When Aiden Godina walks across the graduation stage at Monmouth-Roseville High School, it’ll be a moment long in the making—not because it was ever in doubt, but because it’s the culmination of something larger than a senior year. For Aiden, it’s the close of a chapter he’s been writing since Pre-K, right here in Monmouth.

“This has always been home,” he says. “I’ve grown up here. I’ve grown because of here.”

That’s not a sentimental throwaway. It’s a truth Aiden carries with clarity and pride. And this fall, he’ll bring that same sense of purpose with him to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he’ll enter the Grainger College of Engineering—undeclared for now, but fully committed to finding his path within the discipline.

“Of course I’m excited,” he says. “But it’s a little stressful, too. Finals. A new job. College around the corner. But I know this summer will be one of the best of my life.”

He’s earned it.

Aiden is an Illinois State Scholar and a member of National Honor Society, where he serves as secretary. He’s held leadership positions in both student council and student officers, participates in marching band as a tuba player, and has explored everything from Scholastic Bowl to esports, including helping run concession stands and extracurriculars alongside the teacher he credits with changing his life: Mr. Emamjomeh.

“He taught me how to be persistent,” Aiden says. “He helped me understand the value of showing up, working hard, and not letting things get in the way of your growth.”

Their bond formed during Aiden’s sophomore year in chemistry class, extended to after-school activities, and ultimately inspired the subject of Aiden’s college personal statement.

“When he moved to Chicago, he made sure we knew it wasn’t about us,” Aiden says. “That meant a lot.”

If persistence is his superpower, then reflection might be his twin gift. Aiden thinks deeply. About his strengths. About what holds people back. About the difference between talent and consistency. “You hear people say ‘don’t give up’ all the time,” he says, “but not many people really practice it. I try to.”

That mindset doesn’t come from nowhere. It comes, in large part, from his parents—both of whom work at Smithfield Foods.

“My dad immigrated from rural Mexico,” he says. “He works at the factory, but also does landscaping and whatever else he can find. He works hard. Really hard. And my mom—she’s my anchor. I call her my therapist. She keeps everything steady.”

Their sacrifices haven’t just enabled Aiden’s opportunities—they’ve shaped his values. “They’re proud of me, of course,” he says. “But I know this isn’t just about me getting to go to college. This is why they do what they do. This is the reason they get up in the morning.”

Aiden’s love for his hometown is deep, but he’s also honest about how it may take leaving to fully understand what Monmouth has given him. “I know this place is different,” he says. “It’s diverse. It prepares you in ways you might not notice until you’re somewhere else.”

He’s already thought about how he’ll remember it—the four seasons, the Dairy Queen hangouts, band camp, family cookouts, the rhythm of a town that gave him both roots and lift.

He’s also working on something a little louder: restoring a 1985 K10 Chevy pickup, handed down from family in Colorado. “It’s my project,” he says. “I’m hoping to show it at the local car show this summer.”

It’s a fitting metaphor. A mix of past and future. A love for legacy and a readiness to move forward.

For Aiden Godina, college isn’t an escape. It’s a continuation.

And for the communities he’ll be part of next, they won’t just be lucky to have him— they’ll be stronger because of him.