Peotone High School held its annual Senior Awards Night for the Class of 2024 on May 14.
In a statement made by Principal Jason Spang: “On behalf of our board of education, administration, faculty, and staff, we sincerely appreciate your hard work and dedication during your tenure here at Peotone High School. The incredible achievements of the graduates are a culmination of their commitment to academic excellence, service, leadership, and extracurricular activities.
“I would like to extend a special thank you to Sue Bartels, Kathy Derkacy, Sandra Evans, Meri Rietman, Hailey Krone, David Church, and Amy Adamow for all their hard work and effort in helping to coordinate this special event. I would also like to thank our entire staff for their dedication to our students throughout their high school careers. Lastly, I would like to thank the students, parents, and community members, as we have all persevered through a tremendous amount of adversity during the past three-and-a-half years and, for that, I commend all of you! Thank you from the bottom of my heart for allowing me to serve as the principal of Peotone High School, as I am honored to present these awards.”
Congratulations to the following students who were recognized for their achievements!!
Scholarships
Alec J. “Mugs” Mulvihill Memorial Scholarship – Avery Klecka; Arnold Steen Aussprung Memorial Student Athlete – Abigail Chenoweth and Ian Kreske; Athletic Booster Club – Isaac Ramirez; Beulah Voigt Memorial – Lillian Bartosz; DeLong Company – Landen Hamm; First Bank of Manhattan – Mark Jones II; Game On! – Jolynn Murray; Gary Love Memorial – Ashley Veltman; Heart of the Community – Emma Iozzo; James J. March Memorial – Reese Parker; Joseph B. Koomar – Colin Emsweller and Ethan Ferrier; and Manteno Youth Soccer Association – Eugenio Petrizzi, Ashley Renwick, Madison Schroeder, and Van Wehrmann.
Also, MDI Security Alex Cardenas Memorial – Molly Peters and Megan Wiesch; NMU Bridge Award/Wildcat Merit – Madison Schroeder; Peotone Car Club – Colin Hetfleisch and Isaac Ramirez; Peotone Council – Peyton Hack; Peotone Educational Foundation – Reganne Price; PROVEN IT – Do It Stevie’s Way Foundation – Reese Parker; Vista Learning – Marissa Reed; Wilton Center Elementary – Reganne Price; and Will County Farm Bureau Foundation – Michael Bettenhausen, Emma Bialko, Peyton Hack, Landen Hamm, Mark Jones II, Avery Klecka, and Kaylee Traub.
Awards
Fine Arts – Peyton Hack, Avery Postma, and Reganne Price; Marine Corps High School Program – Matthew Gromala, Mark Jones II, Ian Kreske, Avery Postma, and Madison Schroeder; IPA – Outstanding Student and School Citizen – Colin Emsweller and Avery Postma; Leadership – Madison Schroeder; Citizenship – Molly Peters; and Service – Mark Jones II.
Principal’s Awards
Top 10 Recognition: Avery Postma – Valedictorian; Colin Emsweller and Ethan Ferrier – Co-Salutatorians; Payton Bean, Abigail Chenoweth, Landen Hamm, Peyton Hack, Kathryn Miller, Avery Klecka, Finnigan Malloy, Breana Mendoza, Reganne Price, and Madison Schroeder.
Academic Excellence
Honor Roll – 3.5 GPA, Blue/White Cords: Adeline Graffeo, Aiden Minderman, Ashley Renwick, Finnigan Malloy, Breana Mendoza, Christopher Pagliarulo, Ciara Sparkman, Edgar Duran, Elizabeth Rede, Haley Zemke, Jack McGrath, Kalie Pusateri, Kaylee Traub, Marissa Reed, Mathilda McDermand, Matthew Gromala, Michael Bettenhausen, Molly Peters, Nolan Mueller, Rogellio Zepeda, Ryan Ringer, and Zachary Stupedia.
