136 Graduate From LHS
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The seniors throw their graduation caps into the sky at the conclusion of Thursday’s ceremony. Photo by Jeff Wick -
Above: An empty chair, draped with a gown and with his diploma, was left open among the seniors during Thursday’s graduation in honor of the late Cesar Villasana. He was a member of this class who died in 2022 after a long battle with leukemia. Right: Two seniors embrace Thursday. Photos by Jeff Wick
They started their high school careers in masks but ended it in caps and gowns.
Nothing came easy, or predictable, for the La Grange High School Class of 2024.
This was the group of kids who never went back to eighth grade in person after spring break because of Covid in early 2000. They cautiously returned to the classroom that fall navigating the pandemic as freshmen.
Four years later all their hard work was rewarded as 136 students were graduated Thursday night at Leopard Stadium in front of thousands of their cheering friends and family.
“High school was a roller coaster,” said senior Mara Colon in her opening remarks. “... Always remember the good you became at LHS.”
Reece Nygren led the class in the pledges and the school song before salutatorian Kylie Zbranek gave her speech.
“Each of us has a purpose,” she told her fellow graduates. “May your lives be filled with purpose and commitment.”
Valedictorian Landon von Minden told the class “We get so caught up in the next thing ... Spend time in the now. Be thankful for each day you have. Treat each day like Graduation Day.”
Instead of paying to have a featured graduation speaker, all the speakers Thursday were seniors. The class decided to save the money from that, as well as their leftover money from class fundraisers, and donate it all (a total of $5,000) to the Cesar Villasana Memorial Scholarship fund.
Villasana was a member of this class who died in 2022 after a long battle with leukemia. An empty chair was left for Villansana among the seniors on the field Thursday. The chair was draped with a graduation gown and his diploma.
“He should have been with us today,” von Minden said in his speech. “This donation will allow Cesar’s joyful attitude to live on.” After principal John Pineda presented the diplomas, senior Alivia Eindorf gave the closing remarks saying in part, “Today we open the door to our futures ... We all have our talents and weaknesses. Embrace the differences.”
Then the seniors assembled at midfield to throw their caps skyward –- officially concluding their time as LHS students.