![Adding a tray of canned corn to the pile, junior Michael Collop assists in transporting donations for the Holiday Food Drive. The event, hosted schoolwide from Dec. 10-17, raised over 5,000 food items to deliver to the Parkway Food Pantry, helping several families in need. [The drive] is a great thing for us to do because you're giving to those who are less fortunate, and it helps provide for people who can't provide for themselves. [The] competition is always fun, too. It was fun to be in [social studies teacher Jess] Chazen’s class, because he always gets worked up over [the competition]. He made it exciting, and was always convincing us to turn in cans for the drive,” Collop said.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/feature-photo-unsung-2.png)
![NEW CHALLENGE, NEW TEAM MEMBERS: Every season, VEX creates a new game that robotics team members are faced with and have to build a robot to compete in. This year’s game forces students to create a robot that is able to stack rings onto mobile goals in order to score points. The change in games each season is something that robotics teacher Audrea Moyers appreciates.
“One of the things that I like about VEX is that they have a new problem to solve every year,” she said. ¨Even though the equipment’s the same, they have to analyze the game, and they have to come up with solutions that are unique that year. They are using their knowledge from prior years, but they have to kind of redesign a problem.”
As returning teams were faced a new game, some new teams and members had to adapt to a uncommon playing field and game.
“Three of our four teams were competing for the first time this year, and they had very different experiences match to match, so I think they learned a lot,¨ she said. ¨It’s hard just watching a video online to know how it’s actually going to be in person, so they all learned a lot about what gameplay is like, how to work with an alliance partner [and] how to adapt during the day to changes.”](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/IMG_9283-1-1200x800.jpg)
At 8:05 a.m. on a cloudy Wednesday morning, the scene at the corner of East 57th Street and South Kimbark Avenue is somewhat chaotic, but the crossing guard, a fixture at this intersection, is always calm. Car horns beep as school kids, weighed down by backpacks, weave their way through the busy traffic.
Amid all the commotion, a lively woman dressed in a bright, neon yellow jacket and clutching a red stop sign smiles warmly as she halts cars and guides packs of kids safely to and from Ray Elementary School.
Tanya Sullivan, who has been working as a crossing guard for 26 years, fosters a unique connection with students by bringing an upbeat and positive attitude, thoughtfully remembering their birthdays with gifts and brightening their days.
A South Shore native and one of over 700 crossing guards for Chicago Public Schools, Ms. Sullivan has been a member of the Hyde Park community for a long time.
She remarked that during her time as a crossing guard, she has watched generations of families attend Ray School.
“Some adults even stop their cars and come back to say hi to me. They say, ‘You’re still here Tanya?’ Now I’m crossing their kids, so I know I’ve been here too long,” she said, laughing.
While Ms. Sullivan didn’t always want to be a crossing guard, the kids in the community have encouraged her to continue working.
“I LOVE the children!” Ms. Sullivan said, waving her hands with emphasis. “That’s why I’m here every day — for them. Their safety is very important to me, and I learn a lot from them.”
As well as watching out for students safety, Ms. Sullivan shows her commitment by supporting student extracurricular activities.
“One child was dancing in the Joffrey ‘Nutcracker’ downtown and invited me to come along,” Tanya said. “I also attend student graduations and award ceremonies. It’s always amazing to meet new people and listen to them.”
U-High ninth grader Eva Neves, who passes by the intersection on her daily walk to and from school, appreciates the gifts Ms. Sullivan gives students to celebrate special occasions.
“I remember on the day of eighth grade graduation, she gave me a really cool bracelet, which was really special,” Eva said.
Similarly, Adele Sorkin, a current seventh grader at Kenwood Academy who attended Ray Elementary for seven years, is touched by Ms. Sullivan’s compassionate gift giving.
“I remember one year, she had all these little presents, and as people would walk to school, she would hand them out, and she had obviously thought about it,” Adele said. “She’s just filled with so much affection.”
Ms. Sullivan’s positivity and infectious positive energy inspires many Hyde Park residents, including Edgar Garcia and Alexis Chema, who live a few houses down from Ray School.
“She brings a feeling of intergenerational care,” Ms. Chema said. “She is there for everyone. She is there for the little kids, the middle schoolers, and to say hi to the adults.”
Mr. Garcia added, “It’s an everyday joy to see her. She has always got a big smile and is so happy to see the kids. She makes the little corner of 57th feel like home.”
This story was originally published on U-High Midway on May 15, 2024.