Barrington High School holds commencement for its ‘so special’ class of 2024

In delivering the senior speech to the Barrington High School Class of 2024 Thursday, fellow grad Tyler Thymian spoke of taking hardships – like the injury the teen experienced that impacted participating in sports and music – and using them to persevere.

“That was all I could do,” Thymian said during the commencement ceremony held at Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington. “That is all that any of us can do.”\\

The theme of resilience and rising above challenges was a resounding and reverberating one for the 696 graduating seniors, who started high school as freshmen amid a pandemic – taking classes remotely, living with public health demands of social distancing and wearing protective face masks.

“I’m so pleased we get to have an evening like this for them because they were remote and they were by themselves or isolated at times,” Superintendent Craig Winkelman told Pioneer Press about the 2024 graduating class. “So to be able to come all together for graduation is so special for this class.”

Winkelman said the class of 2024 has flexibility among its qualities, as the teens and young adults move forward into adulthood and beyond their Barrington High School days.

“I hope that rather than viewing it (COVID-19 pandemic) only as a negative, that they’re actually able to … take that resilience and then apply it in different ways in life,” Winkelman said, “and use it as a strength.

“When they experience things that are a challenge, that they can draw upon that and say, ‘You know what? I’ve been able to overcome things and take on new challenges and I can do this.’”

Adrianna Merzyn, 18, of Deer Park, was “glad” the height of the pandemic is now a not-too-distant memory.

“I feel like I am very much more of an in-person learner,” Merzyn said as she prepared to participate in the ceremony. “I’m ready to move on to the next chapter.”

New this year is a district honor called the Impact Award. It allows graduating seniors the opportunity to recognize one staff member who had a positive impact on them during their time in the district – from kindergarten to 12th grade.

Seniors invited recipients to the BHS graduation ceremony to be publicly recognized as special guests. The full list of recipients is posted on the school district’s website.
https://www.barrington220.org/departments/superintendent-of-schools/impact-award

BHS Principal Stephen McWilliams touted the graduates’ many successes.

“This is truly an exceptional group of students,” McWilliams said, “162 are Illinois State Scholars. That’s nearly 25% of the graduating class.”

McWilliams listed many of the colleges students will attend including Indiana University in Bloomington, Boston College, Brown University, Cornell University, The Ohio State University, Northwestern University, Harvard University, the University of Illinois, University of Southern California, Vanderbilt University, Harper College, New York University and the United States Naval Academy.

Additionally, leaders told Pioneer Press that students are also attending school closer to home, including universities in Iowa, Missouri and Wisconsin. Some are also headed to the military, accepted into the Army, Marine Corps and Illinois National Guard.

While some of McWilliams’ remarks drew resounding applause, there were moments during the commencement ceremony when there were whispers and boos – including as some students walked across the stage to receive their diploma. Some graduates displayed Palestine flags as they crossed the stage.

Alana Silverberg, of Barrington, made it to the church just in time for the 6:30 p.m. ceremony, coming straight from a lacrosse playoff game.

Even with the pandemic at freshman year, “It became a really good four years,” Silverberg said.

“I just feel super proud leaving my impact on younger kids, like my younger teammates and just making a difference every day through small things.”

Silverberg’s grandfather, Ian Simmons, of Port Saint Lucie, Florida, flew in for the graduation.

“I couldn’t be more proud … of her impact on her friends, her family and me, for sure,” Simmons said. “I am proud of her.”

Karie Angell Luc is a freelancer.