The students named below earned recognition for their academic performance and attention to excellence at Unity High School during the fall 2025 semester. Congratulations to each student on their exceptional scholastic effort this semester.
Unity first semester Honor Roll students recognized
The students named below earned recognition for their academic performance and attention to excellence at Unity High School during the fall 2025 semester. Congratulations to each student on their exceptional scholastic effort this semester.
St. Joseph-Ogden High School 2025 First Quarter High Honor Roll
ST. JOSEPH - At the end of October, St. Joseph-Ogden High School announced the recipients of the first quarter Honor Roll and High Honor Roll. To be recognized on the Honor Roll at SJO, students must achieve a grade point average (GPA) of 3.25 or higher on a 4.0 scale. Those with a GPA exceeding 3.74 are honored as High Honor Roll students.
Freshman High Honor Roll
Madison Alsip
Charlene Barbee
Callie Barnett
Reid Bewley
Teagan Blacker
Brady Blunier
Allie Bott
Tabbitha Brown
Ella Buhs
Sophia Chahine
Charlotte Christians
Luke Dunn
Sydney Farber
Gatlin Finfrock
Brock Franzen
Jade Gains
Ella Gerdes
Avery Haley
Kelsie Harms
Eli Hendry
Braelyn Ikemire
Brynn Jones
Carson King
Alissa Knight
Ashton Kuchenbrod
Jamin MacAdam
Darby Manion
Ella Mohr
Riley Mohr
Chloe Nirider
Owen Olson
Ava Overstreet
Arianna Pecchenino
Karter Peoples
Aleah Rash
Easton Ray
Lauren Risley
Caylah Roberts
August Rosser
Ryan Schmitz
Abigail Sebree
Kyler Smith
Reagan Smith
Leah Stephenson
Taylynn Tapia
Caleb Taylor
Landyn Thomey
Taylor Vaughn
Malayna Wilson
Makala Wisehart
Sophomore High Honor Roll
Ava Alexander
Tyler Bonny
Ava Bronowski
Patrick Clark
Avarie Dietiker
Hunter Dilley
Ainsley Dirksmeyer
Trey Divan
Connor Eaton
Olivia Edington
Eli Franklin
Isabella Frerichs
Ava Gallo
Conlan Gill
Holden Hausle
Colton Heidel
Nathan Hinkel
Kellyn Irwin
Ashlee Jannusch
Lilyah Jones
Megan Kearney
Lillyan Kelley
Addison Knight
Avery Lappin
Royce Loschen
Charles Martin
Landon May
Henry McCannon
Lane McKinney
Connor McMahon
Michaela Morrison
Hannah Nirider
Mason Osterbur
Cameron Palmisano
Mara Perkins
Marissa Perkins
Miranda Perkins
Hailey Phillips
Evan Potter
Airin Rash
Kenley Ray
Abigail Reynolds
Isaiah Reynolds
Roisin Rice
Alyssa Robinson
Jaylin Seal
Alexis Smith
Marissa Smith
Vivian Smith
Nayeli Steele
Brooklyn Stevens
Ethan Suchor
Mataya Thaman
Korinne Travis
Evelyn Valentine
Viviene Vliet
Owen Wall
Lucas Waters
Ian Wolken
Samson Zadeh
Junior High Honor Roll
Zhou Barbee
Abigail Bello
Zachary Benoit
Alec Bowlin
Colin Burnett
Brenda Castro
Elizabeth Clark
Abigail Crider
Hayden Dahl
Iris Davis
Nickolas Ditchfield
Mary Evans-Baker
Madison Farber
Nathaniel Farney
Nolan Franzen
Leah Gaines
Skyler Graham
Anna Hammond
Mark Harbourt
Nicholas Harris
Tyler Hess
Maggie Hewkin
Brynn Ikemire
Faith Jackson
Mia Jones
Alivia Learned
Avrianna Lyttle
Chase Mabry
Finnegan Miller
Maddux Musselman
Mason Ramm
Peighton Reim
Kiah Riesel
Dennis Rineberg
Sophie Schmitz
Ava Smoot
Adeline Stevens
Ani Stine
Isabella Turner
Brayden Waller
Jack Wear
Emerson Williams
Declan Yohnka
Senior High Honor Roll
Barrowman, Lexie
Bell, Adalyn
Beyers, Kaitlyn
Bird, Emily
Blackburn-Kelley, Tim
Bonny, Aiden
Brooks, Addison
Bytnar, Sara
Carlson, Jacob
