Senior Madeline Beja was recently accepted into the Daily Harold Leadership team, an honor given to high school students that have contiributed to their communities.

“When I received the email I was very excited and extremely honored,” Beja said. “ It means that I have, along with the others who made the team from different schools, dedicated ourselves to volunteer work and leadership in our communities.”

Beja has volunteered through her church, school fundraisers, and has supported breast cancer research.

The team is broken up into four sections: DuPage County (Beja’s section), Fox Valley, Northwest Suburban, and Lake County.

This is the tenth year the Daily Herald has sponsored this event. In order to apply, students must submit an application, a nomination, and a headshot. Students are then judged, and the top ten in each area are chosen.

“My counselor recommended me from our school and then I had to fill out this application and turn it in with an essay and a letter of recommendation from my counselor,” Beja said. “There is nothing that I exactly have to do; it is more of an award or recognition for my hard work.”