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Kaneland students showcase awards across athletics, journalism, theatre, DECA and CTE
Summary
The board recognized student achievements across nonathletic and athletic activities: wheelchair basketball national finishes and state titles, regional wins in graphic arts and ACEs, student journalism sectional and state placings, drama and musical productions, and DECA chapter growth to a 70‑member chapter.
Kaneland CUSD 302 trustees and administrators recognized a wide range of student achievements from across the district during the meeting’s salute and presentations.
Highlights included a presentation by high school activities coordinator Tom Roman and multiple student speakers and advisers from athletics, academic competitions, CTE and the arts.
Wheelchair basketball: Jonathan Paris, a junior, described his team’s season with the Lincoln Way Special Recreation Association Hawks: “We were midwest conference champions and … ranked as the number 1 team in the nation. Unfortunately falling short and finishing fourth at Nationals. We also won the IHS state championship.” Paris said the team finished the season 26–6.
Academic competitions and CTE: The ACEs academic team placed first at regionals and third at sectionals; individual sectional winners Kenneth Gaio (biology) and A.J. Faraga (physics and computer science) advanced. Graphic-arts students won their regional team competition and the district’s program produced two seniors who finished among the top three candidates for Graphics Student of the Year.
Journalism: Kaneland’s student-run Crier magazine repeated as sectional champions and sent 10 staff members to the state finals; individual students placed among the state’s top review writers, sports writers and radio news producers. Audrey Walker earned a spot on the All‑State Journalism team and will attend the All‑State Awards banquet in Springfield on June 7.
Theater and music: The drama club reported a successful spring musical, Something Rotten, that drew roughly 1,000 audience members for the run. Drama students described workshops and festivals they attended, including the Illinois High School Theatre Association Festival at the University of Illinois.
DECA: Adviser Kevin Gudovich and DECA student leaders said the chapter was restarted after COVID, growing from 9 members in 2022 to about 70 members this year — the largest number in the chapter’s 25‑year history. The chapter placed multiple students at sectionals and state and won an Illinois award for largest chapter growth.
Why it matters: Administrators said broad extracurricular engagement supports student leadership, college- and career-readiness and community involvement. Superintendent Kurt Rolling and trustees noted that many students participate in multiple activities and that the district supports more than 40 active clubs across the high school.
Ending: Trustees thanked students and advisers for the presentations and noted upcoming events including the district arts festival and graduation on May 18 at NIU’s Convocation Center.