Carlson, William
Chaudhary, Rudra
Childers, Adelyn
Clark, Wade
Coffey, Christopher
Ericksen, Katherine
Getty, Abigail
Getty, Camden
Goodwin, Brandon
Hale, Charles
Hardimon, Erica
Hartman, Claire
Hood, Bryanna
Huckstadt, Amelia
Huckstadt, Lydia
Jannusch, Adalyn
Johnson, Jordan
Jolley, Kaelyn
Kelley, Madilyn
Kelso, Samantha
Lackey, Alexis
Lockhart, Ryker
Loschen, Mackenzie
Maddock, Taylor
McDaniel, Michael
McGinnis, Danny
McKinney, Emma
McKinney, Kodey
McMahon, Patrick
Midkiff, Ava
Miller, Ashlyn
Mock, Hannah
Nekolny, Delaney
Ochs, Allison
Oleynichak, Brennan
Osterbur, Kayla
Overstreet, Colton
Page, Garrick
Pearman, Branson
Peoples, Kaleb
Preston, Grace
Pruemer, Asher
Rhoton, Ainsley
Rice, Lily
Roberts, Landon
Ruppel, Amber
Schluter, Cameron
Schmitz, Allison
Sjoken, Gracyn
Smith, Lucas
Smith, Tao
Spain, Karleigh
Steinbach, Sydney
Sweet, Hadley
Taylor, Carlee
Tranel, Luke
Vliet, Sophia
Wells, Emma
Wells, Madeline
Wertz, Wyatt
Xiao, Logan
Zadeh, Cyrus
St. Joseph-Ogden High School 2025 First Quarter Honor Roll
ST. JOSEPH - Earlier this week, St. Joseph-Ogden High School announced the recipients of the first quarter Honor Roll and High Honor Roll. To be recognized on the Honor Roll at SJO, students must achieve a grade point average (GPA) of 3.25 or higher on a 4.0 scale. Those with a GPA exceeding 3.74 are honored as High Honor Roll students.
Freshman Honor Roll
Henry Beeler
Asher Bell
Adam Bello
Bailey Blakley
Jaxon Blunier
Nora Buckley
Ava Buhr
Logan Crider
Dorian Davenport
Sophia Douglas
Aiden Eldridge
Ainsley Freeman
Madelyn Garrett
Isaac Hernandez
Weston Hubbard
Madison Huls
Allison Marschke
Colton McCartney
Ethan McGinnis
Gavin Midkiff
Hope Murphy
Emma O'Herron
Ava Price
Brylee Ramm
Charles Ray
Kiptyn Rosenthal
Jasper Snyder
Lucas Stevens
Brendan Sussen
Gage Tranel
Logan Wedig
Gregory Wells
Guinevere Welsh
Emma Wilson
Savannah Wirth
Addison Wright
Candice Wright
Sophomore Honor Roll
Lucas Barton
Coleton Beckett
Draven Black
Donaven Bohlen
Evan Brown
Liam Carter
Carly Coffey
Tessa Cox
Emily Cross
Casen Goff
Jackson Good
Brandon Grindley
George Hale
Nity James
Isabel Kates
Leigha Larson
Pete Martin
Aubrey Matheny
Aiden McBride
Atleigh Miller
Leah Pruitt
Averie Puckett
Gage Ramm
Keagan Reed
Mitch Riesel
Keegan Roberts
Samantha Ryan
Dalton Trotter
Ryder Van Meenen
Jacob Walker
Addison Walsh
Benjamin Wells
Sorena Welsh
Amari Wheeler
Lexi Williams
Junior Honor Roll
Samuel Albrecht
Olivia Berlatsky
Willis Canamore
Jaxson Colvin
Justin Downs
Elijah Garrett
Morgan Huls
Jaydon Lewis
Garrett Loschen
Hadley McDonald
Steven Newman
Mason Olinger
Tripp Palmer
Jaxon Potts
William Ricketts-Royer
Haylee Shaffer
Cameron Wagner
Shelby Warns
Dalton York
Senior Honor Roll
DeAva Barnett
Timera Blackburn-Kelley
Shelby Campbell
Cade Crozier
Caleb Dwyer
Parker Fitch
Jeffrey Gossett
William Haley
Zachary Harper
Coy Hayes
Justice Heidel
Bryson Houchens
Nicholas Jackson
Sophia Kasper
Cooper Kietzman
Vance McComas
Graham Ray
Lance Retz
Logan Rosenthal
Ethan Sanders
Trevor Sexton
Quinn Stahl
Devan Swisher
Lucas Truong
Hayden Utley
Hunter Van Meenen
Unity Junior High students earn academic high honors
6th Grade High Honor Roll
William Terrance Bieser
Jace Boyett
Rachel Elaine Sharples Brooks
Connor John Chesnut
Brielle Mun-Yee Chin
Madisen Diane Coy
Dominic Dees
Finley Douglas
