Twenty-four of graduating seniors were celebrated at the annual Rotary Scholars Program on Sunday, May 4, at the High School.
Those receiving special honors were:
Jake Conrad – Bates/King Scholarship and Kenneth Speed Memorial English Award
Lily Wigant – Beta Sigma Phi Lambda Nu Award, Galva Lions Club Scholarship, Galva Rotary Scholarship, Galva Rotary Club Scholarship, Health Professional Scholarship, and P.E.O. Chapter BR Scholarship
Emma Farmer – Beta Sigma Phi Xi Kappa Gamma Award and Christa Townsend Memorial Health Scholarship
Madison Bates – Community State Bank Scholarship and Sheldon Dornink Memorial Scholarship
Shane Garcia – Dorothy Talbot Memorial Music Award, James Kirley Financial Scholarship, and Mary Connelly Memorial Music Award
Addison Moore – Edgewise Scholarship, Galva Arts Council Fine and Creative Arts Scholarship, Janet and Ken Russell Scholarship, Keppy Foundation/Galva FFA Alumni Award, Melissa Bates Memorial Scholarship, and Xavier Harman Memorial Scholarship
Tori Conner – Galva Lions H. Ray Young Memorial Science Scholarship, and Galva Masonic Lodge Scholarship
Josh Gravitt – Galva Masonic Lodge Scholarship and Sanford Bittle Memorial Athletic Scholarship
Makayla Craig – Keppy Foundation/Galva FFA Alumni Award and Sean Collis Memorial Music and Theatre Award
According to Rotary Club member Mike Massie, the students were all deserving and congratulated them on their academic excellence.
“Galva should be very proud of our schools, which turn out such accomplished graduates,” he said.
A quartet of graduates earned the distinction of valedictorian. Madison Bates, Makayla Craig, Addison Moore, and Lily Wigant will represent the top of the class, with all four graduates pursuing college in the fall.
Bates, who is also an Illinois State Scholar, will attend the University of Illinois to study economics. Craig will be a student at Black Hawk College in Moline and plans to transfer to a four-year university to major in education. Moore will attend Coastal Carolina University to study marine biology. Wigant, also an Illinois State Scholar, will attend Black Hawk College East with plans to transfer to a four-year university to study nutrition.
Galva High School will hold commencement activities on Sunday, May 18 at 2 p.m. in the Galva High School gymnasium.
Dr. Lara Reem a 1988 Galva High School graduate with a doctorate in education will give the commencement address. Dr. Reem is currently working as a music teacher for the Washington Community High School.
Thirty-four graduating seniors will receive their diplomas during ceremonies on Sunday.
GHS “Class of 2025” graduates are:
Madison Bates
Cole Baulch
Cheyanne Bell
Boone Brown
Victoria Conner
Jacob Conrad
Makayla Craig
Avery Dooley
Emma Farmer
Christopher Garcia
Shane Garcia
Clara Gowler
Joshua Gravitt
Alec Gustafson
Preston Haga
Olivia Hartman
Logan Herr
Jonathan Ingels
Katelynn Jones
Grace Klein
Cyrus Lilly
Addison Moore
Camron O’Brien
Dakota Olander
Loreyn Robinson
Faith Simoneaux
Isabelle Smith
Jasmine Smith
Jesse Sterling
Matthew Swank
Lillian Wigant
Christopher Williams
Tyler Williams
Kaidan Wood
Class motto: “Looking ahead but remembering our past”
Class flower: yellow tulip
Class song: “Ribs” by Lorde
