The caring class: AFC graduates 45 exemplary students

ASHTON – The 45 students of the 2009 Ashton-Franklin Center High School graduating class are Principal Tammy Harvey's heroes.

They were always generous and compassionate, helping and spending time with other students, regardless of their grade, Harvey said.

Through Ogle County's Life Skills program, they served as teacher's aides in special education classrooms, helping feed them, wipe their noses, give them high-fives and hugs.

"I know I can speak for all participants when I say that I not only helped teach lessons, but I learned new lessons myself, and made new friends in the process," said Anna Toole, class salutatorian said Saturday at commencement.

They are teens who always put others ahead of themselves, joining the rest of the school in raising $1,200 for Shining Star Advocacy Center in Dixon in the 7-mile Champions for Children Walk.

The seniors also raised $1,600 for a class gift. Half will be given to the school for building improvements, such as bulletin boards in the hallways, the other half is for Shining Star, which helps abused and neglected children.

"We wanted to make a difference around us," said Katie Cahill, class president and valedictorian.

Academic accolades were bot absent Saturday.  Among their other accomplishments, 61 percent have a GPA of 3.0 or higher, many are active FFA members and state qualifiers at the Illinois Music Educators Association festival.

They are going on to Quincy University, St. Louis University, the University of Illinois, North Central College, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, Milikin, Elgin Community College and Sauk Valley Community College, among other schools.

They won at least $45,000 in scholarships.

Superintendent John Zick was the principal when these kids were freshmen.

"This class has so much to be proud of," Zick said. "It's an outstanding class that paved a path that's hard to follow."