Reid William Edwards
Jackson Carter Elam
Ashlyn Elizabeth Estes
Shirley Arianna Garcier
Liam Thomas Grussing
Aubrey Lou Hartman
Asher Jett
Pyper Rayne Jones
Zaylee Elaine Kohlenberg
Elijiah Cole Lambert
Avalee Susan Little
Landon Robert Little
Lucas James Michels
Logan Alexander Nasser
Peyton Elizabeth Neighbors
Charlotte Rose Ocasio
Zachary David Ruhter
Mallory Mya Schmid
Brody Lee Skibbe
Blake Robert Stierwalt
Giselle Ann Thomas
Jase William Kenneth Wierman
Conor William Zumbahlen
7th Grade High Honor Roll
Landon Robert Alt
Maylie Rose Bates
Nora Kristina Blanchard
Brailey Marie Cain
Viola Ayame Carman
Raeann Loucille Cozad
Lydia Grace Crowe
Kylee Paulette Cunningham
Elizabeth Irene Davidson
Bronson Edwin Davis
Savannah Jo Drewes
Quentin Xavier Dykeman
Collin Daniel Eckstein
Beau Richard Eisenmenger
Tinsley Layne Elliott
Alarik Byrum Ellison
Cooper Alexander Fairbanks
Nadia Grace Fairbanks
Hayden Marie Gabbard
Evelyn Anne Gould
Libbey Marlene Ethel Griffin
Jessica Marie Hamilton
Harper Quinn Harris
Dylan Paul Holladay
Mason James Holladay
Aaron Joseph Hood
Gabriel Heinrich Jahnel
Allie Rose Kamradt
Molly Kathryn Lydia Kleiss
John Isaac "Isaac" Leaman
Adeliah June Little
Adelyn Jolene Maxwell
Graham Charles Moore
Ashley Ann Mumm
Nicole Nava Palomares
Caylynn Josie Parker
Raelyn Marie Prosser
Jordan William Pruitt
Avery Elizabeth Remole
Matias Alberto Rios Toro
Camdon Levi Schmid
Layla Marie Scott
Drake Alan Siuts
Colby Aaron Weaver
Lucy Jeane Weaver
William Ross Wetherell
Kadence Ryleigh Wiese
Alexis LeAnn Wolken
Alivia RaeLyn Wolken
Brendan Kurtis Zerrusen
8th Grade High Honor Roll
Kenny Wayne Adcock
Lilly Annabelle Bailes
Brooklyn Blair Bates
Ty Craig Benedict
Ethan Earl Bent
Elizabeth Joanne Berkey
Katherine Elaine Berkey
Konnor Lewis Bletscher
Sylvia Lola Cahill
Kale Boden Cowan
Trevor Daniel Coy
Alec Joseph Daly
McKenzie Lynn Deakin
Emma Nicole Denney
Giulietta DiBello
Steven Gambill
Amelia Marie Good
Hayden Bradley Grussing
Aubrie Paige Gumm
Jordan Elizabeth Hamilton
Kynedy Ashlynn Hoel
Alivia Krall
Cora Dee Leonard
Adeline Marie Marinelli
Lilly Madelyn Meharry
Tatum Faith Meharry
Baeden Edward Millsap-Moore
Lillian Calen Mohr
Holden William ONeill
Marley Rae Parks
Carolina Maria Pagaduan Popovics
Luc Sandor Marcelo Popovics
Makaylin Pugh
Maya Alexis Rawdin
Bella Rose Robbins
Skylar Grace Savona
Sophia Isabella Schuckman
Jaylan Serczyk
Austin David Shafer
Vivian Rosalie Shunk
Dylan Robert Stierwalt
Jack Christopher Terven
Nicholas James Thomas
Hayley Olivia Thompson
Cassandra Pearl Thweatt
Quentin Stephen Webber
Bryson Matthew Williams
Lucas Neal Williams
Olivia Lynn Wilson
Ethan Matthew Wishall
Ashton Jace Wolf
Adam Scott Wolken
Despite opportunities, students are transferring from community colleges to public universities at a low rate
by Peter HancockCapitol News Illinois
SPRINGFIELD — As the cost of higher education continues to rise, many students have turned to local community colleges as a way of holding down the cost of pursuing a degree.
Sometimes referred to as the “2-plus-2” model, the idea is to complete the freshman- and sophomore-level general education requirements at a local community college – where tuition rates may be half to one-third that of a four-year institution – then transfer to a university to finish out a degree.
