SCHOOL DISTRICT U-46
Academic Success for All
Congratulations to Larsen Middle School's Yahya Mohammed! We're #U46Proud of you for reaching the semifinals at the 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee.
ELGIN - Fourteen middle and high school students were recognized by the School District U-46 Board of Education at its June 15 meeting for their outstanding achievements in the fine arts, on the same evening the district was honored by the Board for being named one of the “Best Communities for Music Education.”
This is the eighth straight year U-46 has earned the “Best Communities” recognition from the National Association of Music Merchants Foundation, and it was among only 32 school districts in Illinois to receive the honor this past school year. The recognition is awarded to districts that demonstrate outstanding achievement for providing music access and education to all students. U-46 Fine Arts Coordinator Jaimie Giraldo accepted the Accent on Achievement certificate from the Board on behalf of the music department. She was joined by Larkin High School orchestra teacher Matthew Quezada and Elisa Lieb Bauman, who taught band at Kimball Middle School and will be doing the same at Hawk Hollow Middle School next year.
“I am so honored to get to work with such talented and dedicated music teachers every day here in U-46,” Giraldo said. “As you can see by the students being recognized tonight, we are able to accomplish great things, and it’s because we have amazing teachers in our classrooms. U-46 is a great supporter of the arts, and I’m very grateful to work in a place that sees the value in what we do and supports us and our students in being successful.”
The 14 students were honored for being selected as All-State Musicians through the Illinois Music Education Association’s (ILMEA) competitive audition process. This is the highest musical achievement for secondary students in Illinois. Selected students performed at the ILMEA’s annual music education conference in Peoria earlier this year.
Ian Kim, who was named to the honors band for the clarinet, said he was not surprised the district received the award for supporting music education, citing the support he’s received from South Elgin High School band director Griffin Lober.
“My band director is really wonderful. He really believes that music is an important part of everyone’s lives, and the way he teaches reflects that,” Ian said.
The names of the students who were honored on June 15 follow. Note that their year in school denotes their grade during the 2025-26 school year.
Emily Fiddick, Bartlett HS, Honors Chorus, Tenor II, 12
Jarvin Ignacio, Bartlett HS, Honors Chorus, Bass II, 12
Mia Lannon, Bartlett HS, Future Music Educators Symposium, 12
Aidan Klapperich, Larkin HS, Honors Band , Trombone, 12
Ayaka Vieira, Larkin HS, Honors Orchestra, Violin, 12
Thomas Akemann, Larkin HS, All-State Composition Contest - "Funk a Tonk," 12
Ian Kim, South Elgin HS, Honors Band, Bb Clarinet, 11
Madalyn Martin, South Elgin HS, Honors Chorus, Alto II, 11
Alex Mascorro, South Elgin HS, Chorus, Alto II, 12
Michelle O'Hearn, South Elgin HS, Chorus, Soprano I, 10
Alyssa Dzien, South Elgin HS, Honors Orchestra, Viola, 12
Melia Ortiz, Eastview MS, Junior Orchestra, Cello, 8
Elijah Guercio, Kenyon Woods MS, Junior Orchestra, Viola, 8
Hailey Uribe, Kimball MS, Junior Band, Baritone Sax, 8
This is the eighth straight year U-46 has earned the “Best Communities” recognition from the National Association of Music Merchants Foundation, and it was among only 32 school districts in Illinois to receive the honor this past school year. The recognition is awarded to districts that demonstrate outstanding achievement for providing music access and education to all students. U-46 Fine Arts Coordinator Jaimie Giraldo accepted the Accent on Achievement certificate from the Board on behalf of the music department. She was joined by Larkin High School orchestra teacher Matthew Quezada and Elisa Lieb Bauman, who taught band at Kimball Middle School and will be doing the same at Hawk Hollow Middle School next year.
“I am so honored to get to work with such talented and dedicated music teachers every day here in U-46,” Giraldo said. “As you can see by the students being recognized tonight, we are able to accomplish great things, and it’s because we have amazing teachers in our classrooms. U-46 is a great supporter of the arts, and I’m very grateful to work in a place that sees the value in what we do and supports us and our students in being successful.”
The 14 students were honored for being selected as All-State Musicians through the Illinois Music Education Association’s (ILMEA) competitive audition process. This is the highest musical achievement for secondary students in Illinois. Selected students performed at the ILMEA’s annual music education conference in Peoria earlier this year.
