Maria Alzamora

When you walk into school in the morning, you’re bound to see senior Maria Alzamora wearing her purple headphones and jamming out to Glee or Ke$ha.  Her dream is to be a pop star, captivating the world with her positivity. But that’s not where her good vibes end.

 “Whenever I drive Maria home from Scout Buddies, she blasts Glee in the car immediately. She is one of the most fun people you could be around and truly has a personality like no one I’ve ever met!” junior Madeline Schnack said.

Maria’s positive attitude is contagious and truly one of the reasons why Maria is such a force to be reckoned with on the ELS Basketball team.

“Maria is such a great teammate and is always so positive on the court. The energy and joy that she brings to every class never fails to make the students and teachers smile,” said senior Molly Thomas, Maria’s buddy for the big game on Thursday.

Maria’s positivity isn’t where people’s admiration for her wanes; her energy on and off the court, paired with her leadership, is crucial for the team’s success.

“She brings such an important energy to the team, and we would not be where we are without her,” says junior Liam Sheridan, Maria’s buddy from the previous win at New Trier. “Her enthusiasm makes practicing and playing one of the most fun experiences you will ever have.” 

At school, you’ll catch her laughing, saying hi to almost everyone in the hallways, and high-fiving just about everyone she can. Her dedication to being a true friend and a positive force is strong.

“Whenever Maria walks into the Senior Commons, I know that she is going to have the best story to tell,” says senior Josie Irvin.“Her constant smile and positivity shine bright in every room.”

Maria Alzamora is the epitome of positivity and kindness; her genuine character and bubbly personality are why she is going to thrive at Auburn’s Eagles program. Maria uplifts everyone around her, whether that’s her classmates, friends, or ELS teammates; just about anyone can count on Maria to put a smile on their faces.

Sabrina Sandrini

Sabrina Sandrini plays a huge part in school spirit. 

Just as finals came to an end, Sandrini joined LFHS and is embarking on her first semester as a new student. Even though it’s her first semester here, she has already left a positive impact on many through her upbeat spirit in the classroom.  

“I remember the first time I met her, and she came into the integrated wellness class; we always do introductions circles for every new person who comes into the class, and everyone goes around and asks the person a bunch of questions,” junior Kylie Daum said. “The new people who come into the class are always super intimidated by all the questions and super shy normally, but I remember Sabrina was just so happy to be there and genuinely loved every question.”   

One of the things she enjoys is singing, and she wants to be a singer when she grows up. Playing with her dog Luna is one of her favorite hobbies among others. 

“She expresses herself through music, and she is very outgoing. She loves talking to people and making new friends,” senior Ava Pasquesi said. 

Sandrini is full of joy. She is always looking forward to meeting new people and trying new things. 

“Sabrina is total sunshine! As soon as she walks into a room, you can’t help smiling because she is such a happy person,” special education teacher Mrs. Deborah Schneider said. 

Sandrini is a very personable person and is always striving to know her peers better every day. She is very talkative, which makes it easier to make new friends. 

“My favorite memory with Sabrina was selling ELS basketball game t-shirts with her. She is so outgoing, kind, and funny. She made new friends instantly. Her first day, she came up to me and gave me the biggest hug and told me we were going to be the bestest of friends,” senior Campbell Gore said.   

According to her teachers, she is succeeding in the class by coming in every day with a positive mindset. 

“Sabrina has been awesome: a pleasure to have in class. She came here after the semester from Australia. She has a great attitude each and every day. She is always smiling and checking in on people. She goes above and beyond to communicate with people and to talk,” Coach Joseph Busse said.    

Sandrini, in a short period of time being here, has already made increasing progress in making new friends.   

“She cares about others. She likes to have fun; she is, overall, just a joy to have in class. She has made some really nice relationships with other peers in the class, which is great to see in such a short time,” Educational and Life Skills Case Manager and teacher Mrs. Donna Lovitsch said.

Brian McAdams 

You can find Mr. Brian anywhere around the school, helping in any way he can. He assists in the Special Education Department, contributing in a variety of ways, from helping students each period to walking students to their cars after school. If you were to ask any student or staff at LFHS about Mr. Brian, they would acknowledge his presence, which creates a supportive environment that values everyone in it. 

