Mundelein High School sophomore, Dempsey Young, has been selected as a semifinalist in a Fatherhood Essay Contest sponsored by the Illinois Fatherhood Initiative (IFI). One hundred and thirty semifinalists were chosen from the more than 2,700 received. Her essay was in the top five percent of entries and she is now in the running to be a finalist.

Young was a student this past year in an English 2 course co-taught by Angela McLaughlin and Leah Kolcz. “She wrote this essay for class earlier this school year about her relationship with her stepdad,” McLaughlin explained. “She is a great kid and a hard worker.”

“We expect to celebrate each semifinalist and his/her father/father-figure at a Chicago Fire event later this year, pending what happens with the Fire’s season,” said Scot Marcotte, IFI president.

Fathers/father-figures of the semifinalists complete a finalist questionnaire to be considered for the selection of the 12 finalists. Soon after that, the finalists will be announced for Father’s Day. The 12 will also be celebrated at an IFI Fatherhood dinner later this year.