About The Payton Chapter

Killian Stevens is a senior at Walter Payton College Prep and serves as Vice President of Strategic Partnerships and Outreach of the Chicago Student Refugee Coalition (CSRC). He is committed to CSRC’s mission to help facilitate the settlement and integration of student refugees. He leads efforts to build partnerships with local schools, coordinate donation drives, and organize community engagement events. Killian serves as Co-Captain of Payton's Varsity Tennis Team, a member of the Varsity Soccer Team, and Social Media Manager for both teams. He is also a National Honor Society member, a Cradles to Crayons Teen Leader and Volunteer, a Junior Altar Server to Cardinal Blasé Cupich at Holy Name Cathedral, and a Teen Leader at Sheil Park District, where he spends his summers. Killian plans to major in Business, combining his interest in finance, leadership, and strategy with his long-term goal of pursuing law school. A passion for service, advocacy, and personal growth drives him.

Keller McGovern is a Senior at Walter Payton College Prep and serves as the Vice President of Fundraising for the Chicago Student Refugee Coalition. He is a dedicated varsity soccer and basketball player and co-founder and Vice President of the Walter Payton Irish Club. Outside of school, Keller plays AAU basketball for Adidas All-In Athletics. He enjoys sports, music, and spending time with friends. Keller plans to pursue a career in finance after high school and is passionate about the important impact the CSRC has in creating positive change for Chicago’s refugee community.

Nimay Piparia is a Junior at Walter Payton College Prep and serves as the Vice President of Research and Grants for the Chicago Student Refugee Coalition. He is passionate about both academics and extracurriculars, participating in the Payton dance team, Masti, the South Asian American Club, and playing on the school’s soccer team. Nimay is motivated to pursue a career in finance and economics after high school. Through his work with the CSRC, he values the organization’s role in building a strong, connected community across Chicago.

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Shaan Datta is a Junior at Walter Payton College Prep and serves as the Vice President of Finance for the Chicago Student Refugee Coalition. At Payton, he is a member of the chess team, the South Asian American Club, and Payton Masti. Outside of school, Shaan enjoys playing basketball and works as a camp counselor during the summer. He plans to pursue a degree in engineering after high school. Shaan is motivated by the opportunity to help youth through his work with the CSRC and values the organization’s impact on the community.

Will Glunz is a Senior at Walter Payton College Prep in Old Town, Chicago, and serves as the Vice President of Internal Communication for the Chicago Student Refugee Coalition. He is a dedicated athlete, participating on the school’s soccer, basketball, and tennis teams, and leads as President of both the Best Buddies and Special Olympics chapters at Payton. Outside of school, Will works as a caddy at Bob O’Link Golf Course and assists at his Parish Rectory. Through his role with CSRC, Will has formed meaningful friendships and connections, believing that these relationships create a vital support system. He is excited to continue growing the coalition’s impact both locally and across the country.

Eytan Lanski is a Senior at Walter Payton College Prep and serves as the Vice President of Chapter Management for the Chicago Student Refugee Coalition. He enjoys connecting with others, whether friends or new acquaintances, and values the importance of building a strong, supportive community. Having understood from a young age how meaningful relationships uplift individuals, Eytan is passionate about CSRC’s unique and necessary mission and looks forward to helping the organization expand its positive impact on students.

Caleb Salgado, a senior at Walter Payton College Prep, serves as a volunteer for the Chicago Student Refugee Coalition. Recently joining the organization, Caleb was driven and motivated by the organization’s mission to create welcoming and safe spaces for refugee students and families. Caleb has previous experience working in bettering communities alongside other clubs and programs such as the Latin American Coalition, Team Sweetness, Worldvision, and Cubs Charities. Outside of school, Caleb plays baseball and plans to study finance later on. Caleb has developed a passion in believing that all individuals deserve equal and better opportunities to experience safety and stability in their communities and for their future.

