Will County 4-H recognizes 2025 youth award recipients

JOLIET, Ill — University of Illinois Extension in Will County recently announced the 2025 youth award recipients for the 2024-25 program year. 

“At the end of the year, we want to take time to recognize 4-H members and volunteers for their outstanding contributions during the past 4-H year,” said Brittney Muschetto-DePatis, 4-H youth development educator serving Grundy, Kankakee, and Will counties. “Recognition and awards have always been an important part of 4-H. From the earliest days of 4-H record books to the more versatile applications of today, we want to take time to recognize the accomplishments of our county’s young people.”

Award recipients in Will County were recognized at the Will County Awards Night in November.  “We want to extend thanks to the Will County 4-H Federation and Dave Mills for their support in making the night so impactful for local 4-H members,” said Chloe Nelson-VanMiddlesworth, 4-H program coordinator in Will County. “We want to congratulate all of our award recipients as they continue to make the best better every day.” 

2025 Award recipients are:

Outstanding Secretary Award:

Samantha Merkel - Wesley 4-H Hustlers

Outstanding Treasurer Award:

Logan Burmaster - Wesley 4-H Hustlers

Individual Award recipients:

Certificate of Participation

Josephine Estrada - New Lenox 4-H Explorers

Truely Molitor - Prairie 4-H

Lillian Nugent - Willing Wilton Workers

Certificate of Progress

Logan Burmaster - Wesley 4-H Hustlers

Annalise Estrada - New Lenox 4-H Explorers

Caleb Estrada - New Lenox 4-H Explorers

Angela Gutierrez - New Lenox 4-H Explorers

Joleigh Hacko - Prairie 4-H

Madison Hundley - New Lenox 4-H Explorers

Reese Hundley - New Lenox 4-H Explorers

Ava Jones - New Lenox 4-H Explorers

Ella Jones - New Lenox 4-H Explorers

Morgan Lukas - Willing Wilton Workers

Lucas Makowski - New Lenox 4-H Explorers

Elena Mason - New Lenox 4-H Explorers

Caleb Merkel - Wesley 4-H Hustlers

Truely Molitor - Prairie 4-H

Lillian Nugent - Willing Wilton Workers

Douglas Schreurs - Prairie 4-H

Caleb Sturm - New Lenox 4-H Explorers

Joel Sturm - New Lenox 4-H Explorers

Leah Sturm - New Lenox 4-H Explorers

Kenzie Thompson - Lockport Loyal 4-H

Lucius Wilcox - New Lenox 4-H Explorers

Alayna Weekly - Prairie 4-H

Certificate of Merit

Easton Barney - Willing Wilton Workers

Veronica Boyer - Wesley 4-H Hustlers

Autumn Burdick - Prairie 4-H

Sera Dusek - Lockport Loyal 4-Hers

Benjamin Floyd - Wesley 4-H Hustlers

Jacob Floyd - Wesley 4-H Hustlers

Austin Hundley - New Lenox 4-H Explorers

Ashley Hundley - New Lenox 4-H Explorers

Corin Leyburn - Prairie 4-H

Lillian Makowski - New Lenox 4-H Explorers

Charlotte Merkel - Wesley 4-H Hustlers

Henry Merkel - Wesley 4-H Hustlers

Chloe Miller - Will County Saddle Club

Emily Pierce - Prairie 4-H

Henry Reus - Willing Wilton Workers

Sophia Rog - Lockport Loyal 4-Hers

Elizabeth Schreurs - Prairie 4-H

Benjamin Simanis - New Lenox 4-H Explorers

Lyra Wilcox - New Lenox 4-H Explorers

Rosemary Widinski - Willing Wilton Workers

Certificate of Achievement

Brooklyn Barney - Willing Wilton Workers

Alexandra Bruinius - Willing Wilton Workers

Vanessa Edler - Willing Wilton Workers

Abigail Henning - Prairie 4-H

Allison Jacobs - Willing Wilton Workers

Emily Jacobs - Willing Wilton Workers

Josiah Merkel - Wesley 4-H Hustlers

Samantha Merkel - Wesley 4-H Hustlers

Emily Rog - Lockport Loyal 4-Hers

Matthew Selucky - Prairie 4-H

Brooke Simanis - New Lenox 4-H Explorers

Special Achievement Award

Avrey Edler - Willing Wilton Workers

Peter Widinski - Willing Wilton Workers

Cloverbud Award recipients:

