Senior Charles Chen was awarded an IHSA Academic All-State Honorable Mention. Charles, a swimmer, is among 40 seniors statewide who received this award, while 26 others were selected for the Academic All-State Team. 

To qualify for the award, students needed to participate in at least two IHSA-sponsored sports or activities during the past two years, demonstrate outstanding citizenship and have at least a 3.5 GPA at the end of their seventh semester. 

Charles has participated on the boys swimming and diving team since ninth grade and the track and field team since tenth grade. 

When he was nominated for the award he filled out an application detailing his extracurriculars as well as writing an essay about his development in swimming and what it meant to him.

“I was surprised,” Charles said. “I didn’t think I would get anywhere with this because I don’t think of myself as that much of an athlete, but this was a pleasant surprise.”

Senior Franzi Wild was U-High’s other nominee. 

March 6, 2020: This story was updated to correct information about eligibility requirements.