By many measures, Illinois has been a leader in making the transfer process accessible for community college students. A 2020 report from the Illinois Board of Higher Education and Illinois Community College Board noted that Illinois led the nation in bachelor’s degree completion rates among community college transfer students, with nearly 54% completing their degree within six years.
Other Sentinel stories ~
One of the biggest obstacles, according to the report, is identifying the community college courses for which credits are eligible to be transferred between institutions, a process known as “articulation.” Illinois has two programs intended to make it easier to transfer credits between schools. The Illinois Articulation Initiative, begun in 1993, sets out a “general education core curriculum” that more than 100 participating institutions have agreed to accept. And the Student Transfer Achievement Reform, or STAR Act, provides that students who graduate from a community college with an associate’s degree can, if they meet other qualifications, automatically be admitted to a public university and enroll as a junior. But Abrahamson said the process is not as smooth and seamless as it would seem. For example, he said, some universities have prerequisites for their upper-level courses that may not be aligned with the general education core curriculum that a student may have taken in community college. “We heard from students about, ‘Oh, I took this marketing class, and it didn't transfer for major credit, it transferred for elective credit. I had to take a marketing class, and it was the exact same course and I paid twice for it,’” Abrahamson said. Another barrier, the report noted, is the direct cost of transferring from one school to another. That can include application fees as well as fees for obtaining copies of transcripts, costs that can multiply if the student applies to multiple four-year institutions. “In our discussions with students, we found that those could be significant barriers for students,” Abrahamson said. “It's a $30 or $40 application fee, but you multiply that over a couple institutions, and it can be a real barrier for students to apply.”
Recommendations to lawmakers
The report offers several recommendations to make the transfer process easier, some of which are being considered in the General Assembly. Chief among those is to reform the way Illinois funds higher education. Lawmakers are considering legislation this year to overhaul university funding, one that would distribute new funds using a needs-based formula similar to the Evidence-Based Funding model used in K-12 education. But the Partnership for College Completion report also calls for overhauling community college funding, “to reduce over-reliance on tuition and fee revenue.” Another proposal under consideration this year is to implement a statewide direct admissions program in which graduating high school seniors and community college students who are eligible to transfer to a university would be automatically admitted to public universities where they are qualified. The report calls for expanding that program further by coupling it with “guaranteed need-based financial aid.” “I think almost all of our universities want to serve more transfer students and want to serve their students as best they possibly can,” Abrahamson said. “A lot of this comes down to giving them the resources they need to do that.” Gov. JB Pritzker has also pushed for a bill allowing community colleges to offer four-year bachelor’s degree programs in certain high-demand employment fields. But that measure has stalled thus far, with Democratic leaders recently expressing disagreement on the plan at a committee hearing to discuss the funding bill.Happy days for homeschool parents, Illinois HB2827 stalls in the House
By Greg Bishop .::. Associate Editor
The Center Square
Tens of thousands of opponents filed witness slips against the measure since it was introduced earlier this year. Some Democrats spoke out against the measure, saying it could criminalize homeschool parents raising and teaching their children how they see fit. Republican state Rep. Amy Elik said the bill was “doomed from the beginning.” “A simple form was not so simple was it? It created burdens on families across Illinois, our entire school system,” Elik said, “and nobody seems to care that that was going to cost our schools and our families valuable resources that could be spent instead of fixing our public school system that often fails children.” Elik said she’s glad the measure is being held, but she said the fight isn’t over for opponents. “I can tell you our families still feel like they are under attack and walking on eggshells in Illinois,” she said. “That happens all the time in this chamber.” The measure will be held, but could come back up in some fashion before the scheduled end of session May 31. Legislators are off next week. The House returns April 22. The Senate returns April 29.
Unity first semester Honor Roll students recognized
The students named below earned recognition for their academic performance and attention to excellence at Unity High School. Congratulations to each on their exceptional scholastic effort in the first semester.
High Honor: Lindy Bates; Molly Baxley; Kolton Black; Paige Brewer; Noah Bryant; Elle Cheely; Madelyn Darnall; Jordan Daugherty; Frankie Davis; Emily Decker; Ashlyn Denney; Estella Dodd; Kade Dubson; Hunter Eastin; Catharine Ford; Paige Garretson; Kadence Goff; Sophia Hartke; Lauren Hellmer; Caleb Hoewing; Dallas Hollingsworth; Wyatt Huffstutler; Alex Mowrer; Brady Parr; Riley Petkus; Camryn Reedy; Rylee Reifsteck; Nolan Remole; Ashley Rennels; Lydia Rossi; Maegan Rothe; Savanna Sellers; Lauren Shaw; Tsihon Shotton; Daniel Stein; Joseph Tempel; Avery Watson; Gavin Weaver; McKinley Weller; Tessah Williams; Nolan Wishall; and Logan Zumbahlen. Honor: Jenna Adkins; Avery Alagna; Emmerson Bailey; Sophia Beckett; Brianna Blakley; Holden Brazelton; Michael Bromley; Bentten Cain; Keegan Cenzano, Josephine Cler; Ava Davis; Jaden Dene; Chloey Duitsman; Piper Farney; Ava Fenter; Sophia Frye; Alexis Gady; Faith Hall; McKenzie Hart; Kaden Inman; Andrew King; Gracie Meharry; Makayla Nonman; Mary OBryan; Ryan Pickett; Rami Ramahi; Garrett Richardson; Ryan Rink; Ryan Robinson; Braden Roderick; Brock Schlittler; and Grant Steinman.
