Andrew graduate Zoe Tseng awarded $10K scholarship from Lighthouse Guild
Zoe Tseng, who just graduated from Andrew High School in Tinley Park, has learned to embrace the many challenges of being legally blind, taking on new activities such as line dancing.
Tseng's hard work caught the attention of many teachers at Andrew, but also the scholarship committee from the Lighthouse Guild in New York City. The nonprofit awards scholarships to students with blindness or low-vision who 'have demonstrated exceptional academic achievement and perseverance,' according to President and CEO Thomas Panek. In Tseng's case, the scholarship is worth $10,000.
In addition to her high GPA and honors and advanced placement classes, she's also been mastering her knowledge and skills in psychology, which she'll be studying at the University of Illinois Chicago come fall.
She also received the Rita Brud Scholarship from Tinley Park for $1,000 and the University of Illinois Chicago's yearly scholarship for $5,000.
'I like connecting with others and being able to help them,' said Tseng, adding she loved AP biology and learning about the brain and different aspects of personalities. 'It feels good.'
Her extracurricular activities have often centered on that connection. She was a member of the Restorative Circles peer mediation group where she volunteered with an intervention specialist helping students who had gotten into fights, and participated in writing letters to veterans and residents of a retirement community. Tseng also was a Senior Leader at Andrew, and helped start a chapter of HOSA-Future Health Professionals.
She also enjoys spending time with friends, riding a tandem bike with her family, reading and making and drinking bubble tea.
Tseng hasn't let being legally blind stop her from these activities, but it's taken some doing.
'I wouldn't say it's no big deal because it is,' she said. 'I have to put a lot more effort into it than someone sighted. But I'm happy with how things are going for me. There are a lot of positives.'
Tseng was born with cone-rod dystrophy, a genetic disorder that causes progressive loss of vision. She can still see, though everything is blurry and she wears sunglasses because of a sensitivity to light.
But she's been working since third grade with Kathleen Redican, a teacher for the visually impaired at the Southwest Cook County Cooperative Association for Special Education, who has taught her to use technology to help make up for what she can't see.
So she learned to use the screen reader software called JAWS — Job Access With Speech, as well as VoiceOver on the phone, another screen reader, which uses touch and voice.
Redican said Tseng has come a long way from being a quiet young girl to an independent, self confident teen who advocates for herself.
'She's extremely driven, she's motivated, she is one of the kindest people I know,' Redican said. 'She's just so considerate, so thoughtful.
'She has faced many barriers and challenges because of her vision impairment. I just feel like throughout her education, she has demonstrated remarkable perseverance, adaptability and independence.'
At Andrew, Tseng received occasional assistance from special services aide Kim Duffy, who, for example, helped her learn to measure materials correctly in chemistry class.
Tseng has also drawn, and returned, strength and support from classmates.
'I have the community of other blind students or students with disabilities,' she said. 'I understand what it's like to feel a little different or frustrated that I'm not like my peers.'
Her success has been the result of a combination of 'drawing on the strength of those around us and being intrinsically motivated,' she said.
Another source of support is more ineffable.
'Having a more personal relationship with the Lord, that's been a really big influence on me,' she said of being a parishioner and helping out at Lemont Church. 'I think the Lord's love is very influential.'
Behind it all has been the support of her mother Katie, dad Robert and older sister, Sophia. Even their 11-year-old shih-tzu-poodle, Ginger, has had a role.
Robert Tseng, her dad, said the family is continually impressed by Zoe.
'She has an interesting combination of being somebody who's very determined, perseveres through hardships, but also somebody at the same time who can connect with people — she's empathetic,'he said. 'I think that's a very interesting combination.
'Sometimes we scratch our heads … we're not sure where things come from,' he said. 'I think part of it is nature, the way they were born, and of course the people who have come into their lives. We have two daughters and they're each very special in their own ways,' he said.
But he added that not being able to focus on a computer screen the way many people do could have been a benefit.
