Parkland College Dean's List

CHAMPAIGN - Parkland College announced the names of students whose academic performance landed them a spot on the Spring 2025 Dean's List. One of the highest honors a student can receive for their academic performance, the Dean's List is awarded to Parkland College students who earn a minimum grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 grade scale for the semester in 100-level courses or higher.

Below is a list of students in our area who earned academic honors last fall. The complete current list can be found on the Parkland College website.

Catlin
Joseph B. Kedas

Champaign
Andrea C. Abbas
Dalal M. Abudayya
Micaela A. Adams
Philip F. Agbo
Paola DJ. Aguilera Lathulerie
Jonathan V. Alanis
Juliana Nicole G. Albarracin
Michael D. Allen
Megan N. Allen
Ethan J. Alvares
Nathalie H. Amisi
Yolanda E. Anaya
Levi E. Atang
Hiroshi M. Avila
Grace O. Bailey
Shaquita F. Baker
Hans Matthew R. Banaga
Josiah T. Barlow
Jillian R. Barlow
Makenna J. Beaulin
Rebecca A. Benedetti
Robin M. Betka
Jaiden Biggers N. Biggers
Harrison A. Biggs
Gabrielle M. Bilo
Sydney C. Blackwell
Kristine R. Bowe
Thomas R. Bradley Jr.
Joseph J. Brown
Nathan C. Brozak
Hayden T. Bui
Iris Burov
Raquel A. Butts
Cecilia S. Cahoon
Eric M. Campos
Matthew D. Carley
Jasmine D. Catchings
Katrina R. Catizone
Josenia T. Celda
Kara M. Charney
Jierui Chen
Ho Kwan Cheng
Alexis M. Clark
Catherine Clavey
Joshua A. Cleveland
Shapree F. Connley
V. H. Cronenberg
Austin T. Crytzer
Charlotte N. Dalton
Terriiayonna N. Davidson
Ryan A. Delehanty
Jasmine Diep
Gavin D. S. Dorsla
Elana R. Duden
Aaron Dunn
Jacob D. Dupre
Megan R. Eastham
Radwa K. Elrouby
Cameron E. Endsley
Lilian I. Eziefule
Ariadne Fagundes Luiz
Jesse L. Fewkes
Quinn Fisher
Maiyah N. Flemons
Jordan M. Foreman
Julia Foster
Destiny V. Frickensmith
Myah E. Funneman
Dalila C. Garcia
Carrie J. Garner
Victoria L. Garrett
Kylie L. Gerdes
Taylor M. Gladden
Leslie F. Godinez
Nakamoza N. Gondwe
Sloan C. Gordon
Abigail E. Grena
Justin D. Gudeman
Alyssa N. Guzman
Keira J. Hadley
Jonathan S. Hahn
Johnathan A. Haines
Elva Hajialiakbarifini
Capris A. Hale
McKenzie L. Hamer
Nicholas R. Hasty
Miles R. Haug
Leo J B. Havey
Zoey D. Hayes
Kaia A. Helbling
Gabriel T. Helstrom
Isabella Hernandez
Michelle Hernandez-Hernandez
Dylan R. Hill
Tara J. Holycross
Samuel L. Hopkins
Jakob A. Hopper
Jad B. Hreish
Johnnesha L. Hunt
Weddie D. Jackson
Rudolph A. Johnson
Madeline R. Jones
Juana R. Juan Pedro
Nitasha Julka
Yunsoo Jung
Eunjoo Kang
Isaac M. Kanyinda
Shounok Kar
Alper Karakurt
Fefe M. Kayembe
Betty A. Kennerly
Gabriella A. Kiel
Patrick K. Kileya
Laura Kim
Seoyeon Kim
Nasja G. King-McDonald
Mathias J. Kirkland
Jarred M. Koerner
Jialei Kong
Adrian M. Kraut
