Meet Our Team

Please don't hesitate to contact anyone you see below with questions, concerns, or ideas. Thanks!

Sponsors:

Dr. Cristina Cortesi

Dr. Cristina Cortesi is Stevenson High School’s Substance Abuse Prevention Coordinator. She is a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC), a Licensed School Social Worker and  a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Dr. Cortesi has her PhD in social work from Loyola University, Chicago, as well as a Master in Educational Leadership from Concordia University. Prior to coming to Stevenson, Dr. Cortesi worked for six years as the SAP and Restorative Justice Coordinator at Evanston Township High School. She previously served as the Chair of the Evanston Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition and is currently an active member of the Stand Strong Coalition where she services on committees and the Executive Board. 

Dr. Cortesi started Catalyst because she believes that students have the strongest an most important voice in the prevention conversation. She believes that they need to be provided with education, opportunity and support to develop a multi-faceted plan that is based on evidence-based prevention strategies. Her favorite activity outside of work is spending time with her family and her favorite foods are chocolate and anything authentically Italian (because her parents are both Italian immigrants).

Jamie Epstein

Jamie Epstein is the Executive Director of Stand Strong, a community coalition dedicated to the prevention of underage drinking and drug use for the youth in District 125 and its feeder middle schools.  Jamie started Stand Strong in 2014 and the coalition received a drug-free community grant from the Office of National Drug Policy in 2015.  

Jamie received her Masters of Business Association with a concentration in non-profit management from the Anderson School of Business at UCLA in 1994.  She worked at the Venice Family Clinic and Starlight Children's Foundation before she had kids, at which point she took a sabbatical from paid work and focused on volunteering in her children's schools.  However, once her eldest daughter started at Stevenson High School and the opportunity to start Stand Strong was presented to her, she re-entered the work force in hopes of helping students in District 125 stay alcohol and drug free.     

Jamie has seen that students have the most powerful voices in prevention.  She loves watching them grow and be able to successfully articulate what they have learned about the negative effects of alcohol and drug use on the teen brain.  In her free time, Jamie loves to hang out with her children, walk her dog and take naps.   

Vrushali Thakkar
President

Alongside Catalyst, I am Co-President of Economics Club, in Peer Helpers, FBLA, and a CADCA trainer.  I am passionate about helping youth discover their inner advocate. 
Contact: vthakka0@students.d125.org ​

Stella Mechkova
Director of Social Media 

In addition to Catalyst, I am on the Stevenson Mock Trial Team, Model UN Club, FIRE Diversity Council, FBLA, NHS, and NCHS. I am also an FMP and dedicated in helping others grow as individuals. Outside of Stevenson I enjoy running and learning new languages. Fun Fact: I'm considered a polyglot! 
Contact: smechkov21@students.d125.org

Ryan Klein
​Director of Safety Dog 

Carson Ezell
​Director of Marijuana Legislation

My name is Carson Ezell, and I am a junior. I also participate in Model UN, Law Club and Mock Trial. I enjoy studying policy and politics, and I strive to influence local prevention policies through my work in Catalyst.
Contact: cezell21@students.d125.org

Emmeline Chung
Director of Staff Outreach

My name is Emmeline Chung, I am a junior and the leader of the Parent Committee. I'm a very social and outgoing person and I love to meet new people and get to know more about them. I love to travel and experience new things, and I tend to be so happy you won't ever see me without a smile. I'm involved in Catalyst and Key Club and I also play badminton for school along with playing the flute for band. 
Contact:​ echung0@students.d125.org

Audrey Liu
Director of Policy

My name is Audrey, and I’m a junior. I love to travel, play piano, and hang out with friends! I love a good adventure, and am willing to go anywhere and everywhere in the world. I am hardworking and passionate about the things I do, and I love meeting new people. I’ve been in Catalyst since sophomore year, and have met some amazing people and done pretty cool things here, so I’m very excited to be a committee leader! 
Contact: auliu0@dstudents.d125.org

Caroline Trecartin
Director of SHS Outreach

Hi! I’m Caroline and outside of Catalyst I strive to be involved in as many extracurriculars as possible. My senior year will be only my second year at Stevenson, and I am proud to be a part of FMP, peer helpers, and NHS, along with largely focusing on my school work. I am very passionate about Catalyst, and believe that I can help mitigate and prevent drug usage in the community through active efforts. I feel very lucky to be part of such an amazing, influential, and large scaled group that can come together to truly make a change in the world. After high school, I hope to engage in a variety of courses in college to later work in the field of medicine.
Contact: ctrecartin@students.d125.org

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Yachi Patel
​Director of Cultural Connections

In addition to Catalyst, I am on the swim and water polo team at Stevenson. I enjoy meeting new people and hearing about the experiences they've had. I hope to help others become an advocate for a change they believe in.

Eric Gan
​Director of Research Evaluation

I am an active member of FMP, Band, and Math Team at Stevenson. Through working with Catalyst, I hope to be able to instill a sense of responsibility in the younger students and correcpt societal perceptions through information discovery.
Contact: egan0@d125.org

Sammy Epstein
​​Director of Middle School Outreach

I’m a Senior at Stevenson. I play volleyball and I love shoes and fashion.

Rebekah Jin
​Director of Middle School Outreach

My name is Rebekah Jin and I am a junior at Stevenson. I have been in Catalyst since middle school, and am passionate about educating and influencing my peers to live substance free. Along with Catalyst, I am also a part of the Freshmen Mentor Program where I lead and help freshmen with their transition from middle school to high school. As well, I have been playing field hockey for three years, and I play on Stevenson’s varsity team.

Gil Banuelos
​Director of Youth Activism 

Hello, my name is Gildardo Banuelos and I am a senior at Stevenson High School. I first joined Catalyst because I felt very strongly about preventing other from making misinformed decisions, particularly when it comes to drugs/ alcohol. To this end, I've worked closely with our feeder middle schools and done research related to drug abuse. By making small differences here at Stevenson, I hope to change my community as a whole and for the greater. Outside of school, I enjoy playing soccer and getting better at Chess.

Eleni Angelos 
​Director of Parent Outreach

Within Catalyst, I am the leader of the parent committee which entails working and speaking with parents about how to help their kids lead a drug free youth. Along with catalyst, I’m captain of my Poms team, an Fmp, and I am super obsessed with anything to do with the medical field and neurology in particular.

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Email: CatalystSHS@gmail.com  Contact​   Adlai E. Stevenson High School: www.d125.org 
​ SHS Club Page: www.d125.org/students/clubs-and-activities/clubs/catalyst 

1 Stevenson Drive, Lincolnshire, Illinois, 60069