HP_060619

4 | June 6, 2019 | The highland park landmark news
hplandmark.com
Students reflect on
high school experience
after HPHS graduation
Olivia Vallone
Editorial Intern
More than 500 Highland
Park High School students
walked across the grand
stage at Ravinia Park on
May 29 to receive their
well-earned diploma.
At the beginning of the
ceremony, principal Deborah
Finn announced the recipient
of the 112th Medal
of Honor as Amir Ahmed
Saeed Fakhari. This Medal
of Honor is awarded to best
all around student during
his or her senior year chosen
by the staff of HPHS
every year since 1907.
“The moment they called
my name for it, it was as if
time froze,” Fakhari said.
“It was a very joyous moment
for me.”
The 2019 class is one
of the biggest graduating
classes the high school
has ever seen. Out of the
515 graduates, 287 of the
students were a part of the
HPHS Honors Society.
Samuel Dincin, a graduate
part of the HPHS
Scholars and Honors Society,
gave a speech about
the power of simple acts of
kindness. Dincin shared a
story about how a compliment
he received on his T-
shirt meant so much to him
that he felt more confident
every time he wore that
shirt. As he was recounting
this story, he opened his
graduation gown to reveal
that very shirt.
“It can truly just take one
sentence to make someone’s
day,” Dincin said.
Highland Park High School graduate Glenn Sherman
walks across the stage, May 29, at the school’s graduation
ceremony at Ravinia Festival. Erin Yarnall/22nd
Century Media
“So as we all leave high
school behind, remember
that you will always have
the power to create happiness
in the lives of others
and in the world around
you.”
Principal Finn announced
the salutatorians
(Joshua Gross and Jacob
Hersh) and valedictorians
(Natalie Abreu, Joshua
Gross and Jacob Hersh)
while she was presenting
student honors. This year
was the first year that a student
could be recognized
as both a salutatorian and
valedictorian.
Finn later elaborated on
the HPHS motto of dream
- believe - achieve by offering
students advice and
words of encouragement
about each core value.
“Fine is never good
enough if you’re not giving
it all you’re effort,” Gross
said when describing how
he saw HPHS values.
Gross went on to outline
the programs he had
been apart of and loved at
the high school. The most
impactful organization for
him was the HPHS band in
which he played the saxophone
and grew closer with
everyone in the band.
When asked what one
word would describe his
class best, Gross chose
‘broad.’ Gross explained
that everyone in his class
came from different backgrounds
and had different
interests and he was grateful
to get to learn about all
of them throughout his four
years at HPHS.
Being one of the biggest
classes in the high school’s
history, some people were
concerned about the seating
arrangements before
the celebration.
There were people standing
in the back of the pavilion
but, for the most part,
everyone who wanted a
seat had one available.
After the ceremony to
celebrate their successful
four years, all graduates
were invited to Enchanted
Castle in Lombard and a
sunrise breakfast at Park
Avenue Beach to celebrate.