09-04-2025
Naperville News Digest: Trailblazer challenge offers prizes for nature-themed missions; Naperville residents named Presidential Scholar candidates
Trailblazer challenge offers prizes for nature-themed missions
The Forest Preserve District of Will County is challenging residents to take part in the Be a Trailblazer spring session, which will give away more than $10,000 worth of prizes.
Starting this week and continuing through Saturday, May 24, the competition begins by downloading the free Goosechase app and entering the code PQNL75, a news release said.
Points are awarded for completing nature-themed missions, and a leaderboard will show who is in the top spots.
However, prizes will not be based on points, the release said. Each mission completed will count as an entry in weekly giveaways for themed T-shirts. Prizes also will be connected to specific missions, earning everyone who successfully completes that mission entry into a random drawing.
Sponsored by the Nature Foundation of Will County, prizes include kayaks, sleds, Fitbits, Yeti coolers, tent and sleeping bag packs, fishing equipment, hiking poles, picnic packs and more, the district said. There is no limit on the number of prizes that can be won.
Naperville residents named Presidential Scholar candidates
Numerous Naperville students from several high schools have been named candidates for the 2025 Presidential Scholars program, which honors distinguished graduating high school seniors.
The U.S. Presidential Scholars program, established in 1964 to recognize the nation's top seniors, selects about 4,000 general program candidates mostly based on test scores, a news release said.
About 650 students will go on to be named semifinalists and, from there, about 160 students will be selected as Presidential Scholars.
The Naperville candidates are:
Waubonsie Valley High School (Naperville residents): Mannsha Assudani, Sajiv Harikrishnan, Anjali S. Madheswaran, Sanvi Maganti, Rida Majeed, Shruthi Muthiah, Vikram J. Narasimhan, Wing Y. Ng, Prakrti Senthil and Akshath Sivachidhambara.
Neuqua Valley High School: Neel Chawla, Aditya Rakshit, Andrew Z. Wan, Andy W. Yu and Alexander Zhao.
Naperville North High School: Chloe S. Chen, Jai Gupta, Aanika M. Parekh, Anderson Peng, Sophia R. Xi and Cathy Yang.
Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy (Naperville residents): Shrikar Dulam and Kumara Venkata Sadkr Malladi.
Isaac Chang, of Naperville, also made the list.
Applications due Tuesday for KidsMatter SpringBoard Summer Series
Teens 16 and older who want to participate in KidsMatter's SpringBoard Summer Series must apply by Tuesday, April 15.
The free program allows high school students to explore various professions, completing classwork and having field experiences in a variety of career sectors, a news release said.
Now in its third year, the series has expanded to include a new Physical and Life Sciences program at Fermilab in Batavia. Other programs include Survey of Healthcare Careers, Pharmacy Technician Prep Course and Construction Management and Trades, the release said.
All costs are covered, including books and fees. Students should indicate on their applications if transportation assistance is needed. Sessions will be held in early June and early August.
Instruction is led by experts, and some programs provide college credit through the College of DuPage or the opportunity to complete the Teen Mental Health First Aid certification from the National Council for Mental Wellbeing.
For more information, go to
Naperville Woman's Club donates $26,000 to charities
The Naperville Woman's Club has distributed $26,124 to charity from the money raised through Glam Witches Night Out, the Clay Space Empty Bowls project, member donations and a partnership with the Downtown Naperville Alliance and local businesses.
Some of the recipients included Loaves & Fishes; Metropolitan Family Services; Families Helping Families; KidsMatter; Humanitarian Service Project; Ready, Set Ride; Naperville Riverwalk Foundation; Almost Home Kids; and the Alzheimer's Association.
