Elise Slowinski

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Elise Slowinski is a 2023 graduate of John Hersey High School who will be attending University of
Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She is enrolled in the College of Engineering to study Environmental
Engineering. She was a 4-year member of the bands at Hersey and President of the Band her senior
year. She was a member of the Scholastic Bowl team and selected to be a member of National
Honor Society. She was a member of the Hersey Engineering Club and worked with the Mount
Prospect Public Works to transform an empty lot into a garden and walking path. Throughout high
school she has worked at Lutheran Home as a Diet Aide. Elise has worked as an assistant to her
father, an environmental engineer, in various landscaping and gardening projects since she was
young.

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Etienne Sirois

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Etienne Sirois is a 2022 graduate of Prospect High School and has completed his freshman year at
University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign. He is majoring in Landscape Architecture and minoring in
Museum Studies. He was elected by his peers to be on the Department of Landscape Architecture
Curriculum Advisory Board. He was on the Illinois Solar Decathion team as lead hardscape designer.
Etienne was a James Scholar in the College of Fine Arts at UIUC and on the Dean’s List. This is
Etienne second year as an Arlington Heights Garden Club scholarship recipient.

Jennifer Suszek

Jennifer is the recipient of the Wendy Landwehr scholarship, administered by the Arlington Heights
Garden Club for Marty Landwehr. She was also the 2022 recipient of this scholarship. She is enrolled
at College of DuPage and plans to receive her AAS of Horticulture in 2024. As the mother of two
sons, Jennifer also is a volunteer with the Boy Scouts. She is employed as a Landscape Specialist
by the Park District of Oak Park. Recently Jennifer received her Illinois Pesticide Applicator license.
With help from her sons, Jennifer cares for a plot at the community Serenity Gardens near their
home. Jennifer’s future goal is to be an arborist.

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The Wendy Landwehr Memorial Scholarship is a $2,000 scholarship to assist students living within 20 miles of Arlington Heights. Wendy was a Senior Life Member, Board Member, Fellow, and a Trustee Nominee for the Society of Women Engineers. She was an avid gardener and a Master Gardener. She enjoyed volunteering at the Chicago Botanic Garden. This scholarship focuses uniquely on an academic/vocational educational approach and is awarded in the memory of this remarkable woman.