West40 Honors Students at SCOTY Awards and Organizes Competitions

West40 and 32 of our partner school districts celebrated nearly 150 amazing students in late March in a packed auditorium at West Leyden High School during the 2025 School Citizens Of The Year (SCOTY) Awards. It's one of the growing number of ways we support students accomplishments in the classroom and in competitions.

Students who receive SCOTY Awards are recognized by their teachers and schools for demonstrating acts of leadership and kindness. Grades and activities are important considerations, but only a small part of the selection process. Each school is asked to develop its own criteria as a further guideline for selection. The school  principal and teachers use those criteria to nominate one student per year  to receive the SCOTY Award.  

"The lists of service and accomplishments were absolutely amazing recognizing these extraordinary individuals from Kindergarten through High School," said West40 executive director Dr. Mark Klaisner.

Students were welcomed on stage one at a time and received a certificate, a medallion and a metal water bottle. Attendees received a SCOTY program, which listed each student's name, school, principal, district, and the person who nominated the student.

Despite dreary weather outside, organizers said it was the biggest SCOTY Awards ever. Organizers used the upper deck of the auditorium to accommodate all of the attendees.

The Leyden High School Jazz Band provided entertainment to kick off the event. After the ceremony, students and families were treated to some refreshments.  

Additionally, West40 is honored to have a key role in hosting and organizing a growing number of events, festivals, and scholastic competitions that highlight student achievement.

West40 assumed a leadership role in the Illinois High School Academic Decathlon held at the University of Illinois-Chicago, in which students from across the state compete for a chance to represent Illinois at the national competition. West40 also provided a judge for the Regional ISC Scripps Spelling Bee Championship for North Cook, South Cook, and West40 on March 19 and organized a Speech and Drama Festival for middle school students on February 8 at Elmwood Park High School.

"By coordinating and supporting multiple regional, state, and national student competitions, West40 is supporting students and giving them opportunities to not only excel and learn academically, but to build self-confidence and professional skills such as critical thinking, teamwork, problem solving, study skills, and public speaking, and to have fun along the way," said Tammy Raffen, West40 Student Activity Coordinator.