High Honor: Anna Amias; Aria Battaglia; Mylie Castle; Cameryn Cobb; Kaylee Cooke; Chloe Cousins; Eli Crowe; Ella Darnall; Callie Ellars; Camden Fairbanks; Margaret Garcier; Isabel Grob; Kenley Harris; Caden Hensch; Lucas Hood; Jaxon Jett; Miles Johnson; Cameron Kaiser; Faith Lampe; Kallista Lancaster; Mylie Loftsgaard; Claire Meharry; Deakin Moore; Isaac Neverman; Brody Osterbur; Harry Polonus; Dallas Porter; Mackenzie Pound; Katie Ruggieri; Vanna Schriefer; Hunter Shike; Annalise Shunk; Shelby Smith; Caden Stierwalt; Ginna Stierwalt; Madelyn Stierwalt; Emma Swisher; Carter Tiemann; Bailey Tompkins; Evan Vlahovich; and Lucille Wiesbrook. Honor: Ryan Akers; Maddix Buchanan; Savanna Cruz; Natalia Cunningham; Abram Davidson; Shyenne Eaton; Crewe Eckstein; Olivia Egelston; Dane Eisenmenger; Tanner Gallivan; Collin Graven; Brayden Henry; Tyler Henry; Sophia Hewerdine; Logan Jeurissen; Anna Kuhns; Johanna Langley; Maxwell McCabe; Phoenix Molina; Mason ONeill; Analea Popovics; Andrew Ray; Ty Rodems; Jillian Schlittler; Kamden Schuckman; Liana Sheets-Cowan; Anna Vasey; Alexander Wells; Paula Wilson; Shelby Zoch; and Claire Zorns.
High Honor: Dominic Baxley; Alex Bromley; Clare Bryant; Caleb Coy; Braedyn Dalton; Lillian Daly, Addison Davis; Danika Eisenmenger; Allison Fenter; Reese Frye; Journey Gabbard; Bailee Gadeken; Olivia Hall; Colton Harmon; Avery Kamradt; Kathryn Knoll; Cash McCann; Landrey Mohr; Emily Osterbur; Adam Reedy; Ethan Schaefer; Allyson Shaw; Isaac Siegwald; Evalyn Skibbe; Piper Staley; Grace Tempel; Leah Watson; Elizabeth Wayne; Grace Wherley; Rylan Wolf; Addison Wyatt; and Kendal Zerrusen. Honor: Juan Acosta Toro; Grace Bickers; Wyatt Blanchard; Paige Bradley; Emma Carrington; Cadence Chandler; Noah Conde; Hudson DeHart; Austin Drewes; Aidan Ellis; Elizabeth Farney; Natalie Haas; Walker Hall; Everest Harper; Dustin Harris; Broderick Irwin; Hailey Keck; Rush Little; Audrey McDaniel; Nicholas Montgomery; Brooklyn Mumm; Miles Owens; Sadie Polonus; Evan Puckett; Max Rossi; Gabrielle Spanglo; Jacob Ward; and Maggie Weckle.
High Honor: Patrick Baxley; Beckam Brown; Sadie Carpenter; Jackson Cheely; Soren Davis; Andrew Donovan; Tessa Durham; Tyson Durham; Cecelia Easter; Dillon Ellars; Kaylee Estes; Carson Fairbanks; Reagan Fisher; Jordan Harmon; Roman Hastings; Noah Hettinger; Tessa Horn; Karleigh Jamison; Lincoln Johnson; Joseph Kamradt; Khison Kern; Tatum Kirby; Bryan Kleiss; Izabella Mallast; Nolan Meharry; Dalton Moose; Rhianna Ocasio; Caleb Saxon; Carter Schmid; Caleb Siegwald; Kole VanSickle; Gavin Warren; Sawyer Weller; Logan Wells; Haley White; John White; Austin Wiersema; Elsie Wiesbrook; Adilynn Wilson; Olivia Witheft; and Cole Zorns. Honor: Cameron Barnes; Cooper Beckett; Beckham Brink; Brilynn Cain; Madison Castor; Skyler Chilton; Danika Dhom; Kinzey Duitsman; Haley Ennis; Cohen Fincham; Shae Lin Fournier; Makayla Goff; Hallie Handal; Brady Harris; Joel Hoewing; Kane Knudsen; Clint McCormick; Payten Niles; Kandace Reed; Mia Reifsteck; Caden Rogers; Sophia Seidlitz; Ian Skibbe; Ava Sommer; and Olivia Williams.
