The sun came out for the 60th annual commencement at Niles North High School on May 27 at the Skokie school’s Chuck Pos Stadium.
As at Niles West High School, also in Skokie, commencement was scheduled for Sunday at noon but Niles Township High School District 219 officials moved it to 11 a.m. on Monday, which was Memorial Day, due to the stormy Sunday weather. Graduation took place outdoors.
The Niles North Vikings’ commencement featured approximately 470 graduates, said Niles North Principal James B. Edwards.
Edwards said the Niles North Class of 2024 is noteworthy because, “This class has a great sense of humor.
“They were focused, they were creative, and they really made me proud of withstanding some of the adversity they faced the last four years, coming off that middle school experience with COVID,” Edwards said.
“This group is really a source of pride for the district.”
Edwards was seen giving fist bumps to graduates after they stepped off the stage on the field holding diploma cases.
There was one hug seen as a show of appreciation to Edwards by a student who wanted to leave the high school experience with a memorable moment.
Numerous students decorated their mortarboards with personality. Some held messages of inspiration. Others included colors of homeland and country, such as Palestine, for example.
There was no overall class cap toss as graduation ended on the field, but at least two caps were seen thrown in the air. One faculty member said that since many of the students decorated their mortarboards, they might not have wished to toss them in the air.
On the way out of graduation, walking on the track, Ariana Urbina, 18, of Morton Grove waved to her parents and a little sister.
Ariana, with a smile, reported feeling, “excited for the future.”
As families gathered outside of the stadium, graduate Alejandro Campos, 18, of Skokie, was a good sport among his numerous fans. Family members surprised the graduate with photo cutouts of Alejandro’s face.
“I had no idea these were coming out today,” Alejandro said with a smile about the photo poster cutouts.
Alejandro said, with his family gathered around him, “Just thank you and the reason I’m here is because of them.
“I couldn’t do it without their support and their love and I just will forever be grateful.”
