Richards announces Top 10 (13!) graduates

Richards High School in Oak Lawn proudly announces that the students listed below graduated with the 10 highest grade point averages for the class of 2022.

Each has merited Honors with Distinction, the highest academic classification possible, for earning a GPA above 4.0 (possible due to weighted grades for Honors and Advanced Placement courses) and qualified for National Honor Society and as Illinois State Scholars. Several tied for 10th so the list includes 13 students.

Sara Abdulrab – Sara participated in Students Against Destructive Decisions, yearbook, Class Officers, Rotary Interact Club, student council and Spanish Club and competed in Mathletes and Scholastic Bowl. She will begin studies in biological sciences at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Abigail Buchanan-Kenzinger – Captain of the volleyball team and president of Business Professionals of America, Abigail served as an AP Ambassador and qualified for NHS for students of Spanish. She will study economics at Illinois College where she also will play volleyball.

Kayla Cassandra Cabel – President of Students Against Destructive Decisions and vice president of NHS, Kayla also participated in Rotary Interact Club, student council, Class Officers, and student ambassadors. She will begin studies in biological science with a pre-med concentration at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Ashley Charles – Ashley competed in cheerleading and Mathletes and participated in student council, math tutors, and Business Professionals of America. She will begin studies in molecular engineering at the University of Chicago.

Avery Jasudowicz – Co-President of Rotary Interact Club, Avery participated in Feminism Club, literary magazine, and student ambassadors and competed in Scholastic Bowl. She will study psychology and neuroscience at the University of Rochester.

Louis Leahy – A standout competitor in cross country and track, Louis will study civil engineering at Iowa State University.

Abigail Mallo – Captain of the basketball team, Abigail served as a math tutor and student ambassador and qualified for NHS for students of Spanish. She received a full athletic scholarship to compete in softball to St. Louis University where she intends to study biomedical engineering.

Molly Sheahan – President of Leo Club, vice president of Tri-M and drum major and section leader for marching band, Molly competed in softball, participated in student council, and qualified for NHS for students of Spanish. She will study psychology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Katlyn Sroka – Katlyn participated in marching band, Feminism Club, fall play and musical, and Gaming Club and competed for Mathletes. She will study actuarial science and finance at Drake University.

Grace Taheny – Vice President of Leo Club, Grace competed in water polo and cheerleading and participated in Feminism Club, student ambassadors and math tutors and qualified for NHS for students of Spanish. Grace also won a prestigious Golden Apple Scholar Award to qualify for financial assistance and mentoring in her preparation to become a teacher. She will begin studies in secondary education/math at Illinois State University.

Donald Taylor – Co-President of NHS and captain of the swim team, Donald served as a math tutor and competed for Mathletes. After breaking nine school records, he will swim for St. Louis University where he will study investigative and medical sciences.

Ryan Van – Ryan will begin studies in computer science this fall at the Illinois Institute of Technology.

Thea Wyzykowski – Captain of the tennis team, Thea also participated in soccer, marching band, performance band, and Leo Club. She will begin studies in biochemistry at Purdue University this fall.