Seven scholars at the University of Illinois honored with permanent academic appointments
CHAMPAIGN - The Center for Advanced Study (CAS) at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign announced the appointment of seven distinguished scholars to its permanent faculty. Lisa Ainsworth in plant biology, Scott Denmark in chemistry, Jodi Flaws in comparative biosciences, Peter Fritzsche in history, Bill Gropp in computing and data science, Helen Neville in educational psychology, and Brent Roberts in psychology, each of these scholars brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise were chosen to join 17 other CAS professors, all of whom have received permanent appointments. As part of their roles, CAS professors are tasked with delivering the annual lecture, participating in the selection committee for CAS associates and fellows, and providing valuable insights on various matters pertaining to the center. The addition of these scholars not only enhances the intellectual landscape and reputation for academic excellence at the University of Illinois but also underscores the institution's commitment to fostering a vibrant and innovative research environment. Lisa Ainsworth holds the Charles Adlai Ewing Chair of Crop Physiology and oversees the Soybean Free Air Concentration Enrichment facility. This facility is the longest-running open-air experiment designed to study how crops respond to changes in the global atmosphere. Her research focuses on climate change and explores potential agricultural solutions for mitigating its effects. Scott Denmark, who holds the position of Reynold C. Fuson Professor of Chemistry, researches the development of new synthetic reactions and the exploration of the mechanisms and origins of stereocontrol in innovative asymmetric reactions. He is known for pioneering the concept of chiral Lewis base activation of Lewis acids for catalysis in main group synthetic organic chemistry. Jodi Flaws is a professor of comparative biosciences and has published more than 300 peer-reviewed papers. Her research program focuses on determining the mechanisms by which environmental chemicals such as phthalates, neonicotinoid pesticides and water disinfection produces affect the development and function of the female reproductive system. She and served as an associate editor for a number of scientific journals and publications. Peter Fritzsche holds the position of the W.D. and Sara E. Trowbridge Professor of History and is affiliated with several programs, including the Program in Jewish Culture and Society, Germanic Languages and Literature, the European Union Center, the Center for Global Studies, and the Russian, East European, and Eurasian Center. His research primarily focuses on Germany in the 20th century, and he has authored several notable books in this field, such as “Life and Death in the Third Reich” and “Hitler’s First Hundred Days.” Additionally, Fritzche has explored themes in cultural and intellectual history, with works like "Stranded in the Present: Modern Times and the Melancholy of History." His contributions to the field have garnered international recognition, including a Guggenheim Fellowship and a Cundill Prize. As director of the National Center for Supercomputing Applications and a professor of computer science in the Siebel School of Computing and Data Science, Bill Gropp's research interests include parallel computing, software for scientific computing and numerical methods for partial differential equations. He also holds a Grainger Distinguished Chair in Engineering. Helen Neville, who previously earned the Association of Black Psychologists’ Distinguished Psychologist of the Year award, is a professor of educational psychology and African American studies at the University of Illinois. Taking her research in a new direction, she is gravitating towards healing, particularly healing from racial and other intersecting forms of trauma. She is also president-elect of the Society for the Psychological Study of Culture, Ethnicity and Race, a division of the American Psychological Association. She has co-edited eight books and co-authored close to 90 journal articles and book chapters about race, racism and racial identity, and diversity issues related to well-being. Formerly the director of the Center for Social and Behavioral Science and associate editor for the Journal of Research in Personality and Psychological Science, Brent Roberts a professor in health innovation at the Carle Illinois College of Medicine and a distinguished guest professor at the Hector Research Institute of Education Sciences and Psychology at the University of Tübingen, Germany. He also holds the Gutsgell Endowed Professorship in Psychology at Illinois.
St. Joseph-Ogden High School 2024 First Quarter Honor Roll
ST. JOSEPH - At the end of October, St. Joseph-Ogden High School announced the recipients of the first quarter Honor Roll and High Honor Roll. To be recognized on the Honor Roll at SJO, students must achieve a grade point average (GPA) of 3.25 or higher on a 4.0 scale. Those with a GPA exceeding 3.74 are honored as High Honor Roll students.
