Antioch Community High School has named Autumn McGrath as its February Student of the Month. The announcement was accompanied by a video interview conducted by Sequoit Speech student Genise Sarita and statements from several teachers highlighting McGrath’s contributions to the school community.
Kelly Taylor, one of McGrath’s teachers, said, “Autumn is a stellar student and person! People who don’t know Autumn are missing out. She fully commits to her goals and leads by example. It has been my pleasure to get to know Autumn over the past two years, and I know she will make the world a better place after she leaves these halls.”
Jamie D’Andrea, who coached McGrath in girls tennis, commented on her dedication: “Autumn was a part of the girls tennis program throughout her high school career, and she’s just an all-around wonderful human being:) She has a great attitude and always has a smile on her face. She makes everyone around her feel valued and cared for, and she is kind and respectful to anyone who crosses her path. When she made the varsity team this year, the smile on her face was ear to ear, and she very much deserved her position because she put in so much time during the off-season to improve her game. Autumn won a lot of matches this year, and she medaled at several tournaments because of her hard work and dedication, and I’m so proud of her and even more grateful that she was a part of our program.”
William Barbanera also praised McGrath’s character: “Autumn is so deserving of student of the month. I have never been lucky enough to have her as a student but I have had the opportunity to work with her over the past couple of years. Autumn is an extremely hard working and inquisitive student. For everything she is as a student, she is an even better person. I am so proud of the person she already is, but most excited for the awesome young lady she is becoming. Congratulations Autumn!”
Other teachers echoed similar sentiments about McGrath’s positive presence in class:
Ryan Hlinak said: “I’m lucky enough to have Autumn in AP Statistics this year. She is such a positive presence in the classroom and her attitude is contagious. Even when things get tough, Autumn keeps working with a smile on her face.”
John Ridle added: “Autumn is a consistent and engaged participant in class. She produces exceptional work and is always willing to support her peers. She brings a positive presence to the classroom and is truly a joy to teach.”
Samantha Kanya stated: “Autumn McGrath is the kindest superstar, an absolute angel walking the halls of ACHS. She is humble, unassuming, and always putting in her best effort. I am so sad that I only get to have Autumn in my classroom for one year because it has been so delightful to get to know her. Thanks for being an actual ray of sunshine in AP Lit and Finesse, Autumn!”
Michael Klikuszewski described McGrath as follows: “Autumn is such a pleasure to teach. She maintains a positive attitude even when faced with difficult material. Her collaborative spirit makes her a valuable group member where she is just as comfortable being the leader as in a supporting role. She views her education as an opportunity to learn rather than a task to complete.”
Lindsay Edwardson shared: “To know Autumn is to know joy. I consider myself incredibly lucky to have gotten to know Autumn over these past two years. I can genuinely say that she brings a sense of calm and peace with her wherever she goes, and my days are always better when she’s in class. I admire her thoughtfulness, kindness, vast intelligence, and sense of humor. She is without a doubt, one of the best listeners I have had the pleasure of knowing, and her empathy is nothing short of inspirational. She is sunshine personified, and I hope she knows how very lucky I am to know her.”
Antioch Community High School operates within Community High School District 117 which represents Lake County through both Antioch Community High School itself as well as Lakes Community High School (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/). The district enrolled 2,635 students during 2019-2020 across grades nine through twelve (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/). According to state data from 2020 reported by ISBE (Illinois State Board of Education), 178 teachers serve within District 117 with women making up nearly 58 percent; teacher absenteeism rates remain low compared with other districts (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/).
Demographically District 117 consists predominantly—78 percent—of White students; Hispanic students account for just over 12 percent while Black students represent slightly more than three percent (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/). Per-student spending reached $29,553 totaling almost $78 million for that year (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/).
The district also reported having 121 chronically truant students during that period—a rate significantly lower than Illinois’ statewide average (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/).
McGrath’s recognition reflects not only individual achievement but also broader patterns within District 117 regarding academic engagement among both staff members—and their students.
