John Chignoli, Ariba Hasan and Alessa Smith receive honor

Ariba Hasan (from left), John Chignoli and Alessa Smith are JCA's Students of the Month for May. (Photo by Bill Scheibe)

JOLIET – Joliet Catholic Academy is pleased to announce its Students of the Month for May: John Chignoli, Joliet Noon Lions Club; Ariba Hasan, Rotary Club of Joliet; and Alessa Smith, Kiwanis Club of Joliet.

The son of William and Karen, Chignoli ranks 29^th in his class and carries a 4.26 grade-point average on a weighted 5.0 scale. He lists business as his favorite subject. He is a member of National Honor Society, Spanish National Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta, the national honor society for math.

While playing for the Hilltoppers’ state-ranked varsity baseball team, Chignoli balances that by being a member of the Intramural Club and by coaching at the YMCA. He also works for his dad at Chignoli Auto during the offseason and the summer.

A Joliet resident, Chignoli plans on attending the University of Iowa, majoring in accounting with a minor in finance. He wants to work for a large corporation.

The daughter of Syed Hasan and Farah Jofri, Hasan carries a 3.47 grade-point average on a 4.0 scale. She lists biology as her favorite subject. She is the vice president of National Art Honor Society and a member of National Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta.

Hasan serves as the editor of 41*88, the school’s literary magazine, and is a member of Scholastic Bowl. She has received two art awards and a biology award, and her work was displayed in the JCA Art Show. She also volunteers at Adventist Bolingbrook Hospital and Willow Falls Retirement Home.

A Bolingbrook resident, Hasan plans on attending Benedictine University, majoring in medicine with the hopes of becoming a pediatrician.

The daughter of Stan and Joyce, Smith is a member of National Honor Society, Spanish National Honor Society, the National Thespian Society and Mu Alpha Theta. An Illinois State Scholar, she is also the Drama Club President and a Presidential Scholarship Competition recipient.

This spring, Smith had one of her lifelong dreams come true, starring as Miss Adelaide in JCA’s musical production of “Guys and Dolls.” Smith had wanted to play the character of Adelaide since she was in sixth grade. Currently, she is the director of the spring one-act play.

A Shorewood resident, Smith plans on attending Grace College in Winona Lake, Ind., with a double major in youth ministry and counseling and a minor in Biblical studies.

— Bill Scheibe, Director of Communications