Downers Grove Patch Honors Class Of 2020 Graduates
DOWNERS GROVE, IL — Downers Grove Patch wants to honor local high school graduates, as in-person graduations, proms and other events have been canceled or postponed for 2020 due to the new coronavirus. Since many seniors are missing out on these events, we wanted to find a way to make them feel special. These messages and photos were sent by family members who wanted to show their graduates some love.
If you'd still like to submit a graduation photo and message or if we missed your photo, please email lisa.farver@patch.com.
Forrest Lorenz
Forrest Lorenz, who is graduating from Downers Grove North High School, will attend Elmhurst College.
Forrest's family writes, "Dear Forrest, Congratulations on your graduation! We are very proud of you and are excited for your new adventure! Oh, the places you will go!! Love, Mom and Dad"
Isabella Kolin
Isabella Kolin, who is graduating from Downers Grove North High School, will study animal behavior and business at Carroll University.
Isabella's family writes, "Congratulations Bella! Of course, you did it your way!!! We expect nothing less! So proud of you!!"
Jonny Werthman
Jonny Werthman, who is graduating from Downers Grove North High School, will attend Washington University in St. Louis.
Jonny's family writes, "So proud of all you have accomplished and excited to see all that is ahead for you! Love you so very much, Mom & Dad"
Evangelos
Evangelos, who is graduating from Downers Grove North High School, will study pre-med at Loyola University.
Evangelos's family writes, "We are so proud of you and we know that you will accomplish great things! Congratulations! We love you!"
Jeannie
Jeannie, who is graduating from Downers Grove North High School, will attend Bradley University.
Jeannie's family writes, "You will never understand how proud and excited we are you in your future endeavors."
Connor Williams
Connor Williams, who is graduating from Downers Grove South High School, will attend the University of Iowa.
Connor's family writes, "I am so proud of all your accomplishments, Connor! Love, mom"
Joshua Lumpkin
Joshua Lumpkin, who is graduating from Downers Grove North, will attend College of DuPage.
Joshua's family writes, "Dad, Jeremiah, James and I are so proud of you!!! Although the celebrations are being postponed, your hard work has not gone unnoticed! May there never be an end to your success! Love always Mom!!"
Capricia Darrus
Capricia Darrus, who is graduating from Downers Grove North, will attend DePaul University.
Capricia's family writes, "Beyond proud of you! Love you to the moon & back a zillion times! Love Mom,Dad & Nico"
AJ Oskorep
AJ Oskorep, who is graduating from Downers Grove South, will study physical education at College of DuPage.
AJ's family writes, "You are a remarkable human being, we're incredibly proud of your perseverance and successes. Congratulations and we love you!"
Hannah Harrison
Hannah Harrison, who is graduating from Downers Grove South High School, will study special education at Heartland University.
Hannah's family writes, "So very proud of you and the the choices you have made! We know you will do great things in your life!"
Morgan Wendt
Morgan Wendt, who is graduating from Downers Grove North High School, will attend the University of Central Florida.
Morgan's family writes, "Morgan, We are so proud of the accomplished, young, woman you've become. Congratulations on your amazing high school academics and volleyball career. Your future is promising, and we look forward to all of your achievements. Wish with you the best of success, fun, and most memorable college experience at UCF. Keep kicking butt! We love you- Mom and Dad"
Natalie English
Natalie English, who is graduating from Downers Grove South, will attend St. Ambrose University.
Natalie's family writes, "Congratulations Natalie! We are SO proud of you! Love, Mom and Dad"
Katie Marek
Katie Marek, who is graduating from Downers Grove North, will attend Illinois State University.
Katie's family writes, "Congratulations for your achievement. Wishing you all the success and happiness at ISU. We love you. Mom, Dad and Ryan"
Taylor Sigwalt
Taylor Sigwalt, who is graduating from Downers Grove South, will attend College of DuPage.
Taylor's family writes, "Congratulations Taylor Mom,Dad and Siblings so proud of you. You will do amazing in college. We love you!"
Caroline Heneghan
Caroline Heneghan, who is graduating from Downers Grove South, will attend the University of Missouri.
Caroline's family writes, "So proud of Caroline for all her hard work! We are very excited for her as she gets ready to head off to College in the Fall! We know she will do amazing things in the future. Congratulations Caroline!!!!!"
Gina LaMontagna
Gina LaMontagna, who is graduating from Downers Grove North, will study teaching at Providence Baptist College.
Gina's family writes, "We are all so proud of you and all your hard work. You have come such a long way since freshman year. You are going to change so many lives. You already have. We love you Gina."
Erin Nicole Guardi
Erin Nicole Guardi, who is graduating from Downers Grove South High School, will study occupational therapy at Creighton University.
