It’s the first week of summer freedom for the 765 students in Barrington High School’s Class of 2015 after Friday’s graduation ceremony. Our crew’s cameras were rolling inside Willow Creek Community Church as caps flew in honor of some pretty impressive achievements for this year’s graduating class.
You can read all about the honors & achievements that define the Class of 2015 below and “by the numbers”. But first, we too are celebrating a special BHS graduate this week. After two years covering local events for 365BarringtonTV, reporter James Owen appeared on camera in his own cap and gown during our graduation ceremony coverage this year.
As James heads to DePaul University to study digital cinema and marketing, he’s passing the torch to new 365BarringtonTV reporter and incoming BHS senior, Tommy Derken. The two of them (with filmer Jack Coombs) had a little fun as Tommy produced his video highlighting this year’s graduates. Here’s a sampling of where students are headed to college, what they’re hopeful for and what they’ll miss most about Barrington.
As we celebrate fresh starts and new beginnings this week, here’s a look at the graduating class of 2015’s achievements in academics, athletics, arts and in service, by the numbers…
(Click to compare to the classes of 2014, 2013, 2012 and 2011.)
Academics
- 196 – Number of graduates who are Illinois State Scholars
- 30 – Members of your class who are National Merit Commended students
- 12 – Number of National Merit Scholarship Finalists
- 2 – Number of students who were named Golden Apple Scholars
- 3 – Number of students who earned a perfect 36 on their ACT
- $131,000 – Quantity of dollars in local scholarships awarded by community foundations, organizations and private donors to class of 2015 recipients
Post Secondary Destinations
- Top 10 Schools
Harper College, University of Illinois (Champaign-Urbana), Indiana University, Loyola University (Chicago), Illinois State University, University of Missouri, University of Iowa, Iowa State University, University of Wisconsin (Madison), and the University of Michigan. - Other highly selective schools welcoming BHS grads
Stanford, Vanderbilit, Dartmouth, Princeton, University of California Berkeley, Boston College, Washington University, Northwestern, Berkelee School of Music, Oberlin, University of Pennsylvania, and Vassar. - 6 – Members of the class who have chosen to serve in the military after graduation
- 1 – Student has enrolled in the Navy’s Nuclear Program and another will attend Virginia Military Institute
Service & Volunteerism
- 55,600 – Combined hours of community service from the Class of 2015
- 80% – Percentage of graduating class that has participated in recorded volunteer activities
- 95 – Number of students who received the President’s Volunteer Service Award for performing 100 hours of community service within a 12-month period.
- 82 – Number of students who volunteered 200 hours or more.
- 2,600 – Number of hours of community service performed during the past 4 years by just 1 member of the class of 2015
- 1 – The Barrington High School graduate who was a bronze medal finalists for the Prudential Spirit of Community Award
Arts
- 25 – Musicians were named to the district 7 Honor Band, Jazz Band, Choir, and Orchestra.
- 4 – Students were named to All-State orchestra, 1 to the All-State band, and 6 to the All-State choir.
- 1st – The choir program’s barbershop group FOUR MEN – ONE VOICE took first place at both district and state competitions.
- 14 – Number of vocal students who earned Division I ratings at the IHSA solo competition
- 1 – Student won the “Best of Show” award at the Harper Art Show
- $2 Million – The number of dollars raised through the creation of fundraising videos produced by BHS-TV over the past 4 years for a plethora of charities including Relay for Life and Gigi’s Playhouse.
Athletics
- 77% – As of graduation morning, on the courts, fields and in the pool 2015 graduates have won 77% of their contests.
- 15 – Number of divisional or conference championships win in a conference with 12 schools and 28 conference championships
- 6 – Number of regional championships BHS won under senior leadership
- 3 – Number of sectional championships BHS won under senior leadership
- 52 – Number of state qualifiers in the class
- 13 – Number of state medal winners
- 13 – Number of all-state athletes
- 247 – Number of academic all-conference senior athletes
- In team competitions, BHS 2015 graduates finished competitively in STATE FINALS tournaments, including:
State Quarterfinalist (Football), State Quarterfinalist (Boys’ Water Polo), State 7th Place (Girls’ Tennis), State 5th Place (Dance Team), State 4th Place (Girls’ Gymnastics), State 4th Place (Co-Ed Cheerleading), State 3rd Place (Boys’ Golf), State 2nd Place (Girls Track and Field)
Congratulations and thank you for making Barrington proud, Class of 2015! We wish you much learning, adventure, friendship and success during this next phase of your lives. And remember… Your futures may be bright, but lights will guide you home.
