Greenville ISD Announces Class of 2025 Top Graduates
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Greenville ISD Communications
Greenville ISD proudly recognizes the top graduates of the Class of 2025: Valedictorian Ian Kowalczyk and Salutatorian Nadenka Hallonquist.
Valedictorian – Ian Kowalczyk
Ian Kowalczyk is Greenville High School’s Class of 2025 Valedictorian. Born and raised in Greenville, Texas, he is the son of Teresa Kowalczyk and brother to Lilly Kowalczyk.
From a young age, Ian's insatiable curiosity led him to his stepdad’s garage, a haven where he tinkered with lightbulbs, circuit boards, and even fireworks. Along the way, he might have sparked a few fires—literally. One of his earliest experiments involved a vintage TV that required “fixing” in the attic, which resulted in a menacing fire and nearly set the house ablaze. While enduring a brief period of being grounded for the repair, his fascination for observing the inner workings of everyday mechanics only grew.
In addition to his stepdad’s garage, Ian’s mother posed an even greater influence on his character, fascinations, and, most of all, motivation. “My mother’s ‘loving’ gift for my 8th birthday was inviting me into the antiseptic-smelling ER to watch her cut into a person’s stomach,” Ian recalls. Teresa insisted he witness her behind the ER glass and embrace experience, passion, and, most importantly, education. He struggled to understand her adamance toward giving him weeks of nightmares until his 4th-grade summer when he visited Europe and her hometown.
Through the golden wheat fields of Czestochowa, his mom spoke of her childhood in Soviet-occupied Poland, predestined to farming, marrying, and having babies. Having rejected the confines of her small hometown by moving to the States, she planned this trip to illuminate the opportunities she did not get. As they arrived at his cousin’s house, he introduced Ian to his smart-home company, a change of pace from the ER. Later that summer, they visited the Vatican’s ancient library to learn about Roman history and saw the mathematical sketches made by Da Vinci. What Ian thought was a family vacation transformed into a journey of self-discovery.
Although he is moved by his mother’s story, demonstrating her intrepidness, determination, and grit, she has most impacted his life by exposing him to so much of what the world has to offer. As much as his mom pushed him to follow in her footsteps, she never expected anything from him. She only wanted him to learn what he did and didn’t like and see all the possible walks of life.
In 5th grade, Ian found his next home in the VEX IQ Robotics Program, a place not only for building robots but also a community to make friends he would have for the rest of high school. He has served as the Driver for the FRC Robotics Team; Build Lead for his VEX Robotics Team, 4148Z; Mechanical Engineering Intern at Innovation First International; Division 32 Lieutenant Governor, REC Chair, and Parliamentarian on the Key Club District Board; President, Vice President, and founding member of GHS Rotary Interact Club; Associate Supreme Court Justice and Councilor at Texas Boys State; President and Vice President of Student Council, President and Activity Planner of Book Club; President and Vice President of National Honor Society; Solo Violinist, First Violinist and Quartet Member with Suzuki Strings and the Rockwall Youth Symphony Orchestra; Varsity Soccer Player; and Election Clerk for Hunt County Voter Administration.
Ian’s work has been recognized with the Robert F. Lucas Outstanding Lieutenant Governor Award, Top 5 Lieutenant Governor, Top 5 Newsletter, and District Governor Runner-Up distinction. He is a three-time recipient of the Presidential Volunteer Service Award, a Superintendent Scholar each year of high school, and a member of Phi Theta Kappa. His robotics teams have earned the World Championship Industrial Design Award, three UIL State Championships in VEX, FRC State Runner-Up, and more than 50 state and world-level robotics honors.
Within Greenville High School, Ian had the opportunity to be a part of the Early College High School Program, where he is receiving an associate’s degree in Engineering from Paris Junior College (PJC) before graduating from ECHS. While enrolled at PJC, Ian Kowalczyk was named on the President’s Honor List for his Outstanding Academic Achievement for the Fall Semester of 2024.
When Ian isn’t trying to recover from sleep deprivation, he loves any chance he gets to sail, whether it be with his cousin Michael on the Great Lakes of Mikawiki or the Mediterranean with his Uncle. Late nights after robotics practice, Wingstop becomes the nightly feast that never fails. And, of course, his friends. From late-night talks to summer vacations in Colorado, his friends are always there for him, and he is beyond thankful for each one of them.
On March 27th, 2025, Ian Kowalczyk was accepted into Harvard University, where he plans to major in Mechanical Engineering and minor in Business. The interdisciplinary track within Harvard’s Mechanical Engineering program offers Ian the opportunity to build his first STEM kits, aimed at fostering growth not only in STEM but also in diverse passions among students worldwide. Through Harvard’s TECH program, he hopes to develop schoolroom-ready labs featuring worm gears and coffee cup calorimeters—tools designed to inspire the same sense of wonder in the next generation that first sparked his own curiosity.
And lastly, don’t forget about the community, friends, and especially family that helped him reach this point. From his Early College High School teachers to the 148 Robowranglers, Ian appreciates your continual support in this next chapter of his life.
Salutatorian – Nadenka Hallonquist
Nadenka Hallonquist is the Salutatorian of the Greenville High School graduating class of 2025. She is the daughter of Quenten Hallonquist and Rachael Morton.
Raised in Montana, she moved to Greenville, Texas her freshman year of high school. She participated in Art Club, Book Club, Key Club, National Honors Society, Student Council, and Math UIL. In tandem with these activities she dedicated herself to the award winning Greenville Lion Pride Band as a color guard performer. Nadenka also had the pleasure of participating within FRC robotics with 148, the Robowranglers, her Junior and Senior year. During her time with 148 she had the honor of being a team lead as well as winning third in 5A UIL and over 15 awards.
Nadenka has earned the opportunity of attending The University of Texas at Austin on a fully covered tuition. Here, she will study Biology in order to earn a bachelor’s degree. She is extremely grateful for her family who helped her get to this point in life by their continuous support and love.
Have fun, make friends, chase excellence!
Greenville ISD celebrates the achievements of these two exceptional students and congratulates them on their continued journey toward excellence.