37 East Aurora Students Named IL State Scholars, Honored By City Mayor

The program identifies outstanding students based on academic achievements, test scores, and class rank.

Published on Mar. 1, 2026

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Thirty-seven students from East Aurora High School were named Illinois State Scholars and honored by the city's mayor at a recent Committee of the Whole meeting. The Illinois Student Assistance Commission identifies top students across the state based on academic performance, test scores, and class rank.

Why it matters

This recognition highlights the academic excellence and dedication of students in the East Aurora community, showcasing the strong educational outcomes being achieved in the district. It also provides an opportunity for the city to celebrate and support its top student scholars.

The details

The 37 East Aurora students were recognized by Mayor John Laesch and Superintendent Robert Halverson for their outstanding academic achievements. Halverson praised the students' work ethic and commitment to excellence, noting that they set a great example for the entire community.

  • The students were honored at Tuesday's Committee of the Whole meeting.

The players

John Laesch

The mayor of Aurora, Illinois who honored the students at the meeting.

Robert Halverson

The superintendent of East Aurora School District 131 who attended the meeting and praised the students' achievements.

Illinois Student Assistance Commission

The organization that administers the Illinois State Scholar program and identifies outstanding high school students across the state.

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What they’re saying

“Thank you for proudly representing the City of Aurora and East Aurora School District 131. It's outstanding to have 37 East Aurora students being recognized here tonight as Illinois State Scholars.”

— John Laesch, Mayor (Patch.com)

“Your perseverance and the way you drive yourselves forward show that you're going to continue to do great things for our community. Thank you for your hard work, your dedication to academics, and beyond that, for being wonderful human beings. We thank you each and every day for the example you set for our entire community.”

— Robert Halverson, Superintendent, East Aurora School District 131 (Patch.com)

The takeaway

This recognition of East Aurora's top students demonstrates the district's commitment to academic excellence and its ability to cultivate high-achieving scholars who will continue to make positive impacts on their community.