More than 2,100 seniors headed to DeKalb Sunday and returned home as District 204 alumni following three commencement ceremonies at Northern Illinois University Convocation Center. On May 24, Neuqua Valley High School kicked off the festivities at 10 a.m., followed by Metea Valley at 2 p.m. and Waubonsie Valley at 6 p.m.
Neuqua Valley
Diplomas were awarded to about 980 Neuqua Valley High School seniors, making it the largest graduating class of the three District 204 high schools. Cheryl Liu, Fahad Khan, Candace Hsu and Jacqueline Keshner addressed the Class of 2015, reflecting on “hesitant firsts and celebratory lasts.”
Keshner told fellow graduates that while they may not know what they want to be, Neuqua has prepared them to be “enough.”
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“Were we good enough? Strong enough? Smart enough? Involved enough? Were we well-equipped enough to finally grow up, let alone do so with the elegance and ease that others expected of us? As we sit here today, I hope we know that the answer to each and every one of those questions is ‘yes.’ We are enough. Colleges have opened their doors to us, companies have hired us, and the people in our school and homes have supported us,” Keshner told the crowd.
According to school officials, about 94 percent of Neuqua seniors plan to attend college. The top four-year colleges students will reportedly attend include University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Illinois State University, Indiana University and University of Missouri. In addition, Carter Edwards was appointed to the United States Naval Academy.
A total of 19 students were named National Merit Finalists, three students were named National Achievement Finalists, and one student was named as a National Hispanic Program Scholar. Ty Moss and Maya Neal were named Athletes of the Year, and Zac Espinosa was named Academic Athlete of the Year.
The Class of 2015 gifted a digital signage display for the second floor of the school, as well as items that will support student recognition ceremonies on the Wildcat campus, like a podium, lighting and backdrops.
Metea Valley
About 605 Metea Valley seniors received their diplomas on Sunday afternoon. Vruti Venkatesan, Andrew John Betbadal and James Povilonis addressed the many family members, faculty and fellow Mustangs who gathered to celebrate their accomplishments.
School officials reported that about 94 percent of members of the Class of 2015 plan to attend college, with University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Illinois State University and University of Illinois at Chicago topping the list of four-year colleges they reportedly will attend. In addition, seven Metea students were named National Merit Finalists.
Brett Boddy and Holly Julifs were honored as Athletes of the Year. The Class of 2015 gifted a water bottle filling station that will be located in the school’s commons.
Waubonsie Valley
At Waubonsie Valley, 564 seniors capped off the graduation day for the Warriors. About 94 percent of seniors reported plans to attend college, with the following four-year colleges topping the list: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; University of Iowa; and Illinois State University. In addition, four students were named as National Merit Finalists.
Deepika Khanna, Madeline Mitchell, Richard Poterack, Shivika Ahuja and Raneen Onallah addressed their classmates, reflecting on where they’ve been, but more importantly, where they are going.
“Whatever you do, do it fully and with the utmost conviction,” Khanna said. “Love fully. Think with your entire mind. Act on your passions. Strive beyond the ‘almosts’ because that is where your bright future lies.”
The Class of 2015 gifted a built-in trophy case that will display honors in the athletic hallway. Students Bing Singhsumalee and Luke Marzano were named Athletes of the Year.
Donohue is a freelance reporter.