Senior Issue Volume 52

KANELAND

KR ER May 13, 2026

KANELAND

KR ER

Volume 52 Senior Issue Kaneland High School Cover by Sophia Schroll •

•

•

Class of 2026

Statistics

Design and graphics by Sophia Schroll This data is collected from a voluntary survey of 157 Kaneland Seniors

Where ER do you H T .6% 23 47.8% see yourself Democratic living in DEMOCRATIC REPUBLICAN 28.7% Republican 10 years?

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLICAN What political party do you identify with most?

Suburbs 45.9%

O

North America 11%

May 13, 2026

Europe 59.4%

City 22.9%

Asia12.3%

Rural 22.9%

Central America and the Caribbean 7.1%

Middle East 2.6% South America 5.2%

Sub-Saharan Africa 0% Australia and Oceania 2.6%

Where do you want to travel in the next 10 years?

Another country 8.3%

What is your favorite music genre?

Y

C

U NT

R

O

21%

R O C K

17.2%

14.6%

14.6%

9.6%

8.3%

8.3% 5.7%

Have you ever been in a car accident?

Have you ever been pulled over?

YES 41.4% NO 58.6%

Would you send your kids to Kaneland?

YES 28.7% NO 71.3%

7.3%

NO 5

YES 42.7%

What is your favorite social media platform?

Instagram 33.8%

Have you ever had sex?

Y NO ES 24 75.2 .8 % %

Have you ever been in a relationship?

Have you ever drank alcohol?

S

YE

Are you ready to graduate?

37 .6

NO

YES 92.4%

NO 57.3

%

Have you ever used marijuana?

% .4 62

NO 35.7%

Other 6.4%

%

.7 42

S YE

YES 64.3%

Snapchat 14%

%

TikTok 45.9%

NO 7.6%

Have you ever used nicotine?

YES 38.9% NO 61.1%

Our Origin Story...

According to Billboard’s YearEnd Hot 100, the top singles of 2007 and 2008 were Irreplaceable by Beyonce and Low

by Flo Rida. The top artists were Akon and Taylor Swift.

Page Design & Captions by Faith Maschman

According to Apple, Steve Jobs first announced the iPhone on Jan. 9, 2007, and it was released in the U.S. on June 29, 2007.

FASHION trends

In 2007, the Indianapolis Colts won the Super Bowl on Feb. 4, defeating the Chicago Bears 29-17. A year later, on Feb. 3, the New York Giants defeated the New England Patriots, with a final score of 17-14.

People Magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive for 2007 was American actor and film producer Matt Damon and Australian actor and singer Hugh Jackman in 2008.

1

Something crazy is happening at school.

What do you?

A. Check Instagram immediately to see if someone posted about it.

B. Honestly... this feels normal at this point.

C. Go see what’s happening in person.

D. Try to avoid the situation completely.

E. You are the one doing something crazy.

3

How do you deal with unexpected situations?

A. I immediately tell everyone.

B. I adapt and move on.

C. I watch the drama unfold.

D. I try to escape the chaos.

E. I somehow become part of it.

5

Your role in school drama is usually…

A. The one sending the video to everyone B. Just trying to get through the day C. Somehow right near where everything happens D. The one caught in the wrong place at the wrong time E. The one who ends up part of the story

2 A

If you answered mostly...

Pick your senior mood:

A. “Wait…did you see what just got posted?”

B. “At this point nothing surprises me.”

C. “Something wild is always happening.”

D. “Why does this stuff always happen to me?”

E. “Our class has the craziest stories.”

Pick a Vibe:

Getting Posted to Barstool You somehow end up in the story. Whether it’s a screenshot, a video or something mildly embarrassing, your life has the kind of moments that would absolutely end up on Kaneland Barstool. It’s not always ideal in the moment, but at least it makes a good story later.

B COVID-19

4

COVID-19 You were in middle school during one of the weirdest times possible.

Masks, hybrid schedules and constantly changing rules were just normal for you. Because of that, you’re pretty good at adjusting when things don’t go as planned.

A. Internet fame B. Surviving the weirdest middle school years C. Pure chaos D. Random bad luck E. Legendary school story

C School Fights

Design by Sophia Schroll Quiz by Olivia krasuski graphics by Sophia schroll

E

Kaneland Fire

Kaneland Fire Your high school career started with something no one expected: a literal fire in the building. If this is your result, you probably have some of the most memorable “you had to be there” stories from high school.

