Meet Willowbrook’s class of 2022 graduation speakers
On May 22, Willowbrook seniors Regina Brisbois, Eric Veal Jr. and Penelope DelValle will address nearly 500 of their classmates as the student graduation speakers during Willowbrook’s 63rd commencement ceremony.
Brisbois was chosen to speak based on her academic standing, as she is ranked in the top 5 percent of the class of 2022. Veal and DelValle will speak as Co-Presidents of the class of 2022.
Get to know Regina Brisbois
Title of your speech: “3,571 Days”
Summary of your speech: My speech is about my personal journey and story of my father, John Brisbois, who passed away in 2013. It focuses on how every moment becomes a memory and how to move forward from and with those memories.
Lessons/advice you hope to share with your peers through your speech: I hope my speech inspires my classmates to remember that they can continue to move forward. No matter what has happened in your past, the future can be anything you want it to be.
What does it mean to you to be a speaker during the commencement ceremony and to represent the class of 2022? It’s an honor to be able to address the whole class as one during our last event together.
Involvement at Willowbrook: See a list at https://dupage88.net/site/public/files/?item=6362.
How Willowbrook has supported you: The staff members at Willowbrook have taught me what I’m capable of achieving. They have pushed me academically to accomplish my goals, and I’m incredibly thankful for the opportunities I’ve had at Willowbrook.
Your future plans: I plan to attend Augustana College to pursue a major in biology and the pre-med course.
Get to know Eric Veal Jr.
Title of your speech: “Insert Title Here”
Summary of your speech: My speech is about how aspects of life mean something different for everyone – graduation means different things to each person, and being a Warrior has various meanings to individual students. It’s about finding who you are and being the author of your own story.
Lessons/advice you hope to share with your peers through your speech: I hope my speech inspires my classmates to continue to think about what they want to contribute to themselves and to society and what story they want told. I also hope they take away that they have the power to do anything they want to accomplish.
What does it mean to you to be a speaker during the commencement ceremony and to represent the class of 2022? It’s emotional – it’s the end of an era. To get to share my story and address my classmates is something I’m very grateful for and will cherish forever.
Involvement at Willowbrook: See a list at https://dupage88.net/site/public/files/?item=6355.
How Willowbrook has supported you: Willowbrook has shown me the power of my voice and has provided me with the opportunity to discover who I am and to understand and respect other perspectives. The staff members continue to challenge me to reflect on who I am and what I want to give to the world. I also must thank my father, Eric Veal Sr., who passed away; the late District 88 Superintendent Dr. Scott Helton, who passed away in December 2020; and Paul Harris, a member of the Willowbrook class of 2022 who passed away this past August, for their support and positive impact on my life.
Your future plans: I plan to attend University of Michigan to pursue a double major in political science and secondary education, with an emphasis in social studies.
Get to know Penelope DelValle
Title of your speech: “The World’s Hardest Riddle”
Summary of your speech: My speech uses a riddle to show that sometimes it’s easier than you think to find the answer – as 98 percent of Harvard students are unable to solve the riddle, but 80 percent of kindergarteners can solve it.
Lessons/advice you hope to share with your peers through your speech: I hope my speech instills a sense of confidence within my classmates, so they are more inclined to trust themselves.
What does it mean to you to be a speaker during the commencement ceremony and to represent the class of 2022? It’s an honor to have the last word before we embark on our next journey. I’m grateful to be able to thank my parents, Richard and Angelica DelValle, on stage.
Involvement at Willowbrook: See a list at https://dupage88.net/site/public/files/?item=6356.
How Willowbrook has supported you: We joke that District 88, Willowbrook and Principal Dr. Daniel Krause don’t like to say no – they strive to say yes in all areas. That support has helped me grow and accomplish my goals.
Your future plans: I plan to attend DePaul University to double major in journalism and accounting. I also will pursue a pre-law concentration.
Willowbrook 63rd commencement ceremony online
Can’t make it in person to Willowbrook’s 63rd commencement ceremony on May 22? No problem! The graduation will be streamed live at 1 p.m. (CST) online at www.dupage88.net/wbgrad.