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Get ready. Get ready. It's coming quick. It is now that time. I ask the class of 2025 to please rise. It is almost time to celebrate. Please move your tassels from the right to the left, signifying that you are now a graduate of Beville East High School. To the class of 2025, congratulations. [Applause] that way. Just go that way. Go ahead. Walk off the sides. [Music]
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[Music] Thank you. [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] Glory to God. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] You are here. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Hallelujah. Hallelujah. [Music] Yep. Good afternoon and welcome to North High School as we celebrate the graduation of the students of the class of 2025. At this time, please stand if you are able as the processional conducted by Mr. Jessen Smith plays and please remain standing. [Music] Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. [Music] Ever Heat. Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Amen. Hallelujah. [Music] [Applause] Miss Zakardi, members of the board of education, faculty and staff, parents, families, Amilies, friends, the time is here and now. Welcome to our graduation commencement ceremony for the Downers Grove North High School class of 2025. My name is Courtney Dement and I have the honor and privilege of being the principal here at North High School. Today's ceremony is part of a rich history as we gather on this beautiful day to celebrate the graduation of the 97th class from North High School and the 147th in the history of Downer's Grove High Schools.
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Hey, hey, hey. [Music] congratulations and dream big. Greetings [Music] Heat. [Applause] Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] [Applause] [Music] Heat. Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Applause] [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. [Music] [Applause] Good afternoon. Welcome to the 101st commencement of Columbia High School. My name is Brian Reeves and I'm the principal of Columbia High School. Ladies and gentlemen, please rise. Remain standing for the presentation of colors presented by our Air Force Junior ROC and remain standing for the singing of the national anthem performed by Noah Parker. Oh, say can you see by the dawn early light what so proudly We held at the twilight last gleaming who's brought stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight. For the ramparts we watched were so gallently streaming and the rockets red glare.
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I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, liberty and justice for all. It is 6:00. I'd like I don't know who took the rollers these chairs. I'd like to call this meeting to order on room was set up by different individuals this evening. I'm sorry. You just let me know who that was. I'd like to call this meeting to order. May 19th, 2025, 6 pm for Brown County High School or Brown County School. Um before I call this, I'd like to talk to uh talk to Emily about it. We've had quite a bit of devastation actually the last month. You know, we've had multiple hits in certain areas of the county and um Friday night was I've seen stuff I've lived here my whole life and I've seen stuff that I've never seen before.
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To begin our ceremony, senior Maline Swenson will lead us in the pledge of allegiance. While at North, Meline has spent the past four years as a member of the Varsity Athena's dance team. She's also been a part of the Trojan marching band of the varsity lacrosse manager, an officer of the orchestas dance company, a member of the ac capella choir, an operation snowball leader, and she is in the sign language club, rock climbing club, and the theater program. Please welcome Maline Swenson.
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The bombs bursting in air gave proof through the night that our flag was still there. Oh, say does that star spangled ber yet [Music] wave or the land of the [Music] free and the home of the brave. [Applause] Thank you. You may take a seat. Thank you, Noah, very much. I feel extremely lucky to have the great weather we have. I know it's a little warm. It pales in comparison to last year's warmth. This is an important milestone for our graduating class of 2025 and for the families, friends, and loved ones who are watching today, both in person online, to share in this momentous occasion. As principal of Columbia High School, I would like to thank the graduates for the fond memories they provided our school and our community over the years. I congratulate you on your success today. I want to wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors as you leave our nest to begin your journey into adulthood and make your mark on the world.
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And um I will say this, it was a a proud moment for me even though the devastation that we went through a lot of community come together volunteers, people out of the county. Um, it was neat to see the, you know, there's a lot of negative going on in the world today, but I multiple places that I went by with the fire department myself and and was just really um I I'm proud to be a Brown County. Um, a lot of we had how many families that lost everything. Um, there was moments that we were pushing stuff up in piles with machines and they were sorting it. There's other places that, you know, lost. Last night, this will never leave me. I was planting beans in a field and quite a ways away from where this happened. And there's a pair of little underwear, blue underwear in the field.
