Benet Academy Announces Class of 2018 Valedictorian, Salutatorian

Information provided by Benet Academy

LISLE, IL — Benet Academy announces the valedictorian for the Class of 2018 as James Austgen of Woodridge. Austgen has completed his four years at Benet with a cumulative, all subject, weighted grade point average of 100.76 percent. Austgen has received a variety of honors over the last few years, most recently receiving departmental awards in Classical and World Languages, English, Mathematics, Religion, Science and Social Studies at the Senior Honors Convocation.

Benet Academy says Austgen's grade point average is especially impressive given his active participation in several school activities. He's been an avid runner, participating in Boys Track and Cross Country, in addition to serving as Captain of the Cross Country Team this year. He has also been an active member of the Math Team and involved in ministry activities here at Benet, as an altar server at St. Joan of Arc Parish, as a volunteer at Feed My Starving Children and as the Vice President of the nonprofit East Suburban Tutoring Organization.

Austgen was also inducted into the Classical and World Language Honor Society and the National Honor Society, being named an Illinois State Scholar, receiving honorable mention from the DuPage County Daily Herald Academic Team, being recognized as a Finalist in the 2018 National Merit Scholarship Program and being nominated to the IHSA All-State Academic Team.

Next year Austgen will attend the University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign where he will study computer science.

Salutatorian

The salutatorian for the Class of 2018 is Elena Cacchillo of Hinsdale. Cacchillo has completed her four years at Benet by sustaining a cumulative, weighted grade point average of 100.23 percent. While impressively keeping up with her studies Cacchillo has actively participated in several extracurricular organizations as a member of the Mass Choir, Chorus, and the Madrigals choral groups, part of the back stage crew constructing sets and serving as an assistant director and as a participant in such diverse groups as the Art Club, Marians, the Math Team, and the Medical Club. Cacchillo attended two summer immersion programs – Camp Cardiac at Rush University Medical Center and iBody Summer Camp through Amita Health Medical Center, in addition to volunteering in the pediatric unit of Loyola Medical Center, providing support, encouragement and joy to the children receiving treatment there.

Cacchillo has been named a member of the Classical and World Language Honor Society, the National Honor Society, an Illinois State Scholar and a National Merit Finalist. She also received departmental scholarship awards for Classical and World Languages, specifically Spanish, English, Mathematics, Religion, Science and Social Studies at the Senior Honors Convocation.

Next year Cacchillo will be attending Washington University in St. Louis, majoring in Chemistry and Pre-Med.

Benet Academy says as a group, the Class of 2018's 306 graduates were offered scholarships, from various colleges, organizations and foundations amounting to a total of roughly $55 million. Graduates will be attending 112 different colleges and universities located in 34 states, Washington DC and Ireland, with Calvin McKee accepting an appointment to the United States Military Academy in West Point.

Photo of valedictorian James Austgen via Benet Academy