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With the help of digital imaging software, the accomplished Tomcats recently posed individually for a "virtual group picture" in the East High School library. Con la ayuda del software de imágenes digitales, los exitosos Tomcats recientemente posaron individualmente para una "foto de grupo virtual" en la biblioteca de East High School.

April 14, 2021

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East Aurora High School announces Top 10 graduating seniors for Class of 2021East Aurora High School anuncia a los primeros 10 estudiantes del último año que se gradúan para la Clase del 2021

East Aurora High School has ten more reasons to celebrate, as the high school recently announced their academic Top 10 students for the Class of 2021.

The Top 10 academic students represent the ten highest grade point averages (GPA) in their graduating class. East Aurora High School’s Graduation Ceremony for the Class of 2021 will take place in-person on Sunday, May 30, 2021, at 12:30 p.m. The Ceremony will be held outdoors at Northern Illinois University’s Football Field (Huskie Stadium), 1425 W. Lincoln Hwy, DeKalb.

With the help of digital imaging software, the accomplished Tomcats recently posed individually for a “virtual group picture” in the East High School library.

Congratulations to our Top 10 students, their families, their teachers, and all those who supported the

m. Below is a brief profile of each of these celebrated students from the Class of 2021.

#1. Moises Jimenez (Valedictorian)

Parent/guardian(s): Rosa and Guadalupe Jimenez
College: Stanford University
Field or career choice: Mechanical Engineering or Political Science
Clubs and sports: EASD 131 Student Board Member, East Aurora Ambassadors Club, French Honors Society, Key Club, Math Honors Society, NJROTC Academic Team, NJROTC Chiefs Mess, NJROTC Rifle Team, National Honors Society, Science Honors Society, Upward Bound
Prior schooling: Dieterich Elementary School, Fred Rodgers Magnet Academy
Favorite memory: The East vs. Larkin basketball game because it is one of the last vivid memories I have with friends.
Teacher who inspired me: Dr. Chassie Sherretz, my previous Upward Bound Advisor, because she challenged me to do better every day and helped me see the opportunities available to me.

#2. Sandy Nino (Salutatorian)

Parent/guardian(s): Ruben Nino Guzman & Rosalia Flores Perez
College: I have not decided where I am attending next year as I am still waiting to hear back from some schools. I have been accepted into DePaul University, Kentucky University, Kansas University, and Loyola University. While the schools I am still waiting to hear back from are Stanford University, Northwestern University, Miami University (Ohio), University of Southern California, and Washington University in St. Louis.
Field or career choice: I want to major in the Science Field; my top two major choices are Human Biology or Psychology.
Clubs and sports: Student Athlete Society, National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society; Cross Country, Basketball, Track and Field
Prior schooling: I attended Rollins Elementary, Simmons Middle School
Favorite memory: My favorite high school memory is having played basketball after promising Miss Coach Savage in fifth grade that I would come back and play for her once I was in high school, and I did just that.
Teacher who inspired me: All my teachers at East were great, but if I had to choose one, it would Coach Mick because he believed in me at times when I didn’t even believe in myself.

#3. Arleth Corrales Rodriguez

Parent/guardian(s): Belem Rodriguez
College: Considering Dominican University, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign, Aurora University, and Northern Illinois University
Field or career choice: Secondary Education with a focus on English, and I plan on minoring in Social Work
Clubs and sports: EA Ambassador, Aurora Youth Council, Youth Engagement in Philanthropy, Dance, Drum and Bugle Corps NJROTC, Junior Leadership and Academic Bowl (JLAB) NJROTC, Scholasticats Quiz Bowl, Chief’s Mess NJROTC (President), National Honors Society, Mu Alpha Theta, Junior Class Council
Prior schooling: Pixley Elementary School (CA), Alila Elementary School (CA), Indian Knoll Elementary (West Chicago), Leman Middle School (West Chicago), Cowherd Middle School
Favorite memory: One of my favorite memories is when our JLAB team qualified for nationals, and four of us were flown out to Washington D.C. to compete for five days. Another memory I’ll never forget are the times I spent with my friends in the math tutoring lab where we would joke around and study with Mr. Schmidt. I probably spent more time there than anywhere else!
Teacher who inspired me: All of my teachers have helped mold me into the student I am today, and because of this, they have all inspired me immensely. I want to particularly thank Chief Meadows because he taught me that opportunities appear to those that seek them and are granted to those that demonstrate they have valor and a sense of self-efficacy. He showed me that “never saying never” is a motto one should live by and that I should always believe in myself.

#4. Abigail Callinan

Parent / guardian(s): Michael Callinan, Imelda Callinan
College: Considering Loyola University Chicago, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Field or career choice: Medical Field or Marketing Communications
Clubs and sports: Volleyball, Upward Bound, Eco Club, Key Club, National Honors Society, Math Honors Society, EA Ambassadors
Prior schooling: Annunciation, Allen Elementary, O’Donnell Elementary, Fred Rodgers Magnet Academy
Favorite memory: My favorite high school memory is when I went to Philadelphia with Upward Bound. I was able to explore and travel around a city I had never been to, all while doing it with my friends. I went to museums, went to historical sites, and just had an overall amazing trip.
Teacher who inspired me: A teacher who has inspired me is Mr. Harmon. Mr. Harmon created a warm, exciting, and inviting atmosphere in his classroom, and that energy he projected every day in class is a vital quality in life.

