Celeste Jane Maldonado, (17), daughter of Roger and Merlyn Maldonado, is beginning her senior year at Hinsdale Adventist Academy (HAA) where she has attended since kindergarten. An active member of the Hinsdale Fil-Am Church, she serves as a youth leader, planning vespers and programs. As a member of the social committee, Celeste helps organize events such as game nights and picnics.

Celeste has used her exceptional leadership abilities at school as class president her freshmen, sophomore, and junior years. One of her teachers expressed, “She has done an amazing job serving her class, making all the events and activities successful.” Celeste has also been a Student Council representative and co-captain of the Lady Hurricanes basketball team, which she joined during ninth grade.

Consistently earning a place on the school’s high honor roll, Celeste was inducted as a member of Difference Makers, HAA’s National Honor Society chapter, for her commitment to service, character, leadership, and scholarship.

Celeste’s interests include singing in choir, playing clarinet, skateboarding, knitting, and spending lots of time with family and friends. She values greatly the friendships and memorable events such as Bible camps that she has experienced. Celeste stated, “Attending HAA has shaped my perspective in every way.”

Randall “Randy” Matthew De Leon, (18), a recent graduate of Hinsdale Adventist Academy, was enrolled there since the second grade. Together with his parents, Randon and Marilou De Leon, he is a member of the Hinsdale Fil-Am Adventist Church.

Recognized by his teachers as a highly gifted student in physical, musical, academic, and spiritual aspects, Randy has shared his talents with his schoolmates. He was the forward on the Hurricanes varsity basketball team, played trumpet in advanced band, and sang in the high school choir I Cantori, as well as Cantable, the select choir. Also a member of the National Honor Society, Randy graduated at the top of his class with highest honors.

Randy has been accepted to Benedictine University in Lisle, Ill., where his major is listed as pharmacy. However, due primarily to his senior year classes in pre-calculus and physics, which struck such a natural interest within him, Randy is considering a change to pre-med.

One of the most important life lessons Randy learned during his academy experience was the significance of priorities. “People make you happier than things will,” Randy explained, “and when they make you unhappy your trust in God will fill in the gaps.”