“Leadership Spotlight” is a recurring feature in Trapeze that showcases a leader at Oak Park and River Forest High School or in the community. This can be the president of a club, or a student who is a leader outside the building. Trapeze featured how these individuals made an impact on the community and showcased characteristics of leadership.
Julia Mattiace: In the first edition of the 2024-2025 school year, Trapeze featured senior Julia Mattiace. Mattiace is the co-president of the OPRF Business Club. She is also the president of the Women in Leadership Club, where she plans weekly meets and events to empower girls at OPRF, connecting to her passion for feminism. Additionally, Mattiace plays OPRF and club softball, and is part of Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA).
Mattiace will attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to study finance economics.
Zoie Segbawu: In the October edition of Trapeze, senior Zoie Segbawu was showcased for her position in OPRF’s Sports Medicine Club. This year, Segbawu was president of Sports Med, and she hopes to use the skills she learned in the future, where she hopes to be a sports medicine physician. Outside of Sports Med, Segbawu is a leader for Healthy Youth Peer Educator (HYPE), the outreach coordinator of Black Leaders Union, a member of the Student Equity and Belonging Council, a member of the acapella group True Colors, part of the Future Philanthropist Program and a goalie for the girls water polo team. In the fall, Segbawu will attend The Ohio State University to study health sciences on a pre-med track.
Owen Ruby: In the December edition of Trapeze, senior Owen Ruby was featured for his environmental work and his co-presidency of the OPRF Enviro Club. Ruby also leads the native garden project at OPRF, where he and other Enviro Club members have transformed existing planter boxes into spaces for native wildlife. Outside of his work with the Enviro Club, Ruby is on the District 200 sustainability committee and is a leader in the OPRF Leadership and Launch program. Next year, Ruby will attend Marquette University.
Vincent Czarnkowski: In the March edition of Trapeze, senior Vincent Czarnkowski was highlighted for his community service and leadership roles in multiple clubs at OPRF. Czarnkowski is co-president of the service club Huskies for Hope, a member of the Middle Eastern and
North African Alliance and the activities coordinator of the Hispanic club ASPIRA. Czarnkowski is also trilingual, fluent in English, Spanish and Polish. During the migrant crisis in Oak Park, Czarnkow-
ski volunteered as a translator. In the fall, Czarnkowski will attend the University of California – Los Angeles, studying historyand economics.
