With proud smiles, fist pumps and dances, more than 470 graduates representing Maine East High School’s Class of 2018 crossed the Rosemont Theatre stage to accept their diplomas Sunday.
The ceremony, marking Maine Township High School District 207’s 116th commencement year, featured student speeches from Sindi Piranej, senior class president, and Taylor Gammell.
Recognized during the ceremony were Maine East’s Maine Scholars, who ranked within the top 1 percent of their graduating class. The 2018 Maine Scholars are Deepa Mani, Harshita Padiyar, Laura Pokorski, Michael Righi, and Richa Shah.
Good Will Awards were also bestowed on seniors who have “done the most…to promote good will at Maine East and in Maine Township,” the school said. Students receiving these awards were Olga Goumas, Deepa Mani, Dana Mohammed, Patrycja Pekala, Richa Shah, Ali Chaus, Trinidad Diaz, Kristjan Gudmundsson, Bart Mendrala, and Erti Tushe.
Seniors receiving 2018 Departmental Awards for exceptional accomplishments were Frank Koziol, applied technology; Parth Rana, business education; Cassandra Clavien, family and consumer sciences; Harshita Padiyar, English; Ivana Dinulovic, English Language Learners; Stephanie Hernandez, art; Sarah Choi, music; Karisma Kohli, speech arts; Patrycja Pekala, world languages; Richa Shah, mathematics; Ali Chaus, physical education; Harshita Padiyar, science; and Erti Tushe, social science.
Recognized during the 2017-18 school year as District’s 207 Best for various areas of student achievement were Harshita Padiyar, academic achievement; Mansi Bodalia, community service; Helaine Ilacio, fine arts; Andreas Kotsifas, improved performance; Richa Shah, academic achievement; Ali Chaus, elective area of achievement; Akash Magnadia, technology leader/innovator; and Olga Goumas, extracurricular achievement.
