Celebrating Excellence: Glendale High School’s Achievement Above All Honorees

The GUHSD Governing Board proudly honored four outstanding individuals and one student group with the Achievement Above All award, recognizing their dedication, leadership, and lasting impact on their school and community.

Teacher Recipient: Megan O'Donnell

Born and raised in Illinois, Megan’s professional journey began at Eastern Illinois University, where she earned her degree and embarked on a career dedicated to shaping young minds and building strong, confident athletes. As a Physical Education instructor specializing in Adaptive PE, she ensures that every student, regardless of ability, feels valued and supported. 

Megan also has an impressive coaching career. She has 15 years of coaching experience across multiple sports and is currently coaching both the Unified Sports program and Varsity Cheer. Her colleague and department chair praised Megan saying "Megan’s dedication is truly remarkable. She spends countless hours at GHS." Megan’s passion for education, coaching, and advocacy has made a lasting impact on Greenway High School.

Student Recipient: Evelyn Guzman

Evelyn is the perfect example of humility, intelligence, and kindness. Throughout high school, Evelyn has been able to maintain a 4.0 GPA, pass all of the Advanced Placement courses that GHS offers, and ranks in the top 1% of her class academically. This is a testament to her dedication and intelligence. Evelyn is also a recipient of a QuestBridge scholarship, where she will attend Stanford on a full-ride scholarship.

Aside from her achievements in the classroom, Evelyn serves as Treasurer in the Student Council, where she uses her leadership skills to uplift her peers around her. Her Student Council Advisor said "Evelyn is a dedicated and hardworking leader in Student Council. She is someone I can always rely on, not only to get the job done but to do it with a positive attitude." Evelyn has made a lasting impact that we are happy to recognize with the Achievement Above All award.

Student Group Recipient: FCCLA and Culinary 

This group of talented students has shown us what it means to embody hard work, dedication, and service to the community. The FCCLA and Culinary team are much more than just cooking groups. These students work hard to develop leadership skills while making a difference in the community.   Each member contributes at least 15 hours of community service off campus, volunteering at Homes for Humanity, food banks, churches, elderly care centers, and even the Special Olympics.

When it comes to cooking these are some of the most talented students around. For Future Freshman Night the Culinary Team roasts an entire pig and serves it with sides. In the history of the programs, 30 students have taken home 1st place titles at state conferences, 40 placed in the top three, and 20 ranked in the top 10 at the national level. Among them, nine students finished in 4th place in Culinary Arts at Nationals, and one student earned a prestigious 1st place in Baking and Pastry at the national level. This group has set the standard of excellence at GHS.

Support Staff Recipient: Ray Barrera 

With 12 years of experience at Glendale High School, Ray Barrera is an individual who doesn't often see the spotlight. As the Assistant Foreman, Ray exemplifies hard work, professionalism, and a commitment to serve. 

The P.E Department praises Ray by saying "He works late, helps with games and events, and never hesitates to get his hands dirty for the good of the school. He is a true asset to Glendale, and we are blessed to have him." Foreman James Worthington adds, "Ray is the man behind the scenes. Over twelve years at Glendale High School, he has taken on multiple roles, learned different skills, and grown into a truly outstanding assistant foreman." Ray's contributions and hard work don't go unnoticed and have made a lasting impact at GHS.

Volunteer Recipient: Denice Gibson

Mrs. Gibson’s passion for healthcare education and community service is evident in her extensive volunteer work. As a dedicated HOSA and CTE Advisory Board member, she actively shapes the future of healthcare professionals. She supports "Be The Match" drives, helps guide students through HHA skills checkoffs and serves on the HHA Advisory Board to ensure the next generation of caregivers is prepared and confident.

 Home Health Instructor and HOSA sponsor Jennifer Upsher has this to say, “Your dedication to excellence transforms lives every day.  Your expertise, compassion, and leadership inspire hope and healing in all who cross your path.” 

Honoring Excellence

Each of these honorees exemplifies the spirit of Achievement Above All, making Greenway High School a better place through their dedication, leadership, and service. Their contributions have left an undeniable mark on the school and community, and we proudly celebrate their achievements.