Gianna M. Kreps
Iver I. Krogstad
Otto Krueger
Logan J. Kurtz
Titus A. Kyles
Angel R. Lambert
Deprice H. Lee
Dohyung Lee
Eunseong Lee
Dorcas D. Lepighe
Marc C. Levi
Michael Li
Evan A. Li
Jackson W. Liong
Bolin Liu
Reyna J. Livengood
Dominic A. Loftus
Joshua R. Loftus
Brynn L. Logsdon
Kristin J. Lopez
Christopher Lopez
Aly A. Lopez-Mendoza
Jason P. Lu
Allison M. Ludolf
Jakob A. Luhrsen
Meme Lukadi-Tshibola
Karen J. Maher
Esther Mambo
Sakeena O. Mansuri
Nusayb N. Mansury
Kenneth R. Mantell
Erica G. Markell
Kim R. Marquie
Emmanuela J. Martinez
Josh A. McCarty
Greyson P. McDonald
Elijah McIlvain
Bailey R. McMahon
Breanna J. McQuinn
Lane K. McVicar
Taryn K. Melvin
Melissa Meza
Joseph D. Middleton
Grace M. Miller
Shaylie G. Miller
Richard H. Miller
Andrew Miranda
Kennadie C. Mitchell
Colin A. Monti
Ian A. Moriarty
Jasmine L. Morris
Daisy M. Mueller
Braden A. Muhlstadt
Michelle Narciso
Jemima N. Ndeni
Ngoc Tran Quang Nguyen
Tommy T. Nguyen
Katelynn N. Nguyen
Adrian Nguyen
Vincent M. Nguyen
Kenny Nham
Arianna M. Nichols
Immanuel C. Nwosu
Jemima N. Nzeza
Roan V. O'Brien
Nathaniel G. O'Connor
Samuel O'Connor-Shoresman
Zoe A. Oates
Lily M. Owen
Folashade F. Owojori
Kristin E. Palazzo
Jessica N. Palmberg
Jion Park
Carleigh D S. Parks
Mahi A Patel
Arthur B. Pawlik
Ashley R. Phillips
Kylia E Pierson
Jude N. Pisarczyk
Emily G. Pitcher
Trevor R. Plattner
Tabitha R. Qualls
Vanessa Ramirez
Joseph Rath
Delaney R. Record
Riley A. Ries
Keaton L. Roberts
Landon T. Robinson
Jaycee E. Ross
Ruthy Rouwet
Jenna N. Royer
Samantha I. Ruggieri
Elijah R. Ruggieri
Sylvan L. Rummenie
Burak Safaker
Michael I. Sage
Estella M. Samii
Jaquonte V. Sanford
Ainmere L. Sangster
Theran N. Schmitt
Finn G. Scott
Lizbeth Serrano-Betanzos
Leo P. Severin
Mahakksh Shah
Grace M. Shanholtzer
Vagish Sivaramakrishnan
Michael I. Skaj
Wyatt M. Small
Avery H. Smith
Noelle R. Smith
Missy L. Smith
Cameron P. Smucker
Gustavo D P Soares
Adrianna N. Spinks
Ria G. Sumitro
Christian M. Swanson
Grace Y. Swiney
Mariana A. Taboada-Reategui
Ben R. Talbott
Madison E. Taylor
Chanh N. Thi
Zoie D. Thomason
Pierce M. Thompson
Raina C. Tongren
Lucius Tran
Johnny J. Tran
Serena J. Tran
Ramsey B. Treadway
Thuan H. Trinh
Tobias D. Tschetter
Ekaterina Tsytsarina
Ayaan N. Unni
Anthony L. Urquijo
Avery P. Valencia
Jason D. Vassos
Bryan A. Vaughn
Shanley Ross P. Vega
Daniel Villa-Mejia
Anna M. Viser
Scout A. Voyles
Nicole Vozovoy
Jessica L. Wadley
Calvin E. Wetzel
John P. White
Lauren White
Bayleeella Brooke Whitney
Ryan W. Williams
Rachelle D. Winfrey
Robyn D. Wood
John R. Woodard
Micaiah R. Wright
Emma K. Wurl
David L. Yakoub
Joshua S. Young
Syafino Yunalfian
Taohe Zhan
Yixing Zhang
Qiongmei Zhang
Chuyu L. Zhang
Artie K. Zhang
Robert J. Zufall

