Meet Addison Trail’s class of 2024 graduation speakers

Can’t make it in person to Addison Trail’s 58th commencement ceremony on May 19? No problem! The graduation will be streamed live at 3 p.m. (CST) online at www.dupage88.net/atgrad.

On May 19, Addison Trail seniors Zachary Morris (pictured at left) and Jack DiDomenic (pictured at right) will address their classmates (more than 475 students) as the student graduation speakers during Addison Trail’s 58th commencement ceremony.

Morris and DiDomenic entered the school’s annual graduation-speech competition and were selected as this year’s winners by a panel of judges.

Get to know Jack DiDomenic

Title of your speech: "Two Graduations in One"

Summary of your speech: My speech is a celebration of the incredibly hard decision the class of 2024 had to make amidst a global pandemic to commit themselves to academic excellence and a bright future. We are not only recognizing the class of 2024, but also the class of 2020, the eighth-graders we have to thank for getting us to this point.

Lessons/advice you hope to share with your peers through your speech: I hope to reassure all my peers that this is only the beginning of our long life journeys, and we have already proved to ourselves and to our mentors that we are resilient enough to overcome any obstacle life might bring in the years to come.

What does it mean to you to be a speaker during the commencement ceremony and to represent the class of 2024? It means a great deal to me to be speaking on behalf of my class at graduation. I am honored to have been given the opportunity to congratulate my peers and remind them of the hard work they have all put in to make it onto the stage. There is nothing we cannot accomplish in this life.

Involvement at Addison Trail:

  • National Honor Society (NHS)
  • ILMHS (Treasurer)
  • Blazer News
  • Student Council
  • Blazer Ambassadors
  • Principal Student Advisory Committee
  • Superintendent Student Advisory Committee
  • Choir (Librarian)
  • Theatre (Treasurer, Vice President, President)
  • Boys Cross-Country Team
  • Key Club

How Addison Trail has supported you: Addison Trail has given me endless opportunities and the ability to step outside of my comfort zone to experience new career paths and ways of life that I someday will choose one to follow. I cannot thank Addison Trail enough for the wonderful teachers, clubs, organizations and events that have all been put in place to make my time at Addison Trail feel like a decade rather than four years.

Your future plans: I plan to attend Dominican University to major in English and minor in Theatre, in hopes of one day becoming a teacher.

Get to know Zachary Morris

Title of your speech: "Give Back"

Summary of your speech: My speech starts off by reflecting on the years and giving thanks to those who have helped us. It is then followed with a message that after graduation, we as a student body need to remember to not just serve ourselves, but others as well. We all need to do our best to remember where we came from and give back to our community. 

Lessons/advice you hope to share with your peers through your speech: I hope to give the message that your successes aren't dictated by the awards you win or the accolades you receive, but rather how you inspire and serve others.

What does it mean to you to be a speaker during the commencement ceremony and to represent the class of 2024? It's an honor to represent my class during graduation. It's a nice finale to all the hard work I have done in the past at Addison Trail. 

Involvement at Addison Trail:

  • National Honor Society (President)
  • Class Board President
  • DECA (President)
  • Varsity Boys Golf Team (Captain)
  • Varsity Boys Volleyball Team (Captain)
  • Boys Bowling Team
  • Varsity Academic Team
  • Best Buddies Club (Officer)
  • Special Olympics Basketball Coach
  • Math Team
  • Addison Trail Veteran Service Organization (ATVSO)

How Addison Trail has supported you: Addison Trail has supported me by giving me countless opportunities to get involved outside of academics and grow as a person. 

Your future plans: I plan to attend University of Notre Dame, where I will enroll in the Mendoza College of Business as a Strategic Management major.