Schools

Grads Bid Farewell to Huntley High, Start New Phase of Their Lives

Families, friends gather to celebrate their accomplishment.

Katie Sobin walked across the lawn of Huntley High School under a perfect blue sky Sunday and let out a big “whoop.”

Sobin had just graduated from HHS.

Her mom, Kathy, carried her daughter’s red cap and gown while Sobin carried her diploma. “It’s exciting, it’s a big accomplishment,” Kathy said.

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The newly minted graduate was excited about her future. She’s joining the Navy and begins boot camp in January.

Huntley High School Principal David Johnson recognized Sobin and others who will be joining the military following graduation. The standing ovation the audience and her fellow graduates gave her and the others was special.

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“It made me feel amazing to be recognized for something good,” said the Huntley teen.

Future leaders

Consolidated School District 158 Superintendent Dr. John Burkey said more than 400 students graduated Sunday. Members of the Class of 2011 were born 18 years ago during a period of tremendous change, he said.

“A couple of computer programmers from our own state, in the University of Illinois, developed a program called mosaic. It was the first program that allowed people to navigate the World Wide Web,” Burkey said. “The Internet took off where average people could” navigate the web.

“What’s hard to believe is all you graduates don’t a world without the Internet,” he said. “Things have changed a lot faster in the last 18 years than in the 50 years before then. I tell you that because in 20 or 30 years, it won’t be us that are leaders. It will be you and the world will be changing even more rapidly.”

“I really encourage you to be the best leaders in the future because myself, your parents and your grandparents will be relying on you as we go into the next 18 years,” Burkey said.

A leader of the Class of 2011, Aidnel Geister Navarro, gave the salutatorian address. Navarro is headed to the University of Illinois to study chemical engineering. The valedictorian was Umangi Patel, who is going to Northwestern University to study pre-med and law.

Navarro thanked teachers and administrators for providing the senior class with the best education. “To our parents, it was your dream to see us here today, we dedicate our humble achievement to you and ask you continue to believe in us,” he said.

“This diploma will take some of us to college, to trade school or to the military, however, we are far from being done,” Navarro said. “We are much like saplings, cultivated and nurtured by our families and friends for many years, now ready to be replanted in different fields. We made it part of the way today and we must strive in order to become the mighty trees everyone can look up to. Congratulations Class of 2011.”

A bright future

“Today is the day your high school life ends and the rest of your life begins,” Patel said, who speech included thanks to parents. She told the class they will make mistakes but they have their whole future ahead of them.

 “Congrats Class of 2011, we did it,” she said.

As diplomas were handed out in the high school gym, Daniel Diaz and his brother, Joe, watched through a door window to catch a glimpse of their friend, Jessica Rios. Next year, Daniel will be graduating.

He sent his congratulations to Rios.

“I hope you have a great future,” he said.

MarQuishia Wright has a great future ahead of her. She will be heading to the University of Kansas to study civil engineering. Wright’s parents, Misty and Kenneth Campbell, of Lake in the Hills and Marcus Wright, escorted her home after the ceremony. Misty said she was tired but happy and excited to see her daughter graduate.

For MarQuishia, the fact she graduated “hasn’t sunk in yet.”

 


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