Barstool

School Fights You witnessed some of the most dramatic moments of high school. School fights were the kind of thing that made everyone stop in the hallway and ask, “Wait, what just happened?”

You always seem to be near whatever the latest story is.

D Goose Attacks

Goose Attacks You’re just trying to get to class, and somehow a goose is chasing you across the parking lot. Freshman year taught you that even the most normal school day can turn ridiculous. Your high school experience includes at least one moment where you thought, “This cannot be real.”

THE SENIOR CLASS OF 2026 POST-SECONDARY PLANS

Early Graduates

Spring Graduates

Chase Adams

Isabel Aguilera

Victoria Bartkowiak

Xzavion Aguirre

Aiden Clarke

Isabel Alba

Aaliyah Cordova

Idrees Ali

Steven Maxwell

Masimo Alliaj

Grace Remsen

Jad Al-urf

Workforce

Northern Illinois University Political Science

Waubonsee Community College Undecided

Undecided

Undecided

Gustavus Adolphus College Environmental Studies

Trade School Hair Professionals Career College

Waubonsee Community College IT Support Technician

Aurora University Social Work

Undecided

Waubonsee Community College Biology

Benedictine University Undecided

Brady Alstott

Benedictine University Finance

Alexis Alvarez

Waubonsee Community College Engineering and Management

Chance Anderson

Waubonsee Community College Business

Courtney Anderson

Waubonsee Community College Biology

Joseph Anderson Undecided

Madison Anderson Wartburg College Elementary Education

Kiersten Andrae

4.9% Workforce

3.1% Trade school 1.8% Military

University of South Florida Health and Physical Rehabilitation Science

7.5% Other

48% Four-Year University 34.7% Community College

Pierce Antia

Michael Caravantes

Liam Cotter

Laina Ariola

Abigail Carter

Olivia Cotter

Janiya Armfield

Jalen-Makai Carter

Mylee Crosby

Bryan Avila Garduno

Chloe Cervantes

Brendan Crowe

Delainey Baran

Dominic Chacon

Allison Curth

Ayslet Barraza

Adrian Chavez

Alexander Davis

Laura Batts

Jair Chavez

Brighton Davoust

Braeden Beavers

Jakub Chlebek

Devon DeLuna

Sam Bergman

Alex Christakes

Erick Diaz

Owen Bicker

Marshawn Cocroft

Isabel Diaz

Ethan Biddle

Graycen Cole

Vu Do

Nicholas Blakeslee

Kara Colles

Boone Dorneden-Harley

Benjamin Blankenhagen

Mackenzie Congoran

Erin Doucette

Jackson Boryc

Michael Conley

Jacob Duncan

Danielle Bower

Sophia Conner

Cole Durham

Lainey Brewer

Aiden Contreras

Nicholas Dzielawa

Brady Brown

Madelyn Cook

Olivia Dzielawa

Brooklyn Brown

Ava Corbett

DeAndre Elias

Jake Buckley

David Cormier

Zachary Erickson

Gloria Caraus

Noah Cornell

Gianna Espinoza

Workforce

Undecided

Northern Illinois University Health Sciences Undecided

University of Alabama Finance College of DuPage Radiography

Iowa State University Agricultural Business University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Chemistry University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Finance Mid-Valley Special Education Cooperative Students Attaining Independent Living Program Kishwaukee College Business Iowa State University Finance Undecided

Indiana University Finance Aurora University Accounting

University of Kansas Nursing

Indiana University Finance and Informational Systems University of Alabama Marketing

North Central College Secondary Education Northern Illinois University Computer Science

Undecided

University of Missouri Health Science Northern Illinois University Kinesiology

Waubonsee Community College Fire Science Waubonsee Community College HVAC Aurora University Finance

Waubonsee Community College Undecided Waubonsee Community College Undecided University of Minnesota Twin Cities Environmental Engineering Grand Valley State University Allied Health Science Waubonsee Community College Biology Trade School

Grand Canyon University Social Work Illinois State University Education

Debutantes School of Beauty Cosmetology Undecided

Waubonsee Community College Undecided Iowa State University Marketing and Real Estate Iowa State University Finance

Waubonsee Community College Fire Science

College of DuPage Meteorology Loyola University Chicago Political Science Hair Professional Career College

Workforce

Aurora University Early Childhood Special Education University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Environmental Engineering Judson University Interior Design Workforce

