Haug celebrates first commencement at Burlington Central

For many people, a lecture on chemical bonds or Kepler's laws of planetary motion has much the same effect as a lullaby.

Not for Paul Jerger. For the Burlington Central High School graduate, the principles that govern the natural world make the everyday seem like something magical, a show animated by invisible forces.

Paul credits his teachers at Central with inspiring his sense of curiosity about the natural sciences. He singled out his chemistry and physics teacher, Paula Mytych, for her dynamic lectures and presentations, which use toys and experiments to illustrate the core scientific concepts.

“You could take any picture of the natural world and break it down into several equations,” Paul said. “It's just an explanation of the world around us.”

Paul, the Class of 2011 valedictorian, was one of 209 Central High School seniors who graduated Friday in the school's 56th commencement at Elgin Community College.

It was Matthew Haug's first commencement since becoming principal almost one year ago. Haug said the seniors' experience was crucial as the school transitioned to new leadership and re-examined long-standing traditions.

“As students, they have taken on leadership roles and taken on those questions themselves,” Haug said before Friday's ceremony. “They've been a very good group to work with in my first year as principal.”

Mariah Wu was the salutatorian.