Willowbrook names February recipient of 88’s Best recognition

Left: Pictured is Willowbrook senior Lily Morgan, who has been named as the school's February recipient of 88’s Best recognition for her outstanding service work. Right: Morgan (pictured at left in the bottom row) is recognized as Willowbrook's February recipient of 88’s Best recognition during the District 88 Board of Education meeting on Feb. 22.

Lily Morgan has been named as Willowbrook’s February recipient of 88’s Best recognition for her outstanding service work. Morgan, a senior, was recognized during the Feb. 22 District 88 Board of Education meeting. To listen to her 88’s Best presentation, click the audio file above.

Service work:

  • Helped organize a community Black Lives Matter demonstration this past summer, resulting in more than $200 being raised for the NAACP

Involvement at Willowbrook:

  • Student Council (where she serves as Secretary)
  • Speech Team (where she serves as Co-Captain and is a two-year Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Regional qualifier)
  • Youth Equity Stewardship (YES!) series (a program to prepare students to recognize and learn from the diversity around them)
  • Student Board of Communications
  • Gender & Sexualities Alliance Network Club
  • Skyline (Willowbrook’s student newspaper)
  • Theatre
  • Mock Trial
  • Return to School Student Advisory Committee
  • Supports school initiatives such as leading listening circles focused on social justice with students and staff
  • Helped facilitate a districtwide staff development program to recognize and celebrate African American History Month
  • Helped establish a memorial and a scholarship for Willowbrook alumna Sandra Bland

Academic achievements:

  • Completed four Advanced Placement (AP)/college-level courses

  • Completed Project Lead The Way courses

  • Completed College of DuPage dual-credit courses

  • Completed Elmhurst College math and English coursework

  • Completed a multitude of honors courses

  • Named to the Distinction Honor Roll each semester of her high school career

Awards, honors and recognitions:

  • Outstanding Freshman Award

  • Human Relations Award

  • National English Honor Society inductee

Future plans:
Morgan plans to attend College of DuPage to complete her early college requirements. She then looks to complete a degree in journalism or communication and pursue a career in journalism.

Staff member comments:
“I had the pleasure of getting to know Morgan in Freshman AP Human Geography. She always expressed her concern for the disenfranchised and marginalized – exhibited empathy for all groups and cultures in the course of our studies. As I got to know her, Morgan impressed me with her deep appreciation for helping, listening and being in tune with those in need around her. Even as a junior, as my student assistant, Morgan was always available to students in my eighth-period class. She became a helpful addition to the class, offering kindness, advice and insight on a variety of topics. Morgan lives every day with the goal to make a difference, and her efforts will make the world a better place!”

- Maritza Francisco, Willowbrook social studies teacher

“I’ve been fortunate to know Morgan for four years at Willowbrook, as a reporter for Skyline (Willowbrook’s student newspaper) and also as her teacher last year in AP English Language and Composition. Morgan stands out for her compassion and kindness toward other students in class and around school, as well as an advocate for justice for all people. She also is an astute reader and writer, who is considerate and courageous in writing about and discussing important issues. She has made Willowbrook a better place by being here!”

- Dan Fliegel, Willowbrook English teacher and Skyline sponsor

“Morgan is a natural leader. Her subtle and controlled style of leadership will without question underscore her skills in both written and spoken form in her future. Morgan has been on our Speech Team for four years, and her growth as an orator and leader can be measured throughout the last four years, and she has been an outstanding co-captain through the invitational season. Without question, this season has been her strongest, where she earned 12 individual awards during a virtual invitational season with a mix of asynchronous and synchronous prelim and final rounds. She, along with her other co-captains, developed the groundwork for our novice and junior varsity team to not only create success in this virtual world, but to learn and grow. Morgan’s leadership this year will be the foundation for our successes in years to come. Lily, thank you for finding the light and your voice.”

- Brett Blair, English Department Head and Speech Team sponsor

  • District 88 values the hard work and achievements of students and wants to make sure students are honored and recognized for their accomplishments. The District 88 Board of Education and administration created the 88’s Best award to highlight students’ success. That award recognizes nine Addison Trail and nine Willowbrook students each school year for reaching their personal best in various areas. Recipients are honored during a District 88 Board of Education meeting in one of the following areas: academics, highly improved performance, extracurricular activities, service work or performing arts/electives. They receive an 88’s Best glass sculpture and a certificate to a local restaurant.