001Wow. Wow. [music] Hallelujah. I know you are. Heat. [music] Heat. Happy birthday. Don't worry. 23. Thank you. Happy birthday. Get out of here. >> [music] >> General Thank you very much. >> [music] [music] >> Happy birthday. [music] I'm so nervous. >> Oh, I told you. Oh my god. 3. >> [music] >> Good morning everyone and welcome to Columbia Middle school eighth grade promotion ceremony. You may be seated. We practiced. My name is Don Miller and it is truly an honor to serve as principal at CMS. Today is one of my favorite days of the year because we get to celebrate the accomplishments, growth, and memories the students seated before us have. Before we begin, I would like to recognize our incredible CUSD4 teachers, staff members, and administrators. These individuals invest countless hours into supporting students,
002not just academically, but emotionally and personally as well. They attend trainings, grade papers late into the night, supervise events, answer emails at all hours, and most importantly, care deeply about your kids. If you are a CS CUSD4 teacher, staff member, or administrator here today, please stand so we can recognize and thank you. Some people in the audience should be standing, too. Thank you for all you do for our students and families. Today, we also recognize two very special staff members who are retiring this year. Mrs. Shelley Flurky. She has been an incredible asset to the CMS family and someone who truly cares about helping children succeed. Through her hard work and dedication as our RTI teacher, she has made a lasting impact on countless students and staff members. She is truly irreplaceable, and while we
003are sad to see her retire, we hope she might consider returning as a substitute teacher in the future. The other is Miss Michelle Breeding, who is not in here because she is cooking for our kids today. But she has been the heart of our kitchen and a familiar smile for our students each and every day. She has done far more than serve lunches, and she has built relationships, created memories, and filled both hearts and stomachs with kindness and care. She will be greatly missed by our entire CMS community. We thank both of these amazing women for their years of dedication and service. And now to the eighth grade class of 2026 and graduating class of 2030. It's hard to believe, but in just four years, many of you will walk across another stage at high
004school graduation. Right now, four years probably sounds like forever. Trust me, it's not. Between now and then, a lot will happen. You'll get your driver's licenses. Some of you will get jobs. All you'll attend dances, sporting events, and school activities. You'll make new friends, face challenges, experience successes, and probably make a few mistakes along the way, too. That's part of growing up. Middle school is a unique time in life. It's a stage where you're trying to figure out who you are while also worrying about things like Snapchat streaks, group chats, who left who unread, and whether your outfit is cringe. And somehow through all of that, you still managed to grow into an amazing group of young adults. But as you move into high school, I want you to remember one important thing. Your choices
005matter. The choices you make about your attitude, your effort, and especially your friendships will shape your future more than you realize right now. One of my favorite sayings is, "Show me your friends, and I will show you your future." Take a look around at the people you surround yourself with. Do they encourage you to do better? Do they push you towards your goals? Do they make you feel confident, respected, and valued? Or do they pressure you to become someone you're not? The people you spend the most time with will influence your decisions, your habits, your confidence, and your future. Choose people who celebrate your successes instead of competing with them. Choose people who help you up instead of pulling you down. And most importantly, be that kind of friend to others, too. Character matters. Kindness
