Joliet West High School is proud to announce that Payton Palesh and Calloway Walsh were named 2026 Mr. and Ms. Alpha Omega at Senior Awards on May 6.

Sponsored by the yearbook and run by Ms. Galloy, Joliet West Yearbook Sponsor, and Ms. Yvette Justice, Joliet West College & Career Specialist, the annual Mr. and Ms. Alpha Omega contest is an honored and long-standing JTHS tradition that recognizes the best all-around Joliet West senior boy and girl. Each winner received a $500 scholarship and will speak at the graduation ceremony. First runners up received $250 and second runners up received $125.

The selection process begins by creating a list of seniors who over seven straight semesters have achieved a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or above. Next, the top 100 students are invited to submit a personal narrative based on their interest in being a finalist, school involvement, leadership, school pride, and examples of how the finalist exemplifies two of the Tiger Pride traits of Toughness, Integrity, Greatness, Energy, Responsibility, Passion, Respect, Inclusivity, Discovery, and Execution. School administration then rates each narrative to narrow the selection to the top 10 male and top 10 female candidates. Finally, a panel of JTHS stakeholders interview the finalists to select the winners and runners up.

Mr. Alpha Omega first runner up is Henry Mastin and Toribio Morales is the second runner up.  Finalists are Daniel Bautista, Julian Lopez, Marco Rodriguez, Noah Tarver, Peng (Hank) Leangheng, and Henry Young. 

Ms. Alpha Omega first runner up is Lina Govoni and Morgan Konieczny is the second runner up.  Finalists are Bianco Campos, Emily Diaz, Yahaira Ramrez, Gianna Jaramillo, Cara Konieczny, Elizabeth Lange, and Ariel Smith.

Payton Palesh, 2026 Mr. Alpha Omega, has distinguished himself at Joliet West through academic excellence, servant leadership, and a deep commitment to uplifting the people and communities around him. What began as a high school experience centered on academics quickly grew into a meaningful journey of involvement, as Payton discovered the importance of using his gifts to serve others with purpose. As Vice President of Science National Honor Society and Activities Director for Rho Kappa, he has spearheaded service opportunities that include chemistry tutoring, lab clean-up, and thoughtful projects like creating cards for veterans. He also founded and served as president of the Teacher Appreciation Club, where he organized initiatives to honor and celebrate Joliet West teachers through spotlight features and handwritten notes of gratitude. A dedicated member of the Track and Field Throws Team, Payton stepped out of his comfort zone as a sophomore and grew into a senior leader who encourages younger athletes, keeps teammates focused, and leads by example. His commitment to service extends well beyond school through his leadership in church mission trips, Vacation Bible School, worship planning, audiovisual work, and student election judging. Payton has also balanced his many responsibilities while earning recognition as an Illinois State Scholar, AP Scholar with Distinction, College Board National Recognition Awardee, Tiger Pride Award recipient, and Joliet West Top 25 honoree. This fall, he will attend the University of Notre Dame to study applied and computational mathematics and statistics, carrying with him the lessons of passion, leadership, and relentless Tiger Pride that shaped his time at Joliet West.

Calloway Walsh, 2026 Ms. Alpha Omega, has spent her high school career discovering both her voice and her purpose through a unique blend of the arts, academics, and technical skill. From the stage to the shop floor, Calloway has embraced every opportunity to grow, developing into a student who leads with resilience, creativity, and excellence. As Vice President of SkillsUSA, she has helped guide her chapter while also making history as the first student in the district to qualify for the National Leadership and Skills Conference, where she placed 12th in the country. Her accomplishments in speech are equally impressive, as she became the first member of the Joliet West Speech Team to qualify for IHSA State Finals in three separate events. Calloway has also earned a State Gold Medal in Prepared Speech, multiple regional and sectional championships, and recognition as a National Finalist, proving her ability to perform at the highest level. Beyond competition, she has shared her talents through choir, musicals, and leadership on the Principal-Student Advisory, while also teaching piano and vocal lessons and serving as music director for Matilda the Musical. Her passion for both engineering and performance has shaped her goal of becoming a multidisciplinary mechanical engineer for theater, and this fall she will attend Purdue University to pursue that path. Through every challenge and achievement, Calloway has shown that greatness is not just something she strives for, but something she consistently embodies.

All candidates are congratulated for their hard work and are excellent role models for the entire Joliet West community. Their individual academic achievements and motivation toward success are something to be celebrated. Congratulations, finalists and winners!