Hinsdale Central High School parents, students and community members have until Friday, Oct. 2, to nominate a teacher or staff member for the PTO's Make A Difference Awards.

The Hinsdale Central PTO has opened the program's first-quarter nomination cycle for the 2026-27 school year. Six recipients will be chosen for the quarter, each receiving a personalized certificate and a $100 gift card, according to the PTO's announcement.

The program covers teachers, librarians, counselors, coaches and other staff. Nomination forms must be signed, but the PTO keeps nominators anonymous. Staff members who received an award within the past eight quarters are not eligible for the current round.

Denys Kang and Grace Shin co-chair the committee. Questions can be directed to [email protected].

The PTO said specific examples of how a staff member helped a student carry more weight than generic praise. Anyone in the school community can submit a nomination.