Meet Willowbrook’s class of 2014 graduation speakers

On June 8, Willowbrook seniors Rokas Dubinas and Santhanam Kumar will take the stage to address the audience and their classmates during the school’s 55th annual commencement ceremony.

Kumar was chosen to speak based on his academic standing, as he is ranked in the top 5 percent of the class of 2014. For Kumar, being a commencement speaker is a dream come true.

“It means I’m fulfilling a legacy, as my mom and my aunt also were graduation speakers and were valedictorians at Willowbrook,” he said. “My speech will focus on the idea of equality between all people. I will talk about how everyone has potential and can fulfill their dreams.”

Kumar plans to attend University of Illinois at Chicago to study biology. He said Willowbrook has been instrumental in preparing him for future success, and he’ll always remember his high school classmates.

“I feel the class of 2014 was and is one of the best classes Willowbrook has had,” Kumar said. “I look forward to ending our high school career on a positive note.”

Dubinas will speak as President of the class of 2014.

“It’s a great privilege,” he said of addressing his classmates. “My class elected me as their leader my sophomore year, and it’s an honor to give the final message they will hear in high school.”

He said the theme of his speech will be humanity.

“I will talk about the importance of setting aside our differences that have divided us and embracing our similarities,” he said. “To me, being a Willowbrook Warrior means accepting others for who they are, rather than what they are.”

Dubinas plans to study international relations at the United States Military Academy West Point.