Record Graduation Roundup: Local high school seniors are on to the next

Another year, another lot of fresh faces ready to take on the world.

North Shore high schools celebrated their graduates with moving and momentous commencement ceremonies this spring, and we gathered them all up for you in this Record Roundup.

JUMP TO: NEW TRIER | HIGHLAND PARK | LOYOLA ACADEMY | REGINA DOMINICAN | NORTH SHORE COUNTRY DAY

New Trier High School

More than 850 students went from New Trier High School seniors to alumni during commencement ceremonies Sunday, June 1, at Now Arena in Hoffman Estates.

In his final graduation ceremony as superintendent, Dr. Paul Sally asked the graduates to let their hard work, values and commitment to others guide them.

Grammy-nominated musician Cody Fry (class of 2008), a Northfield native, was the event’s guest speaker, introducing himself to the graduates by reciting his order at Homer’s Ice Cream: cheese fries and an Oreo milkshake.

Fry encouraged the class of 2025 to find themselves after they leave New Trier.

“That’s what this next stage of your life is for,” he said, later adding, “Figure that out and the rest will fall into place.”

Seniors Caden Adrianopoli and Kira Friedel led a presentation on the senior class’s gift: a service project they named Serve with Dignity.

Through the project, the class of 2025 raised approximately $55,000 for two veteran-focused nonprofits: Midwest Veterans Closet and Salute, Inc.

In her commencement address, New Trier’s Winnetka Campus Principal Denise Dubravec noted the impact the class made.

“You leave here with more than knowledge, you leave here with experiences, experiences of belonging to a proud Trevian community that values hope, curiosity, kindness and the power of lifting others up,” she said. “You’ve seen how genersoity and service strengthen the bonds between people. Class of 2025, you’ve made a meaningful impact on veterans and their families and you’ve done so with dignity and grace.”

Neil Sanderson was selected as the senior class speaker and talked about his pride in being a Trevian and how he hopes his classmates take advantage of their opportunities.

“Make the most of the minutes you have,” he said. “… As one door closes, another one opens and I know that next door is wide open.”

Highland Park High School

“The class of 2025 is a beautiful mosaic of ambitiously talented, creative and brilliant young adults,” Dr. Chala Holland, the superintendent of Township High School District 113, said May 30 as she addressed a crowd of 422 Highland Park High School seniors gathered at Ravinia Festival in their blue graduation gowns.  

The ceremony began with music from the Highland Park orchestra while the graduates and their friends and family filed into the venue hall. The matriculating students had made the “House on Vine” into a home, one that will never be the same again, Dr. Holland said, before Principal Holly Fleischer highlighted notable awardees.

School faculty voted for Charles Scott III to receive the 117th Highland Park Medal of Honor; Dylan Dominguez and Madison Reitmayer were recognized as the class’s salutatorians; Julian Kolthammer, Emily Hsu, Jayla Marcus, Magnolia Mariano and Dominguez were recognized as its valedictorians.

Fleischer also acknowledged the class’s Highland Park Scholars; those who earned a Seal of Biliteracy or Seal of Dual Language; those joining the armed forces; and three staff members — Paul Harris, Robin Gapinski and Antonio Scintu — who are retiring after decades of service to the district. 

Class President Lucy Millman and class Communications Chair Maya Schwartz presented the class gift, a new “club hub” space for students to connect and organize events. 

Giving remarks in both English and Spanish, graduation speaker Genelle Fesalvo advised her peers to fail forward and don’t sweat the small stuff: “Be that beam of light in your own life to shine upon your success. Use it to inspire others and most importantly, inspire yourself.” 

Then, one by one, each student walked across the stage, received their diploma, and together turned their tassels. 

Loyola Academy

Thousands packed into Northwestern’s Welsh-Ryan Arena on May 24 for Loyola Academy’s 115th commencement exercises, during which 493 graduates were recognized.

Principal Tim Devine welcomed the class of 2025 and their families and friends and encouraged the graduates to take time to reflect.

“It is good for us to pause together for a few moments; to focus our hearts and minds for what is to come in your forthcoming journeys in life,” he said. “For today, friends, you are on the threshold of your past and your future.”

In his final words to the class of 2025, Devine had heartfelt request:

“Congratulations on all you have become and all you are about to do. We are proud of you. We are with you. We love you. And, in our Ignatian words: Ite, inflammate omnia — go, set the world on fire.”

