Each year, the Oak Lawn-Hometown School District 123 PTA Council celebrates three distinguished D123 alumni with the Helen Whalen Higher Education Scholarship. Recipients are honored at a special dinner for their hard work and service to the community.
The Helen Whalen Scholarship honors the legacy of a devoted PTA member and President of the D123 Board of Education, who served School District 123 for four decades.
This year’s recipients of the $1,000 scholarships, Julie Marquez, Sara Abdelrahman, and Emily Chavosky, were recognized on Monday, April 20 at Oak Lawn-Hometown Middle School for their achievements and dedication.
Learn more about each recipient below…
Julie Marquez
Covington/OLHMS/St. Laurence
Julie’s passion for community service is rooted in her childhood experiences with the PTA. By participating in and volunteering for events like BINGO nights and holiday gatherings, she developed a connection to her school and a joy for helping others. This early exposure to community service led her to a youth volleyball coach position at Lieb Elementary School, where she focused on instilling teamwork, confidence, and discipline in her players while reinforcing her own commitment to giving back.
Driven by these experiences, Julie aims to bridge the gap between financial leadership and community support by studying Finance and Accounting. She intends to use her professional expertise to improve resource accessibility and secure funding for the types of programs that she remembers growing up. Julie aims to use her career skills for leadership and service, ensuring that future generations have the same opportunities to benefit from strong, well-supported community initiatives.
Sara Abdelrahman
Covington/OLHMS/OLCHS
Sara’s commitment to community service was sparked by her childhood experiences with the PTA at Covington Elementary School, where events like the Winter Carnival and school-wide coat drives showcased the power of an inclusive, collective effort. These programs taught her that behind every celebration and service initiative was a dedicated group of parents and teachers working to foster compassion and support for students in need. Later, she began volunteering for event setups and expanded her impact through leadership roles, such as mentoring youth at basketball camps, tutoring peers, and building customer connections at her job at Rita’s Italian Ice.
Looking toward the future, Sara aims to translate these lessons in empathy and advocacy into a career as a physician specializing in neuroscience. She plans to mirror the PTA’s spirit of inclusion by advocating for patient rights and expanding access to medical care, particularly for underserved populations. By reflecting on the community-driven efforts of District 123, Sara is driven to ensure that her professional work creates a lasting sense of belonging and support for others, just as her community did for her.
Emily Chavosky
Kolmar/OLHMS/Richards
Emily’s journey toward a nursing career is deeply rooted in her upbringing within Oak Lawn-Hometown School District 123, where she saw how closely the schools and PTA worked together. By attending meetings and volunteering alongside her mother, a PTA member for over a decade, Emily gained firsthand insight into the power of advocacy, communication, and problem-solving. These experiences highlighted how empathy and collaboration are essential to building a supportive environment, drawing a direct parallel between the PTA’s community support and the compassion required of a nurse.
A defining moment in Emily's commitment to service occurred during a community leaf-raking event, where the emotional gratitude of an elderly neighbor solidified her desire to dedicate her life to helping others. As she transitions into her nursing studies, she carries forward a foundation of leadership and responsibility built through years of service projects and family events. Emily views healthcare as a natural extension of her community involvement, aiming to utilize her skills in teamwork and cooperation to provide high-quality care and patient advocacy.