Fithian
Jack E. Nero

Homer
Gerhard Alant
Lara D Copass
Gwendolyn M Happ
Jessica A Headley
Robert A Holloman
Melissa R Hudson
Roni N Jones
Kenneth Earl Lindsey
Loran R Tate
Sean J Taylor
Addison G Weisman

Oakwood
Jessica E. Boyd
Skylar A. Dillow

Ogden
Canyon D. Alwes
Grace A. Osterbur
John M.Taylor
Landon A. Brown
Makennah L. Hamilton
Rylee L. Huson
Tayton G. Gerdes

Penfield
Gavin J. Parkerson
Jarrod E. Liffick

Pesotum
Jackson L. Grimm

Philo
Avery J. Alagna
Bailey E. Rice
Brenlee G. Dalton
Cole J. Newell
Elijah L. Langley
Jocelyn C. Lefaivre
Monica A. Rivas-Parker
Reagan M. Little

Royal
Samantha S. Uden

Sadorus
Victoria L. Wells

St. Joseph
James R. Barron
Rylie J. Barton
Mason P. Behrens
William T. Besson
Taylor E. Burch
Miguel A. Chacon
Preslee C. Christians
Ella M. Dietiker
Addison K. Funk
Grace R. Goldenstein
James A. Harbourt
Robert M. Jeffries
Kendrick D. Johnson
Kya N. Jolley
Sara B. Kearney
Owen T. Knap
Aiden S. Krall
Sophia A. McDade
Gabriel E. Mortlock
Carter A. Nauman
Chayse S. Palmer
Addison E. Roesch
Zachary B. Rubin
Tanner C. Siems
Logan T. Smith
Kyler R Swanson
Collin S. Thomey
Jill C. Uken
Lili A. Wentzloff
Reese M. Wheatley

Savoy
Omar M. Abdel-Razaq
Emma Z. Angelo
Emmalee W. Atkins
Sophia M.N. Bengtson
Carter W. Bleakney
Siarah Y. Brown
Zoe L. Bryan
Eva K. Cottrell
Pavel Y. Didenko
Tauliya A. Figures
Ludvig J. Granlund
Makenna N. Gray
Hayat Hadjsaid
Kaitlyn D. Helm
Daniel U. Kang
Moon Su Kang
Kaitlyn L. Kinkelaar
Jazzlyn K. Lynch
Jonathan Manzengo
Leyton G. McGeary
Kendall M. Meredith
Thiziri Mohammed
Isaac D. Molloy
Kyle Moon
Marcos J.W. Park
Josh T. Price
Diamond I. Rainey
Trinity J. Rogers
Jaquelin Salg
Abdelhamid Sammane
Hyunjune Seong
Brando Signorini
Rylee G. Smalley
Matthew R. Sparrow
Aidan T. Williams
Davi J.S. Yoo
Sage O. Young

Sidney
August E. Niehaus
Brooklyn M. Haas
Emma D. Fish
Kadence L. Goff
Lauren E. Cooke
Mason J. Perry
Piper M K Steele
Samuel C. Gilbert
Tyler S. Liffick-Worrell

Thomasboro
Mason E. Conner
Darian I. Figueroa
Paige L. Johnson
Chase P. Knock
Paige M. Schoonover
Austin J. Seals
Adam G. Wilson

Tolono
Eric W. Anderson
Maria G. Buffo
Calli A. Chandler
Shelby R. Hoel
Caleb J. Hoewing
Dallas A. Hollingsworth
Callie M. Lytel
Gracie M. Meharry
Tatum E. Meyer
Connor D. O'Donnell
Meredith K. Reed
Maci M. Richmond
Alexander M. Stahl
Sara J. Steffens
Madelynn Swisher
Luke I. Williamson
Abigail C. Woolcott
Emberly M. Yeazel
Madysen A. York
Logan A. Zumbahlen

Urbana
Dilichukwu C. Agu
Khatera Akmal
Adrian Alcazar
Adrian I. Alcazar
Eli M. Allison
Luciana Alvarez
Alex D. Ambrocio
Kiana Amindavar
Urooj Anis
Brenda L. Ascencio
Deanna K. Auxier
Tevi C. Balekita
Juliano L. Baptiste
Galina A. Bello
Karla J. Beltran-Hernandez
Hany Claire P. Bombales
Angel R. Bond
Ebenezer Boti
Audrey J. Boudreau
Montrell X. Brooks
Stacey R. Brown
Evan J. Bullock
Nick D. Burbules
Ryan M. Burns
Taniyah T.I. Burns
Jason W. Carter
Ariana R. Chambers
Kathryn R. Choate
George F. Clancy
Yali Cohen
Dylan A. Cosper
Joshua Hernandez
Desiree A. Devero
Eduardo O. Diego Andres
Nadia R. Eberhardt
Mohannad N. E. Eltinay
Tarynn K. Enghausen
Jake R. Essner
William J. Eubig
Jamira D. Faust
Sofiia Fedina
Antonio K. Flemons
Stephen Folley-Amuzu
Morgan A. Frush
Lisette C. Gasser
Ella C. Gilmore
Santiago Gonzalez Ahuerma
Nicole K. Gremer
Nicholas J. Grove
Changjun Guo
Katherine N. Halbig
Mallie A. Hanner
Skylar C. Hartley
Emily J. Hartsell
Nathaniel J. Herche
Amaya M. Holmes
Holden A. Huisinga
Andrew V. Iffland
Maryam O. Ikhuoriah
Robert M. Jenkins
Marcus E. Johnson
Toby Johnson
Beatrice A. Kennison
Willow I. Keys
Taehoon Kim
Daira A. King
Eleanor R. Klein
Minh K. Le
Ryan J. Lee
Morgan M. Mackert
Sebastian D. Major
Christ Vie N. Makengo
Alondra G. Martinez
Max J. McCracken
Benjamin S. McLeskey
Michael Mendoza-Perez
Lauren M. Miller
Ronald J. Miller
Emilia H. Muckenhirn
Zenobia D. Mulero
David M. Mushengezi
Kelly Nsenga Mutole
Ian A. Nelson
Noa Nounou
Lucas M. Oldfield
Henry C. Olheiser
Oscar I. Orozco
McKynzie Painter
Claudia E. Paisley
Youngeun Park
Jared D. Peddycoart
Santiago Pinilla Leon
Dragos I. Popa
John A. Powell
Matteo L. Puli
Justin M. Pulver
Tajia R. Ragel
Lula C. Randolph
Bruce E. Rexroad
Grace H. Rice
Emma V. Robben
Natalia Rodriguez
Edwin Rodriguez Barrios
Leire Rodriguez Najera
Noah T. Ruffner
Kayla M. Sabim
Olive K. Salem
Malkah S. Scher
Manuela M. Sebastian Juarez
Kalika E. Shapiro
Adam B. Skousen
Joseph C. Solava
Yang Song
Nathanial Stewart
Janelle J. Tardy
Ashlee K. Thompson
Sumaya Islam Tonney
Chioma P. Ugwu
Quonikka C. Underwood
Stacie L. Vonderheide
Levi A. Walker
Joslyn R. Warfel
Brianne E. Weiss
Alexandria K. Westfall
Maurion Wicks
Gage Dorian Wiggins
Autumn Williams
Chico B. Wilson
Lera L. Wilson
Samantha T. Wiltfong
Qilin Xie
Nathan R. York
Jianbo Zhang
Jacob A. Ziska

