Neuqua Valley High School Class of 2021

Graduates in the Class of 2021: 822

Graduation Speakers: Thomas Galvin, Academic Address; Jane Riehs, Senior Farwell

Class Officers: President - Rohan Ramesh; Vice President = Olivia Gaar; Secretary - Erin Lochtefeld; Treasurer - Aniket Joglekar

Academic achievements:

• 68 recipients of the Seal of Biliteracy

• Nine U.S. Presidential Scholars

• One U.S. Presidential Scholar semifinalist

• Six students with perfect ACT scores

• 23 National Merit Finalists

• 253 Illinois State Scholars

• One student received National African American Recognition

• Two students received National Hispanic Recognition

Extracurricular achievements:

• 7th Place in Chess at IHSA State Tournament

• Six Speech Team State Qualifiers

• Eight DECA State Champions

• Crystal Pillar, National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences 2021 Award Of Excellence for Wildcat Weekly

• Science Olympiad Regional Champions

• 18 students named All-State Musicians as recognized by the Illinois Music Educators Association. Seniors include: Luke Bacani, Elijah Darden, Brandon Do, Bill Foye, Namish Kaistha, Nicholas Noga, Lora Nwanesi, Caroline Reynolds, and Gowri Salem

Team athletic achievements:

• Girls Swim & Dive: ISDA virtual state champions; Five performances were faster than the state meet records; IHSA Sectional Champions; won 8 out of 9 events; established 7 new pool records; DVC Champions (Six years in a row); Established nine new team records.

• Badminton: 3rd Place IHSA State Tournament, fourth trophy in last six years; IHSA Sectional Champions; DVC Champions.

Individual athletic achievements:

• Rachel Stege, girls swim and dive, won two events at the IHSA Sectional; ISDA Virtual State Champion 200- and 500-yard freestyle, IHSA Sectional Champion 200 and 500 Freestyle, both were team and pool records, and both faster than current state meet records.

• McKenna Stone, girls swim and dive, won four events at the IHSA Sectional - 200 Individual Medley, 50 Freestyle, 100 Butterfly, 100 Breaststroke; all four were new pool and team records; ISDA Virtual State Champion, 200 IM and 100 Butterfly; State Runner up in 50 Freestyle and 100 Breast; 100 Butterfly was faster than the current state meet record.

• Riley Ammenhauser, track & field, third in the nation for the triple jump; defending state triple jump champion; five-time state qualifier; holds the school record in the indoor/outdoor triple jump and indoor long jump.

• Jane Riehs, girls swim and dive, IHSA Sectional and DVC Champion (Diving); team record breaker six dives; ISDA Virtual Runner Up (Diving).

• Elise Storoe, cheer, 4th at IHSA State 2021; back-to-back DVC champ; All Conference last two years.

• Helen Zhao, badminton, All-State, fourth Place finish (doubles); Sectional Champion (doubles); DVC Champion (doubles); DVC All Conference.

• Gowri Salem, badminton, IHSA Top 12 Singles; Sectional Champion (singles); DVC All Conference.

• Connor Boyle, boys swim and dive, won all four events at the IHSA Sectional; ISDA Virtual State Champion, 50 and 100 yard freestyle; IHSA Sectional Champion, 50 Freestyle, 100 Freestyle, 200 and 400 Free Relay; 100 Free would have been considered a state record.

• John Poulakidas, boys basketball, leading scorer in school history. three-time all conference; special mention all state 2021.

• Connor Davis, boys basketball, fourth leading scorer in school history; two-time unanimous all conference; special mention all state 2021.

• Armani Moreno, football, DVC Offensive Player of the Year; All Area Team.

• Trey Borske, football, DVC Defensive Player of the Year; All Area Team.

• Michael Baren, cheer, fourth at IHSA State 2021; Team MVP; back-to-back DVC champ; All Conference last two years.

• Nicolas Dovalovsky, cross country/track & field. Cross Country: Twilight Invitational Champion; DVC Champion; IHSA Regional Champion; 3rd place IHSA Sectional. Track: 2nd fastest in school in 800 (1:53.7) and 1600 (4:14.7).

Theater productions:

• "Is That Really Scary?" (fall)

• "Love Letters" (fall)

• "It's a Wonderful Life: Radio Play" (winter)

• The Improv Show featuring the Third Wheels (spring)

• Monologue Show (spring)

• "Frozen Jr." (spring musical)

What traditional events were adapted for the pandemic and how?

Neuqua Valley moved many events outside and created scheduled, individual celebrations so families could be included.

Principal's reflections on the Class of 2021:

So much about your Senior Year could be looked at through a lens of loss or regret. Listen to the voices of your classmates, both their memories and their plans. Their hopes and their ambitions. Looking Back: This is a journey that did not just begin freshman year, but well before that. You are shaped by your experiences and relationships, each year building towards the next. Looking Forward: Take with you a sense of community as a class. There is optimism and purpose in the words shared here. See their pride and gratitude and let it carry you forward. Congratulations on the trials you have passed, the obstacles you have cleared, and the goals you have held true. We are proud of you.

- Principal Lance Fuhrer