Highlighting an Exceptional Graduate at West Park STEAM Academy

We are excited to highlight Edgar, an outstanding graduate who has attended West Park STEAM Academy in West Humboldt Park since Pre-K. Edgar is the Class of 2024’s Valedictorian and is best known in his school community as a leader who cares about others and isn’t afraid to put them first. This upcoming fall, Edgar will be heading to West Northside College Prep, where he looks forward to taking Geometry and joining math-related extracurricular activities. Congratulations, Edgar! Read more about him below. 

What do you enjoy most about West Park? 

I like that West Park is a very tight-knit community. There are a lot of teachers who genuinely care about their job and are very in touch with the students. One teacher I’ll never forget is Ms. Chambers, our 8th-grade reading teacher. 

What are your interests both inside and outside the classroom? 

I love finding new ways and solutions to problems. My favorite subject is math, which has taught me that you can always go another route and still find the same answer to a problem. I enjoy spending time with friends and family outside of school.

What are some of your accomplishments during your time at West Park? 

One accomplishment I’m proud of is earning a $1000 scholarship from the Carson Scholars Fund to cover university costs, as well as being named class valedictorian. 

What will you miss most after graduation? 

I’m going to miss being in touch with everyone in the community. I know that once our 8th-grade class graduates, we’ll feel like something is missing in our lives, but I’m excited for the future and know we all have to move on at some point.

What’s one lesson you’ve learned after ten years at West Park? 

A lesson that I learned is that you don’t always have to do things by yourself. There have been times when I wanted to do something on my own, but instead, I just dug myself into a hole that was difficult to get out of. Once I relied on others I realized that asking for help isn’t a crutch and it's more of a powerup or extra support. 

What final message would you like to leave for your school community? 

Create your own story, and don’t let anyone hold you back. If you want to pick up a new hobby or work towards a specific goal, go for it because it could take you to many different places.