Ian Kim, who was named to the honors band for the clarinet, said he was not surprised the district received the award for supporting music education, citing the support he’s received from South Elgin High School band director Griffin Lober.
“My band director is really wonderful. He really believes that music is an important part of everyone’s lives, and the way he teaches reflects that,” Ian said.
The names of the students who were honored on June 15 follow. Note that their year in school denotes their grade during the 2025-26 school year.
Emily Fiddick, Bartlett HS, Honors Chorus, Tenor II, 12
Jarvin Ignacio, Bartlett HS, Honors Chorus, Bass II, 12
Mia Lannon, Bartlett HS, Future Music Educators Symposium, 12
Aidan Klapperich, Larkin HS, Honors Band , Trombone, 12
Ayaka Vieira, Larkin HS, Honors Orchestra, Violin, 12
Thomas Akemann, Larkin HS, All-State Composition Contest - "Funk a Tonk," 12
Ian Kim, South Elgin HS, Honors Band, Bb Clarinet, 11
Madalyn Martin, South Elgin HS, Honors Chorus, Alto II, 11
Alex Mascorro, South Elgin HS, Chorus, Alto II, 12
Michelle O'Hearn, South Elgin HS, Chorus, Soprano I, 10
Alyssa Dzien, South Elgin HS, Honors Orchestra, Viola, 12
Melia Ortiz, Eastview MS, Junior Orchestra, Cello, 8
Elijah Guercio, Kenyon Woods MS, Junior Orchestra, Viola, 8
Hailey Uribe, Kimball MS, Junior Band, Baritone Sax, 8
When Larkin High School hosts its first-ever home football game this fall, the action will take place at the Royals Athletic Complex on Ray Haley Field — honoring the legacy of the school’s first athletic director and football coach.
The U-46 Board of Education approved the names for the complex and the field on Monday night following a process that included more than 320 nominations submitted by the community, a town hall, and open feedback period. Nominations had to follow Board Policy 4:150.
“We feel this name honors the full scope of Larkin High School’s athletic program and the pride, the tradition, and the community that surround it while also recognizing Mr. Haleys’ s transformational impact in establishing the athletic programs at Larkin High School,” said Chief of Staff Brian Lindholm, who oversaw the naming process.
Larkin High School was built in 1962 but has never had its own athletic complex. The new facility, scheduled to open this fall, will allow the Royals to host their home football and soccer games at Larkin, following decades of playing at other sites. It will feature a turf field, a running track, and seating for more than 2,000 spectators.
Haley, who passed away in 2021 at the age of 92, was Larkin’s longtime athletic director and served as its football coach from 1962 to 1990, leading the team to five Upstate Eight Conference Championships, two undefeated regular seasons, and three state playoff appearances.
Growing up, Haley was a star high school athlete in Missouri who played minor league baseball for the St. Louis Cardinals and New York Yankees organizations. He played football at Southwest Missouri State University (now Missouri State University), which retired his jersey number and inducted him into its Athletics Hall of Fame. An Army veteran, he was also inducted into the Illinois Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1986.
The U-46 Board of Education approved the names for the complex and the field on Monday night following a process that included more than 320 nominations submitted by the community, a town hall, and open feedback period. Nominations had to follow Board Policy 4:150.
“We feel this name honors the full scope of Larkin High School’s athletic program and the pride, the tradition, and the community that surround it while also recognizing Mr. Haleys’ s transformational impact in establishing the athletic programs at Larkin High School,” said Chief of Staff Brian Lindholm, who oversaw the naming process.
Larkin High School was built in 1962 but has never had its own athletic complex. The new facility, scheduled to open this fall, will allow the Royals to host their home football and soccer games at Larkin, following decades of playing at other sites. It will feature a turf field, a running track, and seating for more than 2,000 spectators.
Haley, who passed away in 2021 at the age of 92, was Larkin’s longtime athletic director and served as its football coach from 1962 to 1990, leading the team to five Upstate Eight Conference Championships, two undefeated regular seasons, and three state playoff appearances.
Growing up, Haley was a star high school athlete in Missouri who played minor league baseball for the St. Louis Cardinals and New York Yankees organizations. He played football at Southwest Missouri State University (now Missouri State University), which retired his jersey number and inducted him into its Athletics Hall of Fame. An Army veteran, he was also inducted into the Illinois Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1986.
