The Maine Township High School District 207 Board of Education honored three students in the area of community service naming them “207’s Best” at a recent meeting. The students honored were Jill Etchason (left) from Maine South, Renata Rodriguez (right) from Maine West and Bilal Usman (center) from Maine East.
The following information was written about each honoree as a part of the nomination by their school principal: Dr. Antwan Babakhani at Maine South, Daniel Hill at Maine West and Dr. Melissa A. Pikul at Maine East.
JILL ETCHASON, MAINE SOUTH
It is my privilege to introduce Maine South senior Jill Etchason for October’s D207’s Best recognition for Community Service. When you first look at Jill’s accomplishments, the numbers are pretty remarkable: 224 service hours, more than 3,000 hours of student service facilitated annually through Maine South’s Key Club, and leadership that has extended well beyond Maine South. But after spending some time with Jill, what became clear to me is that her story is not really about accumulating service hours. It is about what happens when someone takes service seriously enough to lead others toward it. Jill has been deeply involved in Key Club throughout her time at Maine South, serving as president last year and again this year. As a junior, she was elected Lieutenant Governor, working with Key Clubs across our region. She then became the first Maine South student to win an elected state level Key Club position and currently serves as Statistical Secretary for the Illinois Eastern Iowa District. In that role, Jill reviews monthly reports submitted by Key Clubs throughout the district, analyzes their service efforts, and provides feedback and support. She told me she has already reviewed more than 500 reports. When I asked what happens when a club is struggling, Jill very politely explained that she sends them “resources.” So, if you are a Key Club somewhere in Illinois or Iowa and Jill sends you resources, you might want to step up your game a little bit.
The impact of Jill’s leadership can also be seen right here at Maine South. Under her leadership, our Key Club has earned Distinguished Club recognition at both the district and international levels and received second place for an outstanding service project involving mental health care kits. Jill herself has been recognized as a Distinguished President, Distinguished Sophomore, and a three time recipient of the 100 plus service hours distinction. In 2026, Key Club International also recognized Jill as a Robert F. Lucas Outstanding Lieutenant Governor, and she earned its Global Leadership Certificate. But there is much more to Jill than Key Club. She is involved in National Honor Society, serves as secretary of Boost Club, and competes in both cross country and track. Running, in particular, has become an important part of her life. As a sophomore, Jill completed a half marathon in about an hour and 33 minutes, at one point logging 40 to 50 miles a week. That takes a level of discipline and persistence that, when you think about it, shows up in just about everything Jill does.
One of my favorite parts of these conversations is asking students what they want people to know about them that cannot be found on a résumé. Jill had a harder time answering that question. She talked about enjoying time with her friends and family, hanging out at home, playing games, and, of course, running. And I actually think her difficulty answering the question told me something important about her. Jill does not spend a lot of time trying to tell people who she is. She seems much more comfortable simply showing them. When we surprised Jill’s mom with the news, you could immediately hear the pride in her voice. She talked about how hard Jill has worked and how meaningful Key Club has become to her. And I think that gets to the heart of why we are recognizing Jill. She has certainly given hundreds of hours of her own time in service to others. But her impact is much larger than the hours she personally contributed. Jill has organized service, led it, strengthened it, and created opportunities for thousands of additional hours of service by other students.
Jill Etchason has demonstrated that community service is not simply about what you are willing to do for others. Leadership in service is about inspiring and creating opportunities for others to do the same. Jill has done exactly that, and we are incredibly proud to recognize her as Maine South’s D207’s Best for Community Service.
RENATA RODRIGUEZ, MAINE WEST
It is my privilege to recommend Renata Rodriguez, a senior at Maine West High School, as our 207’s Best recipient in the area of Community Service.
Renata’s service to Maine West and the surrounding community is impressive not simply because of the number of activities in which she participates, but because of the spirit with which she serves.
At Maine West, Renata is involved in West Side, serves as one of four senior commissioners for Link Crew, and participates in National Spanish Honor Society, National Art Honor Society, Ceramics Club, Giving for Good, Student Ambassadors, and Students Organized Against Racism. Through these experiences, she has increasingly found her voice as a leader and, more importantly, discovered the impact she can have on others.
Renata’s service extends well beyond our school. Through an internship with the Center of Concern in Des Plaines, she supports older adults in our community. She has helped organize community service projects assisting residents with work around their homes and makes calls to individuals to ensure they are receiving needed support. Renata shared that some of those conversations have developed into meaningful moments in which people simply needed someone willing to listen.
Perhaps the best illustration of Renata’s character, however, comes through the smaller moments. At a recent football game, Renata noticed a fellow student who uses a wheelchair sitting away from the student section. Without being asked, she sought permission to bring him into the group so that he could fully participate alongside his classmates. It was a simple act, but one that speaks volumes about how Renata sees others.
That same commitment is evident in her willingness to volunteer whenever Maine West needs students to serve. Most recently, Renata was one of only two student volunteers who helped lead a large alumni tour, remaining at school for several hours to help welcome and guide our returning Warriors.
When asked what service has taught her, Renata spoke about the importance of remaining open-minded because we never truly know what another person may be experiencing. She hopes to carry that perspective into her future studies in psychology and ultimately into a career centered on understanding and helping others.
Renata represents the very best of what we hope for in our Warriors: leadership that is not focused on recognition, but on noticing others, making connections, and helping people feel that they belong.
On behalf of Maine West High School, I am proud to recognize Renata Rodriguez as one of 207’s Best for Community Service.
BILAL USMAN, MAINE EAST
Bilal Usman is exceptionally deserving of recognition as 207’s Best because of the meaningful ways he has turned leadership, empathy, and initiative into service for others. His commitment is especially evident through B4All, a nonprofit organization he created to address food insecurity while recognizing the dietary needs of diverse families. Through B4All, Bilal has raised more than $4,000 and developed a lasting partnership with the Maine Township Food Pantry. After learning of a need for halal meat, Bilal connected the pantry with local butchers, helping establish a system that now allows the pantry to consistently provide halal meat to Muslim families in our community.
Bilal has demonstrated the same thoughtful leadership at Maine East. Recognizing the challenges faced by student-athletes who fast during Ramadan, he advocated for and organized snack packs that students could access when it was time to break their fast during practices and competitions. He recruited fellow students to prepare the packages, raised funds, partnered with staff and coaches, and helped educate others about the needs of fasting athletes.
His commitment to service extends through Lyceum, where he participated in a summer service trip to Detroit and regularly contributes to projects including stocking the food pantry and tutoring elementary students at the East Maine 63 Family Resource Center.
Perhaps most impressive is that, at such a young age, Bilal already understands an important principle of service: people should not have to set aside an important part of their identity in order to access the support they need. He notices where systems can better serve people, brings others together, and creates sustainable solutions.
Bilal is also quick to recognize that his accomplishments have not happened alone. He describes his mother as the “relentless force behind everything” he does. She is someone who continually encourages him and reminds him of what he is capable of accomplishing. That combination of gratitude, empathy, initiative, and genuine commitment to others makes Bilal an outstanding representative of 207’s Best.