Seniors Nathan Gantz and Jason Kasch both plan to get full-time employment after finishing McHenry Community High School early. They both want to save money to use for their career training and education.
They are among 48 early graduates in the Class of 2024 who were invited to celebrate the special achievement with a breakfast Dec. 12.Though they are done with classes after Dec. 21, early graduates still come to participate in commencement in May.
“You’ve done everything and more to graduate a semester early. We’re just really proud of you” Upper Campus Principal Jeff Prickett said. “We’re still your school. You can come back anytime.”
Both Gantz and Kasch took advantage of the variety of classes offered over the summer to get head on credits. Gantz said he’s looking at University of Wisconsin Stevens Point to study conservation law enforcement, while Kasch is making plans to study automotive technology in WyoTech, an automotive trade school.
Kasch said he’s been working on and rebuilding engines for many years and Gantz said trips to Wisconsin prompted him to think about conservation law enforcement. “It made me realize how much I like nature and want to protect it.”
For early graduates, MCHS administrators and staff work with students to make sure they have a good plan in place to get started on their future. Many get started with college and/or career right away, specifically at nearby McHenry County College.
The breakfast celebrating early graduates started last year after the idea came out of Prickett’s Renaissance team of students. The team replaced the Principal’s Advisory Council to provide feedback on school events and improvements.
Here is the list of students graduating early:
- Aguilar-Campos, Ronald
- Arreaga, Ashley
- Arreola, Jade L
- Atienza, Charmaine Alyssa
- Barruffi, Isabella
- Belpedio, Victoria R
- Bodden, Samantha M
- Bogash, Gabriella R
- Castaneda, Alexandra
- Castelan, Dana Ydieh
- Courtemanche, Cali M
- Covalt, Brandon Alexander
- De La Torre, Mariana
- DuBois, Angelina M
- Everhart, Alexandra L
- Fashola, Oluwaseyi S
- Ford, Ethan R
- Friedle, Abigail A
- Gantz, Nathan W
- Garcia, Frankie J
- Hardt, Brooklynn
- Hernandez, Natalie A
- Jimenez, Ruby
- Kasch, Jason A
- Lacy, Luke E
- Leber, Branden Richard
- Lobue, Zachary D
- Longines Reyes, Casandra
- Luna Lopez, Melissa L
- Martinez Beristain, Jerry
- Mosoff, Brayden J
- Nichols, Alexis M
- Norris, Jeffrey J
- Petersen, Briana N
- Ramirez-Lopez, Arleth
- Ranzino, Riley K
- Salgado, Alina Y
- Searcy, Campbell R
- Smith, Lucia F
- Srdich, Ryan L
- Talaga, Caitlyn M
- Tangarife Murillo, Alejandra
- Torres, Roberto Jose
- Walusimbi, Pharis
- Watley, Kate I
- Whittington, Bailey N
- Wirth, Melaney G
- Zychowski, Alyssa