New Buffalo seniors ready to celebrate | News

NEW BUFFALO — New Buffalo High School’s Class of 2024 is on track to achieve a 100% graduation rate.

In 2021, the rate had dropped to 90% before the district created the student advocate position and hired Gerri Lucas to help seniors.

“I interact with students constantly,” Lucas said. “I help students get their grades back on track, reward them when they succeed, help them recover their credits, and also act as a graduation coach. I’m here to help kids succeed – the goal is for the seniors to graduate! »

The class, made up of 37 members, has many reasons to celebrate. Their achievements include:

13 senior researchers

22 members of the National Honor Society

13 STEM recipients

5 Seal of Biliteracy

6 AK Smith students, 1 firefighting program

1 national student rewarded by merit

Collectively, 2024 ESNB graduates earned 242 college credits before graduating, saving families approximately $113,344 in tuition costs.

“New Buffalo students and families are excited and grateful for the opportunities offered by New Buffalo area schools,” said Lisa Price, high school guidance counselor.

The 2024 graduation ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, June 1 at 8 p.m., outdoors on the multiplex field. The rain date is 8 p.m. Sunday, June 2.

The seniors plan to disperse throughout the region to continue their education after high school as follows (with three still undecided):

● Yale University – 1

● Depaul University – 1

● University of Michigan – 5

● Purdue University – 1

● Public schools (MI State University/CMU/WMU/MI Tech) – 7

● Indiana University South Bend – 1

● Purdue Northwestern – 1

● Southwestern MI/Lake MI College – 9

● Trade school/apprenticeship – 5

● Number – 3

“My role as a guidance counselor has changed because of the huge need for skilled trades,” says Price. “Companies are now contacting me to come and present to our seniors. Some even organize open days with on-site interviews, because they need collaborators so much.”

To qualify as a PI, a student must score 1130 or higher on the SAT, or 23 or higher on the ACT, and have earned a GPA of 3.50 or higher on a 4.0 scale . Students must also have completed the coursework and AP/CLEP exam from at least two advanced/college level courses. Categories include English, Math, Science, Social Studies and Foreign Languages. A minimum of two credits in foreign language and a minimum of two credits in fine arts are also required, as well as four non-credit extracurricular activities.

The 2024 New Buffalo High School Senior Scholars are: Keri Ann Chlystun; Lauren West Gradowski; Ava Johnson; Matthew Raymond Johnson; Elizabeth Anne Lamport; John David Lantz; Wesley Martin McGinn; Isabelle Vivianne Moser; Giada May Pawlowski; Kaitlyn N Rainwater; John Francis Riley; Samantha Grace Schimanski; Samuel Isaac Wendel-Suppa.

In November 2023, seniors were visited by Hanson International (Hanson Mold) of St. Joseph, IBEW Local 153 (Electrical Workers) of South Bend, and in December 2023, seniors attended at Industry Day at Local 172 (Plumbers/Pipefitters). /HVAC), also in South Bend.

In May, some attended an open house with open interviews at C&S Machine in Niles, and the Carpenter & Millwright Training Center offers a “skills course” interview for students in June.

Two weeks ago, HSNB hosted a senior awards night and introduced new members to the National Honor Society and Spanish Honor Society.

“The class of 2024 is pretty special,” said Superintendent Adam Bowen.