Freshman Honor Roll
Miles Atwood
Lucas Barton
Coleton Beckett
Draven Black
Evan Brown
Liam Carter
Caleb Courter
Emily Cross
Hunter Dilley
Jameson Ehler
Casen Goff
Jackson Good
George Hale
Holden Hausle
Averie Helfrich
Keira Landers
Leigha Larson
Pete Martin
Aubrey Matheny
Wyatt McKinney
Atleigh Miller
Michaela Morrison
Cameron Palmisano
Averie Puckett
Isaiah Reynolds
Mitch Riesel
Keegan Roberts
Samantha Ryan
Dalton Trotter
Logan Umbarger
Ryder Van Meenen
Henrik Vander Zalm
Tessa Walker
Lexi Williams
Ian Wolken
Sophomore Honor Roll
Samuel Albrecht
Olivia Berlatsky
Alec Bowlin
Willis Canamore
Brenda Castro Gutierrez
Jaxson Colvin
Jameson Ennis
Mary Evans-Baker
Elijah Garrett
Aiden Hundley
Faith Jackson
Jaxson LaBounty
Garrett Loschen
Adam Marschke
Steven Newman
Mason Olinger
Tripp Palmer
William Ricketts-Royer
Ava Smoot
Lilly Sollars
Cameron Wagner
Shelby Warns
Kaden Wedig
Dalton York
Junior Honor Roll
Shelby Campbell
Wade Clark
Cade Crozier
Caleb Dwyer
Zachary Harper
Coy Hayes
Justice Heidel
Bryson Houchens
Amelia Huckstadt
Nick Jackson
Malachy Kates
Vance McComas
Emma McKinney
Ava Midkiff
Graham Ray
Lance Retz
Ainsley Rhoton
Ethan Sanders
Trevor Sexton
Gracyn Sjoken
Landon Smith
Lucas Smith
Luke Tranel
Lucas Truong
Hunter Van Meenen
Emma Wells
Senior Honor Roll
James Barron
Rylie Barton
William Besson
Eli Birt
Sul Bonny
Chaz Bowlin
Landen Butts
Nolan Earley
Lyla Frerichs
Addison Funk
Tinley Ideus
Kendrick Johnson
Dylan Jones
Quincy Jones
Amilliya Kindle
Owen Knap
Aiden Krall
Logan Lackey
Madison Lankster
Gabe Mata
Brenden Maury
Logan Patton
Hailie Reifsteck
Sydney Reitmeier
Carson Sarnecki
Samuel Shonkwiler
Thea Smith
Collin Thomey
Jackson Walsh
Ava Worley
Merial Yeager
St. Joseph-Ogden High School 2024 First Quarter High Honor Roll
ST. JOSEPH - At the end of October, St. Joseph-Ogden High School announced the recipients of the first quarter Honor Roll and High Honor Roll. To be recognized on the Honor Roll at SJO, students must achieve a grade point average (GPA) of 3.25 or higher on a 4.0 scale. Those with a GPA exceeding 3.74 are honored as High Honor Roll students.
Freshman High Honor Roll
Tyler Bonny
Ava Bronowski
Patrick Clark
Carly Coffey
Tessa Cox
Avarie Dietiker
Ainsley Dirksmeyer
Trey Divan
Connor Eaton
Olivia Edington
Eli Franklin
Isabella Frerichs
Ava Gallo
Conlan Gill
Brandon Grindley
Colton Heidel
Nathan Hinkel
Kellyn Irwin
Ashlee Jannusch
Lilyah Jones
Isabel Kates
Megan Kearney
Lillyan Kelley
Addison Knight
Avery Lappin
Gavin Little
Royce Loschen
Charles Martin
Landon May
Aiden McBride
Henry McCannon
Lane McKinney
Connor McMahon
Hannah Nirider
Mason Osterbur
Lyla Patton
Mara Perkins
Marissa Perkins
Miranda Perkins
Hailey Phillips
Evan Potter
Leah Pruitt
Airin Rash
Kenley Ray
Abigail Reynolds
Roisin Rice
Alyssa Robinson
Alexis Smith
Marissa Smith
Vivian Smith
Nayeli Steele
Brooklyn Stevens
Ethan Suchor
Mataya Thaman
Korinne Travis
Evelyn Valentine
Zoe Valentine
Viviene Vliet
Owen Wall
Lucas Waters
Benjamin Wells
Sorena Welsh
Samson Zadeh
Sophomore High Honor Roll
Zhou Barbee
Abigail Bello
Zachary Benoit
Colin Burnett
Elizabeth Clark
Abigail Crider
