Lake County Gazette

Jameson Stone has been named the Antioch Community High School Student of the Month for September, marking the first recipient of this recognition in the 2025-2026 school year. Stone receives a complimentary pizza from Antioch Pizza Shop and a gift certificate to the Sequoit Pride Spirit Store as part of his award.

Teachers and staff offered several remarks about Stone’s performance and character. Samantha Kanya described him as "the dream English student," highlighting his curiosity and engagement with course material. Kelly Taylor called him "a stellar student and individual" who consistently provides strong book recommendations.

Counselor Debbie Jasnoch noted, "It's easy to say great things about Jameson! He's a hard worker, well-read, and very mature. He's funny and delightful to talk with, and I'm proud to be his counselor." Jamie D’Andrea recalled Stone's participation in AP Language and Composition: "Jameson was in my AP Lang. and Comp. class, and throughout the course, he always had unique and insightful thoughts about the work we read and analyzed. Jameson is very conscientious about the world around him, and as a result he treats everyone with the utmost respect. Jameson is also an avid reader, and he was so passionate about one of the series that he read, that he convinced me to read it, as well, which often had me looking forward to our next class so we could chat about the characters until class began!"

Meghan McDonnell praised his positivity: "I have loved getting to know him over the past few weeks! He is such a positive person who has an infectious personality. He asks thought provoking questions and is always willing to participate. As well, I really enjoy our random conversations. Such an awesome human." Hannah Kramer said Stone quickly became a leader in her class: "Jameson is an incredibly hard-working student and was such a pleasure to have in class! He quickly became a leader in my class, as he was always eager to participate and help his peers. Aside from being an incredible student, Jameson is very kind and respectful to everyone around him and was always willing to chat about the latest book that he was reading! I look forward to seeing all the things he accomplishes once he graduates."

Madelynn Soberano added that even without having taught Stone directly, she appreciated his frequent book recommendations: "Even though I’ve never had Jameson as a student, he’s managed to keep adding books to my 'To Be Read' list every time we cross paths. From fantasy favorites to dragon adventures, his recommendations never miss. What stands out most about Jameson is not just his love for reading but how friendly and enjoyable he is to talk to during a quick passing period. When his name came up for nominations, I was ecstatic—he’s been such a joy to get to know this past month, and this recognition couldn’t be more well-deserved."

Antioch Community High School operates within District 117 in Lake County alongside Lakes Community High School; both are represented by Community High School District 117. The district employs 178 teachers earning an average salary of $63,920 according to state data, with women making up 57.6 percent of faculty members.

Demographic information from the Illinois State Board of Education shows that District 117’s population is approximately 78 percent White students; Black students make up 3.1 percent; Hispanic students account for 12.1 percent; Asian students represent 3.2 percent.

In fiscal year 2020,District 117 spent $29,553 per student, totaling nearly $77.9 million across its schools.