Caruso Middle School promoted its 182 eighth graders to high school in a ceremony Wednesday in the Deerfield High School auditorium.

Though this annual event is commonly called a graduation from eighth grade it is actually a promotion to high school, according to Deerfield Public Schools District 109 Communication Director Cathy Kedjidjian.

Earlier: Caruso Students Graduate Wednesday

District 109 Superintendent Renee Goier welcomed the students, their families and friends. After the students marched into the auditorium everyone said the Pledge of Allegiance and the orchestra played the national anthem.

The evening was emceed by eighth grader Josh Oettinger. Benjamin Sachs gave the commencement address talking about the importance of the past, present and future. He also chided the audience about playing Words with Friends on their phones while he spoke.

During the ceremony, Hannah Benson and Brandon Keller were honored with the American Legion Award. Jacob Moeckler earned the Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizenship Award while Jordyn Cohen won the Deerfield Education Association Scholarship.

After Sachs spoke, Principal Dale Fisher presented the eighth graders to Deerfield High School teacher Susan Johnson who accepted the promoted class.

The students received their diplomas from District 109 School Board President Ellen London and Board member Michael Rosenbaum. The students were announced by classmates Zaki Naqvi, Aarohi Mahableshwarker and Daniel Rosen.

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