Meet 18 Chicago valedictorians who are ‘beacons of hope’ for the city
Clockwise, from top left: Chicago Public Schools 2020 valedictorians Diana Valerio, Dejah Cobbs, Rolando Mendez, Ulrika S Brameus, Godsgift Chukwudi, Abby Burt
Photos courtesy of the students
It’s been a senior year like no other for Chicago’s Class of 2020. They witnessed an 11-day teachers strike, a pandemic that closed schools, and protests in response to police brutality against Black people.
The 18 seniors you’ll meet below haven’t just persevered through uncertain times: They’ve managed to top their classes despite a stream of interruptions. Undaunted, they’re looking to the future, with plans to attend colleges, such as Cornell University, Northwestern University, Boston University, and Western Illinois University. They dream of becoming doctors, engineers, educators, politicians, lawyers, and more.
Chicago schools chief Janice Jackson calls them “beacons of hope.”