The predominant school color of Blue Demons bright blue was apparent as the 480 graduates of Maine East High School in Park Ridge wore graduation regalia at Rosemont Theatre on May 19.
Commencement in 2024, and in-person at that, was different from 2020 when these students started their high school careers. Then, the COVID-19 pandemic prompted a shift to online and social distancing experiences. Class of 2024 Maine East seniors spent their freshman year learning remotely.
“To start high school in such a completely unique and challenging environment really means that you have to acclimate to the high school setting much faster,” Melissa Pikul, Maine East principal, told Pioneer Press.
“So this Class of 2024 spent their entire ninth grade year behind a screen, so those social connections that typically form, the activities that they typically participate in, the relationships they build with teachers, all of that was entirely different,” Pikul said.
“So to have to fast track that in 10th grade is really remarkable and this class did an outstanding job.”
Imeelda Zaya was the student commencement speaker.
“One thing I can be sure of is how we’re all eternally grateful for the people who we have surrounded ourselves with,” Zaya said.
“Let us embrace the unknown with courage and curiosity.”
Ken Wallace, superintendent of Maine Township High School District 207, is retiring June 30 and said the COVID-19 pandemic has symbolism for many, including for Wallace’s career tenure as superintendent.
To Pioneer Press, Wallace said, “My very first year was the collapse of the world economy, so I’ve seen a few things.
“I would say the pandemic for everyone was incredibly difficult, life changing in a lot of ways.
“But what we have seen from our students is incredible resiliency, same thing from our staff, incredible resiliency, and so it is a nice arc, I suppose, at the end here,” Wallace said about pending retirement.
“For me,” Wallace said, “it’s that, it’s the kids being back in school, it’s completing all of the building projects and having all those done so that I can walk away knowing we passed a referendum overwhelmingly, our community really supported that, we built our schools to reflect how we do school today, and so, for a whole bunch of reasons for me, it’s good news and it feels really good.
“It’s a little bittersweet but the show will go on,” Wallace said.
Many students decorated the top of their caps, or mortarboards. Twins Marianna and Rocco Pelagio, 18, of Niles were among them, standing together as they waited to file in for graduation.
On top of Marianna’s cap were white flowers with pearls and two photographs of their late grandfather Giuseppe with the words, “This one is for you Nonno.” Marianna also has her grandfather’s name tattooed on the underneath side of her forearm.
“I wish he was here to see us graduate, me and my brother,” Marianna said.
The twins’ grandfather died last September.
“I just wish he could be here,” Rocco said, “and be with the family.”
