Orland Honors Carter Schott With Community Pride Award

ORLAND PARK, IL — The Village of Orland Park Board of Trustees awarded Carl Sandburg high School Senior, Carter Schott, with the Community Pride Award at the regular board meeting Monday night.

Schott was given the award after he was named the winner of the National Federation of State High School Associations Heart of the Arts Award.

The 18-year-old from Orland Park received the honor for his dedication to marching band and learning to play his drum while still preform choreography in unison with the rest of his band mates. This accomplishment comes with Schott living with a condition called spinal muscular dystrophy, which affects the muscles.

"Both myself and the village board would like to present a Community Pride Award to Carter Schott, Senior at Carl Sandburg High School, in recognition of winning the National Federation of State High School Associations Heart of the Arts Award," Mayor Keith Pekau said. "Carter competed with five other States and received this honor for his dedication to the marching band and rising above his physical challenges of living with a muscle condition called spinal muscular dystrophy by learning to play his drum while still preforming choreography in unison with the rest of his band mates."

Pekau thanked Schott saying he is an inspiration to the village board and Orland Park.

Trustee Dan Calandriello said as a former band player himself, he had to speak on how proud he is of Schott.

"As I see Carter here I just want to say we are so very proud of you," Calandriello said. "This just shows you there is good in this world... You're a pride of Orland Park and you're a jewel. Thank you for coming out and doing what you do."

Trustee Cynthia Katsenes said she is proud of Schott and knows how much dedication goes into marching band.

"Thank you, Carter, you represent Sandburg so well," Katsenes said. "You're such a great role model and I hope you get the Eagle Award at the end of the year."

Schott is active in over eight student activities at Sandburg including the marching band, pep band, jazz band and spring musical.

The senior previously told Patch that receiving this award means a lot to him and that he didn't expect to win.

"It means so much. I didn't think I would win this award because I was going up against four or five different States, and there are so many people in this region," Schott said while thanking his teachers, Mr. Gardner, family and friends for helping him get to where he is now.

When is comes to surrounding doubt from others, Schott said he can do anything he sets his mind to.

"The quote I always use is 'if you can't stand up, stand out.' What you need to do in life is go above and beyond your limitations to believe in what you can do, and what you want to do," Schott said. "It will help you become a greater person and with also being differently abled, not disabled, it will help you accomplish more and overcome your disability or the things that go against you in life."