Antioch High School Class of 2021

Graduates in the Class of 2021: 385

Outstanding Seniors: Kaylee Craig and Katelyn Amodeo

Graduation Speaker: Eli Ruano

Sequoit Senate President: Zoey Kue

National Merit Commended Scholars: Alison Weiser, Zachary Leitza, Katelyn Amodeo

Extracurricular achievements:

• Chess Team qualified for state, finished with four wins.

• Family, Career and Community Leaders of America attended sectionals and state

• Esports - first year competing in League of Legends competitions throughout the year using PlayVS online platform

• Speech - National Catholic Forensic League (NCFL) Grand National Tournament Qualifiers: Molly Adams, Eli Ruano, Keno Barba, Riley Hughes, Don Carson, Alyssa Wittkamp and Meghan Georgia; NSDA National Tournament Qualifiers: Molly Adams, Eli Ruano, Keno Barba, Riley Hughes, Alyssa Wittkamp and Meghan Georgia; Eli Ruano - Northern Illinois (NSDA) Student of the Year; Eight students qualified for IHSA Sectional Speech Competition: Beatriz Warrens, Molly Adams, Eli Ruano, Keno Barba, Riley Hughes, Don Carson, Alyssa Wittkamp and Meghan Georgia.

• Scholastic Bowl 1st place in NLCC Conference - also participated in five virtual competitions

• Math Team 1st place in NLCC Conference; 3rd Place Geometry Team; 3rd Place Algebra 2 Individual - Brock Sooley; 2nd Place Algebra 2 Individual - Jacob Slabosz; 1st Place Algebra 2 Team; 3rd Place PreCalc Team; 1st Place Jr/Sr 8 Person - Team 1; 1st Place Calc Team - Team 5

• NLCC Art Show Distinguished Artist Award: Emerson Lippert, Caroline Devience, Sophia Semersky, Ally Olsen, Arianna King-Gandolfo, Jane Marie Mcqueen, Izana Nordhaus, Samantha Bradley, Megan McKevett, Kayleigh Wieska.

Athletic achievements:

• Football won its 5th straight NLCC championship (33-1 conference record during this time period). Athan and Dino Kaliakmanis have accepted full ride offers to play football at the University of Minnesota.

• Girls bowling won the NLCC regular season and tournament championships, along with winning the sectional championship and taking 8th overall in the New Trier Trevian virtual state tournament.

• NLCC Bass Fishing Conference Awards - Kyle Anderson and Chad Cowart, 1st place in Conference. Tucker Siminak and Jackson Honaker, 2nd Place in Conference; Chad Cowart - Big Bass Trophy with 4.52 pound bass.

Theater productions:

• Fall play: Internet is Distracting

• Winter play: Monologue Show from H**L

• Spring musical: Bring It On

Senior Class gift: Senior Rock Garden

What traditional events were adapted for the pandemic and how?

First semester concerts and theater productions were created/held virtually. Spring musical is also being done virtually. All of them via a virtual production/option. Many new events created to celebrate students: December Spirit Week - Amazing to be a Sequoit; Lunch Social on Google Meets; Online Game Night; Reverse Parade - staff greeted students with ACHS mugs and hot cocoa, collected food drive items to donate to Open Arms; Virtual Dance on Twitch; Spirit Parade through neighborhoods; ACHS Drive-in Movie; Reverse Senior Ditch Day - hand out senior T-shirts.

What were the most significant challenges faced by the Class of 2021 and how did they overcome them?

The COVID-19 pandemic! Our senior class responded with amazing leadership, resilience, and perseverance. When the pandemic started, few of us believed we'd be out for the rest of the 2019-20 school year. Surprise that it stretched into the start of the 2020-21 school year slowly grew to an understanding that we'd be managing through the pandemic through this whole school year. Our seniors haven't let that get them down. They've looked for the positives, embraced the opportunities we've had to do things differently but still in fun and memorable ways, and have kept moving forward with heads held high.

Principal's reflections on the Class of 2021:

The Class of 2021 is special for many reasons but two come immediately to mind. This class is the first freshman class for me at ACHS. When they came in as 9th graders, it was my first year as principal. I have been able to watch them grow, develop, and mature over the years both in and out of the classroom. The second special attribute is their adaptability. No students before have gone through what their senior year has been. For one and a half years, they were unsure if they would or would not return to school in full. They were able to conduct their learning in-person, then fully remotely, then via a hybrid model, then back to in-person. They have not complained, instead they have succeeded. They have shown us how to adapt and overcome in any situation. It is an amazing class of students of which I am very proud.

- Principal Eric Hamilton