The Maine Township High School District 207 Board of Education honored three students in the area of career exploration naming them “207’s Best” at a recent meeting. Joshua Potts from Maine East was honored for his adaptability, diligence and thoughtfulness.
The following information was written about Joshua Potts as part of the nomination by Maine East principal Dr. Melissa A. Pikul.
JOSHUA POTTS, MAINE EAST
It is my pleasure to honor Joshua Potts as Maine East High School’s honoree for this month’s 207s Best Award, with a focus on career exploration. Joshua exemplifies what it means to be a thoughtful, adaptable, and forward-thinking student who has actively engaged in discovering his strengths, interests, and future goals.
Throughout his time at Maine East, Joshua has taken full advantage of opportunities to explore a wide range of career pathways. He has participated in multiple career treks, including the Union Trades Fair and a STEM trek to Yaskawa, and he committed to the Plumbers Bridge Program, traveling to Chicago twice a week for ten weeks to learn directly from union professionals. He also participated in a small-group hands-on experience at ABT Electronics, where he practiced plumbing fundamentals, electrical basics, and equipment installation techniques. He ultimately was encouraged to apply for ABT’s apprenticeship program. These authentic experiences helped Joshua move from exploration to clarity, ultimately identifying electrical work as a career path that aligns with his interests and strengths.
Joshua’s journey has been shaped by reflection, adaptability, and resilience. He intentionally explored plumbing to determine whether it was the right career path, and through hands-on experiences in his Building Trades course, he discovered a stronger interest in electrical work. After completing an electrical unit and participating in field-based experiences Joshua was able to clarify that electrical work aligned more closely with his interests and strengths.
Academically, Joshua has explored a wide range of coursework to better understand his interests and future goals. He has taken introductory business and marketing courses, participated in the Schuler Scholar program with its rigorous academic expectations, and explored courses such as autos, cybersecurity, culinary, and Building Trades. Through these experiences, Joshua thoughtfully determined that a trades pathway may be the best fit for his goals, while continuing to challenge himself academically.
Joshua has consistently demonstrated maturity and adaptability. He has reflected on changes in his interests, coursework, and activities, describing these shifts not as rushing decisions, but as being adaptable and intentional about finding what truly fits. With strong family support and a clear sense of purpose, Joshua has embraced exploration as a pathway to clarity and is working toward a future in the trades with confidence and determination.
Joshua’s teachers have enjoyed watching him grow and consistently highlight his character, leadership, and commitment to learning.
Emily Deleon shared, “Joshua is a diligent, kind and focused student. He never lets doubt tamper his belief in himself and I have admired this about him. Josh’s perseverance is something I’ll always remember from his freshman year, and how he still stops to check in whenever I see him three years later! That’s just the type of person he is. Joshua is going to be amazing in the real world and I am so excited for him.”
Wil Greenwald noted, “Joshua always had an excellent attitude every day and was excited to learn. He could be counted upon to ask excellent questions in our investing class. He was a pleasure to have in class.”
Rob Payne commented, “Joshua is a very motivated student in the Building Trades class. He approaches both the theoretical and the application sides of the class with equal enthusiasm and has shown himself to be a calm and consistent group leader. Joshua leads by example and also encourages other students to contribute to the construction projects. In addition to the dedication Joshua has shown within the class, he has also extended his own experiences with Building Trades outside of the classroom. He participated in the Plumbers Union Bridge program during the first semester, where he traveled to the union training facility in Chicago two nights a week for 10 weeks. Joshua has been a great student to have in the Building Trades class and we are looking forward to seeing what he does in the future.”
Chris Peters reflected, “Josh is a terrific student and person. One of the things that stands out most is that Josh is very thoughtful. As a member of the track team, Josh was one of the most consistent members and was always good about communicating with the coaches. Because of his kind and laid back personality, Josh was able to earn the respect of his peers. Josh was always willing to help and support his teammates and as a result he developed into a leader on the track and field team. Finally, Josh is a driven and fierce competitor on the track and he carries that same sense of purpose over to other aspects of his life. Josh has a plan for life beyond college and is working toward those goals this year. He is setting himself up for success beyond the classroom.”
Alen Ibrahimovic added, “Joshua is one of the most polite and kind students I have had in a long time. Throughout his time at East, he has been actively exploring his career interests through courses he has taken and extracurricular opportunities he has engaged with. About halfway through junior year he started expressing an interest in a career in the trades. Since then, he has taken our Building Trades and Autos courses, attended multiple relevant career treks, participated in the plumbers bridge program, and continued to solidify a strong academic foundation for the trades through courses like Precalculus and Physics. Through his positive personality, work ethic, and strong academic foundation—he will make an excellent member of the trades!”
Joshua Potts represents the very best of Maine East: a student who is curious, hardworking, kind, and intentional about his future. We are proud to recognize him for his outstanding commitment to career exploration and for the example he sets for his peers.