Cloverbud Award

Emelia Broholm - 4-H 4ALL

Lillian Braasch - Prairie 4-H

Cole Connolly - Will County Saddle Club

Ivy Cryer - Will County Saddle Club

Maverick Ewart - Prairie 4-H

Max Gnade - 4-H 4ALL

Bennett Lavelle - 4-H 4ALL

Nathan Leamy - 4-H 4ALL

Gabriel LaMie - Prairie 4-H

Peter Morrelle - Prairie 4-H

Maggie Nugent - Willing Wilton Workers

Aidan Ramirez - Prairie 4-H

Emma Siefker - Prairie 4-H

Wyatt Siefker - Prairie 4-H

Hendrix Toepper - Prairie 4-H

Pierce Valentino - Prairie 4-H

Amelia Webb - Prairie 4-H

Everett Webb - Prairie 4-H

Charles Zigtema - Prairie 4-H

Elliott Zigtema - Prairie 4-H

Outstanding Cloverbud Award

Allison Baine - Prairie 4-H

Charlie Braasch - Prairie 4-H

Caleb Floyd - Wesley Hustlin' Cloverbuds

Harper Graf - Prairie 4-H

Hunter Graf - Prairie 4-H

Leah Halvorson - Prairie 4-H

Grace Henning - Prairie 4-H

Caroline Merkel - Wesley Hustlin' Cloverbuds

Harper Reus - Willing Wilton Workers

Daphne Zigtema - Prairie 4-H

Deegan Zigtema - Prairie 4-H

Cloverbud Graduates

Emelia Broholm - 4-H 4ALL

Caleb Floyd - Wesley Hustlin' Cloverbuds

Max Gnade - 4-H 4ALL

Gabriel LaMie - Prairie 4-H

Bennett Lavelle - 4-H 4ALL

Maggie Nugent - Willing Wilton Workers

Aidan Ramirez - Prairie 4-H

Amelia Webb - Prairie 4-H

Project Awards:

