A homebuilder who started an organization to support veterans and a former McHenry Community High School District 156 superintendent are the two newest additions to the District 156 list of Distinguished Graduates.
Michael Christensen, a 1989 graduate, not only started his business, Peak One Builders, but also founded Freedom for Heroes, an organization that raises money to help support veterans trying to adjust to life at home. Dr. Michael Roberts, a 1975 graduate, has been a teacher and principal at his alma mater, and later served as District 156 superintendent.
Both Distinguished Graduates will be honored during Homecoming 2025, as parade marshals for the Sept. 28 homecoming parade and during the Oct. 3 football game. They’ll also receive their own plaques while plaques honoring them will be displayed at both Freshman Campus and Upper Campus.
They join more than 60 McHenry graduates honored for their contributions to their professional careers, service to humanity and positive influence. Nominations for the annual award are sought in the spring and a committee selects honorees. Last year’s Distinguished Graduate is Erica Borggren.
Read more about the newest 2025 Distinguished Graduates below.
Michael Christensen
A 1989 graduate, Michael developed a passion for construction in the building trades classes. After high school, he worked with his uncle’s construction and remodeling business and went on to earn his degree in structural engineering at Northern Illinois University. While there, he joined the Army National Guard and rose to the rank of Second Lieutenant. After graduating from NIU, he moved to Arizona where he started his business, Peak One Builders. During the early years had to give it up when he was deployed to Afghanistan. While in Afghanistan, he earned the Bronze Star for his leadership. When he returned, he started up his business again, and today, Peak One Builders is a well established general contractor known for building and remodeling luxury and custom homes in Arizona. Inspired by the loss by suicide of several members of his Army family, he started a non-profit organization called Freedom for Heroes in 2023. Michael is committed to changing the way veterans are supported at home. Freedom for Heroes raises money to provide supportive services such as outdoor activities, resort retreats, and focus panels on a wide variety of topics, including self-care, post-traumatic stress disorder management, Veterans Administration navigation, and life planning.
Dr. Michael Roberts
Dr. Michael Roberts graduated from McHenry’s West Campus in 1975. While at McHenry, he played football and later went on to study to be a teacher at Lakeland College in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. After graduating from college, Michael spent time as a teacher and coach at Johnsburg High School before becoming a football coach and strength instructor at Northern Illinois University while completing his master’s degree. Michael served as the athletics director at Sycamore High School before returning home to MCHS as dean of students in 1994. Through the years, Michael served as dean of students, assistant principal, principal, and as superintendent of schools from 2013 to 2016 and eventually earned his doctorate degree from National Louis University. Roberts has been very engaged in community service and civic groups throughout the area most notably, as a member and past-president of the Kiwanis Club, president of the MCHS Foundation, and serving as a police commissioner from 2009 to 2023.