especially anything from Chris Stussy. His taste in hobbies and music are as wide-ranging as his friend groups. 

But above all, his friends say humor is the one thing that keeps people around him. 

“Maxim has the best sense of humor out of anyone I’ve ever met,” Atzeff said. “Whenever I tell him a joke, I know he’ll either laugh or turn it into something even more comedic.”

The memories people share about him tend to circle around the small unforgettable moments that are only special because of Maxim’s presence. 

“My favorite memory with Maxim is building a fort in the ravine in the heart of winter,” Michael said.

When asked for one word that best describes Maxim, Atzeff did not hesitate, not one bit.

“Swiss, nope not cheese, but a Swiss army knife. He has all the tools for the perfect mind and is always someone you want to be with.” 

Reliable, funny, someone you should go to Europe with, and musically keen, and admittedly not very good at basketball. Maxim brings personality and connection wherever he goes, and at LFHS that combination goes a long way. 

Luke Elsen

Luke Elsen is mature is beyond his years.

Being the only junior on the varsity soccer team, his cool nature on the ball complimented by his undeniably strong work ethic quickly cemented his starting spot at left back. Unfortunately, a few weeks into the season he suffered a sprained ankle, causing him to miss about a month of play.

Even with his injury, his presence in the team was still felt. Not only was he the loudest on the bench, but he was the first to compliment his teammates. This earned him the team’s NSC Leadership award team, and rightfully so. 

“He’s a good person to be around and always pushes me to be my best,” senior teammate Luke Frede shared. 

Not only is he a wall in defense on the soccer team, but he’s also a key part of the volleyball team. His tall stature makes him a great volleyball player. Just as he was the only junior on the soccer team, he was the only sophomore on the volleyball team and once again earned a starting spot as the teams libero. 

“He’s a very hardworking and responsible guy,” teammate and coworker Jack Guenther said. 

When Elsen isn’t putting in the time on the pitch or court over the summer, he’s lifeguarding for the Lake Bluff park district. His calm and thoughtful demeanor translate well to his lifeguarding career to keep beach and pool visitors safe.

“He cares about his job and knows how to make others smile,” Guenther said. 

His kind and fun personality make him a wonderful guy to be around and with his leadership skills, both the volleyball and soccer teams are promised bright futures. 

Carm Ventura

When it comes to leadership, senior Carm Ventura makes her mark both on the tennis court and student council. Being captain on the varsity tennis team has taught Carm that having this role is more about showing up for her team and less about being the loudest. With Ventura as captain, standards are high throughout the team. 

“When I had just made the team, Carm was always including me and the other new members of the team, making sure we always felt welcome in conversations and activities,” junior teammate Lila Silvers said.

Thanks in part to Carm’s leadership, you’ll find a common theme throughout the team: uplifting energy.  Tennis matches and practices consist of positive vibes and support, creating a tight knit community on and off the court.

“Even when Carm has a bad day, she always makes sure to prioritize other people,” says teammate and close friend Coco Henretta. “She is always uplifting and inclusive to everyone, ensuring their happiness.” 

This leadership translates into her school life as co-chair of philanthropy for the student council. With Ventura’s role of planning school events, she brings the students together, creating another tight knit community. Carm is a humble leader, never seeking for recognition. She does her work out of the spotlight, ensuring that these school events run smoothly.

It isn’t easy to have such a significant role in both school and sports life. Balancing practices with meetings has taught Carm to be an organized and determined student athlete. As Carm completes her senior year, she raises the bar for the student athletes behind her.

Gino Ventura

Being a great Scout must run in the Ventura family, because Carm’s younger brother Gino, a freshman, is already making his own impact at LFHS.

Ventura is highly involved in school, immersing himself in many clubs. A part of the Student Council, Ventura helps run school events and gives a helping hand whenever needed. His freshman perspective is always helpful to the upperclassmen leaders as they work on connecting grade levels and including underclassmen. 

Not only is Ventura involved in Student Council, but also Finance Club, where he works among other students interested in business doing various business analysis’ or working on financial literacy skills. 

While being involved in clubs, Ventura also participates in sports. He golfed in the fall, and he plans on trying out for the varsity tennis team in the spring.

“Gino is a very talented tennis player with a big serve and a great forehand. Gino is a very impressive freshman who will only improve over time,” senior Captain Nicholas Schweitzer said.

Ventura works rigorously behind the scenes in both clubs and sports. As only a freshman, Ventura is sure to continue his involvement at school and be a positive influence on everybody around him.