'It's a blessing in disguise,' he said.
He said the support of the church, school and teachers have also been a difference.
'She's had some wonderful teachers,' he said. 'They've had such positive influences on her life.'
Redican said her former pupil has left her mark on her and at school.
'Zoe has made such a positive impact on my life and the Victor J. Andrew Community,' said Redican. 'I know she will continue to positively impact others she will connect with as she pursues her college education at the University of Illinois Chicago.'
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Chicago Tribune
11-06-2025
- Chicago Tribune
Andrew graduate Zoe Tseng awarded $10K scholarship from Lighthouse Guild
Zoe Tseng, who just graduated from Andrew High School in Tinley Park, has learned to embrace the many challenges of being legally blind, taking on new activities such as line dancing. Tseng's hard work caught the attention of many teachers at Andrew, but also the scholarship committee from the Lighthouse Guild in New York City. The nonprofit awards scholarships to students with blindness or low-vision who 'have demonstrated exceptional academic achievement and perseverance,' according to President and CEO Thomas Panek. In Tseng's case, the scholarship is worth $10,000. In addition to her high GPA and honors and advanced placement classes, she's also been mastering her knowledge and skills in psychology, which she'll be studying at the University of Illinois Chicago come fall. She also received the Rita Brud Scholarship from Tinley Park for $1,000 and the University of Illinois Chicago's yearly scholarship for $5,000. 'I like connecting with others and being able to help them,' said Tseng, adding she loved AP biology and learning about the brain and different aspects of personalities. 'It feels good.' Her extracurricular activities have often centered on that connection. She was a member of the Restorative Circles peer mediation group where she volunteered with an intervention specialist helping students who had gotten into fights, and participated in writing letters to veterans and residents of a retirement community. Tseng also was a Senior Leader at Andrew, and helped start a chapter of HOSA-Future Health Professionals. She also enjoys spending time with friends, riding a tandem bike with her family, reading and making and drinking bubble tea. Tseng hasn't let being legally blind stop her from these activities, but it's taken some doing. 'I wouldn't say it's no big deal because it is,' she said. 'I have to put a lot more effort into it than someone sighted. But I'm happy with how things are going for me. There are a lot of positives.' Tseng was born with cone-rod dystrophy, a genetic disorder that causes progressive loss of vision. She can still see, though everything is blurry and she wears sunglasses because of a sensitivity to light. But she's been working since third grade with Kathleen Redican, a teacher for the visually impaired at the Southwest Cook County Cooperative Association for Special Education, who has taught her to use technology to help make up for what she can't see. So she learned to use the screen reader software called JAWS — Job Access With Speech, as well as VoiceOver on the phone, another screen reader, which uses touch and voice. Redican said Tseng has come a long way from being a quiet young girl to an independent, self confident teen who advocates for herself. 'She's extremely driven, she's motivated, she is one of the kindest people I know,' Redican said. 'She's just so considerate, so thoughtful. 'She has faced many barriers and challenges because of her vision impairment. I just feel like throughout her education, she has demonstrated remarkable perseverance, adaptability and independence.' At Andrew, Tseng received occasional assistance from special services aide Kim Duffy, who, for example, helped her learn to measure materials correctly in chemistry class. Tseng has also drawn, and returned, strength and support from classmates. 'I have the community of other blind students or students with disabilities,' she said. 'I understand what it's like to feel a little different or frustrated that I'm not like my peers.' Her success has been the result of a combination of 'drawing on the strength of those around us and being intrinsically motivated,' she said. Another source of support is more ineffable. 'Having a more personal relationship with the Lord, that's been a really big influence on me,' she said of being a parishioner and helping out at Lemont Church. 'I think the Lord's love is very influential.' Behind it all has been the support of her mother Katie, dad Robert and older sister, Sophia. Even their 11-year-old shih-tzu-poodle, Ginger, has had a role. Robert Tseng, her dad, said the family is continually impressed by Zoe. 'She has an interesting combination of being somebody who's very determined, perseveres through hardships, but also somebody at the same time who can connect with people — she's empathetic,'he said. 'I think that's a very interesting combination. 'Sometimes we scratch our heads … we're not sure where things come from,' he said. 'I think part of it is nature, the way they were born, and of course the people who have come into their lives. We have two daughters and they're each very special in their own ways,' he said. But he added that not being able to focus on a computer screen the way many people do could have been a benefit. 'It's a blessing in disguise,' he said. He said the support of the church, school and teachers have also been a difference. 'She's had some wonderful teachers,' he said. 'They've had such positive influences on her life.' Redican said her former pupil has left her mark on her and at school. 'Zoe has made such a positive impact on my life and the Victor J. Andrew Community,' said Redican. 'I know she will continue to positively impact others she will connect with as she pursues her college education at the University of Illinois Chicago.'