Northern Illinois University Business Kishwaukee College Radiologic Technology Waubonsee Community College Finance Military

Lewis University Exercise Science

Waubonsee Community College Music Waubonsee Community College Fire Science University of Iowa Finance

Waubonsee Community College Fire Science Workforce

Undecided

Waubonsee Community College Business Administration

Iyvanka-Isis Ewane-Ewang

Jeffrey Gonzalez

Adalynn Jerz

Elijah Fiedler

Carter Grabowski

Alex Jimenez

Alexander Figueroa

Gianna Grant

Emma Johnson

Megan Fisher

Jack Gruber

Kayden Johnson

Nathan Foss

Ryan Gudgeon

Hunter Johnston

Hayden Foster

Maryah Gutierrez

Annika Jones

Chassis Freundt

Tyler Gutierrez

Semaya Jones

Jackson Frey

Hayley Hames

Joshua Karther

Evan Frieders

Nathan Hansen

Nazha Kattoum

Luke Gadomski

Anna Hanson

Mason Kelly

Bianca Garcia

Samantha Hayes

Connor Kimme

Anna Gatz

Peyton Haywood

Cooper King

Emma Gatz

Joshua Heiden

Nicholas Kirkland

Chloe Genslinger

Lucas Heiden

Lauren Kleckner

Taverly Gilbertson

Colten Heltsley

Ryleigh Kleisner

Isaiah Gipson

Siomara Hernandez

Audrey Koller

Michael Glick

Garrett Herst

Olivia Krasuski

Joee Goc

Tyler Hildebrand

Zoe Kraus

Apollo Gochis

Riley Houghtby

Harrison Kuffel

Kayla Gonzales

Peter Jansons

Kailey Kunstman

Waubonsee Community College Nursing

Waubonsee Community College Automotive Service Technology Waubonsee Community College Kinesiology University of Iowa Biology

Illinois State University Data Science Purdue University Northwest Management Undecided

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Finance Waubonsee Community College Undecided University of Iowa Finance

Waubonsee Community College Undecided Western Michigan University Acting and Arts Administration Milwaukee School of Engineering Mechanical Engineering Waubonsee Community College Criminal Justice Samford University Business Management Undecided

Northern Illinois University Music Waubonsee Community College Music Aurora University Physical Education PreK-12 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Elementary Education

Workforce

University of Mississippi Finance Aurora University Nursing

Waubonsee Community College Kinesiology Workforce

Elgin Community College Undecided

Waubonsee Community College General Studies St. Ambrose University Occupational Therapy University of Iowa Finance

University of Missouri Nursing Waubonsee Community College Sociology Waubonsee Community College Nursing Waubonsee Community College Automotive Service Technology Waubonsee Community College Physics Waubonsee Community College Welding Technology Rock Valley College Phlebotomy Technician

Waubonsee Community College HVAC/R Waubonsee Community College Computer Science Iowa State University Animal Science Undecided

Waubonsee Community College Psychology and Criminal Justice Waubonsee Community College Finance and Banking Iowa State University Elementary Education

Waubonsee Community College Business and Real Estate Texas State University Electrical Engineering

Aurora University Early Childhood Special Education Military Marines

Waubonsee Community College Elementary Education Northern Illinois University Dental Hygiene Undecided

Concordia University Wisconsin Finance University of Wyoming Geology Workforce

Elgin Community College Culinary Arts Waubonsee Community College Criminal Justice Illinois State University Elementary Education University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Psychology University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Biology Workforce

Wartburg College Music Education and Nutrition

Giana Lamela

Gerardo Martinez Castellanos

Ava Nottingham

Carlos Landa

Faith Maschman

Sara Nugara

Charlize Landa

David Mauricio

Aubrey Nystrom

Nathan Lapitan

Avery McCarthy

Evan Olp

Kylee Larsen

Alexis McCornack

Olivia Olson

Jacob Larson

Noah McKittrick

Samantha Ortega

Lucas Larson

Madisyn McLean

Waubonsee Community College Undecided Iowa State University Civil Engineering University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign History College of DuPage Meteorology

Waubonsee Community College Automotive Service Technology Waubonsee Community College Fire Science University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Sports Management

