14 share valedictorian honors at Pontiac Township High School
Pontiac Township High School Class of 2022 has achieved quite a few accomplishments in its four years, including dealing with an alternative approach to obtaining an education.
Despite the disruptions and adjustments, 14 students proved their academic mettle by achieving a perfect 4.000 grade point average in earning valedictorian honors.
For Ali Barton, Natalie Cassady, Mason Christianson, Emma Dewald, Jalyn Farris, Sam Fogarty, Lydia Grampp, Samantha Johns, Grace Mund, Emma O'Lone, Olivia Schickel, Dani Grace Schrock, Rebecca Smith and Anna Stevenson, their education experience began as freshmen entering a new experience from grade school to the problems created by COVID 19 that required the end of their sophomore year attending class remotely to going to a hybrid form of attendance to finally getting back to a normal routine not seen since their first year in high school.
PTHS has an established criteria set for being named valedictorian and salutatorian. In order to be eligible for valedictorian and/or salutatorian, a student must have four years of math and English, three years of science and social studies, have taken at least three AP courses, as well as the AP tests. The highest GPA is then named valedictorian and the second highest is named salutatorian.
Usually part of the responsibilities of being a valedictorian is to give an address during graduation ceremonies. Principal Eric Bohm and the school administration decided that was not necessary this year due to the volume of valedictorians.
The rest of the graduation ceremony, which took place on May 15, followed the guide of years past. Leading the Class of 2022 were:
Ali J. Barton, daughter of Kim Hatzer of Pontiac and Todd Barton of Cornell, 4.000, will study Communications at the Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Fla.
Natalie J. Cassady, daughter of Charles and Jenny Cassady of Pontiac, 4.000, plans to study Psychology at Northern Illinois University, DeKalb.
Mason R. Christianson, son of Jill Rork, Pontiac, and Josh Christianson, Bloomington, 4.000, will attend the Kirkwood Community College, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to study Arts-Film.
Emma E. Dewald, daughter of Matt and Dawn of rural Pontiac, 4.000, will attend the Cedarville University, Cedarville, Ohio, and study Sports Medicine, athletic training.
Jalyn E. Farris, daughter of Susan Farris, Flanagan, and Jason Farris, Pontiac, 4.000, will attend Heartland Community College, Normal, and is undecided on field of study.
Samual D. Fogarty, son of Kelly and Stephen Fogarty of Pontiac, 4.000, plans to study Biology at Illinois Wesleyan University, Bloomington.
Lydia G.A. Grampp, daughter of Leslie and John Grampp, rural Pontiac, 4.000, plans to study Botany at Illinois State University, Normal.
Samantha R. Johns, son of Tammy and Victor of Pontiac, 4.000, will attend Illinois State University, Normal, with a focus on Exercise Science.
Grace E. Mund, daughter of Laura and Erick Mund, Odell, 4.000, will attend Olivet Nazarene University, Bourbonnais, to study Elementary Education.
Emma G. O'Lone, daughter of Shelly and Dan O'Lone of Odell, 4.000, to study Art Education at Illinois State University, Normal.
Olivia A. Schickel, daughter of Sara Attig and Scot Schickel, both of Pontiac, 4.000, plans to study English/Education at Illinois State University, Normal.
Danielle G. Schrock, daughter of Joni and Alan Schrock, Pontiac, 4.000, plans to study Finance at Illinois State University, Normal.
Rebecca L. Smith, daughter of Mary and Steve Smith of Pontiac, 4.000, will attend Loyola University-Chicago, with a focus on Early Childhood and Special Education.
Anna M. Stevenson, daughter of Lilliana and William Stevenson, Saunemin, 4.000, will attend the Bradley University, Peoria, to study Nursing.
This article originally appeared on Pontiac Daily Leader: 14 share valedictorian honors at Pontiac Township High School
