Lane Technical College Prep High School senior Leslie Sanchez is the Hispanic   Heritage Youth Awards Chicago Regional winner for Science & Technology, sponsored by Microsoft.  The 18-year-old daughter of Diana Medina, Leslie?s dream is to become a doctor.  Inspired by her mother?s unwavering support and positive attitude despite her long-time struggle with severe disk damage in her back and a degenerative liver disorder, Leslie is deeply committed to putting science (her favorite school subject) to work for the betterment of all people. 

An accomplished student with a stellar academic record (she holds a GPA of 4.4 on a 4.0 scale and is in the top 5% of her graduating class) Leslie has participated in a wide range of extracurricular activities including: varsity soccer, basketball and softball, her school?s ASPIRA club, Alliance of Boricuas in Chicago, PTSO, Student Council, and Big Brothers/Big Sisters.  The achievement of which she is proudest is serving as Senior Class President in the largest high school in the state of Illinois; not taking her leadership role lightly, she considers it her ?deepest honor to represent the more than 1000 students in the class of 2002.?

She has been awarded numerous accolades like being named a ?Lane Scholar,?  ?Ventures Scholar,? and having been inducted into the National Honor Society.  She has received the Principal?s Award for Service, and the Illinois Association of Chemistry Teachers? ?Salute to Academic Achievement?.