Career & Leadership Development

Pin

Veronica Boyer - Wesley 4-H Hustlers

Lucius Wilcox - New Lenox 4-H Explorers

Certificate

Allison Jacobs - Willing Wilton Workers

Emily Jacobs - Willing Wilton Workers

Animal Science

Pin

Angela Gutierrez - New Lenox 4-H Explorers

Joleigh Hacko - Prairie 4-H

Morgan Lukas - Willing Wilton Workers

Josiah Merkel - Wesley 4-H Hustlers

Lillian Nugent - Willing Wilton Workers

Douglas Schures - Prairie

Alayna Weekley - Prairie 4-H

Certificate

Alexandra Bruinius - Willing Wilton Workers

Autumn Burdick - Prairie 4-H

Avrey Elder - Willing Wilton Workers

Abigail Henning - Prairie 4-H

Lillian Makowski - New Lenox 4-H Explorers

Henry Reus - Willing Wilton Workers

Elizabeth Schreurs - Prairie 4-H

Mathew Selucky - Prairie 4-H

Civic Engagement

Pin

Logan Burmaster - Wesley 4-H Hustlers

Caleb Estrada - New Lenox 4-H Explorers

Josephine Estrada - New Lenox 4-H Explorers

Ava Jones - New Lenox 4-H Explorers

Ella Jones - New Lenox 4-H Explorers

Morgan Lukas - Willing Wilton Workers

Elena Mason - New Lenox 4-H Explorers

Truely Molitor - Prairie 4-H

Douglas Schreurs - Prairie 4-H

Brooke Simanis - New Lenox 4-H Explorers

Leah Sturm - New Lenox 4-H Explorers

Lucius Wilcox - New Lenox 4-H Explorers

Certificate

Brooklyn Barney - Willing Wilton Workers

Easton Barney - Willing Wilton Workers

Autumn Burdick - Prairie 4-H

Avrey Edler - Willing Wilton Workers

Vanessa Edler - Willing Wilton Workers

Abigail Henning - Prairie 4-H

Allison Jacobs - Willing Wilton Workers

Emily Jacobs - Willing Wilton Workers

Chloe Miller - Will County Saddle Club

Emily Pierce - Prairie 4-H

Henry Reus - Willing Wilton Workers

Matthew Selucky - Prairie 4-H

Peter Widinski - Willing Wilton Workers

Rosemary Widinski - Willing Wilton Workers

Creative and Cultural Arts

Pin

Annalise Estrada - New Lenox 4-H Explorers

Caleb Estrada - New Lenox 4-H Explorers

Angela Gutierrez - New Lenox 4-H Explorers

Ashley Hundley - New Lenox 4-H Explorers

Reese Hundley - New Lenox 4-H Explorers

Lucas Makowski - New Lenox 4-H Explorers

Elena Mason - New Lenox 4-H Explorers

Sophia Rog - Lockport Loyal 4-Hers

Brooke Simanis - New Lenox 4-H Explorers

Lucius Wilcox - New Lenox 4-H Explorers

Alayna Weekly - Prairie 4-H

Certificate

Brooklyn Barney - Willing Wilton Workers

Easton Barney - Willing Wilton Workers

Alexandra Bruinius - Willing Wilton Workers

Autumn Burdick - Prairie 4-H

Sera Dusek - Lockport Loyal 4-Hers

Avrey Elder - Willing Wilton Workers

Vanessa Edler - Willing Wilton Workers

Abigail Henning - Prairie 4-H

Allison Jacobs - Willing Wilton Workers

Emily Jacobs - Willing Wilton Workers

Corin Leyburn - Prairie 4-H

Lillian Makowski - New Lenox 4-H Explorers

Samantha Merkel - Wesley 4-H Hustlers

Chloe Miller - Will County Saddle Club

Emily Pierce - Prairie 4-H

Henry Reus - Willing Wilton Workers

Emily Rog - Lockport Loyal 4-Hers

Elizabeth Schreurs - Prairie 4-H

Matthew Selucky - Prairie 4-H

Kenzie Thompson - Lockport Loyal 4-Hers

Lyra Wilcox - New Lenox 4-H Explorers

Environment Sciences

Pin

Jacob Floyd - Wesley 4-H Hustlers

Caleb Merkel - Wesley 4-H Hustlers

Benjamin Simanis - New Lenox 4-H Explorers

Joel Sturm - New Lenox 4-H Explorers

Certificate

Alexandra Bruinius - Willing Wilton Workers

Samantha Merkel - Wesley 4-H Hustlers

Peter Widinski - Willing Wilton Workers

Rosemary Widinski - Willing Wilton Workers

Exploritory

Pin

Caleb Sturm - New Lenox 4-H Explorers

Shooting Sports

Certificate

Corin Leyburn - Prairie 4-H

Gardening, Agriculture, and Food Access

Pin

Annalise Estrada - New Lenox 4-H Explorers

Josephine Estrada - New Lenox 4-H Explorers

Lucas Makowski - New Lenox 4-H Explorers

Certificate

Easton Barney - Willing Wilton Workers

Vanessa Edler - Willing Wilton Workers

Lillian Makowski - New Lenox 4-H Explorers

Emily Rog - Lockport Loyal 4-Hers

Elizabeth Schreurs - Prairie 4-H

Mathew Selucky - Prairie 4-H

Lyra Wilcox - New Lenox 4-H Explorers

Healthy Living

Pin

Veronica Boyer - Wesley 4-H Hustlers

Joleigh Hacko - Prairie 4-H

Ashley Hundley - New Lenox 4-H Explorers

Madison Hundley - New Lenox 4-H Explorers

Sophia Rog - Lockport Loyal 4-Hers

Benjamin Simanis - New Lenox 4-H Explorers

Certificate

Brooklyn Barney - Willing Wilton Workers

Autumn Burdick - Prairie 4-H

Abigail Henning - Prairie 4-H

Corin Leyburn - Prairie 4-H

Lillian Makowski - New Lenox 4-H Explorers

Emily Rog - Lockport Loyal 4-Hers

Kenzie Thompson - Lockport Loyal 4-Hers

Peter Widinski - Willing Wilton Workers

STEM

Pin

Benjamin Floyd - Wesley 4-H Hustlers

Austin Hundley - New Lenox 4-H Explorers

Morgan Lukas - Willing Wilton Workers

Caleb Merkel - Wesley 4-H Hustlers

Charlotte Merkel - Wesley 4-H Hustlers

Henry Merkel - Wesley 4-H Hustlers

Josiah Merkel - Wesley 4-H Hustlers

Benjamin Simanis - New Lenox 4-H Explorers

Certificate

Alexandria Bruinius - Willing Wilton Workers

Autumn Burdick - Prairie 4-H

Abigail Henning - Prairie 4-H

Corin Leyburn - Prairie 4-H

Chloe Miller - Will County Saddle Club

Mathew Selucky - Prairie 4-H

Peter Widinski - Willing Wilton Workers

Rosemary Widinski - Willing Wilton Workers

Leadership Awards:

