About 960 seniors graduated from Lyons Township High School Sunday, and took with them a message to venture outside their comfort zones.
The nearly hour-long commencement ceremony at the north campus field house included the class of 2017 presenting a gift of three podiums, emblazoned with the school district’s seal.
“There were a lot of thank yous by everyone in attendance,” said Jennifer Bialobok, a spokesperson for Lyons Township High School District 204.
The graduates have bright futures to look forward to as they embark on their next steps. Bialobok said 96 percent of them are going to college. They are headed to 188 different schools in 37 different states and in Canada, Croatia and Mexico.
Class members also were selected to receive $57 million in grants, awards and scholarships and accepted $18 million. The amount they were chosen to receive was higher than the 2016 total of $54 million, Bialobok said.
The commencement speakers included board President Thomas Cushing, superintendent Timothy Kilrea, Class President Abigail Vulich of Western Springs and Student Council President Haley Gorman of Western Springs.
Student Avery Denning of Western Springs delivered a meditation and Timothy Rediehs of Western Springs was the honors orator.
As they plan their lives ahead, Bialobok said Rediehs advised his fellow graduates to step out of their comfort zones so they can grow. He told them not to take the comfortable path just because it’s the easy path.
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