CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) – Two seniors from Jones College Prep and Taft High School received a public honor and a surprise gift for their community efforts in supporting student athletes sidelined during The Illinois High School Association state playoffs while the Chicago Teachers Union was in effect.
Jones College Prep senior Ian Bacon and Taft senior Sydney Partyka were two of the faces and voices of CPS student athletes heard consistently during the CTU strike this past fall.
On Dec. 6, the students received a surprise gift to their classrooms: tickets to the B96 Jingle Bash and to the Chicago Blackhawks game, as well as $100 checks to donate to their preferred local community-based charities to help enhance the lives of others by the Making A Difference On and Off The Field campaign, presented by Buddy’s HELPERS and the PepsiCo Showdown Sports Series.
“With grace, the duo consistently stood up for all student athletes throughout Chicago impacted by the strike, as they tried to help all players and teams sidelined during the IHSA state playoffs,” said Joe Trost, executive director and founder at Buddy’s HELPERS.
“Making a difference in the lives of others is extremely important to me, even if it’s the smallest thing,” Partyka said. “Allowing others to have a better opportunity then I ever could makes me feel good — especially when it comes to unfair policies that inhibit kids to pursue their dreams.”
"It feels great to be able to contribute to your community, and see the impact of it day by day," Bacon said. "If you stand up and use your voice to advocate for what you believe in you and for the things that you love, you can really make a difference.”
The senior also volunteers for Camp Invention, an engineering camp for first to fifth graders and helps with a program called “Recyclery” and local dog shelter.
But after heated pressure from students, lawyers and organizations like Buddy’s, a judge allowed several schools to run and IHSA dropped its appeal against CPS students. The announcement came hours before the regional tournament was set to begin, a day after after the strike was over.
“I am fully relieved and extremely excited that I will be able to compete in the state meet without any hindrance,” Partyka told reporters Nov. 12 after the ruling came out.
The IHSA originally said CPS students could not compete in Illinois state cross-country meets because of a teachers’ strike last month. CPS students then sued the IHSA and CPS for denying them eligibility to compete, saying it was not fair; it was squashing their careers and their college potential, like Partyka's.