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[Applause] The pledge of allegiance will be followed by the Star Spangled Banner performed by our North High combined bands under the direction of Mr. Justin Smith. To all of our graduates and guests, please stand if you are able and join me in reciting the pledge of allegiance.
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To begin, I'd like to recognize our top 10 graduates who are distinguished by their white stoalls. However, due to a tie this year, we have a top 11. And in alphabetical order, please stand while I read your name. The top 10 of the class of 2025 in alphabetical order. Elelliana [Music] Ames, Logan [Applause] Bosch, Addison Butler, Brick [Applause] Curtis, Joshua Drooie, Paige Freeze, Logan Han, Jack Reider, Emily Rose, Jaden Smith, and L. Van [Applause] Bruzigan. For this graduation ceremony, we will have three speeches by some students. Our first speech tonight will be given by the senior class president, Ava Denison. Ava, please come to the stage. Good afternoon, fellow graduates, families, alumni, and friends. My name is Ava Dennison, and I have had the privilege of being the class president for the past four years. Wow, look at us. We made it. Four years of early mornings, crammed notebooks, awkward dances, and endless questions like, "What comes next?" We've grown together, not just in age, but in strength and lessons, and even through failures.
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It has no business. But, you know, I mean, it was just I've seen so much in the last two or three days that's just been crazy. It's stuff you see on TV. But, we do have a good community and every one of the places that got hit hard, you know, you go by, you'd see 20, 30 people. You know, differences were put aside this this weekend and people came together. So, and I'm proud of that. And the other thing is me and then we talk, you know, if there's people out there that need help, they need to contact us, you know, as far as families go and things like that, we're willing to help and we'll do what we can do to help get through this. So, but it was it's it's bad. And so, I almost got worked up on that. Um, is there any modifications to agenda?
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I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Please remain standing if you are able for the Star Spangled Banner and please remove your hats. Graduates, because this is a formal ceremony, you may leave your cap on. [Music] Hallelujah. Heat. Heat. [Music] [Applause] Please be seated. My name is Brenn Hbert. At this time, it is my honor to introduce the platform guests. As I introduce each guest, I would ask each of them to stand and for you to hold your applause until all guests have been introduced. Miss Gina Zakardi, associate superintendent, board president, Mr. Donald Rener, board vice president, Miss Cara Casten, and our board members present today, Katie Courtourtney and Mike Riskey. I would also like to introduce our faculty members who will be reading the names of our graduates.
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We've listened to Mr. Gagan's terrible song playlist every Friday. We've all been hungry while passing Mrs. Stanfield's classroom knowing she has something good cooking in there. And we've debated with Mr. Sandstöm on topics that are essential to the futures we are carving out as young adults. And maybe school wasn't always easy. Maybe you woke up some mornings wishing you could stay home forever. But you came. You showed up. And showing up is sometimes braver than winning. And now we're standing at the edge of the next. Some people call this an ending, but this this is just our beginning. A messy, thrilling, wide open beginning. You don't need to have a perfect plan. You just need to keep going. Even when it gets messy, especially when it gets messy. When I was younger, my parents always told me, "You can do hard things. You can do hard things.
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There are none. Recognition of visitors and comments from the audience. Um there's no presentations, discussion items. Uh can I get a motion to approve the minutes of May 7th, 2025? Move to approve the minutes for May 7th. Second. Discussion. Vote. Doug, yes. Carol, yes. Vicki. Yes. Yes. Motion carries. Um action needed items. I have a recommendation to approve a donation of $250 to the Brown County High School Theater Department on behalf of the services bureau of Maro County. Can I get a motion to accept? A second. Second.