“In my time in Integrated Wellness, I loved spending time with Mr. Brian,” alumnus and ex-Integrated Wellness TA Boden Rupprecht said. “He is very selfless in both his support of the ELS students and to all the TAs and faculty involved with Integrated Wellness. His care and devotion don’t go unnoticed; anyone at LFHS would be lucky enough to be around him.” 

Current Integrated Wellness TA Carter Savage also added, “he is a person you never forget in the room; our integrated wellness class would not be the same without him.”

In addition to Mr. Brian’s overall aura, he does a great job connecting with students on a personal level. Student Will Hirschfield said, “Mr. Brian is nice, and he is cool, he helps me. He helps me stay focused. I do my work with him, and I like him!” 

“Mr. Brian is one of the kindest people in our school, no doubt,” said Integrated Wellness TA Ethan Farrell. Ethan also mentioned one of Mr. Brian’s divine talents: gift-giving. “He is the kindest gift-giver I know and is always the one to organize a special item for someone. Whether it was when he gave another classmate and me a printout from a newspaper that talked about our football team, having everyone sign a retirement card for Coach Spagnoli, or even just a simple laminated piece of paper with a kind quote, he always finds a way to make you feel special and does it with a smile on his face.”

Joey Van Camp

If you know ball at Lake Forest High School, chances are you’ve seen Joey Van Camp draining threes in basketball. One of LFHS’s hardest-playing and most dedicated basketball players, Van Camp is an avid fan of the game as well as a kind member of the community. 

He played in this week’s ELS basketball game for the Scouts against New Trier.

“Joey is an amazing basketball player, and his teammates can always depend on him. He is a great leader…and he is a very hard worker,” Molly Thomas said.

Joey is sure to be splashing long shots during the ELS game. He has led the team in three-pointers over the past few years. His excellent shooting form is due to his hard work ethic and love for the game. “His three pointers are truly amazing, and he always knows how to get the crowd hyped up,” said fellow teammate Addington Leahy.

Not only will he be scoring, but he’ll be throwing some great dimes and assists as well. Joey’s passing is excellent. His hard work and passion for basketball are clear to see for all who know him.

And not only is he a great player, but Joey is also an excellent leader. He elevates all his teammates by exercising good teamwork.

“Joey is (one of the) most enthusiastic players on our squad. He has been getting mentally prepared for months and has led the rest of our team to follow that example,” Ethan Farrel said.

Runo Ogufere

Sophomore Runo Ogufere is back on the court for LFHS’s annual ELS Basketball game as part of the Integrated Wellness classes curriculum. For the game, Ogufere and his fellow players are partnered with a buddy to play with them throughout the course of the game. These buddies work in the class all semester long and grow incredibly close to each other. 

One of these buddies is senior Molly Thomas, who describes Ogufere as “a great basketball player, and a wonderful teammate. He’s incredibly fast on the court, and he’s definitely someone we can depend on both during Integrated Wellness and as a friend.”

 But Integrated Wellness is just one part of Ougere’s involvement here at LFHS.

​Ogufere is also part of the LFHS Morning News, helps with restocking in the nurse’s office, and is a member of the Gamers Club, with some of his favorite games being Minecraft and Mario Kart. In his free time, Ogufere loves watching the TV show Amphibia, going to dinner at Red Lobster, reading Marvel Comic books, and traveling over breaks. “His independent, positive attitude and willingness to help are so refreshing,” says Nurse Robbins. These are just one of Oguferes’ many fantastic qualities.

​On top of Ogufere’s various activities and interests, he is also described by those around him as a friendly, genuine, caring person.

“Runo has a great sense of humor, he’s a really great friend, and is constantly putting a smile on everyone’s faces,” says Samantha Medland, one of Oguferes’ teachers. Ogufere consistently uplifts those around him and works hard to make LFHS a better place. His dedication to his friendships, Integrated Wellness, and other activities he is passionate about makes him an excellent example of what a Scout should look like.