Wheeling High School
Graduates in Class of 2020: 427
Graduation Speaker: Amber Akhter
Illinois State Scholars: Amber Akhter, Daniela Guerrero, Katherine Ambrose, Jacquelyn Jung, David Barnett, Sebastian Krol, Lauren Bernstein, Rachel Lawson, Sara Bialas, Kelly Mcinerney, Gracie Bouchard, Connor Niznik, Taylor Bradshaw, Ethan Polak, Cecilia Campos, Saranrat Rattanahattakul, Roman Chapkis, Gabriel Clisham, Alisha Saji, Anthony Cruz, Eleanor Sherrett, Christopher Fink, Emily Torchalski, Mitchell Fister, Rhea Venkatraman, Emily Flessas, Lauryn Webb, Alana Garcevic, Corina Whidden, Jarexy Garcia. Katharine Williams.
Illinois Junior Academy of Science (IJAS) State Qualifiers and Gold Award Winners: Joseph Luistro and Christian McLaughlin, The Effect of Music Types on Plant Biomass; David Barnett, Purifying Drinkable Water Using a Hydrogel Distillation Solar Still; Lesley Aguilar, Acute toxicity of TiO2 and ZnO nanoparticles in brine shrimp, Artemia franciscana; Alex Miranda and Luis Gonzalez, Using Super Absorbent Polymers (SAPs) to Improve Concrete Strength; John Garcia and Jose Acosta, The Effect of Electricity on the Arability of Mars-Like Soil (also won Best in Category for Earth Science at the Regional Science Fair); Alex Herazy and Paul Szczepanski, Enhancing Medical Bandage Absorption with Dehydrated Nanocellulose; Alana Garcevic, Improved Oil Spill Clean Up Using Nanocellulose-MTMS Polymer Sponges; Jocelyn Avalos and Madelyn Zussman, Use of Starch-Based Films as Biodegradable, Single-Use Food Plastics; Jason Aguilar and Javier Romano, Structural Color of Butterfly Wings.
Athletic achievements:
• Boys Soccer: MSL East champions; Jason Rivas, all state, all conference, MSL East Player of the year; Pablo Herrera, all sectional honorable mention, all conference; Ricardo Rosales, all conference
• Girls Basketball: Chloe Drozdz, all conference, all area; Christian McLaughin, all conference
• Golf: Symantha Rohwedder, all conference, all area, fourth in conference, regional champion
• Volleyball: Grace Zambrano, all conference
• Football: Daniel Provost and Austin Hembd, all conference.
Extracurricular achievements: Amber Akhter, Debate Tournament of Champions Participant; Orchestra All State Performance with current seniors in 2018; "In the Heights" performed at State Theatre Festival; Gospel Choir 2020 All State Performance for four years, acceptance to the Illinois Superstate Concert Band Festival; Jazz Band, 2019 All State Performance, Grand Champions at Northshore Jazz Festival and Mundelein Jazz Festival, acceptance to the Music For All National Concert Band Festival, one of 15 bands selected across the entire nation.
Theater productions: "Bring It On The Musical"
Homecoming King and Queen: Victor Gomez and Jocelyn Beltran
Homecoming theme: No Place Like Homecoming
What was new for the Class of 2020: New Music Wing; additional gymnasium added to south field house area; updated student commons area; various blended learning locations in building.
Notable visitors: Tony Award-winner Karen Olivo
Principal's reflections on the Class of 2020: The Class of 2020 is a dynamic group of students whose strengths are diversity and camaraderie. These students strived every day to improve their school and achieve academically and in co-curricular activities. They will leave a strong legacy for other classes to follow.
- Principal Jerry Cook