Learning by leading: Building teen entrepreneurship and real-world business know-how

Photo: Kvnga/Unsplash

Filming day-in-the-life content for social media developments skills for video editing, branding, and audience engagement. Using the summer to learn how to use platforms like TikTok not only for fun but as a tool for a business tool.

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Already on Tiktok or Instagram? Teens can get real-world skills by blending business and their social media platforms into a unique venture this summer where they can learn valuable business experience as entrepreneurs.

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Summer in central Illinois is finally here.

For many teens, they will have a lot of unstructured time on their hands. With fewer summer jobs available, limited funds for sports camps or travel, and long days stretching ahead, many young people are left looking for purpose, income, or just something to do. But instead of drifting through the break, a growing number of students are learning to turn free time into opportunity by becoming their own bosses and discovering that entrepreneurship is more than just a way to earn extra money, it’s one of the most effective ways to learn.

Teen entrepreneurs are applying what they learn in class or teaching themselves new skills to build businesses that reflect their heritage, passions, and problem-solving instincts. They’re not waiting until college or the workforce to think about leadership, innovation, or financial independence. They’re learning all of it in real time, by doing. For Latino, Asian, and African-American teens, launching a business not only builds confidence and technical skill, but also reinforces cultural pride and community connection.

Some of the most popular ventures among these students are culturally-themed e-commerce shops. These online stores, often built using platforms like Shopify or TikTok Shop, serve as hands-on lessons in design, marketing, budgeting, and logistics. Teens are developing everything from Afro-futurist phone cases to Día de los Muertos digital templates, applying their creativity to build brands that resonate with both local and global audiences.

These students aren’t just developing products—they’re mastering the principles of entrepreneurship: identifying a niche, understanding customer needs, pricing goods, and using social media to grow an audience. The act of launching and maintaining a store becomes a real-world business lab where theory and practice intersect.

Photo: Olena Bohovyk/PEXELS

With fewer summer jobs available, limited funds for sports camps or travel, and long days stretching ahead, many teens around town are looking for something to do. Learning to run their own business, be their own boss can be rewarding.

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Bilingual content creation and tech tutoring is another space where students are turning learning into leadership. By offering tutorials on AI tools, resume building, and coding in Spanish, Mandarin, or African American Vernacular English, teens are actively teaching others while sharpening their own understanding. These ventures promote not only digital literacy but also communication skills, cultural sensitivity, and empathy—all essential traits in a modern business environment.

Six YouTube channels perfect for a high school content creator

1. Small Town Hustles
Make videos for fellow high school students who have side gigs like lawn mowing, flipping thrift store finds, or selling homemade crafts.

2. Country Life Challenges
Make a series of funny videos about the struggles - no Uber Eats, slow internet, or "cows escaped AGAIN" - of life in a small town.

3. Small Town Mystery Stories
Make videos about local urban legends, abandoned places, or interview elders about town history.

