The Maine Township High School District 207 Board of Education honored three students in the area of fine arts naming them “207’s Best” at a recent meeting. The students honored were Eli Faulkner (right) from Maine South, Van Gamboa (center) from Maine East and Mateo Maisonet (left) from Maine West.
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.
ELI FAULKNER, MAINE SOUTH
It is my privilege to introduce Maine South senior Eli as our November D207’s Best recipient for Fine Arts. My conversation with Eli was one of those experiences I will not soon forget. When you look at her artistic talents, it is easy to understand why our Fine Arts Department selected her for this recognition. She is an extraordinarily gifted visual artist, an accomplished singer who recently earned a place in both the ILMEA District 7 Chorus and Vocal Jazz Ensemble, and a student whose creativity seems to know no boundaries. Her digital artwork is exceptional, and her ability to experiment with different materials, techniques, and forms of painting has consistently impressed her teachers. But what I discovered during our conversation is that Eli’s relationship with art goes far beyond talent. For her, art is something much more personal.
Throughout her four years at Maine South, Eli has intentionally filled her schedule with as many fine arts courses as possible. From graphic arts and digital art to studio art, choir, and theater, she has explored just about every opportunity available to her. In fact, she told me that she has taken virtual physical education for the past two years specifically so she could make more room in her schedule for art classes. I had to smile at that. Here is a student who is literally rearranging her school day to spend more time doing what she loves. And when I asked her why art was so important to her, she explained that it has always been a source of comfort, a place where she can express herself, connect with others, and find joy in creating something new. But as our conversation continued, she shared something that helped me understand just how meaningful art has become in her life.
During her sophomore year, Eli lost her father. He was a photographer and an artist himself, and someone who had always encouraged and supported her creativity. She explained that after his passing, she found herself becoming even more immersed in her artwork. Being at school, surrounded by other creative people and engaged in projects she genuinely loved, gave her a sense of comfort and purpose during an incredibly difficult time. And what I found especially moving was learning how she has begun incorporating her father’s memory into her work. For one of her AP Art projects this year, Eli is exploring themes of grief and remembrance, drawing inspiration from photographs her father took of her and the world around them. She has even taken flowers from his funeral and incorporated them into the paints she uses in some of her pieces. I have thought about that quite a bit since our conversation. There is something incredibly powerful about a young artist finding a way to take something associated with such profound loss and transform it into something beautiful. It reminded me that art is not simply about creating something for others to admire. Sometimes, it is how we make sense of the experiences that shape us, how we hold on to the people we love, and how we find ways to move forward while keeping their memory close.
Our Fine Arts Department Chair, Dr. Teralyn Keith, described Eli as having a sweet, gentle spirit, paired with an incredibly imaginative artistic mind. She spoke about Eli’s willingness to take creative risks and the beautiful, unexpected ways she brings her ideas to life. Former art teacher Greg Regalado, who worked closely with Eli, shared similar sentiments, describing her as quiet and reflective, yet remarkably resilient, someone who treats others with kindness and respect and consistently contributes to the creative community at Maine South. And I think those descriptions capture something important about Eli. Despite her extraordinary talent and the recognition she has earned through her artwork, she remains humble, thoughtful, and genuinely appreciative of the people and opportunities around her. She is not someone who needs to be the center of attention. She simply loves creating, learning, and sharing that passion with others.
When we talked about life after Maine South, Eli shared that she hopes to continue developing her artistic abilities in college, with interests ranging from graphic design and animation to storytelling and character development. She has already created logos, posters, stickers, and other digital designs, and she dreams of one day combining her artistic talents with her love of storytelling, perhaps through books, games, or animated projects. She is still exploring exactly what that future might look like, and I told her that I think that is perfectly fine. Someone with her imagination and range of talents has so many possibilities ahead of her. At one point, I even suggested that she consider coming back to Maine South someday as an art teacher. And I will tell you, Dr. Keith did not hesitate to express how much she would welcome that possibility.
What stays with me most about Eli is not simply how talented she is, although her talent is truly remarkable. It is the way she has found meaning, strength, and connection through her creativity. As a father myself, listening to her talk about her dad and the influence he continues to have on her life was especially moving. I could not help but think about how proud he would be of the young woman and artist she is becoming. Eli reminds us that the fine arts are about so much more than technical skill, performances, or finished pieces hanging on a wall. They give our students a way to express what words sometimes cannot, to discover who they are, and to turn their experiences into something meaningful. Eli embodies all of that. She is an extraordinary artist, but more importantly, she is an extraordinary young person. And we could not be more proud to recognize her as Maine South’s D207’s Best for Fine Arts.
