The top 11 students of the Amboy High School Class of 2017 are Matthew Fawkes, Katie Fredericks, Hannah Grady, Megan Grady, Kylie Highbarger, Jordan Hochstatter, Emma Lindenmeyer, Ariana Noble, Katelynn Pankhurst, Cain Powers and Delaney Wilhelm.

Matthew Fawkes is the son of Gerry and Melissa Fawkes of Amboy. He participated in band (four years), Academic Team (three years), track (one year) and musical (one year).

He received a 2^nd Tier Award in the IMEA contest (one year), Student of the Month October at Whiteside Area Career Center 2016-17.

He will pursue a major in computer sciences and minor in music at Sauk Valley Community College and then attend a university for two years to earn a Bachelor’s degree. He hopes to have a career as a video game designer/developer.  

Katie Fredericks is the daughter of Becky and Craig Fredericks of Amboy. She participated in National Honor Society (secretary), Spanish National Honor Society, dance (captain), cheer, FFA and volleyball.

She received highest honors and was on the dean’s list for Sauk Valley Community College.

She plans to attend Northern Illinois University in DeKalb and major in accounting.

Hannah Grady is the daughter of Linda and James Grady of Amboy. She participated in FFA, National Honor Society, Spanish National Honor Society, golf, chorus, yearbook, spring musical, 4-H and Project LEAD Youth Sub-Committee.

She attended the American Legion Auxiliary Illini Girls State, volunteered with Feed My Starving Children, Granny Rose Animal Shelter and the American Legion and is a choir member at St. Patrick’s Church.

She is an Illinois State Scholar, was on the 2016 FFA state winning parliamentary procedure team, received the FFA State Degree 2017, May Student of the Month 2017 and the 2017 Sublette Toy Show Scholarship.

She plans to attend the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and major in either crop sciences or engineering.

Megan Grady is the daughter of Linda and James Grady of Amboy. She participated in FFA, National Honor Society, Spanish National Honor Society, Academic Team, Woodlawn Arts Academy vocal student, cross country, track, chorus, yearbook, spring musical, Young Seekers 4-H Club and Project LEAD Youth Sub-Committee.

She volunteered with Feed My Starving Children and Granny Rose Animal Shelter, teaches a Discovery Agriculture class to eighth graders and is a choir member at St. Patrick’s Church.

She received the FFA State Degree, was on the FFA state winning/national qualifying parliamentary procedure team, cross country MVP (four years), TRAC Cross Country All-Conference (three years), TRAC Conference Cross Country Champion (two years), track MVP (three years), TRAC Track All-Conference (three years), TRAC Honor Roll (three years), NUIC Conference Champion-Track (one year), NUIC Track MVP (one year), IHSA state meet qualifier-cross country (four years), IHSA state meet qualifier-track (three years), Lee County 4-H Outstanding (two years) and 4-H State Fair delegate (two years).

She plans to attend St. Ambrose University to study education and run track and cross country.

Kylie Highbarger is the daughter of Randy and Becky Highbarger of Amboy. She participated in National Honor Society (two years), Spanish National Honor Society (three years), Student Council (two years), class office (treasurer, four years), Amboy FFA, Section 2 (four years), Greenhand vice president, FFA Growth Award and AYSO Amboy Gravel Soccer League (four years).

She received Student of the Month November 2016 and attended the Adam Kinzinger Future Leaders of Illinois Luncheon November 2016.

She is a member of Amboy Rage Travel Softball (four years), Amboy Clippers JV/Varsity Softball (four years), received 4^th place IA Softball at state 2014, Silver Bat Award 2016, 2^nd team All-Conference 2016 and BV Telegraph Athlete of the Week April 25, 2017.

She has completed 21 hours at Sauk Valley Community College, is a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and SVCC Math Club and named to the fall SVCC President’s List.

She plans to attend St. Ambrose University in Davenport for the Track 1 Doctorate of Physical Therapy program (5.5 years).  

