Waukegan High School will host its 153rd commencement exercises on Friday, May 15 at 5:30 p.m. at Weiss Field. An expected class of more than 950 students will make up Waukegan High School’s Class of 2026.
Gates at Weiss Field will open at 4 p.m. Each graduate will be given four tickets for the ceremony. No spectators will be admitted without a ticket. Families are asked to please arrive together if possible, as saving seats for others will not be permitted. The ceremony will be broadcast live on the District’s YouTube Channel.
In the event of inclement weather, any rained-out graduation ceremony will be moved to Saturday, May 16, at 1 p.m. If a second date is rained out, further details will be shared. Students and families will be notified of any changes in scheduling by noon on graduation day.
Facts about the Class of 2026:
An estimated class of 955 students are expected to graduate on May 15.
This year’s graduates have earned four-year scholarship offers totaling more than $7 million, according to verified student-reported data.
Approximately 70% of graduating students will attend a college, university, military, or trade school, or apprenticeships in the fall, according to student surveys.
The Class of 2026 was accepted into more than 216 different colleges and universities nationally and internationally, and received more than 1,722 acceptance letters.
48 graduates are members of the National Honor Society.
23 graduates are members of the National Technical Honors Society
25 graduates are members of the Tri-M Music Honor Society
A total of 80 students will graduate with Summa Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, or Cum Laude distinction. Summa Cum Laude grataues include: Matthew Canda, Jamil Chuc, Yasir Espinoza, Javier Granda, Jose Mendoza, Bryan Nava, Leonardo Rivera, Katherine Sajuan, Tiffani Skinner, and Celeste Smith.
237 students are graduating with P.R.I.D.E honors, to designate that they are Prepared, Respectful, Involved, Dependable, and Ethical
Graduates will earn 93 Illinois Seal of Biliteracy or the Illinois Commendation Toward Biliteracy awards.
A total of 27 students were selected as Illinois State Scholars by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission.
318 Class of 2026 students completed 811 Advanced Placement courses over the last four years.
98 students completed coursework, which earned them a total of 621 dual credit hours at WHS and the College of Lake County.
A total of 20 Bulldog graduates were named North Suburban Conference Scholar Athletes.
Class President: Eliana Ron
Class Vice-President: Alina Sevilla
Senior class speakers: Celeste Smith, Genesis Rodriguez Ordonez