Deka Boss is starting college right away after finishing high school early. Bri Duran is going to work and save money before joining the U.S. Marines.
They are just two of the stories from McHenry Community High School’s early graduates from the Class of 2025. The more than 60 early graduates were celebrated with a special breakfast on Dec. 17 at Upper Campus.
Dr. Jeff Prickett, Upper Campus principal, congratulated the early graduates for putting in the work to finish their high school requirements a semester early. Those who graduate early typically participate in commencement ceremonies in May.
“We’re excited for you to get started,” Prickett said.
Boss said she is going to start college at University of Wisconsin-Whitewater with a plan to become a kindergarten teacher. Duran said she will leave in June for basic training in the U.S. Marines.
Duran, who said she didn’t take a study hall while at MCHS so she could graduate early, chose the Marines because she liked that Marines often respond to emergencies.
“We’re always the first ones on the site for things that happen,” she said.
Dr. Prickett’s Ren (Renaissance) Team came up with the idea to celebrate early graduates each December, along with other initiatives to make everyone feel welcome and celebrated at school.