Kane Area School District celebrated the Class of 2021, which included 94 graduates, during its 131st Commencement ceremony Friday.
Tyler Hannah, a 2001 graduate of Kane Area High School, was the guest speaker.
Hannah was senior class president for the Class of 2001 and currently practices law in Kane.
Hannah shared that he sat in the front row and delivered the class message two decades ago. His advice to the Class of 2021 was that “adaptation and perseverance are tools that you will need in your toolbox to navigate the next 20 years.”
Hannah noted that the class has proven they already have these tools, as they managed to adapt during the past year and the coronavirus pandemic.
“High school under normal conditions can be difficult to maneuver for a myriad of reasons,” Hannah said. “Nor do I mean to suggest that the next steps in your future will be easy. With these tools in your toolbox, you’ll swiftly and successfully get to where you need to be.”
He advised the class, “Don’t lose sight of your friends, don’t lose sight of your memories. Don’t fret over making the next move. You’ll adapt and persevere.”
Senior Class President for the Class of 2021 Reese Novosel delivered the class message, noting that “a long, 13-year marathon of will and brainpower will be deemed successful once we turn our tassels over later.”
“I believe that our class has a great deal of resilience that will push us through whatever we face in life,” he said.
Novosel also asked for a moment of silence for Kyle Roberts, a classmate who passed away while the students were in middle school.
School Board President Claire Buckley told the students, “I want you to know, there is a chance that life won’t work out exactly as you’ve planned. It may be better. Let that resilience help you go with the flow and make the best life possible. We want it for every single one of you.”
Kane Area High School Class of 2021: Nicole Abplanalp, Kelsie Alexander, Isaac Austin, Ashlyn Avenali, Shauna Bailey, Michael Bell, Robert Bernhard III, Bryce Bizzak, Chase Blankenship, Emma Boyer, Matthew Boyer, Trenton Bradybaugh, Hannah Brown, Jessica Buhl, Joshua Buhl, Nicholas Buhl, Ryan Buhl, Jay-John Bundy, Carter Carlisle, Jacob Carnahan-Curcio, Shania Carney, Adam Cleer, Ronnie Costanzo, Julia Coy, Lily Deane, Mikayla Deane, Matthew DeLuca, Emilie Dinger, Terry Dowell Jr., Brianna Eckert, Emma Ely, Ryan Engman, Breana Ewart, John Feikls, Cassie Ford, Joel Gardner, Matthew Geer, Marcus Gregg, Hannah Gregory, Rachel Haight, Emily Hipolito, Alena Horton, Alexa Horton, Jacob Hummel, John Hutchins Jr., Dillon Illerbrun, Hayleigh Illerbrun, Brady Johnson, Morgon Johnson, Jacob Jones, Jesse Kilcoin, Olivia Kinney, Elisabeth Klaiber, Madison Koza, Brooke Lehman, Gabriel Lehman, Alex Lindquist, Bryce Lundeen, Thomas Lycett Jr., Audri Marconi, Nick Marconi, Douglas Mcintyre, Mason Metz, Jesse Miller, Chase Nelson, Reese Novosel, Cody Pontious, Karissa Prosser, Ayden Raymondo, Danielle Reynolds, Kaylin Reynolds, Taylor Rockwell, Robert Rumcik, Isaac Smith, Izaiah Smith, Jessica Smith, Kandice Smith, Mia Smith, Sam Smith, Sawyer Snyder, Dylan Swanson, Joshua Swanson, Nicholas Swanson, Sarri Swanson, Thomas Szymanski, Heidi Tarnaski, Icie Vito, Paige Vogel, Carson Whiteman, Rainee Wright, Aiden Zampogna, Bryce Zook and Mason Zuzek.
