Evanston Patch Honors Graduating Seniors In Class Of 2020

EVANSTON, IL — Evanston Patch is sharing the achievements of local high school graduates by putting them in the spotlight this month. Due to the coronavirus, in-person classroom teaching and extracurricular gatherings have been canceled for the rest of the 2019-2020 school year in Illinois.

We know these wonderful seniors are missing out on some of the last moments of the school year and we hope to give the community a way to share their pride in our class of 2020 high school graduates.

Here are some of the graduating high school seniors from the historic class of 2020:

De'Vaughn Bell, Evanston Township High School

Bell, whose nickname is "Muscles," has been a four-year honor roll student, while playing basketball and football as a leader and captain. He plans to attend Trinity International University in Deerfield, according to his family.

Message from the family: "My son I am so proud of you and all the hard work you put in. You rose to every occasion and did exactly what was supposed to be done. In so proud of the leader and great example you have been. Thank you for being you and letting me experience these 4 years with you from the football field to the honor assembly to the basketball games to the award ceremonies and cant forget about the parade! I love you son and we are all so proud of you and excited to watch you continue. Your #1 and always fan."

Baker Boutross, Evanston Township High School

Boutross, who will attend Illinois State University in the fall, wrestled for two years and played football all four years at ETHS, according to his family.

Message from family: "Congratulations, Baker! You’ve worked hard these past 4 years and now you are on to your next journey in life - be happy, be strong and be true to yourself. We love you, Mom and Dad."

Jake Kaufman, Evanston Township High School

Kaufman will be attending Butler University, where he plans to pursue a double major in journalism and sports media, according to his family.

Message from family: "I know high school has been a rough time for you but I am so proud of you Jake."

Malcolm Donati, Evanston Township High School

Donati was a member of the ETHS climbing club, math team and D&D club. He plans to pursue a welding career after graduating, according to his family.

Message from family: "Malcolm, we are so proud of you and lucky to be your parents! Congratulations and we wish you all the best on your next adventures."

Corbin Kimrey, Evanston Township High School

Kimrey is a recipient of the Marie-Claire Davis Creative Writing Award and the Scholastic Art & Writing Gold Medal for Photography and plans to pursue a dual degree in education and psychology at Boston University, according to his family.

Message from family: "You are a bright and beautiful star in this big world. Congratulations and remember: 'Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world.'-Nelson Mandela."

Madeline Daniel, Roycemore School

Daniel plans to attend Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon in the fall, according to her family.

Message from family: "We are SO proud of all you have accomplished!"

Katharine Van Mieghem, Evanston Township High School

Van Mieghem, whose nickname is "Kiki," plans to study mechanical engineering at Northwestern University in the fall.

Message from family: "You've only just begun...shine on like the star you are. We are so very proud of the person you are! -xo"

Sade Positano, Evanston Township High School

Positano is planning to attend the United States Military Academy West Point in New York, according to her family.

Message from family: "This sure was a struggle these 4 years you not going to class you not wanting to go to school and everyday wanting to give up and drop out when you turned 18 but I stood behind you 10,000 percent and kept pushing you everyday that you can do it and you worked hard to be where you are today and I couldn’t be more happy," it said. "You amazed us both but now on to a better future and career it doesn’t get easier but I will be beside you every step of the way and I want to say I love you and it’s been a journey but a great one good luck on the next journey and congratulations."

Ryan Klein, Stevenson High School

Klein played percussion in marching band, jazz band, orchestra and more, competed on the golf team and was voted "most generous," according to his family. He plans to study engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champagne.

Message from family: "So very proud of you and all your accomplishments but most of all be being a caring, fun loving, kind and compassionate young man"

Ally Hurd, Evanston Township High School

Hurd was a member of wind symphony and marching band. She has an interest in math, physics and psychology and plans to attend Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Message from family: "Congrats Ally!! We love you! Mom, Dad, Sophie & Audrey"

Kayla Henning, Evanston Township High School

Henning, who plans to attend American University in St. Louis in the fall, has been co-director of a summer sports and enrichment camp for a hundred students in third through fifth grade, according to its founder. She also captained the basketball team to the sectional finals for two years and received second-team all-state honors.

Message from her coach and mentor: "Your wisdom, empathy, intensity, resilience, leadership, and athleticism inspire me and countless young Evanstonians to dream big and work hard"

Leo Hurtig, Evanston Township High School

Hurtig, who plans to attend Colorado State University in the fall, has been keeping busy during the pandemic, according to his family. He has learned about the stock market and begun investing, built a snowboard ramp, a portable game table and has golfed extensively.

Message from family: "Leo, We are so proud of you! You are resilient, funny, smart and most importantly, kind. Your future is bright and we are excited for your next adventure! We love you, Mom &Dad"

Kate Linehan, Evanston Township High School

Linehan, who has not decided between attending DePaul or Loyola University Chicago, is interested in entrepreneurship, business, health and nutrition, according to her family.

Message from family: "Kate had some challenging years but she is resilient, strong, smart, caring, personable, confident and continuously learning. I am so proud of the adult she has become. Watch our world - here comes Kate Linehan!"

John Woodward, Evanston Township High School

Woodward, who plans to study business at Regis University, played basketball and lacrosse at ETHS, according to his family.

Message from family: "We are so proud of you John! Love you!!!"

Rachel Lott, Evanston Township High School

Lot, who is planning to attend University of Minnesota Twin Cities to study psychology, played varsity water polo and was a four-year cast member of YAMO, according to her family.

Message from family: "Rachel, we are so proud of all you have accomplished and can’t wait to witness all the wonderful things you will do. You are a shining light to your family, friends and community. We love you!"

Makayla Brown, Evanston Township High School

Brown plans to attend Stanford University in Palo Alto, California, in the fall, where she intends to pursue a degree in biomedical engineering, according to her family.

Message from family: "History has shown us that courage can be contagious and hope can take on a life of it’s own. There is no such thing as failure-just life trying to move us in a different direction. People will forget what you said and did but will never forget how you made them feel. (Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey, Maya Angelou). We are so proud of you as you become your legacy!"

Evanston Patch congratulates the entire class of 2020. To add another local graduate to the list, fill out the form here.

This article originally appeared on the Evanston Patch