Matthew Lerch is a Senior at Walter Payton College Prep and serves as the Vice President of Promotion for the Chicago Student Refugee Coalition. A dedicated student-athlete, Matthew has been on the Payton soccer team for three years and is actively involved in the Cradles to Crayons and Boys with Books clubs. Passionate about learning and community service, he has witnessed firsthand the meaningful impact CSRC has on refugee students by fostering empathy, inclusivity, and growth. Matthew values the opportunity to connect with diverse, like-minded peers and is committed to advancing the organization’s mission. After high school, he plans to pursue a career in finance.

Diego Vazquez is a Senior at Walter Payton College Prep and serves as the Vice President of Data Analysis for the Chicago Student Refugee Coalition. He values learning from diverse communities and is passionate about giving back through leadership roles such as leading the Recycling Club and participating in organizations like Team Sweetness and Cradles to Crayons. Outside of school, Diego boxes and enjoys spending time with family and friends. Inspired by his mother’s immigrant experience and his own observations of immigrant families in need, Diego is motivated to support refugee communities. He plans to study anthropology after high school to deepen his understanding of cultures and societies.

Leilani Lee Diaz is a senior at Walter Payton College Prep, ensuring that the CSRC mission is widely shared as a part of the CSRC marketing team. Leilani is a varsity cheerleader, tennis manager, is on the Females for Finance executive team, and is a volunteer for several other clubs/nonprofits. She joined the team because she loves CSRC’s welcoming community. She has created remarkable connections with kids all around Chicago and continues to impact them directly. Leilani believes that friendly and supportive relationships are essential in life. Because of this, she’s excited to continue supporting our mission through volunteering and marketing!

Dureti Irkiso is the Vice President of Volunteering for the Chicago Student Refugee Coalition and finds being part of the organization deeply impactful. They are inspired by CSRC’s strong commitment to creating meaningful change, with volunteering at the heart of its mission. Since joining, [Name] has valued the opportunity to work alongside passionate individuals dedicated to making a difference. She believes volunteering not only helps give back to the community but also fosters personal growth and builds lasting relationships.

Jason Beerkens is a senior at Walter Payton College and is a varsity volleyball player whose involvement in competitive athletics has helped him develop resilience, leadership, and a strong sense of teamwork. These experiences have shaped his approach to challenges both on and off the court. Academically, Jason is passionate about the sciences and plans to study Biology in college, with a particular interest in human anatomy and health. He is exploring future paths in medicine, research, or another field where he can make a meaningful impact. In his free time, he enjoys staying active through the gym and outdoor activities, especially spending time at the beach with friends, which helps him maintain balance and stay connected to the things that bring him joy.

Nicholas Kallos is a senior at Walter Payton College Prep and the Vice President of Volunteer Communications and Management for the Chicago Student Refugee Coalition (CSRC), where he has been involved for two years. At Payton, he leads the Greek Club, plays on the boys’ volleyball team, and participates in WPCP BioMed. Outside of school, Nicholas plays volleyball year-round and has attended engineering programs at Purdue and the University of Pennsylvania. He plans to major in biomedical engineering to develop solutions for sports injuries and degenerative diseases.

Ansh Malhotra, a junior at Walter Payton College Prep, is a volunteer with the Chicago Student Refugee Coalition (CSRC). Through his involvement with CSRC, he has developed a strong passion for supporting the organization’s mission and providing support for student refugees. At Payton, Ansh is the Treasurer of Key Club and Red Cross Club, and a member of the Chess team, Lacrosse team, and Economics Club. He plans to pursue a career in finance after high school. Ansh is motivated by the opportunity to help CSRC grow its positive impact on students in the Chicago area through his work with the organization.

Siddharth Devarajan is a junior at Walter Payton College Prep and the Walter Payton Chapter President of the National Student Refugee Coalition (NSRC), where he leads initiatives that support refugee students across Chicago area. At Payton, he also serves as Vice President of the Aerospace Engineering Club, holds a board position in the South Asian American Club, and is an active member and captain of the tennis team. Outside of school, Siddharth plays tennis and stays connected to his cultural roots.
He has attended engineering programs at notable schools such as UIUC Grainger College of Engineering, and he plans to pursue a career in mechanical or aerospace engineering.
His goals for CSRC are to expand its outreach, build stronger partnerships, and ensure that more refugee students in the Chicago area have access to the resources and support they need to succeed.