Huntley High School Class of 2022
Graduates in the Class of 2022: 771
Graduation ceremony: Saturday, May 21, at Northern Illinois University Convocation Center
Highest honors graduates: 81 Cum Laude (3.75-3.99), 72 Magna Cum Laude (4.0-4.249) and 27 Summa Cum Laude (above 4.25)
Graduation Speaker: Ellie Armstrong
Student Council President: Holly Holterhaus
Senior Class Rep: Mira Terranova
Academic achievements:
• Ellie Armstrong, National Merit Scholarship Winner
• We will be graduating 26 seniors who were the first students enrolled in our competency-based education program called Vanguard Vision. It was a program that was piloted but the state that offers. The Vanguard Vision program strives to allow students to progress at a negotiated pace of learning and offer students opportunities to choose how they demonstrate their learning in a flexible classroom setting.
Extracurricular achievements:
• IHSA Journalism are two-time State Champions
• Multiple Illinois Music Education Association District IX Festival participants:
Band: Ally Jorgensen, Grace Lehmann, David Sommer
Choir: Kimberlynn Bjurstom, Serafina Druetta, Kendall Elrod, Drew Helinsky, Zach Ulmer
Orchestra: Josh Thorstenson
Athletic achievements:
• Gavin Heard is a four-time State Champion in Boys Swimming Athletes with Disability (AWD)
• Ruhi Galati is a repeat state qualifier for Girls' Tennis
• Third Place at IHSA State for Varsity Cheer (Second time in a consecutive year)
• Third at IHSA State for Varsity Softball (June 2021)
• Fox Valley Conference Champions Boys Soccer
• Fox Valley Conference Champions Girls Tennis
• Fox Valley Conference Champions Girls Basketball
• IHSA Boys Bowling first appearance in school history at IHSA State
• Fox Valley Conference Champions and Regional Champions Wrestling
• Fox Valley Conference Champions and Sectional Champions Girls Track
• Fox Valley Conference Champions Girls Golf
Theater productions:
•"Dead Man's Cell Phone"
• "A Midsummer Night's Dream"
• HHS One Act Play Festival,
•"The Addams Family"
Senior Class gift: Students will be donating $5,000 for a project the school identifies that will bring light to the legacy of HHS.
What was new in 2021-22: Our goal was to have students more connected with the building and reconnected with school. We built a full-service coffee shop to serve the needs of students throughout the day. Our students look forward to getting a snack, smoothie, coffee, etc. is something that our students look forward to during the blended learning environment we offer.
We just unveiled and began a Dual Degree program in conjunction with McHenry County College so that students will be able to graduate from HHS with their Associate Degree.
What challenges did the Class of 2022 face as they returned to in-person school full time, and how did they overcome them: Students all had challenges coming back to school and understanding how to function in school. Many habits were formed over the 18 months of being home. Students were quickly reminded how important it was for them to develop the discipline to sit in classes and remain focused and meet the expectations and demands of being physically present in classes. Students became accustomed to being on Zoom and were in a more relaxed environment.
Principal's reflections on the Class of 2022: This chapter of their life is completed. While the ending of this chapter did not go as expected, the Class of 2022 learned valuable skills while being here at Huntley High School. They learned the ability to adapt and persevere. This class has pushed them through some challenging times in their high school career, but I truly hope that these past experiences here in Huntley have prepared them for what is next in their journey. The world needs our young people now more than ever to make a monumental change. My message to them: You have learned that opportunity can be taken away at the blink of an eye! Do not let the opportunity pass you up. You have to be aggressive in life and put yourself in the best position to succeed. Challenge yourself. Be consistent and disciplined on your road to success and achievement. The legacy of a person is about the richness of the individual's life, including what that person accomplished and the impact that it had on people. What will your legacy be?
- Principal Marcus Belin