Top 2% of graduating seniors from U-46 recognized for academic excellence

Posted May 18, 2026 12:05 pm

By Alec Barlow, Elgin Area School District U-46

Elgin High Principal Avelira Rodriguez-Gonzalez, right, and U-46 Superintendent Suzanne Johnson, third from left, join the top 2% students at Elgin High. Courtesy of Elgin Area School District U-46

Students recognized during board of education meeting

Elgin Area School District U-46 board recently hosted the Top Two Percent ceremony at the U-46 Welcome Center to honor the academic success and accomplishments of 45 graduating seniors.

The students are the top-achieving graduates from the district’s five comprehensive high schools and are featured on the U-46 website in the high school graduation ceremonies section at u-46.org/2026Top2Percent.

South Elgin High School Principal Jonathon Miquelon, right, and U-46 Superintendent Suzanne Johnson, left, and other officials join the top 2% students at South Elgin High. Courtesy of Elgin Area School District U-46

“Our Top Two Percent honorees have distinguished themselves through academic excellence while growing as thinkers, collaborators, and leaders. They demonstrate what is possible when high expectations and strong support come together,” said Assistant Superintendent of Schools Dr. Annette Acevedo.

The students will attend colleges including Harvard University, Yale University, Stanford University, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Northwestern University, Loyola University Chicago, DePaul University, University of Notre Dame, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Bartlett High School Principal Timothy Brodeur, right, and U-46 Superintendent Suzanne Johnson, left, and other officials join the top 2% students at Bartlett High. Courtesy of Elgin Area School District U-46

The top two percent of graduating seniors are as follows:

Bartlett High School: Imaan Ali, Dhanvi Dhandapani, Jeremy Dinh, James Griffin, Sebastian Kopanicak, Venice Lopez, Tej Patel, Giancarlo Sanchez-Garcia, and Madisyn Wise

Elgin High School: Emily Alvarado, Timothy Cellar, Aashna Gandhi, Suhani Gandhi, Natalia Hernandez Rivera, Zuzanna Korus, Sofia Martin, Abigail Ray, Silvia Scimonelli, and Edgar Serrano

Larkin High School Principal Jason Misicka, second from right, and U-46 Superintendent Suzanne Johnson, left, and other officials join the top 2% students at Larkin High. Courtesy of Elgin Area School District U-46

Larkin High School: Thomas Akemann, Mia Carter, AnnaLizette Gallegos, Vivian Garay, Ruby Hall, Aidan Klapperich, Emily O'Hearn, and Caleb Reinheimer

South Elgin High School: Minha Awan, Nathan Baker, Noah Dihel, Dhruvil Golakiya, Hannah Greenberg, Coco Lin, Anokhi Nadella, Riya Patel, Aarushi Sheth, and Mia Young

Streamwood High School: Susana Ayala, Jahaira Gallardo, Sarai Luna, Natalie Mancera, Margaret Osornio Solis, Jose Santeliz Goncalves, and Zaina Siddiqui

Streamwood High School Principal Paige Moran, right, and U-46 Superintendent Suzanne Johnson, left, and other officials join the top 2% students at Streamwood High. Courtesy of Elgin Area School District U-46

The May 11 board of education meeting is available to watch on the District’s YouTube channel.

Elgin Area School District U-46 serves families in 11 communities: Bartlett, Elgin, Hanover Park, South Elgin, Streamwood and Wayne, as well as portions of Carol Stream, Hoffman Estates, St. Charles, Schaumburg, and West Chicago. In total, the district encompasses 90 square miles within the Fox River Valley, approximately 45 minutes northwest of downtown Chicago, and includes communities within Cook, DuPage and Kane counties.

Thirty-three thousand preschoolers through 12th-graders attend the 56 district schools and programs. To learn more, visit the U-46 website, u-46.org, or follow on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.