Chicago Bears announce first Community High School All-Star Award Winner

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The Chicago Bears have recognized Jacob Lachs, a student at Glenbard West High School in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, as the first recipient of the Community High School All-Star award for the 2023 season. The Community High School All-Star award, brought to you by Athletico Physical Therapy, will recognize nine high school football players from March through May who are making a positive impact in their community and school. Each winner will receive a custom hand-painted football, gift bag and an invitation to a future Bears event. The Bears will also make a $500 donation to the charitable organization of the player’s choosing.

“Winning this award is a super cool honor, as it feels especially meaningful to be recognized for the work and service I’ve committed to off the field,” said Jacob. “I find it important to give back to others, and my work with St. Jude has been very rewarding, allowing me to help others, especially kids who are facing challenges, while also learning a lot about myself.”

For the past four years, Jacob Lachs has dedicated himself to helping children with cancer through his involvement with the St. Jude Leadership Society (SJLS). As a member and peer advisor, Jacob has played a key role in raising over $10,000 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. In addition, he created the Take Down Childhood Cancer Duals, a successful fundraising event that brought together wrestling teams from four different high schools: Glenbard West, Hinsdale Central, Downers Grove South and Leyden Township. He’s also a peer mentor through the school’s Target Success program, where he guides freshmen to ensure a smooth transition into high school.

Lachs not only excels in the community, but also academically. He currently holds a 4.8 GPA, scored a perfect 36 score on the ACT and is the president of the National Honor Society. He’s also the captain of the Glenbard West Hilltoppers’s football and wrestling teams, leader of the school’s spirit organization, starting catcher on the baseball team, member of Model UN and a member of the Social Studies Honor Society. In short, Jacob is a well-rounded student-athlete, admired by his peers and teachers alike.

Jacob will be attending the University of Chicago as a Data Science and Applied Mathematics major and a member of the UChicago Wrestling Team.

The above story is from the Chicago Bears

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About the Author

Jeff Fisher
Jeff is an award-winning journalist and expert in the field of high school sports, underscored with his appearance on CNBC in 2010 to talk about the big business of high school football in America.Jeff turned to his passion for high school football into an entrepreneurial venture called High School Football America, a digital media company focused on producing original high school sports content for radio, television and the internet.Jeff is co-founder and editor-in-chief of High School Football America, a partner with NFL Play Football.