Jon Durr, Neighbor

   Jon Durr has lived in Morton Grove, IL his whole life and has been a sports photographer for four years. His passion for photography grew in high school at Niles North after taking photographs of football games his sophomore year. That same year, he became an honorary yearbook member and freelance photographer for the yearbook. His junior year, he was formally placed on the yearbook staff as a photo editor. His senior year he took on an additional editorial position as a sports editor to design the pages in the sports section. <br><br>           The yearbook publishing company, Jostens, featured one of Jon&#39;s page designs in their Look Book, which showcases designs the publisher recognizes for excellence. Another publisher, Scholastic, evaluates yearbooks and Jon’s sports photography was believed to be done by a professional, not a student. His senior year, Jon received a scholarship from Prestige Portraits for excellence in photography. <br><br>           In addition to his devotion to photography and design, he was the lead sound technician for the school&#39;s award winning Vocal Jazz program. His hard work and commitment to the entire choral department earned him the award for Outstanding Service to the Choral Department, making him the first non-performer in the award&#39;s fifteen-year existence to receive it. Jon also got an award for Outstanding Sound Technician. <br><br>           Jon is in his second year at Oakton Community College and will be attending Columbia College Chicago in the fall of 2011. He will major in photography and plans to minor, or double major in Marketing or Advertising. He will also become well-rounded in other forms of visual media. He is currently freelancing for CSLInsider.com, a website that covers the Central Suburban League sports, and has worked for Pioneer Press.<br><br>           Jon is a member of the National Press Photographer Association (NPPA) and Illinois Press Photographer Association (IPPA). He also is a member of SportsShooter.com, a website for only professional photographers.