Niles North High School seniors lined up excitedly in their purple graduation robes and mortar boards Sunday for the school’s 2025 commencement ceremony.
The graduation was the first to be held outside of Niles Township High School District 219 grounds, at Northwestern University’s Welsh-Ryan Arena in Evanston. Niles West High School seniors also graduated earlier in the day at the same venue. Students from Lincolnwood, Morton Grove, Niles and Skokie attend the Skokie schools.
Niles North Principal Marlon Felton, in his first year as the school’s principal, congratulated the class of 2025 in his encouraging remarks to them and their families.
“Seniors, as you step into the next chapter of your life, whether it’s a college, a career, the military, a gap year or the pursuit of a dream yet to be defined, remember this. Success is not a straight line. It’s messy, it’s challenging and it often asks you to fail before you fly,” Felton said.
“But you already know how to persevere. You’ve shown us that. And you carry within you the courage, creativity and compassion that this world so desperately needs.”
Seniors Aaqib Shareef and Emilia Cohen spoke to their graduating class about their time at Niles North and what they learned from it.
“Good times consist of collections of beautiful moments, not one singular moment in the future where you get everything you’ve ever dreamed of,” said Cohen.
“Over our senior year, you have consistently been told about the future,” Shareef said. “While that is crucial, you must take time to ground yourself in the now. Before we take our next steps into the world, it is your turn to live the questions, Who am I? Because I am who I am.”
Senior Olivia Russell sang Fleetwood Mac’s “Landslide” to commemorate her four years at Niles North.
“Olivia chose this song because the lyrics remind them of how scary it can be to grow up and move on, but how important it is reflect on the experiences you’ve had,” said Assistant Principal of Operations Julianne Evans.
