Maine West High School Class of 2022

Graduates in Class of 2022: 512

Graduation ceremony: Sunday, May 22, Rosemont Theatre

Maine Scholars: Pratiksha Bhattacharyya, Nitya Nair, Marc Rizkalla, Joseph Thalackan, Ryan Weiler

Graduation Speakers: Riya Patel, Alexis Delgado, Dulf Vincent Genis

Class Council: Thomas O'Brien, Riya Patel, Monisa Yusra, Alexcia Blackwood, Jordi Jimenez, Angela Tran, Saleha Kamal, Fernanda Deloera, Alexandra Garcia.

Academic achievements:

• Pratiksha Bhattacharyya, Regeneron Science Talent Search Top 300 Scholar (one of 300 students nationwide who was recognized for outstanding achievement in science).

• Pratiksha Bhattacharyya, semifinalist, Coca-Cola Scholars Program.

• National Merit Commended Students: Pratiksha Bhattacharyya, Marc Rizkalla, Aleksandra Siuchta, Samantha Sukosol, Joseph Thalackan

• Seal of Biliteracy: 22 students, in Spanish, Polish, Ukrainian, German, and Serbian. One senior, Ali Krieger, earned the Seal in both Polish and German.

Extracurricular achievements:

• Dulf Vincent Genis, ILMEA District 7 Honors Choir, ILMEA Conference All-State Honors Choir

• Ali Krieger, ILMEA Conference All-State, Future Music Educator Seminar

• Augustus (Gus) Freitag, ILMEA District 7 Honors Orchestra

• Midwest Media Educators' Association Film Festival honorees: Nitya Nair, Lindsey Kulesza, Said Nonoal, Andrew Stutheit

• Tommy Burke, SkillsUSA Architectural Drafting, State Leadership Conference

• Shane Abraham, SkillsUSA Computer Programming, State Leadership Conference

• Connor Powers, SkillsUSA Automotive Maintenance & Light Repair, State Leadership Conference

• Daelynn Campos, FCCLA State Leadership Conference, Apparel Construction

• Shannette Elicka, FCCLA State Leadership Conference, Preschool Lesson

• Alyssa Harrison, FCCLA State Leadership Conference, Child Care Provider

• DECA, 3rd place in State, Nationals Qualifier, Community Awareness project: Neo Trovela-Villamiel, Yanni Tsoukatos, Riya Patel

• DECA, Top 10 in State, Innovation Plan: Ian Puszynski, Angela Tran

• National History Day, 3rd in State, Group Website: Nitya Nair, Heba Penumaka

• National History Day, State Qualifier, Group Exhibit: Samantha Servin, Alexya Gonzalez

• National History Day, State Qualifier, Historical Paper: Natalya Bidash, Stephanie Kambourov

• National History Day, State Qualifier, Individual Website: Sofiya Blazhko

• Special Olympics, State Snow Shoe Competition, Gold Medal in Relay: Hayden Oleskiewicz, Ryan Wieczorkiewicz

• Special Olympics, State Snow Shoe Competition, Gold Medal in 50M: Hayden Oleskiewicz

Athletic achievements:

• Girls Volleyball, Central Suburban North Conference Champions

• Girls Water Polo, Central Suburban North Conference Champions

• Leslee Ordonez, Girls Soccer All-State

• Julia Wolke, State Qualifier in Cross Country and Badminton, scored 1,000 career points in Girls Basketball

• Senior athletes who have committed to play at the next level - George Chuca, tennis, Lake Forest College; Jade Thomas, basketball, Oakton Community College; Josh Outlaw, baseball, Parkland College; John Rings, baseball, College of DuPage; Alyssa Harrison, swimming and diving, Wittenberg University; Kacper Pogorzelski, volleyball, St. Xavier University; Leslee Ordonez, soccer, Governors State University; Armend Ujkash, football, North Park University.

Theater productions:

• Fall Play - "Winter Break" by Joe Calarco

• Musical - "Beauty and the Beast"

• Spring Play - "Lost Girl" by Kimberly Bellflower

What was new in 2021-22:

Students returned to a building in the midst of massive renovations. While the first phase of construction brought us a beautiful new field house a year ago, most of the work up to this year had not really intruded on students' experiences in the building. This year's renovations were right in the center of the building as the entire cafeteria was extensively redesigned. Half the floor of the existing cafe was cut away and the indoor track/PE space in the basement (fondly known as the "pit") was re-imagined into a beautiful student commons. The center of the building is now very open, very bright, and very much designed to put students in the center of the school. While living without a real cafeteria for a semester put an extra strain on the return to school, the new space is most definitely worth the wait. We are delighted that our seniors got to enjoy it for a semester, at least.

What challenges did the Class of 2022 face as they returned to in-person school full time, and how did they overcome them:

The disruption to the physical footprint of the building produced stress in multiple ways, as we adapted several spaces to serve as makeshift cafeterias for the first few months. This left us somewhat de-centered at the start of the year, so the effort to rebuild school unity was compounded by the displacement we experienced due to construction. We relied upon the seniors, who had the strongest sense of school identity and understanding of our traditions, to lead the way and bring us back.

Principal's reflections on the Class of 2022:

The Class of 2022 is one of history-makers. We will never forget them. What they've been through has strengthened their drive, deepened their connections to people, and taught them to take nothing for granted. They have a hunger to make this world and their futures better and brighter. They are creative; they are connected; they cannot be stopped. The Class of 2022 brought us back. The strength and spirit they displayed at Maine West will go with them, as do our pride and faith and gratitude, to serve and restore the other communities who are lucky to welcome them after graduation. When they come back for Homecoming, next year, in five years, in 50 years, the Maine West they will return to will be flourishing and whole, as they will be, because they brought us back.

- Principal Eileen McMahon