Chad LaVallie

University of Illinois Chicago Urban Studies

Robert Leavey

University of Iowa Sports and Recreation Management

William LeCroy

Northern Illinois University Engineering

Jade Lee

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Education

Lillian Leuer

Debutantes School of Beauty Cosmetology

Kyra Lilly

Lake Forest College Business and Data Science

Undecided

University of Missouri Journalism

Waubonsee Community College Automotive Service Technology Universal Technical Institue Welding Saint Mary’s College Nursing University of Iowa Finance Undecided

Verity Mitchell

Northern Illinois University Early Childhood Special Education

Gabriella Monteleone University of Illinois Chicago Neuroscience

Grace Moreno

University of Cincinnati Medical Laboratory Science

Tyler Morong

Waubonsee Community College Automotive Service Technology

Madeline Moses

Western Kentucky University Nursing

Raegan Moses

Waubonsee Community College Undecided

Sawyer Loebbaka

Natalie Naab

Jack Long

Wesley Nelson

Armani Lopez

Jackson Nesci

Baleria Lopez Rubio

Jack Nevenhoven

Katherine Luehring

Caleb Newton

Trevor Lupella

Audrey Nitsche

Sean Luqueno-Rodriguez

Charles Nordell

Trade School

Workforce

Workforce

Northern Illinois University Elementary Education Elgin Community College Nursing Trade School Welding

Aurora University Health Science

St. Norbert College Business Administration Illinois State University Undecided Waubonsee Community College Psychology Waubonsee Community College Undecided Waubonsee Community College Political Science Aurora University Early Childhood Special Education College of DuPage Criminal Justice

Debutantes School of Beauty Esthetics Waubonsee Community College Business Administration University of Northern Iowa Kinesiology Iowa State University Engineering Iowa State University Marketing University of Iowa Management and Business Analytics and Information Systems

Trevor Pabian

University of Illinois Chicago Undecided

Jack Parker Workforce

Delilah Parks

Debutantes School of Beauty Cosmetology and Esthetics

Jonathan Parris

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Recreation, Sport & Tourism

Alexa Pastovich University of Missouri Nursing

Elena Paton

Waubonsee Community College Mathematics

Abraham Paulino

Waubonsee Community College and Kishwaukee College Automotive Service Technology and Diesel Power Technology

Luke Pawlak

Florida State University Criminology

Elliana Peck Lewis University Nursing

Madeline Perez

Waubonsee Community College Criminal Justice

Vanessa Perez Munoz Iowa State University Criminal Justice

Aaron Petersen

Purdue University Mechanical Engineering Technology

Tammi Petmezas

Illinois State University Special Education - Specialist in Learning & Behavior

Brandon Petraski

Aiden Ross

Leah Shirley

Dino Piemonte

Arianna Rudey

Mackenzie Sidman

Payton Pitts

Michael Ruiz

Marcus Simbol

Carter Pjesky

Addison Runestad

Grayson Smith

Savannah Plumb

Quinn Rus

Daniel Somerlot

Kimberlie Polanco

Nathaniel Salamon

Justin Sommers

Jason Powell

Savana Sanchez

Emma Soprych

Joseph Pozzi

Ivette Santellan

Lorelei Speare

Richard Putzler

Clara Saros

Andrew Spicer

Lucian Raatz

Syarah Schatz

Hadley Springer

Rey Radillo

Jackson Schimmel

Lily Stevenson

Killian Raftery

Owen Schlipp

Jolisa Stidhum

Maleeah Raheem

Sophia Schroll

AmieJo Stoewsand

Cole Rainey

Hannah Secrest

Maya Suits

Myella Ramos

Lucas Serrano

Collin Swan

Katelynn Reinert

Xinlan Shangguan

Sarah Syed

Jonathan Rinas

Matthew Sharp

Arielle Tautkus

Ricardo Rios

Nathan Sharp

Josephine Tice

Liam Rivera

Colten Sheehan

Gabriella Tingler

Lucian Rivera

Chloe Shinofield

Gianna Titus-Stanek

Undecided

Waubonsee Community College Education and Theater Waubonsee Community College Undecided Lander University Marketing

Kishwaukee College Marketing and Management Judson University Music Business and Entrepreneurship Waubonsee Community College Computer Science Iowa State University Marketing and Finance Waubonsee Community College Education Waubonsee Community College Undecided Undecided

Trade School Electrical

College of DuPage Biology Gap Year

Winona State University Nursing Illinois State University Psychology University of Iowa Finance