Jordan Hochstatter is the son of Joel and Lisa Hochstatter of Amboy. He is a member of National Honor Society and Spanish National Honor Society and participated in football, baseball and basketball (four years). He received All-Conference for baseball and basketball, All-Area for football, baseball and basketball, Academic All-Conference and was January Student of the Month.

He plans to attend Saint Xavier University in Chicago, where he will play basketball and major in pre-med. He hopes to eventually have a career as a pathologist.

Emma Lindenmeyer is the daughter of Ryan and Tina Lindenmeyer of Sublette. She is a member of Student Council (four years), FFA (two years), Spanish National Honor Society (three years), Maytown Comets 4-H Club (nine years) and is an active member of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church.

She participated in volleyball (four years), basketball (four years), softball (four years) and Rage Softball Summer Travel Team (10 years). She received Three Rivers All-Conference Volleyball Honorable Mention (2015, 2016), Three Rivers All-Conference Basketball Honorable Mention (2015-16, 2016-17), Three Rivers All-Conference Softball Honorable Mention (2016) and was Athlete of the Week for all three sports.

She attended the 2016 Leadership Conference and presented on dairy at the 2016 Ag Expo.

She plans to attend Highland Community College in Freeport. Her major is undecided, possibly bio engineering and she hopes to have a career working with prosthetics.

Ariana Noble is the daughter of Diana McKinley of Amboy and Keith McKinley of Amboy. She is a member of National Honor Society, Spanish National Honor, FFA (one year) and participated in volleyball and basketball cheerleading.

She received Student of the Month February, Academic All-Conference, Highest/High Honors and attended the Kinzinger Youth Leadership Summit in 2016.

She plans to attend the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana to study health sciences pre-med. She hopes to then attend medical school and become a pediatrician.

Kathleen Pankhurst is the daughter of Marshall Pankhurst of Amboy. She is a member of National Honor Society, Spanish National Honor, Student Council and FFA and participated in track and basketball.

She received Student of the Month, Athlete of the Week, Academic All-Conference, Honorable Mention, Comcast Leaders and Achievers, Young Innovators, Congress of Future Science and Technology Leaders.

She plans to attend Illinois State University to study business finance.

Cain Powers is the son of Steve Powers and Cindy Karlson of Amboy. He is a member of National Honor Society and Spanish National Honor and participated in football (four years), basketball (four years) and baseball (four years). He received Academic All-Conference.

He plans to attend Illinois College in Jacksonville to pursue an undergraduate degree in pre-physical therapy and then transfer to earn a degree in physical therapy.

Delaney Wilhelm is the daughter of Lori and Gary Wilhelm of Amboy. She participated in volleyball (2013-16, captain 2013 & 2016), basketball (2013-17, captain 2013-2017), softball (2014-17), Spanish National Honor Society (2015-17), National Honor Society (2015-17) and FFA (2013-14).

She is an Illinois State Scholar and received Highest Honors (2013-17), Academic All-Conference (2013-17), Sauk Valley Presidential Dean’s List-Dual Enrollment (2016/17) and attended the Youth Leadership Summit (2016/17).

In athletics, Volleyball-Best Defense (2015 & 16), Honorable Mention All-State for Conference (2016); Basketball-All-Conference Honorable Mention (2013), 1st Team All-Conference (2014/15 & 2016/17), 1st Team All-Conference Unanimous Selection (2015/16), 2nd Team All-Area (2014/15), 1st Team All-Area (2015/16 & 2016/17), IBCA 4th Team All-State (2015/16), IBCA 3rd Team All-State (2016/17), MVP (2014/15, 2015/16, 2016/17), Free Throw Award (2013/14), Best Rebounder (2015/16 & 2016/17), Assist Award (2015/16 & 2016/17); Softball-2nd Team All-Conference (2015), Honorable Mention All-Conference (2016), Honorable Mention All-Area (2016) and Golden Glove (2016).

She plans to attend Edgewood College in Madison, Wis., where she will pursue a double major in criminal justice and psychology. She will also continue her basketball career playing for the Eagles.