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Jack Benny Middle School promotes class of 2025; board members and staff honor students with awards
Summary
Jack Benny Middle School held its eighth-grade promotion ceremony May 21, 2025. Waukegan CUSD 60 Board of Education members and school staff gave speeches and presented awards, including American Legion and Lake County recognitions, to students advancing to high school.
Jack Benny Middle School held its eighth-grade promotion ceremony on May 21, 2025, where school and Waukegan CUSD 60 Board of Education representatives presented awards and promoted students into the Waukegan High School class of 2029.
The event brought district leaders, teachers and families together to recognize student achievement and to offer advice as students prepare for high school. Board President Michael Rodriguez urged students to take responsibility for their studies and decisions, saying, “When you get into high school, you're gonna find that things are a little bit different,” and advising them, “don't be afraid to change your mind.”
Board member Christine Lenzing addressed students with a longer keynote aimed at resilience and preparation. She summarized practical guidance she called “six secrets,” emphasizing a positive mindset and mental health. “Tough times don't last. Resilient people do,” Lenzing told the students, and she urged them to “protect your mental health” and build a reliable “support squad.”
School staff and community partners presented a series of awards across academic and extracurricular categories. The American Legion Homer Derringer Post 281 presented its school award to Carlos Harrell and Leila Navarez. The principal’s award went to Eldon Quistad and Ansa Mubarak; Ansa Mubarak was also named a Lamp of Learning recipient alongside Maricela Gallagher. Other awards announced during the ceremony included science, English language arts, social studies, mathematics, encore (Spanish, art, STEM, music and related classes) and most improved honors. Daniel Mendoza and Araceli Salgado were recognized as the most improved students.
Lake County officials presented the Lake County Recognition Award, noting that each county school selects two students to represent educational excellence; Jack Benny’s county representatives named in the ceremony were Kalinda Pineda and Ansa Mubarak. Presenters at the ceremony included school staff and community representatives who each introduced award winners and described the criteria for each honor.
The ceremony concluded with the school presenting the promoted students by name and formally introducing them as the future class of 2029.
Highlights and direct quotations in this article come from remarks given during the ceremony by Michael Rodriguez, Christine Lenzing and other named presenters.
