Student Advisory Council

Meet the Members

Tawasol Adam
Tawasol Adam
North Chicago Community High School
Class of 2026
Zoë Blaum
Zoë Blaum
Galena High School
Class of 2027
Ayesha-2
Ayesha Camara
South Shore International College Preparatory
Class of 2027
Paige-Emerson
Paige Emerson
Fulton High School
Class of 2027
Gracyn Horn
Gracyn Horn
Vienna High School
Class of 2026
Pj photo - 2
Paige Jackson
Moline High School
Class of 2027
Joshua Largo
Josh Largo
Schaumburg High School
Class of 2027
Nevaeh Nagy
Nevaeh Nagy
Vienna High School
Class of 2026
Elisabeth Nightingale
Elisabeth Nightingale
Pekin Community High School
Class of 2026
Elizabeth Petrov
Elizabeth Petrov
James B. Conant High School
Class of 2026
Ava Peyton
Ava Peyton
Vandalia Community High School
Class of 2027
Luna Pham
Luna Pham
Galena High School
Class of 2027
Owen Schroeder
Owen Schroeder
Mendota Township High School
Class of 2027
Harmony Smith
Harmony Smith
Evanston Township High School
Class of 2027
Alexa
Alexa Stone
Evanston Township High School
Class of 2027
[Snapseed] Riverside (with wind)
Eliana Sullivan
Batavia High School
Class of 2027
Tyrone Useni
Tyrone Useni
Rich Township High School STEM Campus
Class of 2027
Screenshot
Daniela Villegas
North Chicago Community High School
Class of 2026
Jeremy
Jeremy Avan
East St. Louis Sr. High School
Class of 2023
Anasia-25-square
Anasia Beckham
South Shore International College Prep
Class of 2025
Abigail
Abigail Bowen
Hoopeston Area SD # 11
Class of 2022
2024-Massillion-Boyd-Square-1
Massillon Boyd
West Aurora High School
Class of 2025
Ethyn-Bradley
Ethyn Bradley
Vienna High School
Class of 2025
Alex
Alex Casas
Mendota Township High School
Class of 2023
Isabella-E
Isabelle Escatel
Mendota Township High School
Class of 2023
Caitlyn-Flowers
Caitlyn Flowers
Evanston Township High School
Class of 2025
Nicole-Griffith-2025
Nicole Griffith
Fulton High School
Class of 2024
Puranjay
Puranjay Gupta
Rockford Auburn High School
Class of 2022
Isaiah
Isaiah Haynes
East Saint Louis Sr. High School
Class of 2021
Olivia
Olivia Hendrix
Belvidere North High School
Class of 2024
Isabella
Isabella Hernandez
Rockford Auburn High School
Class of 2022
Joshua
Joshua Hernandez
Westinghouse College Prep
Class of 2023
Heaven-2024-Square
Heaven Holloway
South Shore International College Prep
Class of 2025
Makaela
Makaela Johnson
Lindblom Math/Science Academy
Class of 2021
Anthony
Anthony Kelson
Mendota Township High School
Class of 2025
Jozlyn Mahnesmith
Jozlyn Mahnesmith
Rockford East High School
Class of 2023
Samuel
Samuel Matura
Mendota Township High School
Class of 2025
Anusha Nadkarni
Anusha Nadkarni
Bloomington High School
Class of 2023
Irais Montoya
Irais Montoya
Wheeling High School
Class of 2023
Aline
Aline Niyogusenga
Rock Island High School
Class of 2023
Sestina
Sestina Oduro
Southland College Prep Charter High School
Class of 2023
Raymond-Otis
Raymond Otis
East Saint Louis Sr. High School
Class of 2025
Adrian
Adrian Panopio
Steinmetz High School
Class of 2021
Karel
Karel Pene
Evanston Township High School
Class of 2022
Paishynce-Prude
Paishynce Prude
East Saint Louis Sr. High School
Class of 2025
Trinity
Trinity Pursley
Danville High School
Class of 2022
Shreyas
Shreyas Raini
Barrington High School
Class of 2024
Joanna Renedo
Joanna Renedo
North Chicago Community High School
Class of 2023
RowanSmith
Rowan Smith
Moline High School
Class of 2025
Ashley
Ashley Smith
John Hersey High School
Class of 2022
Kendyl-Sparks
Kendyl Sparks
Vienna High School
Class of 2025
Annah-Stevenson
Annah Stevenson
Evanston Township High School
Class of 2025
Cynthia
Cynthia Taylor-Cutler
East St. Louis Sr. High School
Class of 2022
Jose
Jose Vences
North Chicago Community High School
Class of 2025
Kanon
Kanon Wollerman
Vandalia High School
Class of 2024
Emily
Emily Won
Barrington High School
Class of 2024
Qi
Qi Zhang
Adlai E. Stevenson High School
Class of 2025

About the Student Advisory Council

The most effective change is grounded in the experiences of and inputs from those most impacted by any system. The Network Organizers—Advance Illinois, Education Systems Center at Northern Illinois University (EdSystems), and the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC)—established a Student Advisory Council to gather feedback on how students experience various initiatives that the Network supports. Network Organizers also seek to understand what kinds of supports would be helpful to students as they navigate the education system. The Council gathers on a regular basis to share their perspectives to inform the Success Network’s efforts and statewide policy more broadly, deepen their own knowledge on issues that advance educational equity, and strengthen their understanding of the education policy and practice landscape in Illinois.

Role, Responsibilities, and Accountability

Success Network Student Advisory Council members can expect:

  • Meaningful opportunities to contribute recommendations to improve educational experiences and outcomes for students across Illinois
  • Leadership development opportunities
  • Access to Success Network leaders from around the state and opportunities to learn about diverse careers in the education sector
  • A $100 per meeting stipend as part of your participation

Members reflect the diversity of students in Illinois and embody the following:

  • Current high school students at a public school in one of the Success Network Leadership Communities
  • Open to new ideas and desire to learn
  • Willing to share their knowledge about and experiences with education
  • Responsible and reliable, participating in up to three virtual meetings per academic year

Time Commitment

Membership in the Student Advisory Council is a two-year commitment. Upon completion of a term, members in good standing who are still in high school will be invited to renew for a consecutive term. To ensure continuity, members are selected from all grade levels. To be in good standing, members are expected to attend virtual meetings or communicate conflicts in advance. The Network Director will work with members to identify dates and times that work best around school year schedules. Additionally, members are encouraged to attend the Success Network’s annual conference as possible to increase their familiarity with the Network and its mission.

SAC in Action

SAC at 2025 Conference
SAC at 2024 Conference
SAC at 2023 Conference
SAC at 2022 Conference
SAC at 2022 Conference