Palatine High School Class of 2021

Graduates in the Class of 2021: 630

Palatine High School Richard C. Kolze Academic Scholars: Suhani G. Anil; Sofiya Antoniv; Alyssa R. Eckels; Megha Esturi; Dev A. Gandhi; Andrea R. Gardner; Quinn M. Gillies; Jeffrey M. Hedlund; Gretchen R. Jellison; Jonathan J. Kim; Sara B. Kurp; Emma B. Langer; Darwin G. Maco; Allison M. Mirczuk; Grace K. Monroe; Madelyn R. Monroe; Caitlyn A. Newton; Brett E. Novosad; Wiktor Pajak; Tyler L. Pecson; Erin E. Piper; Kaitlyn G. Reed; Laura L. Seeberger; Madeline R. Sobel; Natalie L. Soloway; Kylee V. Stammer; Stela S. Stanimirova; Shannon M. Sullivan; Adam N. Tomkins; Abbeygale M. Van Brunt; Rachel M. Van De Cotte; and Bryan D. Wang.

Graduation Speaker: Ronnie Lewis

Class of 2021 Senior Board: Erum Baig; Caden Bargowski; Alyson (Aly) Kolbus; Margaret Nalley; Margaret (Maggie) O'Brien; Elliana Roy; Kyle Varela; and Ian Waller.

Illinois State Scholars: Bridget Anderson, Suhani Anil, Sofiya Antoniv, Noe Arreola, Caden Bargowski, Katie Bilotas, MacKenzie Branch, MaryEtta Brigham, Annabella Canfield, Alyssa Eckels, Megha Esturi, Dominic Gac, Juliana Garcia, Andrea Gardner, David Gedgaud, Quinn Gillies, Aubrey Grana, Jeffrey Hedlund, Maxwell Herod, Connor Hjelm, Gretchen Jellison, Andrew Johns, Mayhr Kaur, Jonathan Kim, Alyson Kolbus, Diana Korniychuk, Sara Kurp, Emma Langer, Eli Levsky, Kevin Lindstrom, Darwin Maco, David Marquez, Courtney McCall, Maria Samantha Mogensen, Grace Monroe, Madelyn Monroe, Sofia Moritz, Margaret O'Brien, Wiktor Pajak, Brandon Panfil, Steven Paul, Erin Piper, Caitlin Quinn, Kyle Rady, Gwendolyn Reed, Kaitlyn Reed, Kaci Romanwolfe, Emily Scaglione, Laura Seeberger, Andrew Selvik, Madeline Sobel, Natalie Soloway, Kylee Stammer, Stela Stanimirova, Brandon Storm, Shannon Sullivan, Akshay Tallikar, Alexandra Tan, Adam Tomkins, Kelly Tran, Abbeygale Van Brunt, Rachel Van De Cotte, Bryan Wang, Aaron Willming and Daniel Wright.

National Merit Commended Students: Alyssa R. Eckels; Jonathan J. Kim; Eli H. Levsky; and MaryEtta M. Brigham.

Extracurricular achievements:

• Emma Langer, IHSA State Journalism 3rd Place in Yearbook Layout

• Maxwell Herod, IHSA State Debate State Runner-Up in Public Forum

Athletic achievements:

• Girls Bowling, MSL West Division Conference Champions

• Boy's Gymnastics, MSL Team Conference Champions; All Conference: Dominic Filichia (floor exercise and all around), Trey Wilcox (pommel horse)

• Girls Gymnastics, Alyssa Eckels Girls Gymnastics MSL Individual All Around Champion

• Boys Football MSL All Conference: Josh Brown, Charles Harris, Peter Russchenberg, Rand Paddack (Co-Defensive Player of the year)

• Boy's Basketball MSL All Conference: Luke Seiffert, Brandon Storm

• Girl's Badminton State Qualifiers: Suhani Anil; Doubles, Julia Mucha, Kinga Kaminska, Alexa Escamilla

• Girl's Volleyball MSL All Conference: Jillian Smith, Kylie Stammer

• Boy's Soccer MSL All Conference: Arian Mejia, Omar Marin, Wiktor Pajak, William Braznell; All Sectional: Aaron Bustamante, Wiktor Pajak (honorable mention)

• Girl's Swimming: Anais Gonzalez Posso, second at IHSA Sectional Diving

• Boy's Cross Country MSL All Conference: Brandon Waller

• Girl's Cross Country MSL All Conference: Anne Marie Jordan

• Cheerleading MSL All Conference: Carter Christenholz and Jordyn Bolber

Theater productions:

• "Quarantunes"

• V-Show (in-person)

• Improv (virtual/recorded & upcoming in-person)

• Fall Play ("The Show Must Go On" virtual/recorded)

• Children's Theater Production (upcoming in-person)

Senior Class gift: Picnic tables for an outdoor eating space.

What traditional events were adapted for the pandemic and how?

We were forced to adjust almost every event throughout the year. We were able to have our senior awards in person but in three different sessions. Our senior class will be getting a large amount of events at the end of the year, and all of the events will be adjusted. When athletics finally began we were able to adjust how many spectators were present and we were able to have students come to support their classmates at the various events. Speech, Debate, HOSA, BPA, Scholastic Bowl, Math Team, Journalism, Chess Club, Band, Choir and Orchestra all competed through Zoom platforms.

National Honor Society induction and Senior Academic Awards ceremonies socially distanced participants by offering multiple small sessions to allow students to earn the recognition they deserve, while inviting parents in the celebration. The Senior Prom was held in-person. While there will be no dancing, seniors enjoyed an improv comedy show, DJ music and games, interactive trivia competition and photo booths. We continue to celebrate the Class of 2021 through a socially distanced parade at Palatine High School and ending the evening with a firework display.

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

This senior class was faced with so much uncertainty throughout the last year. They have been back and forth from remote learning, to in person learning, and now have finally gotten some stability. They have overcome all of the challenges that they have faced, and here at the end are finally getting a sense of normalcy. The mental fortitude that these seniors have shown is something to be proud of.

Principal's reflections on the Class of 2021:

This is a special group of seniors that has overcome every obstacle that has been in their way. What has stood out most about this senior class is their support for their classmates and their love for our school. They never fail to impress with their commitment to Palatine High School in the classrooms and in competition. I knew every time we had an in person event this school year I could count on our seniors to stop by my office asking if I had extra tickets! Having them be able to support their classmates has been the highlight of my year!

- Principal Tony Medina