Eight students received top spots among Kewanee High School graduating Class of 2025 with six graduates sharing the honor of valedictorian and two graduates earning salutatorian.
Kewanee High School valedictorians for the Class of 2025 are Rebeca Corral, Alejandro Duarte, Kashen Ellerbrock, William Ly, Dillon Price and Benjamin Taylor.
Rebeca Corral is the daughter of Jose Ramon Corral and Maricela Corral. Her extra-curricular activities included:
● Art Council – 2 years
● Competitive Theatre as crew – 2 years
● Fall Play as crew – 2 years
● Marching Band – 3 years
● Band, Pep Band & Concert – 4 years
● Art Club – 4 years
● Key Club – 4 years
● Competitive Arts – 4 years
● Musical crew – 4 years
● Scholastic Bowl – 4 years
Rebeca painted the senior artwork that will be on display during the senior assembly and graduation.
She received the following honors:
● All Conference Scholastic Bowl – 1 year
● All-Academic Tennis – 1 year
● National Honor Society – 2 years
● Illinois State Scholar
● Seal of Biliteracy
● Highest Honors – 4 years
Rebeca plans on attending Illinois State University to major in chemistry.
Alejandro Duarte is the son of Carmelo and Nubia Duarte.
Alejandro’s extra-curricular activities are as follows:
● Wrestling
● Football
● Key Club
● Student Council
He received the following honors:
● Illinois State Scholar
● First Team All-State RB & LB 4 A 2024
● Honorable Mention All State RB & LB 4 A 2023
● TRAC Mississippi Defensive Player of the Year
● Defensive Player of the Year, Unanimous First Team All-Conference RB & LB 2023 & 2024
● IHSA 5th Place State Placer 215 lb. Weight Class 2024, National Honors Society, Academic All State First Team in Football & Wrestling, Ken Gerdes Scholarship Recipient, IADA All State Athletic Scholar, Chuck Murdock Central Illinois All Area Wrestling Team Class 1A 2024
Alejandro plans on attending Illinois State University to receive his bachelor’s degree in nursing.
Kashen Ellerbrock is the son of Jeff and Kelly Ellerbrock.
Kashen’s extra-curricular activities are as follows:
● FFA
● Basketball
● Football
● 4-H
Kashen received the following honors:
● National Honor Society
● Elk’s Student of the Month
Kashen plans on attending Black Hawk College East and then transferring to a university while working towards a degree in ag business or animal science.
William Ly is the son of My Din and Michael Ly.
William’s extra-curricular activities are as follows:
● Competitive Theater – 1 year
● National Honor Society – 2 years
● Robotics ( Lead Programmer 1x) – 2 years
● Jazz Choir – 2 years
● Kewanee Voice Student Journalism – 2 years
● Musical Pit – 3 years
● Band ( 2x Drum Major) – 4 years
● Student Council – 4 years
● Jazz Band – 4 years
● Jazz Combo – 4 years
● Key Club – 4 years
● Soccer (captain 1 year & JV captain 1 year) – 4 years
● Scholastic Bowl (2x captain) – 4 years
William received the following honors:
● ILMEA All-District State Band Tenor Saxophone – 1 year
● ILMEA All-District Jazz Alto Saxophone – 2 years
● ILMEA All-District Soprano Saxophone – 3 years
● ILMEA All-District Tenor Saxophone – 3 years
● All-Academic Conference Soccer – 2 years
● All-Academic Conference Scholastic Bowl – 2 years
● All-Conference Band – 3 years
● Seal of Biliteracy
● National Merit Commended Scholar
● Best of Day Solo & Ensemble
● Highest Honors – 4 years
● Questbridge National College Match Finalist
● Questbridge College Prep Scholar
● Illinois State Scholar
William plans on attending Northwestern Biomedical Engineering University.
Dillon Price is the son of Dean and Rachelle Price.
Dillon’s extra-curricular activities are as follows:
● Soccer
● Baseball
● Hockey
● Key Club
● Student Council
● Kewanee Voice Student Journalism
● Band
Dillon received the following honors:
● National Honor Society Member
Dean plans on attending the University of Illinois and majoring in civil engineering.
Benjamin Taylor is the son of Matthew and Jill Taylor.
Benjamin’s extra-curricular activities are as follows:
● Football – 4 years
● Wrestling – 4 years
● Baseball – 4 years
● Senior Class President
● Key Club
Benjamin received the following honors:
● First Team All-Conference Wrestling
● All-State Academic Football – 2 years
● National Honor Society Member
● First-Team All-Conference Wide Receiver – 2 years
● Wrestling Captain – 2 years
● Football Captain – 2 years
● 2025 IHSA Wrestling State Qualifier
Ivan Ruiz Sanchez and Garrett Komnick are the salutatorians for the 2025 graduating class.
Garrett Komnick is the son of Michael and Jacque Komnick.
Garrett’s extra-curricular activities are as follows:
● Group Interpretation – 2 years
● Musical – 2 years
● Soccer – 2 years
● Jazz Combo – 2 years
● Marching Band – 4 years
● Jazz Band – 4 years
● Scholastic Bowl – 4 years
● Student Council – 4 years
● Key Club – 4 years
Garrett received the following honors:
● ILMEA Junior Jazz Band
● ILMEA Senior Jass Band
● National Honor Society – 2 years
Garrett plans to attend Northern Illinois University and study sports management. He will also be part of the Huskie Drumline.
Ivan Ruiz Sanchez is the son of Jose Ruiz and Blanca Sanchez.
Ivan’s extra-curricular activities are as follows:
● Wrestling – 2 years
● Soccer – 3 years
● Key Club – 4 years
Ivan received the following honors:
● National Honor Society
● Elks Student of the Month
Ivan plans on attending Black Hawk for an associate degree in science and then transferring to University of Illinois for a bachelor’s in science – computer information system.
