Images: Graduation ceremonies from St. Edward, Lake Park, Glenbard West and North, Hampshire, Westminster Christian and East and West Leyden

St. Edward Central Catholic High School graduates, who all attended St. Thomas More for primary school, get together to toss their caps and pose for pictures following Thursday's graduation ceremony at St. Patrick Catholic Church in St. Charles. Rick West/rwest@dailyherald.com

Ariann Franco gets hoisted up by her dad Efrain Franco for a photo following St. Edward Central Catholic High School's graduation ceremony on Thursday, May 20 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in St. Charles. Rick West/rwest@dailyherald.com

Edgar Menendez gets a blessing from Bishop David Malloy during St. Edward Central Catholic High School's graduation ceremony on Thursday, May 20 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in St. Charles. Rather than passing out diplomas, graduates were called up to receive a blessing. Rick West/rwest@dailyherald.com

St. Edward Central Catholic High School seniors file in for Thursday's graduation ceremony at St. Patrick Catholic Church in St. Charles. Rick West/rwest@dailyherald.com

Valedictorian Olek Drobek takes a photo of friends before St. Edward Central Catholic High School's graduation ceremony on Thursday, May 20 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in St. Charles. Rick West/rwest@dailyherald.com

Graduates get ready to head in to the St. Edward Central Catholic High School graduation ceremony on Thursday, May 20 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in St. Charles. Rick West/rwest@dailyherald.com

Lake Park High School's Abhi Patel was the commencement speaker and waves to his fellow classmates at the NOW Arena in Hoffman Estates on Thursday. Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com

Lake Park High School's commencement took place at the NOW Arena in Hoffman Estates on Thursday. Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com

Lake Park High School student Emma Mangialardi, 18, of Roselle makes a last-minute adjustments on her cap before graduation at the NOW Arena in Hoffman Estates on Thursday. Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com

Lake Park High School's commencement held at the NOW Arena in Hoffman Estates on Thursday. Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com

Lake Park High School's Vanessa Lambropoulos, 18, of Bloomingdale prepares to graduate with fellow classmates at the NOW Arena in Hoffman Estates in Hoffman Estates on Thursday. Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com

Logan Pobloske, 17, Itasca uses his phone to locate his parents in the audience as he waits for commencement to begin at the NOW Arena in Hoffman Estates on Thursday. Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com

Lake Park High School student Avneet Singh, 18, of Bloomingdale waves to her family in the audience during the commencement ceremony held at the NOW Arena in Hoffman Estates on Thursday. Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com

East Leyden High School held its graduation ceremony on Wednesday, May 19 at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont. Courtesy of Leyden High School District 212

West Leyden High School held its graduation ceremony on Wednesday, May 18 at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont. Courtesy of Leyden High School District 212

Hampshire student Katelyn Zdybel, 17, from Pingree Grove goes hands up as she prepares to walk through a metal detector with her fellow classmates at the NOW Arena for their commencement on Friday. Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com

Gianna Kramer, 18, with Hannah Musiak, 18, and Livia LaMarca, 18, all of Pingree Grove and Hampshire High School take a selfie before heading into the NOW Arena for their commencement on Friday. Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com

Bryce Diego, 18, from Hampshire helped out Colin Oliva, 17, from Gilberts with his wardrobe as he was running late for Hampshire High School commencement at the NOW Arena in Hoffman Estates on Friday. Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com

Ashley Sanchez, 18, of Hampshire holds up her cap with a message basically stating that her family who came from Mexico with nothing gave everything for their daughter Ashley to graduate from Hampshire High School's commencement on Friday at the NOW Arena in Hoffman Estates on Friday. Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com

Maisie McNamee, 18, from Hampshire hugs her friends as they prepare to graduate at Hampshire High School commencement on Friday at the NOW Arena in Hoffman Estates. Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com

Salutatorian Stuti Patel, 18, of Gilberts takes a picture with her classmates, Michael Thompson, 18, of Hampshire with Aliyah Andrade, 17, of Gilberts and Daniyah Hashmi, 18, of Pingree Grove at their Hampshire High School commencement at the NOW Arena in Hoffman Estates on Friday. Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com

Allison Bertoia adjusts her mortar board after she received her diploma during the Glenbard West High School graduation ceremony Friday May 21, 2021 in Glen Ellyn. Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com

Graduates during the Glenbard West High School graduation ceremony Friday May 21, 2021 in Glen Ellyn. Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com

A student gives the thumbs-up signal to family in the stands before the start of the Glenbard West High School graduation ceremony Friday May 21, 2021 in Glen Ellyn. Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com

The graduating class makes their way toward the field to start the Glenbard West High School graduation ceremony Friday May 21, 2021 in Glen Ellyn. Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com

William Hohe addresses the senior class during the Glenbard West High School graduation ceremony Friday May 21, 2021 in Glen Ellyn. Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com

A student loses her mortar board to a gust of wind as she enters the stadium for the Glenbard West High School graduation ceremony Friday May 21, 2021 in Glen Ellyn. Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com

Graduates during the Glenbard West High School graduation ceremony Friday May 21, 2021 in Glen Ellyn. Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com

Cameron Banaszynski shows off his diploma during the Glenbard North High School graduation ceremony Friday May 21, 2021 in Carol Stream. Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com

Maryam Atcha, gives a fist bump before she receives her diploma during the Glenbard North High School graduation ceremony Friday May 21, 2021 in Carol Stream. Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com

Emma Falkiewicz, presents the commencement address during the Glenbard North High School graduation ceremony Friday May 21, 2021 in Carol Stream. Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com

Jaiden Aguayo, is acknowledged with the other graduates that will be entering the armed services during the Glenbard North High School graduation ceremony Friday May 21, 2021 in Carol Stream. Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com

Valedictorian Eli Hoon hugs his mother, School Board President Mrs. Deborah Hoon at the Westminster Christian School graduation ceremony in the Elgin school's chapel on Friday, May 21, 2021. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com

Graduate Samantha Stoll switches her tassel with her 21 classmates at the Westminster Christian School graduation ceremony in the Elgin school's chapel on Friday, May 21, 2021. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com

Student Council President Abalus Awudu delivers the Senior Address at the Westminster Christian School graduation ceremony in the Elgin school's chapel on Friday, May 21, 2021. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com

Graduate Emily Zhen Yi Wolterink sings with her classmates at the Westminster Christian School graduation ceremony in the Elgin school's chapel on Friday, May 21, 2021. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com

Westminster Christian School graduation ceremony in the Elgin school's chapel on Friday, May 21, 2021. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com