Devine also honored graduates Sofia Cabrales and Tommy Grant, the 2025 recipients of the school’s Graduate at Graduation Award, which according to Loyola is annually given to two seniors “who exemplify the Jesuit ideal of a well-rounded, faith-filled graduate.”

According to the school, Cabrales was praised as an “omnipresent Rambler” and “a selfless, empathetic leader who leads a true Ignatian life,” while Grant was described as “a friend-to-all Rambler who is talented, curious, ethical, and sincere.”

Other honors included:

• St. Michael’s Medal (grads entering military service): Georgia Andrew (Naval Academy), Ellen Gundlach (Naval Academy), Charlie Daly (Military Academy), Thomas Ghislandi (Military Academy Prep), Patrick Kraft (Reserve Officer Training, University of Michigan), Sophia Malan (Reserve Officer Training, Emory University), Finn Miller (Reserve Officer Training, University of Kansas), Sam Thompson (Military Academy) and Gavin Vradenburg (Military Academy Prep).

• Educator of the Year: Carol Danstrom (math department)

Class valedictorian Jack Ehlert, who was in New Jersey competing with Loyola’s crew team, joined the ceremony via video. Bound for Yale University, Ehlert spoke of how Loyola enabled growth for him and his classmates.

“At Loyola, we were not only taught as students but formed as people,” he said. “We had our perspectives challenged. We had discussions that changed the way we saw the world, we argued about ideas, and we learned how to disagree.”

He concluded, “Class of 2025, let us ground ourselves in the values of our Loyola education, hold tight to the people we have met here, and savor this moment!”

Regina Dominican High School

The 2025 graduating class of Regina Dominican was urged to speak their truth and be brave during a graduation ceremony on May 21 at the Wilmette school.

Alumna Dalila Argaez Wendlandt (1987), associate justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, was the event’s keynote speaker who, according to a release from the school, shared five powerful life lessons: speak your truth — show your identity; be brave, not perfect; assign yourself; “effortlessness” is a myth; and use your voice to change the world.

“What you say, what you write, what you think — it matters,” Wendlandt said during the ceremony. “There are real consequences to inaction and silence in the face of injustice. By asking questions, learning and using your voice, you can actively shape the direction of history. Justice is not a passive outcome but requires conscious effort.”

The class of 2025, which earned $11.41 million in scholarships the school reported, was represented at the microphone by student speaker Allison Buck, who reportedly spoke about the lifelong sisterhood shared by the class of 2025.

Graduating Regina seniors had a hand in founding the schools first robotics team, the “Regina Riveters,” and also helped break numerous school records in athletics.

Along with commencement, Regina hosted its convocation ceremony to honor the achievements of a number of graduates. Among the honorees were: Nora McCabe (athlete of the year), Nicole Nuñez-Arteaga (service award) and Cecilia Palumbo (school spirit award).

The school also awarded the Regina Dominican Medal to students for academic excellence and leadership in a subject area. The medals went to: Nuñez-Arteaga (art and Spanish), Julia Martin (biology), Theresa LaFramboise (chemistry), Abigail King (dance), Claire Blasko (English), Charlotte Knoll (Latin), Buck (math), Deidre Murphy (music-choral and music-instrumental), Amanda Kroepfl (physics), Kate Foley (social studies), Sarah Anichini (theater) and Sophie Goby (theology).

Find all the award winners HERE.

North Shore Country Day

North Shore Country Day celebrated its graduates on June 6 on its Winnetka campus during its 106th commencement ceremonies.

Josh Sanders was the senior class speaker and spoke about growth, authenticity and community.

“North Shore has given us the space and support to grow beyond what we thought was possible for ourselves,” he said. “We all are leaders — motivated and prepared. All we need to do is just keep being who we are and we will make it far in life.”

The class selected NSCD’s Upper School English teacher Kathy McHugh as the faculty speaker, and McHugh reflected on the power of hope, imagination and community, a release from the school said.

“Take your marvelous imagination combined with your can-do spirit and believe in audacious hope,” she urged.

Head of School Tom Flemma spoke about the value of wisdom and concluded the ceremony by encouraging the graduates to develop that wisdom.

“Wisdom is built on knowledge but is more defined by experience and skill — the ability to discern, consider and cut through noise to chart a course of action with creativity and integrity,” he said.