5-06-2024 11:20pm

Hononegah celebrates student achievements this school year

Part of the winning Hononegah math teams

As Hononegah High School students enter the final month of the school year, they wrap up with an impressive display of recognition, successes, and achievements.

The Principals Association and the HCHS Board of Education honored student council members Kyle Hodges and Sophia Korasik as Illinois Leadership Award winners. On Wednesday, April 17, they recognized them at a special breakfast and the board of education meeting that night. Principal Chad Dougherty called both “exemplary students and excellent role models who are extremely involved and always have a positive attitude.”

This year, the Stateline Robotics team 4655 earned a trip to Houston to compete in the First Robotics World Championships. Rockton Police gave them a proper send-off on April 16. The team was the recipient of the Gracious Professionalism Award in March.

They ended the four-day competition ranking 34 out of 75 incredible teams. The team finished their season ranking 904 out of over 4,000 teams worldwide.

Hononegah's math team finished second at the Math Invitational; all the team members earned medals. The Geometry and Calculus teams took first place, and the Algebra I, Calculator, fresh/soph two-person and junior/senior eight-person teams earned second place in their competitions.

Band and choir students earned Division 1 Ratings at the IHSA Organizational Contest in mid-April. Students from the Mixed Chorus, concert band, Jazz Band, Symphonic Band, and Wind Ensemble traveled to Harvard High School, where they spent the evening performing for a panel of judges. This group of talented vocalists and musicians earned overall superior ratings.

In October, select members of the band and choir auditioned for the ILMEA District 8 ensembles. Twenty-one musically talented individuals earned a spot in District and Senior Choir, District 8 Senior Band, District 8 Orchestras, District 8 Jazz Band, and District 8 Vocal and Jazz.

On January 27, 2024, Grace Pomahac performed with the All-State Band, Sara Nielson with Honors All-State Chorus, Suije Yang with the All-State Orchestra, and Cal Kramper as part of the All-State Band.

In February, band students participated in the Rockford Wind Ensemble Honor Band in a performance at the Nordlof Center. Piper Ennett played the clarinet, Cal Kramper on the French horn, Grace Pomahac on the French horn, Noah Reader on the trombone, and Grant Rasmussen on the tuba.