Mokena Teen Wins $1,000 Kohl's Scholarship

Several outstanding students from the Chicago area were each recently granted a $1,000 scholarship from the Kohl’s Cares Scholarship Program for their volunteer efforts. 

As regional scholarship recipients, these students are now qualified for one of 10 national Kohl’s scholarships worth $10,000.

Ryan Hesslau, 18, Mokena, Illinois
In an effort to stand up against bullying, Ryan created foreverU, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness of bullying and its emotional effects among teens. Ryan has grown foreverU into a teen volunteer operation that maintains a website, and social media and blog presence. Ryan also participates in anti-bullying speaking opportunities at schools.

Bridget Gallagher, 11, Chicago, Illinois
In honor of her sister with Down Syndrome, Bridget hosts an annual Lemonade for Misericordia event to raise funds for Misericordia, a residential community of care for persons with developmental disabilities. To date, Bridget’s annual efforts have raised more than $46,000 for the organization.

Delaney Gibbons, 15, Naperville, Illinois

After the wife of a beloved teacher was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), often referred to as Lou Gehrig's disease, Delaney and a classmate organized the Dodgin' 4 Lou Gehrig's Disease Dodge Ball Tournament to raise funds for the Les Turner ALS Foundation. To date, the Tournament has raised more than $42,000 to help support the cause.

Conor Laughlin, 11, Elmhurst, Illinois

After Conor and his family stayed at the Ronald McDonald House in Chicago while his brother Aidan was receiving medical treatment, he was driven to give back to the organization by serving meals to families staying at the house. Conor plans and shops for the meals they cook, as well as helps prepare and serve the home-cooked meals to the families.

Varun Medhal, 18, Lake Forest, Illinois

After witnessing hunger and poverty on a trip to India, Varun created Unseen Cuisine, an organization that redirects  food that would normally be thrown away by restaurants and markets to the homeless and those in need. Varun organized partnerships between local restaurants and markets that, to date, have donated 10,000 food items to shelters in the Chicago-land area.

Omer Raza, 18, Lombard, Illinois

A desire to give back to the community motivated Omer to be an integral part of his senior class service project. Some of his volunteer efforts included helping senior citizens with yard work, assisting at a food pantry, cooking for the Ronald McDonald House and demonstrating science experiments to students at a local elementary school.