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Yahoo
'Python Huntress' takes on invasive snakes in the Everglades
By Maria Alejandra Cardona OCHOPEE, Florida (Reuters) -Amy Siewe was a successful real estate agent -- but her life changed after she captured her first python in Florida's Everglades. "I just had this fascination with snakes. So when I learned that there was a python problem here in Florida ... I went on a hunt, I caught a nine-foot (2.75-meter) python, and that was it. I was hooked!" she said. Within two months she had sold her business in Indiana and moved to Florida to become a python hunter. Now, with more than 600 dead pythons under her belt, she is known as the "Python Huntress" -- one of a handful of women amongst hundreds of men hunting the invasive Burmese python in Florida's Everglades wetland ecosystem. "This python is about 10 feet (3 meters) long," she says as she wrestles a snake she has just captured in the tall grass in the middle of the night. "It's probably about three years old, and to date it's eaten about 200 of our native animals, including mammals and birds." Burmese pythons have been spreading through the Everglades National Park since Hurricane Andrew in 1992 destroyed a breeding facility for the pet trade, freeing some 900 snakes. Originally native to Southeast Asia, the python can grow up to 18 feet (5.5 meters) long and has a voracious appetite, consuming the local wildlife, including mammals, birds and even alligators. The Everglades is a unique subtropical ecosystem, with the largest continuous mangrove ecosystem in the Western Hemisphere. It is home to a vast array of unique species, including the endangered Florida panther, the American alligator and the American crocodile. But it provides no natural predators to the Burmese python, allowing the population of the invasive species to balloon. Scientists have noted dramatic declines in raccoons, opossums, bobcats, and rabbits in the region. "There's an estimated 500,000 pythons out there," Siewe said. The pythons, which are hunted by night, cannot legally be transported alive, so they are killed on site after being captured and measured. Once home, Siewe skins the dead snakes, and then has the skins professionally tanned into leather to be made into purses, wallets, watch bands and other goods. It takes an average of 12 hours to catch one. "So it's not that effective, right," she admits. "We're always going to have pythons in Florida. What we're trying to do is figure out how to decrease their numbers. Hunting right now is the most effective tool that we have."