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Dr. Frank Picar's choir director and Miss Farravasquez English teacher. Thank you for your participation in our ceremony. It is my pleasure to introduce our first student speaker, Owen Half Pennney. Owen is a high honor student and is very involved in our music program. He is a member of the wind ensemble, jazz ensemble, ac capella choir, pep band, pit orchestra, was a drum major for the Trojan marching band, president of band board, president of the Illinois music honor society, statefound journalist and editor-inchief of the Omega newspaper, member of student advisory council, government club, computer science club, and clarinetist of the youth jazz ensemble of DUP page. Please welcome me in please join me in welcoming Owen Henney to the stage.
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You can do hard things. I didn't always understand why they would say it three times in three different ways. But now I get it. We as a class did the hard things together and it got us through high school. Every single one of us wearing a grad cap and gown today earned this accomplishment. Be proud of yourself. reflect back on this moment knowing your hard work paid off. So fellow Eagles, let's leave here today with gratitude, with courage, and with the knowledge that no matter where our lives take us, we carry memories that we've made at Colombia High School through the way. Thank you. [Applause] This year we're recognizing co- validictorians. Our first validictorian speech will be given by Addison Butler. Addison, please come to the stage. [Applause] Welcome. I would just like to thank all of our parents, friends, and teachers that got us here today, especially my own.
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Any discussion? Vote. Doug. Yes. Carol, yes. Vicki, yes. Yes. Motion carries. I have the recommendation to approve a donation in the amount of $1,500 from Keith and Julie Dickerson to the Brown County High School boys soccer team to support their team retreat in August of 2025. Do we get a motion to accept? Move to accept the recommendation approve the donation of 1500 from the Dickersons. Second.
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[Applause] Good afternoon everyone, friends, family, teachers, and of course our class of 2025. I want to take my time today to talk to a very specific group of people. Those of you who are sitting in front of me right now who might be unsure of what comes next. Those of you who might not have a four-year plan or might feel like you're already behind or who wonder if you'll ever catch up, this speech is meant for you. And I think if we're all being honest, there's probably some of that person in all of us. And I can say that confidently because I'm definitely one of those people. If you look at me, I'm not the valictorian. I'm not even on distinguished honors. I didn't make all state for my instrument. I'm not going to some prestigious selective university. When I started high school, I wasn't the high honoral student or prodigy musician.
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A lot can happen in four years. We grew up together. We learned together. We struggled together. And we laugh together. Now at 18, I stand up here pretending I'm wise and knowledgeable. However, the only thing I am certain of is that we have so much more to learn and experience. As some of you know, I struggled to make a college decision until the last minute. Like literally the last minute. I kept waiting for a sign that would point me to the perfect school. However, I learned that the perfect college probably doesn't exist, which was a hard concept for me because I prefer things to be clear-cut and well, perfect. I'm kind of a perfectionist, which is part of the reason why I'm up here today. Throughout this process, I learned that we are in charge of the choices we make and the people we become.
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Any discussion? Thank you. Doug, yes. Carol, yes. Vicki, yes. Jice, yes. Have the recommendation to approve. A donation of the a donation from Kona Ice in Brown County in the amount of $851.37 to the National History Day ECA as part of their give back program. Get a motion to accept. Move to approve the donation for Kona Ice. Second.
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In fact, I found myself struggling a lot, whether it was academically, emotionally, or personally. I oftentimes wrestled with my mental health and sometimes even made choices around substance use that pushed me further away from where I thought I was supposed to be. There were times I looked at my life, my family circumstances, or anything else, and I always figured success just isn't meant for someone like me. But I'm here now. And that's not because everything magically turned around. And not because I magically woke up and decided to get it all together, but because little by little, I decided to move myself forward. And sometimes that meant dragging myself. And sometimes that even meant starting over. And it was messy. It was very slow, but it was real. And I'd have to tell you that that is what actual growth looks like. So, if you're feeling lost today, and if you feel like the end of high school feels more like a cliff than a celebration, I want you to know that that is okay.
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