Erin's family writes, "Erin - we are so proud of the hard work you have put into your 4 years at DGS!! From your academic achievements, being selected for NHS, to your years on the gymnastics & dive teams, you have put your heart and soul into everything you touched, and we could not be more proud of the women you have become. Love you!!"
Jacqueline Garro
Jacqueline Garro, who is graduating from Downers Grove North, will attend Lindenwood University.
Jacqueline's family writes, "We are nothing less than so proud of you, Jackie! We look forward to watching you play rugby at Lindenwood, and we know you’re going to kill it majoring in criminology and political science. You are absolutely amazing! Much love to you, Mom, Gary, Angelique, Ava, and Rizzo"
Carson Wagner
Carson Wagner, who is graduating from Downers Grove South, will attend the University of Alabama's Honors College.
Carson's family writes, "We are incredibly proud of you and love you very much!"
Nicole Havel
Nicole Havel, who is graduating from Downers Grove North, has a softball scholarship for Truman State University, where she will study physical therapy and kinesiology or law.
Nicole's family writes, "Nicole, Congratulations to you for achieving your goals to play softball in college! We are so proud of you and all your hard work!! Missing your graduation and prom and all the senior experiences are tough but we are so proud of how well you handled yourself and took this hard experience as another lesson in life. We can't wait to see you achieve all your dreams in the future!! We love you to the moon and back..Love Mom,Dad, Isaac and grandma"
Ish Mistry
Ish Mistry, who is graduating from Downers Grove North, will attend Purdue University's College of Science.
Ish's family writes, "We are very proud of Ish for his academics achievement as Distinguished honor student. He has been Band member playing trombone for Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, pep band and pit orchestra and also couple years being section leader for Marching band. He has a member of National Honors society, Spanish Honors society, a Change Maker leader. Grateful for all the support he had from his mentors. Congratulations Ish on all the accolades so far! We are excited for what future holds for you."
Julie Johnson
Julie Johnson will attend College of DuPage.
Julie's family writes, "Be bold, be courageous, be your best. I am so proud of you. Congratulations"
Jack Tomy
Jack Tomy, who is graduating from Downers Grove North, will attend University of Illinois.
Jack's family writes, "We are so proud of you! Set your sights high, work hard, and you can achieve anything!"
Janae Small
Janae Small, who is graduating from Downers Grove North, will study elementary education at Winthrop University.
Janae's family writes, "Congratulations Janae! We're so proud of you and excited for your future! You're going to make an amazing teacher, and all the kiddos lives you impact will be forever grateful! Love, Mom and Dad"
Gabi Walters
Gabi Walters, who is graduating from Downers Grove North, will attend Iowa State University.
Gabi's family writes, "I am so very proud of how you endured so much and achieved even more!!"
Elizabeth Drobny
Elizabeth Drobny, who is graduating from Downers Grove North, will attend Indiana University.
Elizabeth's family writes, "We’re so proud of you, Elizabeth!"
Addison Karmik
Addison Karmik, who is graduating from Downers Grove South High School, will study arts education and play volleyball at the University of Wisconsin, Green Bay.
Addison's family writes, "'Beginnings are usually scary and endings are usually sad, but it's everything in between that makes it all worth living' (Bob Marley). LIVE your 'in between' with LOVE, compassion, and HOPE. We love you!"
Deanna Fields
Deanna Fields, who is graduating from Downers North High School, will attend Northern Illinois University to study pre-med.
Deanna's family writes, "Deannabell...we are so excited to follow through your next chapter in your life and share your accomplishments with you! We are so proud of all your hardwork at this point and we love you to infinity and beyond! Love, Dad, Mom, Big Bro and the pup, Sheeba"
Jeremy Murray
Jeremy Murray, who is graduating from Downers Grove North, will major in business.
Jeremy's family writes, "We are so proud of your accomplishments!"
Matthew Fischer
Matthew Fischer, who is graduating from Downers Grove South, will study music education at Illinois State University.
Matthew's family writes, "So proud of you Matt, Congrats, Love Mom and Dad"
Sami Gergits
Sami Gergits, who is graduating from Downers Grove South High School, will study human and animal studies at Aurora University.
Sami's family writes, "As you finish this chapter of your life, the book is not over. So excited for you to begin this next chapter. Congratulations! Mom and Dad"
Emma Lafin
Emma Lafin, who is graduating from Downers Grove South, will study special education at Illinois State University.
Emma's family writes, "Emma, you inspire us! We are so proud of the kind, caring, thoughtful smart young women that you are and of all of your accomplishments. We love you to the moon and back and are so excited for you to start the new chapter in your life xoxo"
This article originally appeared on the Downers Grove Patch