Buzz Feed
09-06-2025
- Buzz Feed
If Your Dad Is The King Of Dad-Jokes, He Might Love These 31 Quirky Fathers' Day Gifts
A Star Wars-inspired Stormtrooper electric shaver so they can get their face as smooth as a Baby Yoda's bottom. A screaming goat figurine, because sometimes they need a buddy to scream it out with. It even comes with a book full of fun facts and trivia about the ever-majestic goat. A pack of 16 slingshot chickens they can pull, stretch, and fling at the wall or ceiling when they're feeling a bit bored, angry, or fidgety. A convenient lil' condiment fork if their love of pickles and olives is only matched by how much they hate getting soggy fingers by grabbing them straight out of the jar. All they have to do is place the silicone band around the top of the jar, and voila! A carton of popcorn seasoning salt so their at-home movie night snack rivals that of their local movie theater. A pack of four Crocs-shaped car air fresheners because the actual Crocs on their actual feet make their Subaru smell quite funky. These colorful and charming fresheners come with 12 scent pads (four lavender, four fern, and four unscented) and can be clipped to their car's air vent. A pair of (surprisingly) cozy fish slippers whose anti-skid soles not only ensure that these sandals are more wear-resistant but will also make sure they don't go slippin' and slidin' like, well, a wet fish. A rebellious mini frog statue perfect for decorating their garden and flipping off the neighbors. A mini wacky waving inflatable tube guy if they need a fun (but silent) coworker at their WFH station. Or if they need a good laugh while on their porcelain throne. A funny yet useful "Grievance Journal" because as much as you love your dad's incredibly dark sense of humor when it comes to all the things in life that annoy them, maaaybe they'd be better served writing those thoughts down instead of sharing them with the class. Inside, they'll find 52 distinct writing prompts and 52 misanthropic jokes that they are sure to find a little too funny. A Mjolnir bottle opener — others will ~Marvel~ at how strong they are as they pop open a Corona with ease! And a 44-piece Mjölnir toolbox sure to make them feel like a superhero every time they use what's in it to fix a household problem. A "Grillfather" apron so they can show off their burger-making abilities to the ~mob~ of family and friends waiting to eat at their next summer shindig. A wearable shark blanket if their favorite character in Jaws is, well, Jaws. Now they can cozy up on the couch to watch it! Dun dunnn! A "Gracula" garlic crusher — just because the Count has a garlic aversion doesn't mean he can't help them mince a little for their homemade pasta sauce. And it'll only take a few seconds! A set of guitar-themed grilling utensils to help them ~rock~ at the next barbecue! These stainless-steel utensils are rust-resistant so they'll last longer than Aerosmith toured. (Yep, they're still touring.) A Puffin sweatshirt can cooler so their cold IPA (or LaCroix, we don't judge) doesn't give their fingers frostbite. Plus, it'll keep their bev as cool as they are! A lightsaber wiper blade cover — now The Force can help keep their rear window clean! A lil' golf pen set that'll help keep their hands busy during their next Zoom call. This set comes with three golf club gel pens, two tiny golf balls, and a tiny golf course. Fore! And a toilet golf set because anytime is a good time to practice their putting! This set comes with a small putter, a wraparound green, two golf balls, a hole with a flag, and a "Do Not Disturb Card" they can hang on the bathroom door. Time to get their hole in one... A Live Laugh Lose party game — if they're already a pro at corny jokes, they'll love the challenge of coming up with (and then delivering) one on the spot. A squishy Blobfish they can tote around like the cute little pet stress ball that it is. A cute baby Grogu toothpaste dispenser so brushing their teeth becomes a weird and fun treat. Even if that treat looks like alien vomit. Two pairs of hotdog socks if their favorite meal comes doused in a million condiments. These cozy socks are sure to make them feel like a ~snack~! A cute peeled banana wine stopper made of 100% food-grade silicone to keep their red from turning into an undrinkable vinegar. A Lego Fender guitar set that'll allow them to show off both their love of rock 'n' roll and their craftsmanship. It comes with a posable whammy bar, pickup switch, tuning pegs, six strings, Fender logo stickers, and a textile strap. Oh, and they can build the guitar in either red or black. A toilet-themed book of puzzles so they can test their mental agility while under stress! A darling swinging duck car mirror accessory for when they're feeling a little lonely on their drive to work. Now they can get their quack on with this cutie! A pair of funny Porta Potty shot glasses since vodka is essentially spicy toilet water anyway. If that's their go-to, it may be time for them to re-evaluate some of their choices... A dad joke button jam-packed with over 50 jokes sure to make them laugh and make you cringe. Or a book of dad jokes because they've been telling the same one about being on a "seafood" diet for far too long now. It's getting a little embarrassing...
