ROCHELLE — The Rochelle News-Leader selected Rochelle Township High School senior graduates Parker Lenkaitis and Alivia Henkel as the 2023-24 Scholar-Athlete Award winners. Both student-athletes were presented with awards during the RTHS Honors Night in early May.

“We are proud to honor both Parker and Alivia for their outstanding academic and athletic achievements throughout their time at Rochelle Township High School,” Sports Editor Russ Hodges said. “Each of these student-athletes demonstrated excellence in both academics and athletics during their four years of high school. These student-athletes also made an impact during extracurricular activities. We wish them both the best of luck in their future endeavors.”

Parker Lenkaitis played four sports during his time at RTHS. Lenkaitis spent four years with the boys tennis team as well as two years with the boys basketball, golf and cross country teams. A four-time Academic All-Conference honoree in the Interstate 8, Lenkaitis helped the boys tennis team win the Interstate 8  title during his junior season. Lenkaitis was the Most Improved Runner as a sophomore, when he helped the cross country team reach the IHSA Sectional.

Lenkaitis was involved in multiple extracurricular activities during his time at RTHS. Lenkaitis spent four years with the Interact Club and the Spanish Club as well as four years with the math team, two years with the National Honor Society and two years with the scholastic bowl team. Lenkaitis will be studying aerospace engineering at the University of Illinois after high school.

Alivia Henkel played four sports during her time at RTHS. Henkel spent four years with the volleyball and girls basketball teams as well as three years with the track and field team and one year with the golf team. An eight-time Academic All-Conference honoree in the Interstate 8, Henkel received All-Conference First Team honors during her junior and senior seasons with the girls basketball team. Henkel also earned All-Conference recognition in track and volleyball.

Henkel holds the current RTHS school record in the 300-meter hurdles and was a state medalist during the 2023 Illinois Top Times Indoor State Championships as well as the 2023 IHSA State Championships, where she finished ninth in the 400-meter dash. Henkel set a new RTHS girls basketball team record for steals in a season and was named the Toughness Award winner as a senior. Henkel was a two-time Most Improved Player honoree with the volleyball program.

Henkel participated in art for four years at RTHS, earning congressional recognition in 2022 and an Honorable Mention at the Kishwaukee Art Show in 2023. Henkel was a four-year member of the Interact Club as well as a member of the National Honor Society and a Silver Cord winner. Henkel will be studying business and finance at North Central College in Naperville.