Hinsdale South High School Class of 2021
Graduates in the Class of 2021: 374
Graduates with Highest Honors: Dhruv Vaze, Christian Choi, Brian Ngeunjuntr, Alec Bargher, Brigid Rudolph, Carson Kotecki, Aaron John and Shivan Patel.
Graduation Speakers: Master of Ceremonies - Francesca Whalen; Honors Orator - Alec Bargher.
Class Officers: Micah Thomas, president; Luke Terrell, vice president; Emmett Savage, secretary; Michael Sobol, treasurer; Advisory Members: Brigid Rudolph, Julian Watson, Jacquelyn Baur, Mary Lavorato, Jaden Salverredy, Shivan Patel and Abigail Didio.
Extracurricular achievements:
• IHSA 3rd place State Speech
Athletic achievements:
• Boys Cross Country: Julian Watson, two-time individual sectional champion
• Girls Tennis - WSC Gold Conference Champions
• Danceline - IHSA 7th in State, IDTA 1st Place AAA POM
• Dance, 2nd Place AAA Jazz, WSC Champions
• Cheerleading - IHSA 20th in State
• Boys Basketball - WSC Gold Conference Champions
• Girls Badminton - IHSA 5th in State, IHSA Sectional Champions, WSC Gold Conference Champions
Theater productions: For the 2020-2021 school year, the Theatre Department at Hinsdale South was busy throughout the year adapting to the virtual format for most productions. It was a different and unique year, but our students rose to the challenge and found many different ways to stay engaged throughout the year. Year began by producing a Virtual Variety Show that included some Improv performances. In total, over 100 students participated in this event in September, 2020. The drama program then shifted to a musical radio show, Wizard of Oz, where our 25 drama officers were able to learn a new way to tell the story. These past couple of months, we competed at the IHSA Sectional and State Tournament with our Contest Play called "Over the River and Through the Woods" by Joe DiPietro, our Group Interpretation piece titled "The Staggering Heartbreak of Jasmine Merriwether" by Don Zolidis, and a Short Film directed and produced by Eric Hardman called "Payback." It was a wonderful year for the Theatre Department at South with many students involved and many awards and gratitude received.
What traditional events were adapted for the pandemic?
Prom, Mr. Hinsdale, Stinger Bowl, and Homecoming.
What were the most significant challenges faced by the Class of 2021 and how did they overcome them?
They were not able to have a traditional Senior Year and took classes online. They had to follow COVID safety guidelines all year.
Principal's reflections on the Class of 2021:
In the words of poet laureate Amanda Gorman in her Inauguration Day poem "The Hill We Climb": "Even as we grieved, we grew. Even as we hurt, we hoped. Even as we tired, we tried."
As the Hinsdale South Class of 2021, you have grown. You have channeled hope into positive output. And you didn't just try, you succeeded. And you grew, hoped and succeeded collectivity, not just individually. You grew, hoped and succeeded with each other by forming lifelong bonds as Hornets that will never be broken. You grew, hoped and succeeded with me as your principal and our entire staff as we redefined #SouthPride together. And you grew, hoped and succeeded with your families who are inspired by your resiliency every single day.
You are SouthPride redefined and you have redefined our school community forever. You reminded us how much we always love and value our senior class traditions and how cherished your time in high school is to you and to us. You have redefined the beauty and joy of "in-person" school which we previously took
for granted as a given part of life. Simply put, you are our #SouthPride. Amanda Gorman also wrote in her poem written for our country, "But that doesn't mean we are striving to form a union that is perfect. We are striving to forge a union with purpose, to compose a country committed to all cultures, colors, characters and conditions of man."
You have redefined this purpose for Hinsdale South High School and I am forever grateful to you. My ask to you is that you take the purpose and passion for inclusivity that you have learned in your time at South and bring that with you into the world and help to redefine the world like you have transformed your high school. I cannot wait to see what you do next. Thank you.
- Principal Arwen Pokorny Lyp