Southern Illinois University Aviation Flight Workforce

Waubonsee Community College Undecided

Waubonsee Community College Mathematics Beloit College Psychology

Waubonsee Community College Kinesiology University of Missouri Occupational Therapy University of Tampa Athletic Training Illinois State University Business Administration

Waubonsee Community College Political Science Undecided

University of Minnesota Twin Cities English Undecided

Workforce

College of DuPage Electrical Engineering Illinois State University Integrated Marketing Communication Waubonsee Community College Psychology Waubonsee Community College Marketing Northern Illinois University Art

Waubonsee Community College Undecided Workforce

Workforce

Waubonsee Community College Undecided

Waubonsee Community College Special Education University of Wisconsin-Madison Undecided Northern Illinois University Nursing University of Missouri Finance and Real Estate Augustana College Music Composition Trade School

Undecided

Dallas Institute of Funeral Service Applied Science in Funeral Service Undecided

Waubonsee Community College Physics Western Michigan University Dance Military Navy

Workforce

Illinois Wesleyan University Nursing Waubonsee Community College

Hawaii Pacific University Biology Iowa State University Biology Military

Illinois State University Nursing

Debutantes School of Beauty Cosmetology

Trenton Treve

Myles Westbrook

Waubonsee Community College Cybersecurity

Caleb Wiskur

Workforce

Hailee VanCura

Universal Technical Institute Automotive Technology

Hailey Wheatley

Waubonsee Community College Special Education

Noah Witz

College of DuPage Sonography

Ty Vojcihoski

Waubonsee Community College Fire Science

Aidan Whildin

University of Wisconsin-Platteville Criminal Justice and Psychology

Liam Wolff

Elgin Community College Undecided

Bethany Volkening

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Aerospace Engineering

Evan Whildin

Olivet Nazarene University Nursing

Brynn Woods

Grinnell College Biology

Richard Warfel

University of Illinois Chicago Undecided

Jacob Whittington

Waubonsee Community College Fire Science

Ava Wukitsch

Waubonsee Community College Engineering

Nicholas Warner

Iowa State University Animal Science and Army ROTC

Guy Williams

Waubonsee Community College Automotive Service Technology

Hope Zeb

Universal Technical Institute Automotive Technology

Adriana Warrington

Loyola University Chicago Forensic Science

Chloe Wilson

Eastern Illinois University Psychology

Madison Zehelein

Alverno College Biomedical Sciences

Emma Weintraub

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Social Work

Wolfrum Wilson

University of Southern California Cognitive Science

Kyra Zukauski

Undecided

Undecided

Where will the Class of 2026 be attending college next year?

Graphic by

Lewis University Aviation Flight Technology

Sophia Sc

hroll

4

8

1

150 1

1

3

26

21

1

1

Lukas Zuttermeister

1

5

6

1

1

1

1 1

3

2 3

1

To the Class of 2026...

T

he day that didn’t feel real in kindergarten, the day we looked forward to during freshman year and the day that seemed agonizingly far away as juniors is finally here. Whether you have been counting down the days since August or are in denial about leaving, the time has come to flip our tassels and move on to the next stage of our lives.

Regardless of if we met at Blackberry Creek, McDole, John Shields, John Stewart, Harter, or here at Kaneland High School, we are all part of the 287 seniors that made up the class of 2026. Our pictures that will hang on the wall by the cafeteria will be a constant reminder of us. Our mural by the student entrance will serve as a highlight reel of our class, showcasing the entertaining, funny and bizarre moments of our time here.

Like all of the seniors who came before us, we will soon realize the impact that Kaneland High School has had on us and fully appreciate all of the memories we made here.

There will be no more white out football games, cookies from the cafeteria or jokes during the morning announcements.

We will never all be in the same

building again. We will walk through the doors for the last time and it won’t feel different, but we’ll know that most of us will never see Kaneland High School again.

In 15 or 20 years, the big moments like prom, the fire or the basketball team going to state will be the main focus of nostalgia-driven conversations.

But it is important to remember the small moments too: the inside jokes, the pneumonics you made to memorize a formula, the waves in the hallway and the camaraderie that comes after taking a hard test. Those small moments made our high school experience special.

They’re the reason we went to school when we wanted to skip, the reason we stayed in activities that we wanted to quit. Those moments will be the ones we think about when we walk across the stage, feeling sad for the things that we’re losing but excited for the things we will gain. Whether you are going to college, university, trade school, the workforce, the military or anywhere else, we wish you luck and success in your future!

Krier Senior Staff