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DIXON – Academic excellence was celebrated Tuesday as students, parents and other community members gathered for the 57th annual Dixon High School Scholastic Honor Banquet, held at Sauk Valley Community College.
A total of 71 students, from freshmen to seniors, were recognized for consistently high academic honors and hard work in their chosen studies.
John Holthaus, president of the Kiwanis Club of Dixon, said, "Tonight, we celebrate what education is all about – academic excellence and achievement."
The keynote speaker, Ron Jacobson, judge of Lee County Circuit Court, shared anecdotes about his path to the bench, and talked about how the students need to keep working toward their goals.
"You can't assume that you'll start out at the top," the judge said. He cited the example of his first job, working at the men's department of Marshall Field's in Cherryvale Mall in Rockford.
Jacobson told students to listen to their family and friends, and to be themselves.
He also shared a piece of advice from his father: "Every single one of us has to make a choice about how much of your life is work, and how much of your life is family."
Scholastic excellence certificates were awarded to all of the students, and departmental awards were given to seniors.
Students recognized at honor banquet
DIXON – A total of 71 students were recognized Tuesday at Dixon High School's 57th annual Scholastic Honor Banquet, at Sauk Valley Community College.
The departmental award winners were:
Art: Haley Kirk.
Business: Kyle Boone.
English: Kyle Boone, Elizabeth Burghardt, Vivian McConnell, Emily Stewart, and Lauren Walter.
Foreign language: Mary Bratt, Sarah (Sadie) Bratt, Elizabeth Burghardt, Abbey Ewald, Haley Kirk, Vivian McConnell, Hana Muhsin, Emily Stewart, and Lauren Walter.
Industrial arts: Chris Greenwalt.
Math: Ambreen Ahmad, Elizabeth Burghardt, Emily Stewart, and Abigail Willey.
Music: Vivian McConnell, Emily Stewart, and Abigail Willey.
Science: Kyle Boone and Cody Morris.
Social Studies: Mary Bratt, Sarah (Sadie) Bratt, Elizabeth Burghardt, Conor Clark, Zach Costilow, Mitchell Crabtree, Abbey Ewald, Haley Kirk, Matthew Miller, Cody Morris, Nicholas Oliver, Nicholas Rains, Cole Reeder, Stephanie Rudolphi, Emily Stewart, Brandon Treviranus, Lauren Walter, and Abigail Willey.
Freshmen: Michelle Busa, Austin Dillon, Kayla Grobe, Brian Jacobs, Ciara Lightner, Vincent Messina, Michael Rivera, Anna Schaefer, Tiara Sondgeroth, Sydney Spelde, and Benjamin Walter.
Sophomores: Valbona Bajrami, Emily Clemens, Evanne Deatherage, Jennifer Guenther, Paul Kuske, Molly Love, Matthew Renne, Mabel Seto, and Ashley Wolfe.
Juniors: Jonathan Boynton, Chantelle Chamberlain, Nicholas Davis, Jocelyn Delhotal, Alyse Dewey, Holly Faivre, Aaqil Khan, Katherine Kleinmaier, Nathan Kruger, Amanda Lathe, Karin Lee, Elizabeth Mayer, William Moser, and Rebecca Pahr.
Seniors: Ambreen Ahmad, Kyle Boone, Mary Bratt, Sarah Bratt, Elizabeth Burghardt, Conor Clark, Zachary Costilow, Mitchell Crabtree, Abbey Ewald, Chris Greenwalt, Melanie Heckman, Alissa Helander, Haley Kirk, Vivian McConnell, Matthew Miller, Cody Morris, Hana Muhsin, Nicholas Oliver, Nicholas Rains, Cole Reeder, Emily Rendleman, Stephanie Rudolphi, Megan Schrock, Emily Stewart, Brandon Treviranus, Lauren Walter, and Abigail Willey.