006matters. Integrity matters. Years from now, people probably won't remember your grades, your Instagram followers, or whether you won every game. But they will remember how you treated people. They will remember whether you were someone others could trust, depend on, and respect. I hope you leave CMS proud of who you are becoming, not just because of your accomplishments, but because of your character. 8th grade class of 2026, this is not the end of your story. It's only the beginning. Continue working hard. Continue believing in yourselves. Continue making choices that move you toward the future you want. And no matter where life takes you, CMS will always be cheering you on. Congratulations, Eagles. We have some academic awards that we are going to pass out. Mrs. M will hand them to the teacher if they're here, otherwise
007she will present them. Students, if you receive one of these awards, these are the top student awards for your class for your grade percentage as well as behavior. One, only one could be chosen for each class. So, it is an honor. We'd like you to come to the middle and take a picture, smile. Mrs. Boatman's ELA award. Mrs. Boatman's award goes to Gabby Denny. [applause] Mrs. Rep unfortunately is not here, but her ELA award is going to Emma Mesa. Mrs. Storm, her award is going to Alex Welch. >> [applause] >> Mr. Kindle's algebra award goes to Ally Reman. Mr. Kindle's pre-alggebra award goes to Owen Whitbeck. Mrs. Peter Science Award goes to Haley Hazes. Mr. Stump Social Studies Award goes to Leilani Ola. Prophase Spanish award goes to Vivian Seas. Mr. Nickerson's German award goes
008to Tegan Janick. Mrs. Schlicking Technology Award goes to Liam Webb. Mrs. Bandy's art award goes to Llaya Randall. We're live streaming, so we're taking a picture that way. There you go. Mrs. McGenthy's Choir Award goes to Tegan Janick. Mr. Hul's band award goes to Gracie Phony Mrs. Haven STEM Award goes to Brock Hodrick. Our top male PE award goes to Lucas Woodcock. Our top female PE award goes to Gabby Denny. Mr. Burch's Intro to Award goes to Ian Patel. Hold on. She's coming for a picture. We'll let her. Hold on. Look. Here she is. Smile. Lion. Here we go. Mrs. Gruin's intro to a award goes to Harper Bryant. All right. Mrs. Lang and Mrs. Klein Lang have some Soaring Eagle Awards to present. This award honors a student who consistently demonstrates outstanding character in
009all areas of life, whether it's in the classroom, in the hallways, or in the community. This student leads by example, showing kindness, integrity, responsibility, and respect every single day. The Soaring Eagle Awards celebrates those who don't just do the right thing sometimes, but they do it all the time. You're getting a fun yard sign, so good luck putting that under your chair. Please be careful when you're walking. The first recipient of this goes to Steven Meath. Next we have six of them. So the next is Jacob Young, Aya Pelch Leilani Ola, Kaden Long, and Ryan Noi. If you were a Soaring Eagle this year, a soaring eagle, not student spotlight, [clears throat] but soaring eagle this year, please stand up, including the ones that just got it. [applause] Good job. If you have been a
010soaring eagle during your time at CMS in the four years, please stand up. >> [applause] >> Great job. Two students were recognized last month as the DAR Daughters of the American Revolution Award. They wanted us to choose a boy and a girl who had top grades in social studies as well as contributed significantly to the classroom discussion and showed exemplary character all year. These students are Max Baker and Haley Hazes. Come on over. [applause] The Illinois Principal Association Award is given to the top students in each school with top academics involved in school extracurricular activities and has exceptional character. This year's year's students are Harper Bryant and Trevor Cole. >> [applause] >> Mr. John Werenberg. Can you please join me? Mr. John Wearenberg has a helping hand award. John taught and coached at Columbia Middle
