Hall High School Names Top 10 for Class of 2008
by News Tribune Staff
May 06, 2008
Hall Announces Top Ten
Dan Denis, Emily Kraemer, Angie Lequia and Ryan Nett are the
valedictorians for the Hall High School graduating class of 2008.
Ashley Whatcott is the salutatorian this year. Also in the top 10
are Mike Wilkinson, Tia Messino, Audra Loveland, Chris Nagel and
Adam Helm.
Denis, son of Rich and Mary Jane Denis of Spring Valley, plans to attend the University of Illinois and participate in the honors electrical engineering program. He was named to the All-Conference Scholastic Bowl Team. He won third place in math in the 2008 Worldwide Youth in Science and Engineering regional. He was on high honor roll every semester and was the recipient of the National Junior French Award. Denis’s extracurricular activities included French club, basketball, cross country, track, honors activities club, mentors and science club.
Kraemer’s parents are Karl and Emeta Kraemer of Bureau. Her activities include track and field, cross country, basketball, Honors Activities Club, pep club, science club, Spanish Club, WYSE team, library aid, tutor and Leos Club. She was inducted into National Honor Society, and named to the Spanish National Honors Society. She is vice president of National Honor Society and captain of both track and basketball. She was named North Central Illinois Conference all-academic in cross country, basketball and track. She was named to the Who’s Who Among American High School Students, National Merit Scholar, Elks Teen of the Month Nominee, and All-Bureau County Republican Honorable Mention Cross Country. Kraemer will attend Illinois Institute of Technology on a Navy ROTC scholarship. She plans to earn a degree in architecture.
Lequia plans to attend Rockford College and then attend medical school to specialize in forensic pathology. Her honors include two first ratings at this year’s solo and ensemble contest for a flute solo and a flute duet. She was a scholastic bowl member who aided her team in two consecutive regional victories, placed second in biology and the WYSE regional, and placed first in English at the WYSE sectional earning her a bid to the State WYSE competition. Lequia was in French club, band, scholastic bowl, National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, Leos club, Spanish club, Medical Health Careers club and is a hospital volunteer. She is the daughter of Joan Lequia of Spring Valley and Jim Lequia of Lacon.
Nett, son of Steve and Becky Nett of Spring Valley, rounds out the list of Hall valedictorians this year. Ryan plans to attend Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minn., where he will play basketball and major in biology and chemistry (or physics). He has been a member of football, baseball, and mentors. He was Honors Activities Club president, Spanish club president, Sociedad Honoraria Hispanica treasurer and basketball captain. He was named February Elks Teen of the Month, NewsTribune All Academic Team, Daughters of the American Revolution Award winner, Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Award winner, Veterans of Foreign Wars Essay Contest Winner, IHSA Honorable Mention All-State Academic Team, Chicago Tribune All-State Academic Team Nominee, Academic All-Conference in football and basketball, Wendy’s Heisman Award winner, and high honor roll. He received first place in biology and third place in computer science at WYSE regionals.
Whatcott, daughter of Craig and Heidi Whatcott of Spring Valley, will attend Brigham Young University in Utah and double major in music composition and 3D animation. She is involved in Spanish club, Spanish National Honor Society, Leos Club and choir. She placed first in computer programming at the regional WYSE competition and third place in the sectional WYSE competition in computer programming.
Mike Wilkinson, son of Gina Lorati and Raymond Lorati of Spring Valley, will attend Illinois Valley Community College, then transfer to a technical college to study computer. He was a member of the two-time regional winning scholastic bowl team. He placed first in computer programming at the regional WYSE competition and third place in the sectional WYSE competition in computer programming.
Tia Messino was this year’s president of Leos Club. She has been on the honor roll, named to National Honor Society and nominated for Spanish Honor Society. She is the daughter of Julie and Ken Palmer of Ladd. She will attend IVCC and then transfer.
Audra Loveland, daughter of Peter and Sandra Loveland of Spring Valley, plans to attend Illiniis Wesleyan University and major in horn performance and minor in French language. She has been involved in Medical Health Careers Club, Honors Activities Club, track, volleyball, band, Illinois Valley Youth Symphony, IVCC wind ensemble, student council and mentors. She was captain of the cheerleading squad, treasurer of the National Honor Society, president of musical theatre, and president of the French Club. She was named to Who's Who Among American High School Students in cheerleading, French and math. She is the recipient of the Principal's Recognition Award.
Chris Nagel, son of Jim and Janet Nagel of Princeton, is invovled in Spanish Club, Scholastic Bowl, Mentors, WYSE, and science club. The high honor roll student plans to attend Bradley and receive a bachelor's degree in multimedia with a minor in graphic design and computer science.
Adam Helm, son of Tom and Tammy Helm of Ladd, participated in Power Mechanics Club. He was in National Honor Society, high honor roll and was a Prairie State Achievement Exam award winner. He plans to be a heavy machine operator.