#5. Peter Dorantes

Parent/guardian(s): Pedro Dorantes, Joaquina Dorantes
College: College of DuPage
Field or career choice: Construction Management and Small Business Ownership (Residential Home Renovation Company)
Clubs and sports: Not Applicable
Prior schooling: Allen Elementary School, Johnson Elementary School, Henry W. Cowherd Middle School
Favorite memory: Bridge Building Competition in AP Physics 1 with Mr. Kelly and numerous occasions in class with classmates and interactive lesson with Mr. Kelly.
Teacher who inspired me: Mr. Kelly, his personal characteristics, his emotional and zealous attitude towards teaching the class, his profound knowledge and expertise, his sense of humor, his humility, all together brought an unforgettable experience to the class and his efforts to create an engaging subject worked effectively, and the interest for each of his students is what I want to replicate as well.

#6. Arlet Perez

Parent/guardian(s): Veronica Perez, Modesto Perez
College: I am considering Carleton College, The University of Chicago, and the University of Illinois—Urbana-Champaign.
Field or career choice: I’m undecided about my career choice, but I want to major in Sociology.
Clubs and sports: I was involved in Upward Bound, National Honors Society, Key Club, Junior Class Council, LEDA, and played Softball.
Prior schooling: I went to O’Donnell Elementary School and JCD STEM Partnership School for 6-8th grade.
Favorite memory: My favorite high school memories are those I made on the out-of-state spring break trips I would take with Upward Bound.
Teacher who inspired me: A teacher who has inspired me is Mr. Bednarik because he taught me never to take life so seriously and never be afraid of taking risks.

#7. Adaly Camacho

Parent/guardian(s): Rosamaria Camacho
College: I am considering UIC or the University of Michigan, but I am also considering studying abroad for a semester and then going to regular school.
Field or career choice: Anesthesiology
Clubs and sports: Cheerleading, Track & Field, Cross Country, National Honors Society, French Honors Society, Math Honors Society, Student Council, Student Athletes Society, Math Team
Prior schooling: Gates Elementary, O’Donnell Elementary, Fred Rodgers Magnet Academy
Favorite memory: My favorite high school memories are the homecoming games because more people are in the crowd, filling up the stadium, making the overall vibe of the night really exciting.
Teacher who inspired me: A teacher who inspired me is my track coach, Bryan Taylor; since the day I met him, he has been nothing but supportive and encouraging. He always goes above and beyond for his students, and his overall positive attitude allows you to feel like you can do anything—which you can. He helps you realize that you can do anything you set your mind to reach your full potential.

#7. Lizbeth Guijarro Magaña

Parent/guardian(s): Yesika and Juan Guijarro
College: Considering St. Olaf College, Loyola University Chicago, DePaul University, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, while waiting for other decisions.
Field or career choice: Cognitive Neuroscience
Clubs and sports: Mu Alpha Theta, National Honors Society, Volleyball, Track and Field.
Prior schooling: Escuela Primaria Insurgente Guzman, Allen Elementary School, Cowherd Middle School, Fred Rodgers Magnet Academy
Favorite memory: Each video I collaborated on for a group project. For instance, the biology project that promoted a full exploration at the Oakhurst Forest Preserve, ending with us covered in mud, or the chemistry video that demonstrated how slime could be the perfect intestine representative during a faux surgical procedure.
Teacher who inspired me: Mr. Gillespie inspired me to disregard the limits that I unconsciously placed upon myself and trust that the future will bring the success that I seek.

#9. Abraham Rios

Parent/guardian(s): Guillermo Rios and Belem Rios
College: College of Dupage
Field or career choice: Diagnostic Medical Sonographer
Clubs and sports: Volleyball, Science National Honors Society, and National Honors Society
Prior schooling: Hermes Elementary School and Fred Rodgers Magnet Academy
Favorite memory: After-school weightlifting was always fun!
Teacher who inspired me: Coach Wilson would always tell me that if I was to ever do something, that I should give it everything I got, otherwise I’m wasting my own time. I took that to heart.

#10. Unice Astorga

Parent/guardian(s): Jose and Karla Astorga
College: Considering Bradley and NIU
Field or career choice: Engineering
Clubs and sports: Volleyball
Prior schooling: Hermes and Fred Rodgers Magnet Academy
Favorite memory: My favorite memory is from last year when we played against Fenton and won
Teacher who inspired me: Ms. Wilson inspired me because she always believed in me and held me accountable.

La escuela preparatoria East Aurora tiene diez razones más para celebrar, ya que la escuela preparatoria anunció, recientemente, a sus 10 mejores estudiantes académicos para la clase del 2021.

Los 10 mejores estudiantes académicos, representan los diez promedios de calificaciones más altos (GPA) en su clase de graduación. La ceremonia de graduación de East Aurora High School para la promoción del 2021 se llevará a cabo en persona el domingo 30 de mayo. La ceremonia se llevará a cabo al aire libre en el campo de fútbol americano de la Northern Illinois University (Huskie Stadium), 1425 W. Lincoln Hwy, DeKalb.

Con la ayuda del software de imágenes digitales, los exitosos Tomcats posaron, individualmente, para una “foto de grupo virtual” en la biblioteca del East High School.

Felicitaciones a nuestros 10 mejores estudiantes, sus familias, sus maestros y todos los que los apoyaron. A continuación se muestra un breve perfil de cada uno de estos célebres estudiantes de la promoción 2021.