011School from 1995 to 2019. During those years, Mr. Werenburgg turned teachers into marathon runners for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, a voluntary organization committed to fighting blood cancers worldwide. He also started our haircuts for a cause. He was a man who took on many causes in order to help those in need. He turned students into young people who wanted to lend a helping hand. He greatly impacted how our young people live their lives and contribute to the betterment of mankind. Mr. Mr. Werenberg truly is the Fred factor. The John Werenberg Award is given to a student who makes an effort to help other people and put others first. This year's recipient is Emory Harris. >> My daughter's going to love it. Next is Mr. Barry Kroan. Can you join me, Mr. Croissan? His award is
012given in honor of Mr. Krozan who retired from teaching and coaching after 44 years in Colombia Community Schools. Mr. Croissant represented integrity and respect. He treated everyone equally and placed others ahead of himself. He made every individual he met a better person and the school a better place. The recipient of this award demonstrates the qualities for su success in life modeled every day by Mr. Kazan. Congratulations to Kota Hudson. >> [applause] >> and then you get a sheet. So, Emory and Cota, your names will be added to the plaque that's on the wall outside um the office. Miss Heidi Klein, will you come stand by me, please? She does not know that we're about to create an award for her, but it's definitely deserved. This year, we are adding a very special award. This award
013is in honor of Mrs. Heidi Klene, and we are calling it the Stay Gold Award. Heidi retired last year, and she has left a lasting impact on our school and all of the students she has taught. This award honors a teacher who built strong, meaningful relationships with both students and staff and who encouraged generations of students to hold tightly to what is good and true within themselves. Through her teaching of the outsiders, Mrs. Klein shared Johnny's powerful reminder to stay gold, to remain genuine, hopeful, and true even when life is difficult. To stay gold means choosing integrity, compassion, and authenticity, and keeping your spirit strong despite challenges. This award is presented to two students who not only reflect that spirit individually, but also strengthen it in one another through their friendship. They lift each other
014up, stay true to who they are, and protect the good within themselves and each other, shining even brighter side by side without letting the world dim their light. Congratulations for our very first stakeold award to Ella Hitzman and Gabby Stumpf. [applause] here. Girls, girls, here's your award. At this time we would like to recognize other students who participated in clubs, events and sports throughout the year. So as I say the activity or the club or the sport, please stand up if you participated in that this year. So our first program this year, if you participated in the acceleration program, please stand. Any allstate band qualifiers, please stand. [applause] Art festival participants, please stand. Any band or choir ILMEA district participants, please stand. If you participated in baseball, please stand. [applause] If you were part of
015our first year of having best buddies, please stand. Beta club members, please stand. bowling team, please stand. [applause] If you participated in boys or girls basketball, please stand. If you are involved in cheerleading, please stand. >> [applause] >> Chess club members, please stand. [applause] Colombia hockey team, please stand. Cross country club, please stand. If you are involved in drama this year, please stand. Just the theater kind. No other drama. If you were part of Dungeons and Dragons, please stand. Focus Point, please stand. If you are part of our first ever nature club, please stand. Scholar Bowl team members, please stand. [applause] Sign language club, please stand. Softball team members, please stand. If you participated in solo and ensemble contests, please stand. If you are our spelling bee winner, please stand. Student council members, please stand.
