Four eighth grade students were presented special awards at the Northbrook eighth grade graduation ceremony on May 25. Recognized, left to right, were Lelani Landeros and Kasen Novak, American Legion Award; Bonnie Hall, James D. Hume Citizenship Award; and Grace Leifheit, Reed D. Rydberg Memorial Award. (Reporter photo by Jennifer Sommer)

MENDOTA – One hundred and twenty-seven graduating Northbrook Middle School students marched into the Mendota High School gymnasium while the Northbrook Concert Band played Pomp and Circumstance on Thursday, May 25.

The commencement program began with Perris Stachlewitz, student council president, leading the students and crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Paula Daley, NMS principal, delivered the welcome and introductory remarks.

Megan Gatza, NMS guidance counselor, presented the 2017 President’s Education Awards. Earning the Outstanding Academic Excellence Awards were Keina Arteaga, Piper Artman, Amanda Barrett, Amelia Bromenschenkel, Amando Bustos, Daisy Contreras, Mary Defore, Bonnie Hall, Janeth Hermosillo, Leilani Landeros, Samuel Lawrence, Grace Leifheit, Lily Linden, Kathy Martinez, Ella Massey, Madison Mikolasek, Derek Nanez, Jenna O'Donnell, Natalie Orozco, Madison Pappas, Emilio Raya, Rosevelia Rocha, and Julian Rosales.

Also presented by Gatza, the Outstanding Academic Achievement Awards went to Lauren Beetz, Taylor Diaz, Jaelyn Fitzgerald, Tristin Hester, Kasen Novak, Jocelyn Serrano, Perris Stachlewitz, and Kenzie Wilson.

This year’s recipient of the James D. Hume Citizenship Award was Bonnie Hall, presented by Paula Daley.

Bill Hunt, Mendota American Legion Post 540, presented the American Legion Awards to Lelani Landeros and Kasen Novak.

Northbrook art instructor, Kylie Clary, presented the Reed D. Rydberg Memorial Award to Grace Leifheit.

Jessica Kreiser, Northbrook associate principal and director or school services, lead the presentation of the Class of 2017.

Certificates of promotion were granted by Dr. Kristen School, District 289 superintendent; Sean Pappas, District 289 Board of Education president; and Paula Daley, NMS principal to Keenan Anderson, Alexis Nicole Arteaga, Daisy Anahi Arteaga, Felicia Nikell Arteaga, Keina Arteaga, Oziel Francisco Arteaga, Piper Leigh Artman, Jesenya M. Avila, Amanda Louise Barrett, Kody Brian Becket, Lauren Kathleen Beetz, Sabrina Belmonte, Mac Kenzie Dee Bentley, Marlie Brynn Boelk, Amellia Ann Bromenschenkel, Hope Elizabeth Brown, Joshua James Buchanan, Amando Cruz Bustos, Ashley Calamaco, Isabella Marie Caruso, Juan Octavio Casas, Andres Castaneda, Brian Jesus Castaneda, Daisy Elvira Contreras, Denver M. Crawford, Abigayle Ellen Daugaard, Christian Marley Dean, Mary Elizabeth DeFore, Lilianna Nicole Delgado, Dylan Michael Denault, Ashton Christopher Dewey, Taylor Rhea Diaz, Shea Andrew Doughty, Olivia Anna Marie Eddy, Tyler James Ellsworth, Mateo James Escatel, William T. Fenwick, Jaelyn Stefanye Fitzgerald, Rheanna Sky Fitzgerald, Preston Victor Fouke, Brandon Lee Franklin, Samantha Ann Maria Furar, Marlyn Garcia, Noah Garza, Dugann Carter Gatlin, Cameron Patrick Given, Julian Godina, Morgan A. Gonda, Janice Gonzalez, Mireya Isabel Gonzalez, Salma Dayanara Gonzalez, Marcellus Royal Gray, Matthew Edwin Grenter, Abel Guerra, Weston N. A. Hacek, Bonnie Grace Hall, Mackenzie Leigh Heinzeroth, Janeth Hermosillo, Tristin Jalen-Lee Hester, Cody M. Jenner, Camille Jones, Kennedy Elizabeth Kaiser, Faith Ann Kehoe, Gaige Lampson, Leilani Landeros, Samuel Marvin Lawrence, Grace Mae Leifheit, Lily Aileen Linden, Breanna Joelle Maino, Crystal Martinez, Kathy Idaly Martinez, Yesenia Martinez, Ella Olivia Massey, Jasmine Desiree Matheson, Eve McDowell, Nathan Meyer, Madison Lynn Mikolasek, Angel Rose Montalvo, Kayleigh Lynn Morris, William Alan Munson, Derek Nanez, Kasen Eugene Novak, Michael Nowakowski, Jenna Cathryn O’Donnell, Amaya Olivas, Evelyn Olivia Orozco, Natalie Samantha Orozco, Cameron Lee Ortiz, Dominick Paul-David Osborn, Madison Ella Pappas, Christopher William S. Plock, Kylie Ann Marie Plock, Malik Latrell Preston, Lizbeth Amanda Quintana, Emilio Raya, Sara Kay Reasor, Tara Carol Reasor, Aaron James Reddin, Diego Israel Rivera, Rosevelia Rocha, Julian Rosales, Nicolas Rosales, Tanya Guadalupe Rosas, Ramiro Salinas, Brandon Alejandro Sandoval, Karla Sandoval, Joshua Robert Joseph Schmidt, Jocelyn Serrano, Jacob Daniel Shankle, Hunter Ray Siebert, Malyka Paige Siebert, Amanda Louise Simpson, Garrett Orin Harold Simpson, Katelyn Marie Simpson, Madison Baile Marie Smith, Perris Audrey Stachlewitz, Trent Michael Stamberger, Lexus Renea Strawser, Julissa Terrazas, Morgan Hailey Thompson, Joseph William Turner, Mariela Valdez, Luis Enrique Nadal Vazquez, Albert James Ventura, Kaysee Renay Villegas, Kenzie Sandra Marie Wilson, and Cole James Zimmerman.

Assisting in the ceremony were seventh grade students Faith Anderson and Zachari Compell, marshals. Ushers were Elizabeth Schillinger, Latia Wilson, Billy Kehoe, and Andrew Stamberger.