Chuck Ghiloni of Norridge, director of training for the Village of Norridge, volunteers in Ridgewood High School's mentoring program with freshmen Alexia Curti (right) of Norridge, Angelica Gonazales (center) and Tayor Disselhorst of Norridge. Ghiloni has been a mentor in the program for many years. | Ryan Pagelow~Sun-Times Media

Carol Valentino-Barry, community relations for Ridgewood High School in Norridge, talks to freshman Piotr Witek. Valentino-Barry leads the school's mentoring program for freshmen. | Ryan Pagelow~Sun-Times Media

Architect Carlo Salvador of Harwood Heights started mentoring freshmen in the mentoring program at Ridgewood High School in Norridge in the fall. | Ryan Pagelow~Sun-Times Media

Junior Jen Mazurkiewicz (center) mentors freshmen Sonia Sochacki (left) and Pamela Granda with junior Daniella Macrito (top right) at Ridgewood High School in Norridge. All freshmen meet with a mentor about once a month. | Ryan Pagelow~Sun-Times Media

Volunteer Lynette Schroeter of Chicago, a federal investigator, meets with freshman Anthony Nasca at Ridgewood High School in Norridge as part of the mentoring program for all freshmen. | Ryan Pagelow~Sun-Times Media

Harwood Heights Police Officer Sam Palazzo mentors freshmen Jan Niewielski (right) of Harwood Heights and Patrick Misiak of Norridge at Ridgewood High School in Norridge during the mentoring program for all freshmen. | Ryan Pagelow~Sun-Times Media

Freshmen Kristin Palmsiano (left) and Zuzanna Olejnik talk to their mentor in a mentoring program at Ridgewood High School in Norridge. | Ryan Pagelow~Sun-Times Media

Steve Tomzik of Norridge, a firefighter in Streamwood, and his wife Peggy (right) mentor freshmen at Ridgewood High School in Norridge, including Mary Ennis (left). | Ryan Pagelow~Sun-Times Media

Michael Lubelfeld, superintendent at Pennoyer School in Norridge, mentors freshmen Mateusz Lechowski (center), Rosario Diliberto and Wojciech Lisiewicz (right) at Ridgewood High School in Norridge. | Ryan Pagelow~Sun-Times Media

Chuck Ghiloni of Norridge, director of training for the Village of Norridge, mentors freshmen Angelica Gonazales (left) and Alexia Curti (right) with student mentor Eleni Kaldis, a junior, in Ridgewood High School's mentoring program. | Ryan Pagelow~Sun-Times Media