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Hinsdale South High School

Posted June 09, 2020 1:00 am

Hinsdale South High School Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com

<h3 class="breakHead">Graduates in Class of 2020: 332</h3>

<h3 class="breakHead">Top 2% students: Sierra Carder, Kaitlyn Hurka, Joshua Louis, Benjamin Metzger, Habib Rehman, Spencer Staak and Kyle Sycip.</h3>

<h3 class="breakHead">Graduation speakers: Habib Rehman and Tala Malo</h3>

<h3 class="breakHead">Class officers: President Kaitlyn Hurka and officers Aurora Korfist, Mia Lombardo, Spencer Staak, Tala Malo, Danielle Wayman and Kristina Martinet.</h3>

<h3 class="breakHead">Academic achievements: Numerous National Merit Scholars, AP Scholars, and Illinois State Scholars; and Benny Metzger and Habib Rehman, candidates for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program</h3>

<h3 class="breakHead">Athletic achievements: </h3>

• Boys basketball: 30-3 best record in school history, IHSA Regional Champions, West Suburban Conference Gold Champions

• DanceLine: IDTA State Champions AAA Poms and AAA Kick, and IHSA Sectional Champions • Girls bowling: 18th in state

• Boys swimming: Senior Tommy Matulis IHSA All-State, 7th place 100-meter breaststroke

• Female Athlete of the Year: Kaitlyn Hurka

• Male Athlete of the Year: James Ruzicka

<h3 class="breakHead">Extracurricular achievements:</h3>

• Chess team: state qualified as a team (Habib Rehman and Sreten Kljaic, silver medals)

• Speech team: 10 state qualifying events (school record), fourth place in state as a team; Judi Nwonye, second place in poetry reading; Spencer Staak, fourth place in special occasion speaking; Johann Tabbilos, second place, radio speaking; and Emily Miller, fifth place, informative speaking

• Latin Club: F first place, Upper Latin Certamen

• Music: Pep band state finals selection; and wind symphony, acceptance to University of Illinois SuperState 2020 (Top 7 of Class 1A Bands); four all-state musicians; three gold key scholastic art awards and three silver key scholastic awards.

<h3 class="breakHead">Theater productions: "Fiddler on the Roof" was our fall musical (and it was amazing!)</h3>

<h3 class="breakHead">Homecoming King and Queen: Habib Rehman and Judi Nwonye</h3>

<h3 class="breakHead">Homecoming theme: "This Magic Moment" </h3>

<h3 class="breakHead">Notable visitors: Hinsdale South graduate and "One Tree Hill" actress Barbara Alyn Woods, and former NBA player Chris Herren</h3>

<h3 class="breakHead">Principal's reflections on the Class of 2020: I want you to know how proud I am of each of you. I also want to acknowledge the very real pain we are all experiencing from not being able to celebrate your end of high school milestones with you in the traditional ways. That pain is real, but we should not let it define the magnitude of your accomplishments. You are so much more than "the class with the pandemic." Your bonds as a school community transcend this loss, and the beauty and strength of your collective #SouthPride is stronger than any global pandemic. And despite the magnitude, this event does not define your class. It won't be the only thing you remember. It certainly won't be the only thing I remember about your class. Your class, the first of the decade, has broken barriers in our theater program, redefined the meaning of excellence on the basketball court, and helped us create what it means when we say #SouthPride. Your appreciation and celebration for the diversity of our student body will serve as an inspiration to all future generations of Hornets. And I am so proud of each of you and look forward to our virtual graduation ceremony on May 20 and any summer gatherings we are able to have.</h3>

- Principal Arwen Pokorny Lyp

Hinsdale South's foundation, post-prom committee, and booster and athletic clubs put up poster-size photos of the Class of 2020. Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com

Hornets mascot for Hinsdale South High School. Courtesy of Hinsdale South High School

Hinsdale South boy's basketball team, with the best season in school history at 30-3, were IHSA Regional Champions and West Suburban Conference Gold Champions. Courtesy of Hinsdale South High School

Hinsdale South High School girls track and field team competed at the York, Willowbrook and Glenbrook South Invites in February. Courtesy of Hinsdale South High School

Hinsdale South High School students show off awards. Courtesy of Hinsdale South High School

Hinsdale South High School DanceLine were the 2020 Illinois Drill Team Association State Champions AAA Poms and AAA Kick. Courtesy of Hinsdale South High School

Kaitlyn Hurka was named Hinsdale South's Female Athlete of the Year. Daily Herald File Photo

Hinsdale South's James Ruzicka takes a shot in traffic during a game at St. Francis. Ruzicka was named Hinsdale South's Male Athlete of the Year. Jeff Krage/For Shaw Media

Hinsdale South Drama Club put on “Fiddler on the Roof” for the fall musical. Courtesy of Hinsdale South High School

Tala Malo was a senior speaker in Hinsdale South's 2020 virtual graduation ceremony. YouTube Video Screenshot

Habib Rehman was a senior speaker in Hinsdale South's 2020 virtual graduation ceremony. YouTube Video Screenshot

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