A foundation named after a former Mundelein High School (MHS) band student has donated $5,000 to support the school’s music program. On February 27, Christina Hopkins presented the donation to MHS Band Directors Andy Sturgeon and Jerry Shelato on behalf of the Brandon Michael Lee Foundation. Her late son, Brandon Michael Lee, graduated from MHS in 2013 and participated in the school’s band program.
In an email to the school, Hopkins stated, “I truly believe your program played a significant role in nurturing his love for the arts, particularly music.” She added, “This foundation is dedicated to keeping the arts alive and accessible for all children. Our foundation is committed to filling that gap (financially) by providing support for music education, including instruments, private lessons, and classroom needs.”
Brandon Michael Lee continued his involvement with music after high school and moved to Philadelphia to further pursue his interests. He died in 2024 at age 29. The foundation was established after his passing “to continue the legacy he left behind — a legacy of creativity, generosity, and joy.”
Mundelein Consolidated High School District 120 serves Lake County and includes Mundelein High School within its boundaries. The district enrolled 2,069 students during the 2019-2020 school year and serves grades nine through twelve. Additional data from the Illinois State Board of Education shows that District 120 has 130 teachers with an average salary of $91,610; approximately half are women and half are men. There were no teachers with more than ten absences in a school year.
The district spent $29,799 per student in 2020 for a total expenditure of $61,653,428. Its student population is diverse: about 41 percent White, 45 percent Hispanic, nearly six percent Asian, and just over two percent Black students. During the same period, there were 91 students classified as “chronically truant,” representing a rate lower than the statewide average.
More information about Mundelein Consolidated High School District 120 can be found at https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/.
Caption: Members of the Brandon Michael Lee Foundation present a check to MHS Band Directors Andy Sturgeon and Jerry Shelato on Feb. 27.
