A Little Bit About Me

Hi! Im Hannah, I'm a student at Highland Park High School in Highland Park, Illinois.

My passions are:

Volunteering

Community Service

Lacrosse

Golf

Medicine

Animals

Shop n' Drop

A community-based organization that is dedicated to serving the needs of the local citizens who are experiencing food insecurity.

Annual Corn Roast

Annual fundraiser to help local charities fight food insecurity.

Highland Park STRONG

Fundraiser project for families of victims of the July 4th Highland Park tragedy.

HPHS Rotary Interact

A school-sponsored international club that involves community service and School-sponsored leadership, working with over 30 non-profit organizations a year.

Misericordia

The Mission of Misericordia/Heart of Mercy is to support individuals with developmental disabilities in maximizing their level of independence and self-determination.

Heartland Animal Shelter

A local animal shelter that finds, loving homes for each animal in their care.

Sunrise Senior Living

Setting up and playing Sunday Bingo with seniors.

Maot Chitim

Maot Chitim delivers food packages to Holocaust survivors, seniors, families and others in need of help for the Jewish holidays.

Puerto Rico: Helping fix the communities broken by Hurricane Irma and Maria
July 28, 2022
San Juan, Puerto Rico
After the horrible hurricanes that destroyed the most destitute areas of San Juan, Puerto Rico, I traveled to work with SBP (St. Bernard Parish) and Para la Natrualeza to help rebuild communities across Puerto Rico.
New Orleans: Restoring the Big Blue's poorest neighborhoods after years of battering by weather and tornados
March 23, 2022
New Orleans, Louisiana
For centuries New Orleans has dealt with historically difficult weather. After the Arabi tornado the strongest in New Orleans history hit on March 22, 2022, I traveled to New Orleans to work with Green Light New Orleans, Sankofa Community Development, and Youth Rebuilding New Orleans to help restore the neighborhoods hit by the tornado.
Orlando: Working with Give Kids the World and Primrose Center
February 13, 2022
Orlando, Florida
Worked with terminally ill children with the Give Kids the World Foundation that sends terminally ill children and their families to Disney World to give them a week of joy. Played games with the children and worked in the Give Kids the World cafeteria to serve the families.
Alaska: Learning about Alaska's deep Native heritage through service and support
July 24, 2023
Juenau, Alaska
After working with Sealaska Heritage, "Back to School SchoolsBackpack" Project, The Glory Hall Homeless Shelter, and Trail Mix Land Restoration, I learned about the cultural heritage of the indigenous Tlingit and Haida tribes of Alaska and helped them restore their native land.
Israel: Bringing the sport of lacrosse to the youth in Israel
December 27, 2022
Tel Aviv, Israel
I traveled to Israel with thirty other high school lacrosse players to help grow the popularity of the game of lacrosse and support children who live in danger zones in Northern Israel.
Washington DC: Being honored for our aid efforts in my hometown tragedy
December 11, 2022
Washington D.C
After the families' efforts to raise over 50,000 dollars to support the victim's families from the July 4th tragedy, I received the opportunity to meet with Senator Durbin, Senator Duckworth, and Representative Schneider to share my story and efforts after the tragedy. They were kind enough to give us their time to talk about gun safety and the efforts taken in the Senate and Congress.

VFW Patriot's Pen Essay State Champion, and 10th Place National Winner

This essay competition encourages young minds to examine America’s history, along with their own experiences in modern American society, by drafting an essay, expressing their views based on a patriotic theme chosen by the VFW National Commander-in-Chief. I was fortunate to win Fist Place in the State.

My Family Story International 1st Place Winner

20,000 students from around the world compete to tell their family stories in a mixed media of art and writing. Only 100 students are selected to come to Tel Aviv to present their projects on display at the Beit Hatfutsot Museum of the Jewish People in Israel. My project was 36 Kinder, based on my great-grandmothergreat's struggle during the Doctors Plot. A Video on the project is here

Highland Park STRONG Fundraiser

As a response to the Highland Park Fourth of July Tragedy, the SaLT Team began fundraising for the families affected by the tragic events. We raised funds throughout the community and beyond by asking for donations and selling t-shirts. The four of us raised over 50,000 for the families in the four weeks following the tragic event.

Points of Light Honor Roll 2022

The Points of Light Inspiration Honor Roll is part of the George H.W. Bush Points of Light Foundation. The Inspiration Honor Roll celebrates acts of service, kindness and civic engagement by outstanding individuals who create change in communities around the world.

Multiplying Good Jefferson Award Nominee

The Jefferson Award honors public service and volunteering across the nation for over 50 years.

VFW Voice of Democracy 1st Place in District

Established in 1947, the Voice of Democracy audio-essay program provides high school students with the unique opportunity to express themselves within the context of a democratic and patriotic-themed recorded essay.

Laying of the Wreath at Arlington National Cemetery

As part of being recognized by The United States Senate and Congress for the Highland Park STRONG project, I was given the honor of laying a wreath for the Highland Park tragedy victims at The Tomb of The Unknown Soldier.

French Seal of Biliteracy Award

The Seal of Biliteracy is an award given by a school, district, or state in recognition of students who have studied and attained proficiency in two or more languages by high school graduation.

Varsity Lacrosse

4 years

Varsity Golf

3 years

SmileAid

According to the WHO (World Health Organization), almost half of the world's population neglects oral healthcare, mostly because they lack access to oral hygiene products. This started as a personal service project I organized to provide dental hygiene products to children who have no or limited access. We did this by soliciting Unilever and GlaxoSmithKline as well as local dentists to donate products like brushes, toothpaste, dental floss, and mouthwash so that we can distribute these items to both local communities and overseas.