4. Small Town Food Reviews
Create a video series rating local restaurant and gas station food and establishments. Include a few neighboring towns, too.

5. AI for Boomers
Teach 40 and 60-year-old people all the tricks you know on how to use AI.

6. Small Town Music & Bands
Interview local musicians, make hype videos, or teach someone how to play an instrument.

Running a YouTube channel or Zoom class requires planning, problem-solving, and a willingness to learn from mistakes. Teens learn to navigate technical platforms, script engaging lessons, and respond to feedback from viewers. These aren’t just hobbies; they’re dynamic, evolving learning environments that prepare students for more complex challenges ahead.

In the food space, entrepreneurship is a blend of tradition, creativity, and real-world economics. Teens who launch cloud kitchens or Instagram-based snack shops—featuring dishes like Filipino turon or Jamaican beef patties—learn the value of budgeting ingredients, tracking orders, setting price points, and managing digital storefronts. These ventures require a deep understanding of time management and customer service, and they offer repeated opportunities to assess what works and what doesn’t.

Filming “day-in-the-life” content for social media adds another layer of skill development. Students gain practice in video editing, branding, and audience engagement, learning how to use platforms like TikTok not just for fun but as a tool for growth and reach.

Financial education is also coming from within. Some teens are taking it upon themselves to become "finfluencers", young content creators who break down money topics for their peers in a way that’s relevant, digestible, and culturally attuned. They explore topics like credit building for first-generation immigrants or affordable side hustles that align with family values. In the process, they’re not only absorbing financial literacy but translating it into relatable lessons for others.

Creating content on platforms like Reels or TikTok teaches these young entrepreneurs how to research, communicate clearly, and build trust. They learn what it means to be responsible with information, how to comply with platform guidelines, and how to manage affiliate partnerships or brand sponsorships. These are transferable, career-ready skills being developed years ahead of traditional job training.

Photo: Ionut Roman/Unsplash

As a content creator teens can build a loyal community of followers and get paid for it. There are no limits, dress codes or an overbearing boss to make a workday miserable.

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Even event planning—a complex, often underestimated form of entrepreneurship—is becoming a learning platform for teens. By organizing cultural expos, college prep fairs, or K-pop dance battles, students gain experience in logistics, team coordination, sponsorship outreach, and digital promotion. These experiences teach project management, negotiation, and community engagement, all of which are vital in both business and civic life.

To support these ventures, students are also learning to seek funding and resources through identity-based organizations like the Latino Startup Alliance, Asian Hustle Network, and Black Founders. Applying for grants and mentorships teaches them to craft persuasive proposals, outline business plans, and articulate their mission and value. These experiences provide an early introduction to professional networks and expectations.

The process of starting and sustaining a business introduces students to one of entrepreneurship’s most important lessons: learning through failure. A product that doesn’t sell, a campaign that flops, or a cost that exceeds the budget—these aren’t dead ends; they’re opportunities to regroup and rethink. For young entrepreneurs, mistakes are data points. They’re the foundation of growth.

Tools like BizKids and Greenlight, along with old-fashioned piggy banks or play money ledgers, help students of all ages track revenue, analyze spending, and see where adjustments are needed. By engaging with these tools, students come to understand complex financial concepts through firsthand experience. Success is no longer abstract—it’s measured in saved allowances, sold hoodies, or repeat customers.

Even those who don’t end up pursuing entrepreneurship long-term walk away with a toolkit that applies to nearly every profession. They’ve developed problem-solving instincts, built resilience, practiced communication, and cultivated the confidence to try again after setbacks. These are not just business skills, they’re life skills.

Photo: Tung Lam/Pixabay

Event planning is fun business for teens to learn critical skills they can build on as they get older and establish their careers.

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Parents and educators can support this learning journey in many ways. Encouraging students to select electives like marketing, computer science, or psychology gives them foundational knowledge. Helping them connect with part-time jobs at local businesses adds context and responsibility. And pointing them toward national youth programs like Junior Achievement’s Company Program or the Future Bound competition provides platforms where they can test and present their ideas.

Mentorship also plays a critical role. Students benefit from regular contact with adults who model entrepreneurial thinking and provide honest feedback. Even the act of building a vision board—laying out aspirations and breaking them into smaller goals—teaches strategic planning and long-term thinking.

Entrepreneurship isn’t just a business pursuit for today’s students. It’s an immersive, student-driven form of education. It teaches by doing, sharpens through failing, and empowers through creating. It’s a method as much as a mindset—and one more young people are embracing as they prepare for a fast-changing future where adaptability, creativity, and self-direction will matter more than ever.

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