Brooklyn Barney - Willing Wilton Workers

Veronica Boyer - Wesley 4-H Hustlers

Alexandra Bruinius - Willing Wilton Workers

Logan Burmaster - Wesley 4-H Hustlers

Avrey Edler - Willing Wilton Workers

Vanessa Edler - Willing Wilton Workers

Benjamin Floyd - Wesley 4-H Hustlers

Jacob Floyd - Wesley 4-H Hustlers

Abigail Henning - Prairie 4-H

Madison Hundley - New Lenox 4-H Explorers

Allison Jacobs - Willing Wilton Workers

Emily Jacobs- Willing Wilton Workers

Lucas Makowski - New Lenox 4-H Explorers

Charlotte Merkel - Wesley 4-H Hustlers

Henry Merkel - Wesley 4-H Hustlers

Josiah Merkel - Wesley 4-H Hustlers

Samantha Merkel - Wesley 4-H Hustlers

Henry Reus - Willing Wilton Workers

Elizabeth Schreurs - Prairie 4-H

Matthew Selucky - Prairie 4-H

Benjamin Simanis - New Lenox 4-H Explorers

Brooke Simanis - New Lenox 4-H Explorers

Leah Sturm - New Lenox 4-H Explorers

Peter Widinski - Willing Wilton Workers

My Experience Award

Bronze

Abigail Henning - Prairie 4-H

Emily Rog - Lockport Loyal 4-Hers

Sophia Rog - Lockport Loyal 4-Hers

Silver

Logan Burmaster - Wesley 4-H Hustlers

Caleb Merkel - Wesley 4-H Hustlers

Gold

Autumn Burdick - Prairie 4-H

Benjamin Floyd - Wesley 4-H Hustlers

Charlotte Merkel - Wesley 4-H Hustlers

Henry Merkel - Wesley 4-H Hustlers

Samantha Merkel - Wesley 4-H Hustlers

Chloe Miller - Will County Saddle Club

Brooke Simanis - New Lenox 4-H Explorers

Emerald

Alexandra Bruinius - Willing Wilton Workers - Project Learning

Avery Edler - Willing Wilton Workers - Project Learning

Vanessa Edler - Willing Wilton Workers - Project Learning

Jacob Floyd - Wesley 4-H Hustlers - Leadership

Allison Jacobs - Willing Wilton Workers - Project Learning

Emily Jacobs - Willing Wilton Workers - Project Learning

Morgan Lukas - Willing Wilton Workers - Project Learning

Josiah Merkel - Wesley 4-H Hustlers - Project Learning

Henry Reus - Willing Wilton Workers - Project Learning

Benjamin Simanis - New Lenox 4-H Explorers - Project Learning

Peter Widinski - Willing Wilton Workers - Project Learning

Rosemary Widinski - Willing Wilton Workers - Project Learning

 

For more information about 4-H in your county, visit go.illinois.edu/About4HGKW

 

WRITER: Anthony Warmack, communications coordinator, Illinois Extension

SOURCE: Chloe Nelson-VanMiddlesworth, 4-H program coordinator, Illinois Extension

ABOUT ILLINOIS 4-H: Illinois 4-H is the flagship youth development program of University of Illinois Extension, administered through the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences. Through hands-on learning and life-changing experiences, Illinois 4-H prepares youth to be Beyond Ready — ready for college, career, military service, entrepreneurship, and more. Young people build confidence, leadership, and resilience as they explore interests from agriculture to computer science. Independent research and national surveys confirm the powerful outcomes of 4-H: participants are 40% more likely to pursue a college degree, twice as likely to obtain technical training, and two times more likely to serve in the military. With a legacy of cultivating leaders, Illinois 4-H continues to grow the next generation who are equipped to thrive in life and work today and beyond.

About Extension

University of Illinois Extension develops educational programs, extends knowledge, and builds partnerships to support people, communities, and their environments as part of the state's land-grant institution. Extension serves as the leading public outreach effort for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences in all 102 Illinois counties through a network of 27 multi-county units and over 700 staff statewide. Extension’s mission is responsive to eight strategic priorities — community, economy, environment, food and agriculture, health, partnerships, technology and discovery, and workforce excellence — that are served through six program areas — 4-H youth development, agriculture and agribusiness, community and economic development, family and consumer science, integrated health disparities, and natural resources, environment, and energy.