Stariha, Castner Elks Oct. teens of the month

Penny Best of the Princeton Elks Lodge recently awarded October Teens of the Month awards to Sarah Stariha (left) of LaSalle, a senior at St. Bede Academy, and Sean Castner (right) of Princeton, a senior at Princeton High School. Photo contributed

E-mail this story

Print this story

Share

PRINCETON — The Princeton Elks Lodge 1461 recently announced the male and female teens of the month for October were Sean Castner of Princeton High School and Sarah Stariha of St. Bede Academy.

The purpose of the Elks Teen of the Month program is to recognize teens with outstanding overall achievements in character, leadership, service, citizenship and scholarship. The high school teens of the month attended a luncheon at the Elks Lodge on Nov. 16.

Sean Castner, 18, of Princeton, a senior at Princeton High School, is the son of David and Pamela Castner. He is 45th in his class of 147 with a grade point average of 3.44. He had an ACT score of 24 and has been on the National Honor Society and the honor roll.

Castner had perfect attendance for three years, was awarded the Workman Award Scholarship, was mentioned in Who’s Who Among American High School Students, and was given the Quill and Scroll Membership, given to those who give so many hours to yearbook.

Castner also passed the national exam for AP American History in May.

He was the head of the Princeton High School yearbook, in which he created all the layouts and cover sheets for Tiger 2007. He was a Thespian Board member, and organized all events including the ISU Thespian Week. He was also band historian in charge of documenting all band affairs.

He has participated in several plays including “God’s Favorite,” “Dirty Work in High Places,” and “The Music Man.” He also participated in golf his freshman year.

He was a member of choir, band, marching band, pep band and concert band. He was the low woodwind and cymbal section leader during the “Music Man” musical performance.

He was also a member of the drama club and yearbook staff. Other organizations include the journalism club, the Quill and Scroll Society, and band council.

His community service includes selling mushrooms for Young Life, he was a Logan Jr. High art club assistant, and participated in a youth outreach program called Feed the Starving Children. He also participated in Beef and Ag days and helped during the relocation of Green River Books in Princeton and helped with the St. Matthew’s Intern Committee.

His hobbies include photography, CAD design, PHS musical and play production, and he was a St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church puppeteer.

He also ran One Marble Short, a business he started when he was 11 and ran for seven years with products he designed and handmade.

Sarah Stariha, 17, of LaSalle, a senior at St. Bede Academy, is the daughter of Mike and Resa Stariha.

Stariha is ranked fourth in her class of 65, with a grade point average of 4.2. She received an ACT score of 28 and has been on the honor roll every semester.

She was also all-conference academic in basketball, volleyball and softball. Last year, she went to state with the math team. During her sophomore year, she had an essay published in the Illinois History magazine and achieved the band member of the year award her freshman year.

She was captain or co-captain in basketball, volleyball and softball. She was also a pep club officer and was the head of the environmental fair committee.

She participated in musicals her junior and senior year and read original poetry and played the baritone and alto saxophone during poetry night cafe her last three years. She was also in the homecoming talent show as a senior.

She was in basketball, volleyball and softball all four years of school. She was also a member of the band, concert band, marching band, jazz band and pep band. She was also a member of a bass trio that plays for Christmas events and a small band that plays for honor dinners and banquets.

She was also a member of the Spanish club, pep club and the scholastic bowl as a freshman. She was a student ambassador, was a member of the math team, and a student Rotarian.

Her community service includes coaching seventh-grade girls’ basketball at Trinity Catholic Academy, and working as a food server for events held through the school such as the Christmas tea party or the New Year’s Eve dinner. She also does the scorebook and clock at Trinity Catholic athletic events.

Her hobbies include cooking, making up new recipes, playing the piano, model cars, disc golf and photography.

Her future plans include attending either Beloit College or Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology to study engineering.

The Princeton Elk teen representatives were Andrew Bellino of St. Bede Academy, Annalise Eckberg of Princeton High School, Audra Loveland and Jacob Eilers of Hall High School, Daniel Smith and Lauren Frese of Bureau Valley High School, Cara Phalen of Ohio High School, Rosa Sandoval of DePue High School, and Laura Lovgren of LaMoille High School.