April Senior of the Month 2022

Congratulations Tommy Rafacz!

We are proud to announce Tommy Rafacz as SHS's Senior of the Month.

Thomas Rafacz has filled his four years at Schaumburg High School with a variety of academic and extracurricular endeavors. In each of these settings, he has shown himself to be a competent, intelligent, and responsible young man. His successes are the result of his natural ability and hard work, dedication, and willingness to prioritize the most important work.

Being academically minded, Thomas has taken rigorous coursework at SHS and chosen to participate in several academic extracurricular activities. He has been a member of the Golf Team, Fishing Club, Student Council, Chess Team, AP Ambassadors, National Honor Society, Rho Kappa, and Freshman LIFT. His fun-loving spirit and enthusiasm for success make him very well suited for these academic and extracurricular challenges. During his time at SHS, Thomas has earned several honors, including being named an AP Scholar with Distinction, earning the AP Seminar and Research Certificate and AP Capstone Diploma, and becoming an SHS Academic Scholar, a Student of the Month for Social Studies, a Saxon PRIDE Award winner, an Illinois Scholar, and a National Merit Finalist!

Thomas is motivated by the desire to become a well-rounded individual who will be able to succeed in a variety of opportunities that the future has in store for him. To that end, Thomas has also made time to volunteer through Friends of Busse FPCC and Poplar Creek Stewards Workday, serving as a Co-Leader since 2018. He has also participated in the Saint Marcelline Appalachia Service Project and served as an Election Judge for the Elections Office of Cook County. Additionally, Thomas finds balance in his life by spending time outdoors. He stated, “I love being out in nature, hiking, cutting down invasive species, and clearing brush. It is cathartic for me. It’s also interesting to see how much of what we learn in the classroom can be found in the real world. Everything is relevant as long as you apply it to your life and recognize that there is always something new to learn.”

Thomas finds satisfaction in learning, helping others to succeed, and applying his learning to life. As Thomas prepares to leave SHS, he is setting his sights on studying Political Science or Law at the University of Notre Dame. Thomas has made the most of his time here at SHS, and we wish him well as he continues to strive for excellence in all of the endeavors he chooses to pursue.