NHS – 3.5 GPA, Blue/White Cords and Gold Stole: Gabrianna Alfano, Lillian Bartosz, Payton Bean, Hunter Becker, Emma Bialko, Abigail Chenoweth, Jack Connolley, Colin Emsweller, Ethan Ferrier, Peyton Hack, Leilanie Haleem, Landen Hamm, Alicia Hunding, Emma Iozzo, Avery Klecka, Melissa Klootwyk, Ian Kreske, Nazhai Malone, Kathryn Miller, Andrew Morales, Jolynn Murray, Reese Parker, Avery Postma, Reganne Price, Madison Schroeder, Haley Shoemaker, Ashley Veltman, and Luke Ziems.
Illinois State Scholar Award: Payton Bean, Abigail Chenoweth, Colin Emsweller, Ethan Ferrier, Peyton Hack, Landen Hamm, Kathryn Miller, and Avery Postma.
Marine Corps High School Awards Program: Matthew Gromala, Mark Jones II, Ian Kreske, Avery Postma, and Madison Schroeder.
Senior Academic Awards
Agriculture: Michael Bettenhausen, Emma Bialko, Kaleigh Carroll, Mark Jones II, Avery Klecka, Reese Parker, Quinn Pollak, Jack Scheffers, Bryce Thomas, and Kaylee Traub.
Art: Reganne Price and Avery Postma.
Business: Jack Connolley and Haley Shoemaker.
Blue Devil Excellence: Jack Klawitter.
English: Colin Emsweller, Peyton Hack, Ian Kreske, Avery Postma, and Haley Shoemaker.
Industrial Technology: Hunter Becker, Michael Bettenhausen, Alexander Guerrero, Landen Hamm, Santino Izzi, Jack McGrath, Aiden Minderman, Eugenio Petrizzi, Van Wehrmann, and Rogelio Zepeda.
Mathematics: Abigail Chenoweth, Colin Emsweller, Ethan Ferrier, Peyton Hack, Ian Kreske, and Avery Postma.
Music – Band: Matthew Gromala, Finnigan Malloy, and Molly Peters.
Music – Choral: McKayla Beierman, Travis Bush, Peyton Hack, Molly Hennke, and Andrew Morales.
Science: Emma Bialko, Ethan Ferrier, and Kathryn Miller.
Spanish: Mohammed Abunijmeh, Payton Bean, Edgar Duran, Matthew Gromala, Ian Kreske, Kathryn Miller, and Aiden Minderman.
Social Studies: Payton Bean, Abigail Chenoweth, Colin Emsweller, Ethan Ferrier, Emma Iozzo, Ian Kreske, Jolynn Murray, Landen Hamm, and Nolan Mueller.
Senior Activity Awards
Art Club: Reganne Price.
Best Buddies: Ethan Ferrier.
Book Club- Outstanding Dedication: McKayla Beierman, Peyton Hack, Finnigan Malloy, Kathryn Miller, Natalia Miller, Reganne Price, and Kalie Pusateri.
Chess Club: Ethan Ferrier and Franco Perez.
Fellowship of Christian Athletes: Ian Kreske, Reese Parker, Avery Postma, Elizabeth Rede, Madison Schroeder, and Ashley Veltman.
Excellence in FFA: Emma Bialko, William Bialko, Mark Jones II, Avery Klecka, Reese Parker, Quinn Pollak, Bryce Thomas, and Kaylee Traub.
Journalism-Authentic and Unwavering Voice: Avery Postma.
National Honor Society: President Avery Postma.
Scholastic Bowl: Kathryn Miller and Luke Ziems.
Skills: President Reganne Price, Finnigan Malloy, Franco Perez, and Andrew Morales.
Speech Club – Outstanding Team Member: Jack Klawitter, Kathryn Miller, and Molly Peters.
Student Council: President Emma Iozzo.
TADD: President Mark Jones II, Peyton Hack, Reese Parker, Kalie Pusateri, and Ashley Veltman.
Thespians: Peyton Hack.