Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Education topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Miguel Juarez Middle School honors Class of 2025 with promotion certificates and awards
Summary
Waukegan CUSD 60 held a May 2025 promotion ceremony at Miguel Juarez Middle School recognizing eighth-graders with certificates of promotion and awards from the school and community groups, with remarks from school leaders and Board of Education members.
At a May 2025 promotion ceremony at Miguel Juarez Middle School in Waukegan, teachers, district officials and family members gathered to present certificates of promotion and a series of school and community awards to the eighth-grade Class of 2025.
The event opened with Assistant Principal Anissa Hamilton calling the assembly to order and an eighth-grade student leading the Pledge of Allegiance. Principal Campos congratulated students and urged them to embrace the challenges of high school, saying, "High school is waiting for you, and you are more than ready for it." Student speaker Itzel Gallardo asked classmates to carry the school's five "TIGER" values — trustworthiness, integrity, growth, empathy and respect — into high school, telling the audience that those values will help them "succeed in the future."
School and community awards were presented during the ceremony. Principal Campos recognized four students for exemplary behavior and leadership: Axel Morales, Ethan Hernandez, Alexa Attello and Suwan Sajeev. Two students, Eileen Macias and Elizabeth Flores, were named recipients of the Illinois Principal Association Lake Region Student Recognition Award for 2025. William Stepney presented the American Legion award on behalf of Homer Derrington Post 281; in his remarks Stepney traced the post's long history of honoring student citizenship and leadership.
Board of Education representatives attended and addressed the students. Board President Rodriguez reminded graduates they will face greater expectations in high school and urged them to be accountable and persistent. Board member Christine Lenzing offered a motivational address emphasizing resilience, mental-health awareness and building a supportive peer group.
Advisory teachers read the students' names as certificates of promotion were awarded; families were asked to hold applause until all students had been recognized. School staff closed the program by escorting students back to the school for pickup.
The ceremony included traditional elements — the pledge, student and staff remarks, presentation of awards and the formal reading of student names — and no board votes or policy actions occurred as part of the event.
