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GENOA – Genoa-Kingston High School’s Derek Tijerina performed his last duty as class president Sunday when he helped Principal Brett McPherson officially present the graduating Class of 2016.
“We, seriously, had such a great class,” Tijerina said.
The school’s gymnasium bleachers were filled to the top with hundreds of family members and friends who turned out to witness the 138 graduating Cogs close one chapter, and look forward to the next.
School officials point to a class of young men and women who have amassed a number of academic successes and demonstrated commitment to community service. The printed program noted more than 40 students inducted into the National Honor Society or National Technical Honor Society.
The school also had 16 students to be named Illinois State Scholars earlier this year for their outstanding academic achievement. The declaration came from the Illinois Student Assistance Commission.
“They were a very accomplished class, very driven academically, a lot of participation in extracurricular activities,” McPherson said. “They’re going to do great.”
Most will go on to college, and Superintendent Joe Burgess has high hopes all of them will make the school district proud.
“This has been an outstanding group,” Burgess said. “I can’t say enough about what great leadership they’ve given the high school, and really set a tone moving forward.”
This was one of the last classes under Burgess’ leadership. He is set to retire at the end of next school year.
Sarah Howes has been as successful representing the Cogs on the green – as an MVP golfer and team captain – as she had been with her academics. She hugged her mom and dad tightly in the school hallway Sunday after she turned her tassel and officially was declared a high school grad.
“I’m just really excited to move on to the next step, and I’m so thankful to have all my friends here and my family supporting me,” said Howes, who plans to major in biology and play golf at Augustana College in Rockford.
The class president said he is going to miss so much about Genoa-Kingston High School. But as he looks forward to starting at Kishwaukee College in the fall, the 17-year-old encourages his classmates to go after their goals and follow their dreams.
“After we walk out of the doors and receive our diplomas ... the stuff we did in high school are (now) just memories,” Tijerina said. “We have so much more going for us in the future.”