Conrady Graduates 321 Students

—from North Palos District 117

With the people who supported them in the stands, 321 Conrady Junior High School eighth graders crossed the stage at Stagg High School to receive their diploma (covers) and begin the next phase of their young lives.

Like a fine-tuned machine, the ceremony took less than 40 minutes with Principal Andy Anderson moving the pomp and circumstances along as only he can do.

Guest speaker Tom Pukstys, a former Olympian and Conrady alum, offered words of advice to his newly-minted high school freshmen.

“Be a leader, not a follower,” said Pukstys, a graduate of the University of Florida where he was on the track-and-field team before competing in both the 1992 and 1996 Olympics in the javelin throw. “Stay focused on school life.

“Look people in the eyes when you talk to them,” he said.

And the one piece of advice that received a roar of applause from the parents in the audience, Pukstys said: “Talk to your fiends. You don’t need to text them all the time.”