Mundelein High School will hold its Class of 2017 Graduation Sunday, May 14, at 3 p.m. at the Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates. The ceremony itself will have a couple unique moments.
Class Salutatorian Alexander Frumkin and Valedictorian Anna Balla will give the traditional speeches to their peers and families but a third student speaker has been added to the program. Seniors were invited to “audition” a speech for the ceremony by presenting it to a staff committee. Fernando Roman was chosen as the Senior Speaker for the ceremony.
Just before the graduates are awarded their diplomas, a special presentation will be made to Sergeant Stanley Spooner of the MHS Class of 1968. Spooner never graduated because he enlisted in the US Marines during the Vietnam War. He spent four years on active duty and two additional years in the reserves. He later earned a GED but always wanted to receive a diploma from his high school. On May 14, he will finally receive his MHS diploma after he and family members travel from Utah to do so. It is expected to be an especially poignant moment in the ceremony.
Superintendent Kevin Myers and Principal Anthony Kroll will preside over the commencement ceremony and will join members of the Board of Education to distribute diplomas to the 498 graduates. The ceremony will also include musical pieces performed by the school’s master singers, concert choir and combined honors band. Among the graduates will be 25 cum laude graduates, 24 magna cum laude graduates and 90 summa cum laude graduates. This is the fourth year that MHS has held its Commencement ceremonies at the Sears Centre Arena.