New Lenox 122 Celebrates Art Program’s 20th Anniversary, Honors VFW Award Winners

New Lenox School District 122 Meeting | January 20, 2026

Article Summary: District 122 leadership utilized its “Notables” presentation to honor high-achieving students and staff, highlighting local winners of the VFW Patriot’s Pen essay contest and celebrating 20 years of the district’s formal art education program.

District Notables Key Points:

• Oakview Multi-Needs teacher Bob Foster received the Smart/Maher VFW National Citizenship Education Teacher Award after a parent nomination.

• Four district students were recognized for placing in the local VFW Patriot’s Pen essay contest.

• “The Drawing Board Art League” student art showcase was launched to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the district’s formal art program.

The New Lenox School District 122 Board of Education on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, celebrated a mix of civic achievement and creative expression, recognizing outstanding educators and students during the “New Lenox Notables” portion of the meeting.

A primary highlight of the evening was the celebration of the district’s formal Art Program, which is marking its 20th anniversary. To commemorate the milestone, the district launched “The Drawing Board Art League,” an initiative that displays original student artwork in the Board Room prior to meetings.

Superintendent Dr. Lori R. Motsch praised the student artists and the program’s longevity. She noted that the art program and the essay winners are “perfect examples of matching the District’s mission statement of appealing to the whole child.”

The inaugural showcase featured pieces from students at Nelson Prairie, Nelson Ridge, Spencer Pointe, and Spencer Crossing, guided by art teachers Tammy Kordik and Cathy Nolan. Recognized students included Griffin Gill, Elijah Daly, Harper Jones, Finnegan Sherlock, Troy Wright, Blaise Radzik, Olivia Ngo, Palmer Kobit, Kyler Tumaitis, Nikolas Svehla, Gavin Brown, and Anita Weiher.

In civic achievements, Oakview Multi-Needs Teacher Bob Foster was honored with the Smart/Maher VFW National Citizenship Education Teacher Award. The award is given to educators who promote civic responsibility, flag etiquette, and patriotism. Foster, an NLSD122 graduate, was nominated by the Brazel family.

During the meeting, the Brazel family stated that Foster is “one of the best educators they have ever come into contact with,” emphasizing that he “goes above and beyond to ensure his students feel safe, love, respected, and seen.”

The Board also recognized four students who excelled in the 2025–2026 VFW Patriot’s Pen essay contest, which challenged students to write on the theme: “How Are You Showing Patriotism and Support for Our Country?” Following judging by the Bolingbrook VFW post and the Harry E. Anderson New Lenox Post 9545, the recognized local winners were Emerson Gunther (1st place), Neve Reddy (2nd place), Aubree Karr (runner up), and Tyler Soldat (2nd place).