VAN GAMBOA, MAINE EAST
For Van Gamboa, music has been a lifelong passion, and his journey through the Maine East Fine Arts program is a remarkable example of talent, dedication, and versatility.
Van’s musical journey began in the Philippines, where he started singing at just three years old. Inspired by his older brother, a pianist and jazz musician, Van developed a love for percussion, eventually expanding his talents to guitar, piano, and numerous other instruments. After moving to the United States in fifth grade, Van continued pursuing music, but it was at Maine East where his passion truly flourished.
Throughout high school, Van has become an extraordinary presence across nearly every area of our Fine Arts program. He participates in Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Jazz Band, Marching Band, Chamber Choir, and A Cappella. He has performed in pit orchestras for multiple musicals, contributed to theatrical productions, and recently arranged the closing number for V-Show. His musical versatility allows him to move seamlessly between percussion, tuba, trombone, and voice.
Van’s accomplishments extend well beyond Maine East. He has qualified for the ILMEA District 7 Festival three consecutive years, earning a place in the prestigious All-State Honors ensemble during his junior year. He has also performed alongside the Chicago Master Singers for two consecutive seasons.
Perhaps most impressive is Van’s desire to share his gifts with others. As a marching band section leader, he mentors fellow musicians, and he has already begun exploring his passion for teaching by leading his Chamber Choir peers through a musical selection.
Van hopes to pursue music education and performance, ultimately earning a doctorate and teaching at the high school or collegiate level.
Van embodies the very best of Maine East Fine Arts: exceptional talent, fearless exploration, and a genuine commitment to helping others discover the joy of music.
MATEO MAISONET, MAINE WEST
It is my pleasure to recognize Mateo Maisonet, a senior at Maine West High School, as our 207’s Best honoree in the area of Fine Arts. Mateo is a talented and dedicated student whose contributions to technical theater, music, and the performing arts reflect his creativity, leadership, and commitment to excellence.
Throughout his high school experience, Mateo has immersed himself in multiple areas of the fine arts, including technical theater, choir, the Choraliers a cappella group, and marching band. His journey began with inspiration from his older sister, whose involvement in music and theater sparked his own curiosity. What started as an opportunity to explore backstage production during his freshman year has developed into a passion for designing and constructing theatrical sets.
Mateo has distinguished himself through his work with Maine West’s technical theater program, earning multiple recognitions, including Assistant Technical Director, Master Carpenter, Stage Manager, and Rookie of the Year. As an Assistant Technical Director, he has helped oversee production projects, guided fellow students in learning construction techniques, and supported the safe and effective operation of the technical theater shop. One of his proudest accomplishments was constructing two identical 11-foot arches for Maine West’s production of Mamma Mia!, a project that required considerable precision, patience, and dedication.
His musical talents are equally impressive. Mateo participates in choir and marching band, where his perseverance helped him advance from playing bass drum to snare drum, a personal goal he worked diligently to achieve. Despite the demanding schedules of multiple fine arts programs, Mateo continues to demonstrate a commitment to his academic responsibilities while balancing rehearsals, performances, and production work.
Beyond his accomplishments, Mateo speaks highly of the welcoming community he has found within Maine West’s fine arts programs. He credits his teachers, particularly Mr. McManus and Mr. Bernie Gerstmayr, with helping him develop not only his artistic abilities but also his maturity, confidence, and leadership. He also acknowledges the tremendous encouragement of his family, whose support helped him recognize that his passion for the arts could become more than a hobby.
Looking ahead, Mateo hopes to attend the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where he plans to pursue entertainment engineering and continue participating in marching band. His aspiration is to combine his creativity and technical skills to design and build productions in the entertainment industry.
Mateo’s story exemplifies the transformative power of fine arts education. Through his experiences at Maine West, he has discovered his talents, developed meaningful relationships, and identified a pathway toward his future. We are proud to recognize Mateo Maisonet as Maine West’s 207’s Best representative in Fine Arts and celebrate the many ways he embodies what it means to be a Warrior.