Two recent Mundelein High School graduates were recognized Sept. 9 by the District 120 School Board after receiving $2,500 Next Step grants from the Lake County Regional Office of Education Foundation (LCROEF).
The new grant was created to fill a critical gap in the support system for students pursuing life after high school. There are no restrictions so long as the funds directly support students identified as having significant financial need.
The recipients are Sarai Herrera, a student at the College of Lake County and Deacon Jensen, who is currently studying at Northern Illinois University. They have similar backgrounds. Both graduated from MHS in May 2025 and they both come from low-income households without a father.
Both students had similar sentiments as to the grant’s impact.
“It will make my life so much easier and my mom’s life easier,” Jensen said. “My mom’s doing her best to support me. I don’t want her to have to worry about my college.”
Herrera, whose father died when she was a freshman at MHS, also said it would relieve a lot of financial stress in her family.
“It’s so much help right now. It’s going to help my mom more than me so she’s not so stressed with finances,” Herrera said.
MHS Guidance Counselor Jaime Thatcher, who nominated the two for the grant, said she immediately knew both would benefit from this opportunity.
“They’re both such great kids,” Thatcher said. “I predict they’ll be successful because of their perseverance and how many obstacles they’ve overcome while at MHS. I don’t see anything that would really get in their way, other than the financials.”
Jensen originally planned to study engineering, but is now working toward a degree in accounting after getting advice from a family friend.
“It’s a good steady job and that’s what I want to have,” he said.
Herrera is currently working full-time while taking some prerequisite courses at CLC toward a degree in medical imaging. After two years at CLC, she hopes to attend Liberty University in Virginia or a similar university.
“I’ve always wanted to work at a hospital, and Lake County Tech Campus (a career training program she attended while at MHS) really opened my eyes to a career in medical imaging. Then I just started planning for it.”
Joel Finfer, Executive Director of LCROEF, said this grant is about removing barriers and opening doors for students.
“We are committed to ensuring that every student in Lake County has the resources they need to succeed after graduation,” Finfer said.
This year, Mundelein High School was one of six public school districts in Lake County selected based on its percentage of students qualifying for Free and Reduced Lunch. Each of the six districts received a $5,000 award. District 120 decided to split the grant and share it between two students.
The Foundation’s long-term goal is to expand the Next Step Grant to every public high school in Lake County as additional funding becomes available. LCROEF welcomes support from donors and community partners who want to invest in local students and their success beyond the classroom.
Joel Finfer, Executive Director of the Lake County Regional Office of Education Foundation, presents checks for $2,500 to MHS graduates Sarai Herrera and Deacon Jensen.