016If you won any of our student spotlight nominations this year, please stand. [applause] Track members, please stand. Volleyball team, please stand. Please stand if you are in the yearbook club. If you are a young author winner, please stand. And finally, if you are a member of Youth Alive, please stand. This is a list of students who had no referrals their eighth grade year. Did not have to talk to you about any detentions or choices um that were not the best. So, if I call your name, just stand up and then you can sit back down. You do not have to wait. to students with no referrals their entire eighth grade year. Nyla Alers, Roman Alston, Ryan Hour, Max Baker, Kai Bar, Connor Barro, Gabe Blevens, Grayson Bosch, Gabriella Brooks, Violet Browning, Lily Bergamman, Harper Bryant,
017Miles Bunty, Riley Burton, Trevor Cole, Rose Quido, Anna Dob, Tyson Dabler, Kelly Dush, Ben Dy, Lily Dorg, Gabby Denny, Lily Dinklman, EMTT Dunham, Maxims, Elizabeth Edwards, Charlie Fis, Jaye Flowers, Gracie Fony, Haley Frame, Wyatt Fry, Avery Frederick, Ariana Garcia, Connor Garcia, Manny Garcia, Luke Green, Isabelle Gregor, Landon Hobmill, Emory Harris, Cassidy Hart, Genevie Hal, Brock Hodrick, Simon Han, Haley Hazes, Abby Hec, Caroline Herbeck, Morgan Hesterberg, Ella Hitzman, Kota Hudson, Isaac James, Tegan Janick, Noah Jansen, Payton Johnson, Malachi Keller, Abigail Kelly, Jackson Kimp, Emma Kennedy, Kayn Killingsworth, Andrew Kish, Amal Kouse, Max Lang, Marcy Laxton, Kaden Long, Max Lopes, Emma Mik, Ara Martin, Eve Martin, Cleo Matsonus, Edie Mayor, Eliza McFarland, Oliver Merins, Micah Mud, Steven Meeath, [snorts] Ella Mullen, Chloe Null, Leo Newire, Skyler Nukem, Ashlin Ni, Leilani Olow, Ian Patel, Lydia Peas, Aya Pelch,
018Barrett Peterson, Tucker Panel, Brooklyn Prior, Riker Ramirez, Brooke Randall, Edwin Randall, Llaya Randall, Lucy Rashenberg, Emma Reeing, Alis Emma Reeing, Alisander Reeman, Analise Ross, Sophia Saler, Vivian Seasich, Mason Schaefer, Olivia Schlimmer, Amaya Schneider, Elijah Senna, Owen Sharp, Nick Severs, Lucas Sites, Ty Smith, Leila Snell, Ellie Sproul, Grant Stapleton, Violet Steel, Kaden Stumpf, Gabri Gabby Stumpf, Aubrey Sullivan, Nolan Thomas, Quentyn Tune, Kaylee Tucker, Kaden Turner, Sophia Verbeck, Wesley Velker, Ian Walsh, Savannah Walter Waters, Avery Webb, Josephine Webb, Liam Web, Ian Wheeler, Sophia Whitmore, Lucas Woodcock, Annabelle Wy, Jacob Young, and Xander Verbecki. As you can see, we have a really large class, but they're good full full of good character. I'm sad to see them go. These students, please stand and stay standing. You deserve a round of applause because you had straight A's, not only
019this year, but your entire time at CMS. Nyla Alers, Riley Burton, Gabby Denny, Luke Ernst, Wyatt Fry, Landon Hobbermill, Emory Harris, Haley Hazes, Morgan Hesterberg, Ella Hitzman, Lou Cornell, Isaac James, Jackson Kemp, Michael Lairman, Emma Mik, Eve Martin, Chase Nennis, Leilani Ola, Ian Patel, Arlo Pelch, Llaya Randall, Ally Reman, Sophia Saler, and Liam Web. Straight A's all four years. [applause] You may be seated. Recently, our eighth grade class and ELA teachers were recognized as first place winners in the Young Writers Fright Club contest. Out of entries submitted from 834 schools, our students work was selected as some of the very best. We got a first place choice. Congratulations ELA students. Yes, [applause] we also have some school record breakers in our presence. Please stand after I say your name. After 10 years, we had some
020boys break our track record in the 800 meter relay with an incredible time of 1 minute 42.23 seconds. This team was made up of Evan Morris, Brock Klein Schmidt, Jacob Young, and Jackson Dunn. [applause] Stay stand. Stay standing, boys, because they also broke the 400 meter relay with a time of 48.34 seconds. [applause] >> [applause] >> Great job, guys. I would like to recognize a few groups of people in the audience. If you are a member of the CUSD4 school board, please stand. [applause] If you attended Colombia Middle School yourself, please stand. If you are going to be a parent of a high school student for the first time, please stand. [applause] If your very last child is leaving CMS, please stand. [applause] If you are a student of Mr. Croissant, Mr. Wearrenburgg or Mrs.
