West Aurora High School Class of 2022

Graduates in Class of 2022: 850

Graduation ceremony: Sunday, May 22, Northern Illinois University Convocation Center

Valedictorians: Sydney Atkins, Callie Meinel and Devon Tomas

Salutatorian: Gracin Bacarella

Graduation Speakers: Athena Ly and Antonio Del Toro

Class Officers: Angela Salazar and Devon Tomas

Theater productions:

• "Diary of Anne Frank"

• "Mama Mia!"

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

The biggest challenge our students faced was getting back in the habit of being full-time, in-person students. It was difficult to transition back to having actual conversations with real people in real time, and there was the added obstacle of being subject to quarantine at times. The class of 2022 overcame these obstacles like West Aurora students always do. They put in the time and the effort required to succeed, and then demonstrated a commitment to supporting one another during difficult times.

Principal's reflections on the Class of 2022:

No other class had to experience change as much as the class of 2022. They began their school careers in-person, transitioned to full-time remote learning, then hybrid learning, and finally returned to full-time in-person learning. They dealt with masking, quarantining, social distancing, learning loss, tech challenges, changing schedules, loss of extracurricular activities, and then transitioning back to school full time. What sets them apart is the grace with which they faced and overcame all of these challenges. They consistently fought through any obstacle placed in their path and came out on the other side stronger, more resilient people. I am very, very proud of them.

- Principal Charles Hiscock