Oakwood High School’s Riley Walker knows one thing: you need to appreciate what hard work can do for you.
One of seven Valedictorians in Oakwood’s Class of 2020, Walker had his sights set on prioritizing his grades and working hard on the football field as he went into his freshman year.
As he walks across the stage, grabbing his diploma this weekend, Walker will have kept a 4.0 during each semester of school, finding himself on the High Honor Roll List and earning All-State honors.
“I realized that learning was a way of life and the only way to get better was to learn more. Most skills are developed not given,” he said.
Walker wanted to accomplish something similar on the football field. The Comets won their first postseason football game since 1988 last fall, defeating Nokomis 20-0 at home.
“The 2019-2020 school year has definitely been my favorite despite the current circumstances. I had the most fun in football I have ever had,” Walker said.
A four-year varsity member, Walker was able to keep his grades up while also being named on the Vermilion County All-Conference and Vermilion County Offensive Lineman teams.
“I had so much enjoyment leading the line as center and getting to make calls for some of our plays and helping the younger classmen learn more about the sport and how to improve themselves,” he said.
Walker tried track and field and FFA for three years, becoming the treasurer, but said he never really found his niche there, as his father and brother once had.
Instead, he took on the lead role with FCA and was the treasurer of the National Honor Society.
“It was an honor to be a part of that experience and meant a lot to get to wear those gold ropes at graduation,” he said.
Balancing all of his responsibilities, Walker relied on his family, friends and coaches for support.
“My family and friends because I always appreciated them being proud of my accomplishments,” he said. “My coaches also played a big part encouraging me and bragging to the team.”
“My coaches felt like real friends and still are. They definitely had a positive impact on me and the sport helped me through some rough times.
“School has always been enjoyable for me and I love seeing my friends every day. Also many of the teachers at Oakwood are super friendly and give good advice.”
Like many seniors who left school in mid-March as Gov. JB Pritzker closed schools, Walker did not realize that the last time he walked out Oakwood’s doors would be the last time that he was able to experience high school.
“Oakwood is a special place because of the pride and energy our school has,” he said. “We keep a lot of tradition going for many decades and I do not know any other school that does homecoming like us.
“In a small town everyone basically knows most of the population and you decide if you want them to be your friend or not and I think most of us embrace this town and all the parents and friends living here.”
Walker will stick close to home as he goes off to college. He was awarded the Presidential Scholarship at Danville Area Community College. He plans to get his general education courses out of the way before transferring to a university where he wants to study accounting or maybe Ag finance.
“The lesson I stick by is that you have to appreciate hard work,” he said. “It is the only way to advance in this life even if we do not always want to do it. Life is hard but there is no giving up. If you need help do not be afraid to ask.”
