2,700 seniors bid farewell to Elgin Area District U-46

Just one song was played over and over again Saturday at the Sears Centre, but it may have gotten more cheers than the hits performed at the Daughtry concert two nights before.

"Pomp and Circumstance" was the theme of the day as the Elgin Area School District U-46, the state's second-largest district, held back-to-back graduation ceremonies for its five high schools at the Hoffman Estates arena.

A total of 2,700 seniors from Elgin, Larkin, Bartlett, South Elgin and Streamwood High schools became alumni over a 15-hour period.

South Elgin and Streamwood book-ended ceremonies with graduating classes of 531 and 558 students, respectively.

South Elgin Principal Melanie Meidel noted that more than $2 million in scholarships had been awarded to the school's senior class.

"With the economy, that is wonderful," she said. "Where there is a will, there is a way."

This was only the fifth graduation for the school, which opened its doors in 2003.

Andrew Boston, the district's first student to serve as a representative on the school board, was class valedictorian.

Saturday also marked the first graduation ceremony for Streamwood Principal Terri Lozier, as well as Larkin High School Principal Jon Tuin.

It was the last for hundreds faculty members let go because of district budget cuts.

U-46 in mid-March laid off 1,100 employees - 732 of them teachers. While the district has begun to recall some teachers to positions, others are left waiting. With jobs filled by seniority, many will not be returning to their current campus next fall.

In her speech, Elgin High valedictorian Sarah Clarke applauded teachers for "continuing to inspire students in the face of uncertainty."

Larkin's Tuin spent the year trying to build a new culture at the West Elgin campus, which hired an almost entirely new administrative staff after a housecleaning by Superintendent Jose Torres in 2009.

"It's been one of the most meaningful things I've ever done," Tuin said. "It hasn't been easy. But I can't imagine doing anything else."

Tuin has made a goal of increasing the number of college-bound students at Larkin.

One component of that is a newly formed "Larkin Royal Scholars" partnership with Judson University. The Elgin Baptist university has awarded sizable scholarships to seniors Megan Orama and Agustin Morado, Tuin said. Larkin had 512 graduates.

Streamwood's class motto was "Remember yesterday, dream for tomorrow, live for today," the colors were navy blue and green and its song was "The Climb" by Miley Cyrus.

Among the hundreds of scholarships given to Bartlett High's 656 graduates, Allison Prang received the Northern Illinois Newspaper Association's student journalist of the year award. Classmate Kourtney Liepelt earned a third-place award, making it the first time in the organization's history that two Bartlett students netted awards at the same time.

Prang was also awarded the Bartlett High School Booster Veterans Scholarship in honor of alum and Pvt. First Class Lenny Gluczynski, killed in Iraq in fall 2008.

Elgin High - referred to at the 11 a.m. ceremony as "THE Elgin High" - held its 138th commencement.

Clad in a maroon cap and gown alongside his 468 peers was Winfred Cooper, the autistic football player who gained fame this fall after scoring a jaw-dropping touchdown against Lake Park High School in September.

Winfred, posture perfectly straight, walked proudly across the stage to accept his diploma as the crowd cheered. He plans to attend Elgin Community College next fall, said his father, Winfried.

Torres, present at all five ceremonies, implored graduates to savor the day.

"Beginning today you're our peers," Torres said.

Bartlett High senior Chintan Shah said he felt ready to enter St. Louis University's bioengineering program after spending four years at Bartlett High's Science, Engineering and High Technology Academy.

"It was rigorous," he said, "but time flew by so fast."