Mundelein High School Class of 2022

Graduates in Class of 2022: 559

Graduation ceremony: Sunday, May 15, Now Arena, Hoffman Estates

Graduation Speakers: John Chambers, Tori Collins, Elle Thomas

Class Officers: Schoolwide President, Avery Refka; Schoolwide Vice Presidents: Andy Lacroix, Emily Navarrete, Bridget Ouimet; Secretary, Ava McQuain; Senior Class President, Anjeli Modi; Senior Class Vice Presidents Steffen Brown, Marco Gilardi; Class Secretary, John Chambers.

Extracurricular achievements:

• Mundelein Jazz Ensemble selected to perform at the 75th Annual Midwest Clinic: International Band and Orchestra Festival

• Mundelein Jazz Ensemble & Jazz Orchestra receive Honor Band recognition at the Purdue University Jazz Festival

• Mundelein Wind Ensemble selected to perform at the Illinois Music Education Conference (January 2022)

• Mundelein Wind Ensemble & Symphonic Winds receive Superior ratings at the Chicagoland Invitational Concert Band Festival with straight 1's from the adjudication panel

• Mundelein Wind Ensemble selected to perform at Illinois SuperState Festival

• The Marching Mustangs marching band placed 1st in class and Grand Champion at the Chicagoland Marching Band Festival

• Show Choir, Mt. Zion Show Choir Invitational - Lights: 3rd Runner-Up Single Gender Division; SoundFX: 1st Runner-Up Single Gender Division; Will Gonzalez - Best Male Soloist

• Show Choir, Fort Atkinson Showcase - Lights: 2nd Runner-Up Single Gender Division; SoundFX: Grand Champion Single Gender Division; Sound: 3rd Runner-Up Open Class Division

• Show Choir, Great River Show Choir Invitational - Lights: 2nd Runner-Up Single Gender Division; SoundFX: 1st Runner-Up Single Gender Division; Sound: 1st Runner-Up Open Class Division

• Show Choir, Glenwood "The Event" Show Choir Invitational - Lights: 2nd Runner-Up Single Gender Division and Best Choreography Single Gender Division; SoundFX: Grand Champion Single Gender Division; Sound: 3rd Runner-Up Open Class Division

• Mundelein High School's Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) landed seven students in the top 10 places during the state competition on April 1 and 2. Isaac Fuksman, Kurt Dumblauskas, and Victoria Zherebna qualified to go on to the FBLA National Leadership Conference competition which will be held in Chicago on June 24-27

• FBLA award winners - Victoria Zherebna, third place, Introduction to Financial Math; Isaac Fuksman, third place, Economics; Kurt Dumblauskas, fourth place, Introduction to Communications; Ashley Cline, sixth place, Business Communications; Xander Ede, sixth place, Website Design; William Fisher, seventh place, Introduction to Public Speaking; and Animesh Bijawat, ninth place, Personal Finance.

• Science Olympiad placed in 11 of 23 events, including a first place finish in remote sensing during the College of Lake County's Illinois Science Olympiad Regionals. Winners included: Max Keil (Wright Stuff); Ava McQuain (Ornithology, Rocks and Minerals); Shruthi Menon (Ornithology, Ping-Pong Parachute, Wright Stuff); Sara Choi (Ornithology); Ciara West (Ornithology); Nia Buxton (Ping-Pong Parachute, Trajectory); Sreya Kannappan (Remote Sensing - first place); Jay Banerjee (Gravity Vehicle, Trajectory); Megan Nickl (Rocks and Minerals); Emilio Garcia (Gravity Vehicle); and Gwen Alviar (Remote Sensing - first place).

• Yearbook received top honors in the Illinois Journalism Education Association (IJEA) contest. The yearbook staff received first places in the "Divider Pages," "Best Use of Photography" and the "Copy Writing" categories. Additionally, the yearbook staff received third place in "Sports Coverage" and "Coverage of the Year" categories. Finally, the yearbook staff took honorable mentions in the "Graphics" and "Theme Development" categories.

Athletic achievements:

• Boys Soccer won the IHSA Regional

• Matthew Kisselburg qualified for the IHSA State Boys Golf Tournament and shot a 152 to tie for 34th place over the two day event.

• The school had a standing-room-only crowd see a Homecoming Football Game end with a 14-7 win over NSC Rival Libertyville

• Riley Routledge qualified for state swimming in the 100 breaststroke

• Omari Rhinehart IHSFCA 7A All State Football Team.

• Girls Basketball earned the IBCA All State Academic Team award for their team GPA.

• The Mundelein Girls Dance Team qualified for State in 21-22.

• Bryce Durlacher All State Wrestler placed 5th in the 113 lb weight class with a 40-4 record.

• Todd Parola inducted into the IHSBCA Hall of Fame

• Frank Giannamore inducted into the Lake County HOF

• Boys Swimming had a great season and sent Aaron Anastos, Johnny Anno, Omar Fathallah, Cameron Gilbert, Michael Romero, Edwin Serrano, Alec Sethna and Matt Willis to the IHSA State Swim meet. Mundelein had 7 of 12 events qualify.

Theater productions:

• September - "An Evening of Student-Directed One Acts"

• October - "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time"

• November - "A Wicked Christmas Carol"

• February - "The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940"

• April - "The Addams Family - A New Musical"

What was new in 2021-22:

During the 2021-2022 school year the Board of Education voted to change the daily bell schedule for next school year to a later time based on research regarding teens' need for more sleep. School will start at 8:40 a.m. each day next year with a 3:20 p.m. dismissal time. The current schedule has classes starting at 7:45 a.m. and dismissing at 3:05 p.m.

What challenges did the Class of 2022 face as they returned to in-person school full time, and how did they overcome them:

Initially, the concerns at the beginning of the school year centered on maintaining the recommended distance from others, wearing masks and hand-washing. As the school year progressed, students and staff were comfortable with being back in school and did a good job following the "rules." As the new year 2022 began, local numbers were favorable enough that the state relaxed the mask wearing mandate. Students and staff were then able to use their own judgment as to whether or not they would continue to wear masks. They easily respected each others' choices with no problems. Throughout this time the custodial staff continued intense cleaning of classrooms and offices each evening to keep the building healthy and everyone safe.

Principal's reflections on the Class of 2022:

The resilience of the Class of 2022 is nothing short of amazing. This class has shouldered an intense amount of change which has been out of your control. My hope for each of you is that through these circumstances, you have come to understand these ideals: people are more important than accomplishments; being physically present with other people is a privilege to enjoy and desire over a virtual experience; each person has value and deserves your respect; asking for assistance is not a sign of weakness but one of strength. Each of you has walked our hallways and will forever be a Mustang. Congratulations on your graduation and best wishes for the next steps you will take after high school.

- Principal Anthony Kroll