021Klein, please stand and wave hello. Ladies and gentlemen, at this time we would like to recognize the eighth grade students learning their eighth grade or receiving their eighth grade promotion certificates. Mr. Kendall will then call their names. So be ready students for your rose to rise. We ask that you hold your applause until everybody's name has been read so that everybody can hear their students name. First row, please rise. Nyla Alers, Roman Olston, Ryan Hour, Landon Austinine, Maxwell Baker, Isaac Ballard, Kai Bar, Braden Barren, Jackson Bergseker, Connor Barro, Maddox Bieber, Gabriel Blevens, Grayson Bosch, Gabriella Brooks, Braden Brooks, Violet Browning, Lily Brigamin, Harper Brian, Miles Bunty, Riley Burton, Ezra Childris, Trevor Cole, Rose Quido, Anna Dob, Tyson Dabler, Kelly Desh, Ben Dohy, Lily Dbor, Gabrielle Gabrielle Denny, Lily Dinklman, row two, please rise. You can
022clap now for the first row. Emit Dunham, Jackson Dunn, Maxwell Emmes, Elizabeth Edwards, Luke Ern, Ernst, Colby Eugia, Charlie Fis, Jaye Flowers, Gracie Phony, Haley Frame, Wyatt Fry, Avery Frederick, Ariana Garcia, Connor Garcia, Manny Garcia, Zack Gordon, Luke Green, Isabella Gregoire, Addison Gully, Landon Habmemell, Emory Harris, Cassidy Hart, Genevieve Hul, Rock Hodrick, Simon Horn, Haley Hazel, Abby Hec, Caroline Herbeck, Morgan Herberg, Ella Hitzman. You may clap for row two. Row three, please rise. Brandt Hogan, Luke Hornol, Cota Hudson, Tucker Ingram, Isaac James, Tegan Janick, Noah Jansen, Rafe Gerard, Payton Johnson, Malachi Keller, Abigail Kelly, Jackson Kimp, Emma Kennedy, Kayn Killingsworth, Andrew Kish, Brock Kleinmid, Amaly Canals, Oliver Krimmel, Maximus Lang, Mercy Laxton, Michael Lurman, Kaden Long, Alexander Lopes, Maximus Lopes, Emma Mik, August Martin, Eve Martin, Cleopatra Matsonus, Edith Mayor, Eliza McFarland. Row four, please
023rise. Oliver Mertens, Evan Morris, Kain Moscow, Maxwell Mos, Micah Mud, Steven Meath, Ella Mullenex, James Mundon, Chloe Null, Leo Numire, Skyler Nukem, Chase Nennis, Ryan Noi, Ashlin Noli, Leilani Ola, Morgan Pashki, Ian Patel, Ethan Patton, Levi Patton, Lydia Peas, Arlo Pelch, Aya Pelch, Barrett Peterson, Tucker Po, Brooklyn Prior, Riker Ramirez, Brooke Randall, Laya Randall, Edwin Randall, Lucy Rousenberger. Row five, please rise. Emma Reeing. >> Way to go, Emma. Logan Rice, Alisandra Reman, Anelise Ross, Sophia Saler, Wade Sanderson, Landon Sandifer, Vivian Seesac, Mason Schaefer, Damon Schlimmer, Olivia Schlimmer, Amaya Schneider, Elijah Senna, Owen Sharp, Nicholas Severs, Lucas Sites, Ty Smith, Leila Snell, Ellie Spruel, Grant Stapleton, Violet Steel, Gabby Stumpf, Ruben Stumpf, Aubrey Sullivan, Michael Thibo, Nolan Thomas, Quinn Ton, Kaylee Tucker, Kayen Turner. Row six, please rise. Sophia Verbbeck, Xander Verbbeck, Wesley Velker, Chance Wagner,
024Ian Walsh, Addison Warner, Savannah Waters, Avery Webb, Josephine Webb, Liam Web, Alexander Welch, Ian Wheeler, Owen Whitbeck, Sophia Whitmore, Lucas Woodcock, Annabelle Wy, Jacob Young. Ladies and gentlemen, the eighth grade class of 2026 and future senior class of 2030. [cheering] Once again, congratulations students and parents. Families, we encourage you to take pictures outside since classes will resume in the gym shortly. We also need to remind you to move your cars from the parking lot in the back because our lunch recess will be starting soon. If you are taking CMS siblings out with you today, please sign them out in the office before you go. Students, enjoy your summer and the best of luck to you in high school. and uh oh and say it with us one last time. As always at CMS we are
025respectful, responsible and safe. Have a great day the eagle way. Right.