Community Corner

Oak Lawn Teen Receives Kohl's Cares Scholarship

Mother McAuley junior Sarah Dynia is a regional winner of the Kohl's Cares Scholarship.

An Oak Lawn student was one of 200 volunteers across the country who received a Kohl’s Cares Scholarship towards higher education. Sarah Dynia, 16, of Oak Lawn, was awarded a $1,000 scholarship for her work with her own volunteer organization: Stuffed Love.

Stuffed Love creates hand-stitched pillows which are donated to many groups throughout Chicago, including local hospitals, a grief counseling support group and a center for the developmentally disabled.

Currently a junior at Mother McAuley, Dynia runs Stuffed Love on top of many other activities, including working with service organizations generationOn and Interact Club of Oak Lawn.

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As a regional winner of the Kohl's Cares Scholarship, Dynia is also eligible to receive one of 10 national scholarships valued at $9,000.

Read the letter addressed to Sarah Dynia from Kohl’s Cares here.


This is not the first time Dynia has been recognized for her outstanding volunteer work. In April, Dynia received the Youth Service Governor’s Volunteer Service Award. She is also a Catherine McAuley Honors Scholar.

Dynia was St. Linus’ valedictorian in 2011. Read about her graduation speech here.

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