CHS Senior Lillian O’Donnell Named 2026 C3 Leader of Tomorrow
Posted Date: 10/16/26 (11:26 AM)
Collinsville High School senior Lillian O’Donnell was chosen to receive the 2026 Collinsville Community Collaboration (C3) Leader of Tomorrow Award. C3 is a partnership between the City of Collinsville, Collinsville Chamber of Commerce and Collinsville Community Unit School District #10 to recognize excellence in community and public service.
Since 2018, the C3 Awards have been held annually to recognize organizations and individuals for their outstanding contributions to the community. This year’s awards dinner will be held on Wednesday, December 2, 2026 at the Gateway Center in Collinsville.
The Leader of Tomorrow Award honors “youth who are involved in the community of Collinsville in constructive and positive ways, who have impacted the lives of others that reside here, and inspired others to make a difference through their actions.”
To be named a Leader of Tomorrow, a CUSD 10 student must act as a leader and good role model in the community, volunteer their time to help others, take initiative, and do work which benefits and helps create positive change within the Collinsville community.
In evaluating nominations, emphasis is placed on recognizing individuals who are involved in their community in constructive ways, such as volunteering, fundraising, social work, advocacy and other forms of community service, but have also made a difference as a result of being themselves and following their passion.
Lillian O’Donnell is known at Collinsville High School for her writing skills, including published poetry, her compassion for others, her leadership abilities and her desire to become a teacher.
She is ranked in the top 5 percent of the senior class while taking a rigorous schedule including AP English Literature, AP Statistics and AP Environmental Science. Lillian was selected for participation in the prestigious CHS Leadership 101 class.
All of this is in addition to education practicum coursework that takes her out of CHS classrooms and into classrooms around the district as a future teacher. Shawn Geppert, CHS Teaching as a Profession and Collinsville Area Vocational Center (CAVC) Education Practicum instructor, says Lillian’s abilities at her young age are impressive and well-suited for her future career.
“Lillian consistently demonstrates that being a great teacher begins with truly seeing the people around you,” says Geppert. “She has a natural ability to recognize when someone needs encouragement, to ensure others feel included and to put the needs and feelings of others before her own. Her kindness is not something she saves for special occasions; it is reflected in the everyday choices she makes and the genuine care she shows those around her.”
“What makes Lillian even more remarkable is that these qualities come naturally to her. She is intentional about making others feel welcome and valued. She understands that some of the most meaningful things an educator can do are not found in a lesson plan. She often reflects on her previous teachers in the Unit 10 district, driving her to be that same light for her future students,” adds Geppert.
Lillian aspires to be an English teacher. Her talent as a writer has been recognized on many levels, including the 2026 Gwendolyn Brooks Youth Poetry Award, acceptance into the University of Iowa’s Young Writers Poetry Summer Program, an honorable mention in the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards, and first place in the 2025 SIUE MLK Youth Poetry competition.
Her writing has been described as "thoughtful, creative, emotionally intelligent and deeply human.” Two of her poems have been published through the Live Poets Society of New Jersey.
Lillian’s compassion and determination were demonstrated through a project she initiated last year for Letters of Love. What began as a simple, heartfelt idea to create a few cards for hospitalized children facing terminal illnesses, quickly grew into something much bigger.
“She approached me to help facilitate the project,” says Shawn Geppert, “then took the initiative to extend it beyond herself, inviting her school community to participate. As she witnessed the impact of those small acts of kindness, she refused to let the idea stop there, working to expand the project throughout the entire district.
“She has even greater aspirations for the project this year, hoping to reach beyond what she has already accomplished, and bring comfort to even more children and families.
“Her willingness to turn a simple idea into a growing movement of compassion speaks volumes about who she is. She does not wait for someone else to make a difference; she sees a need, takes action and inspires others to join her. That is the kind of initiative, empathy and selflessness that make Lillian the person she is.
At an age when many teenagers are focused primarily on their own social lives and personal interests, Lillian is intentionally looking for ways to make life a little brighter for people facing circumstances most of us can't imagine.”
Lillian is the president of the CHS Class of 2027. She also participates in the Upward Bound Scholars Academy, currently serves as president and has been named Scholar of the Year.
She is actively involved in Student Council, Future Teachers Club, National Honor Society, National Technical Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta Math Honor Society, Drama Club and Childhood Cancer Awareness Club.
Lillian O’Donnell is the daughter of Eric and Mindy O’Donnell.
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