Hayden Dahl
Iris Davis
Nickolas Ditchfield
Justin Downs
Madison Farber
Nathaniel Farney
Nolan Franzen
Leah Gaines
Skyler Graham
Anna Hammond
Mark Harbourt
Nicholas Harris
Tyler Hess
Maggie Hewkin
Brynn Ikemire
Mia Jones
Alivia Learned
Avrianna Lyttle
Chase Mabry
Hadley McDonald
Finnegan Miller
Maddux Musselman
Mason Ramm
Peighton Reim
Kiah Riesel
Dennis Rineberg
Sophie Schmitz
Adeline Stevens
Ani Stine
Isabella Turner
Brayden Waller
Jack Wear
Emerson Williams
Declan Yohnka
Junior High Honor Roll
Kylie Barrowman
Lexie Barrowman
Adalyn Bell
Kaitlyn Beyers
Emily Bird
Tim Blackburn-Kelley
Aiden Bonny
Addison Brooks
Isabella Brooks
Sara Bytnar
Jacob Carlson
William Carlson
Rudra Chaudhary
Adelyn Childers
Christopher Coffey
Katherine Ericksen
Abigail Getty
Camden Getty
Charles Hale
William Haley
Erica Hardimon
Claire Hartman
Lydia Huckstadt
Adalyn Jannusch
Kaelyn Jolley
Sophia Kasper
Madilyn Kelley
Samantha Kelso
Cooper Kietzman
Alexis Lackey
Ryker Lockhart
Mackenzie Loschen
Michael McDaniel
Danny McGinnis
Kodey McKinney
Patrick McMahon
Ashlyn Miller
Hannah Mock
Delaney Nekolny
Allison Ochs
Brennan Oleynichak
Kayla Osterbur
Colton Overstreet
Garrick Page
Branson Pearman
Kaleb Peoples
Grace Preston
Asher Pruemer
Lily Rice
Landon Roberts
Logan Rosenthal
Amber Ruppel
Carlee Taylor
Cameron Schlueter
Allison Schmitz
Tao Smith
Karleigh Spain
Quinn Stahl
Sydney Steinbach
Hadley Sweet
Sophia Vliet
Madeline Wells
Wyatt Wertz
Logan Xiao
Cyrus Zadeh
Senior High Honor Roll
Audrey Benoit
Miles Birt
Landon Brown
Arely Castro Gutierrez
Richi Chimal
Preslee Christians
Madison Clampitt
Joshua Courter
Lauren Dewese
Ella Dietiker
Luke Ditchfield
Andrea Dominguez
Jackson Ennis
Savanna Franzen
Kaiden Gaines
Tayton Gerdes
Olivia Getty
Joe Griebat
Mason Guido
Makennah Hamilton
Lauren Harris
Haley Hesterberg
Maebree Houston
Paige Johnson
Sara Kearney
Jeffrey Kuchenbrod
Logan Mills
Gabriel Mortlock
Grace Osterbur
Chayse Palmer
Sonia Patel
Nathan Phillips
Haley Rudolph
Audrey Ruppel
Charles Schmitz
Tanner Siems
Corbin Smith
Kyler Swanson
Coy Taylor
Carter Turner
Samantha Uden
Reese Wheatley
Madison Wolken
Charley Wright
Fiona Xiao
Education leaders seek more funding for Black community colleges
by Mark RichardsonIllinois News Connection
Other News:
Unity 2022-23 First Semester Honor Roll Announced
Senior High Honor Roll
Roger Holben Jr.
Kiersten Reasor
Lillian Montgomery
Sona Khasikyan
Jayci McGraw
Kayla Nelson
Luke Williamson
Madison Loftsgaard
Kara Young
Ellen Ping
Matthew Brown
Rachel Aders
Caleb Amias
Aidan Anderson
Emmalee Atkins
Calvin Baxley
Bettie Branson
Mary Bryant
Annah Cloin
Jared Cross
Jordan Cross
Easton Cunningham
Brendan Graven
Asa Kuhns
Fenley Lopez
Andrew Manrique
Jacob Maxwell
Jolie Meyer
Lauren Miller
Dylan Moore
Abigail Pieczynski
Julia Ping
Sarah Rink
Kaitlyn Schweighart
Tsihon Shotton, Raena Stierwalt
Sophia Stierwalt
Emma Stratton
Ava Vasey
Senior Honor Roll
Maddisen McConaha
Brandon Goyne
Lauren Cooke
Joshua Davidson
Myles Good
Mason Haas
Matea Cunningham
Hayleigh Clemmons
Tyler Liffick Worrell
Avery White
Hunter Duncan
Mason Perry
Emmillia Tiemann
Kayle Deck
Ian White
Brynn Clem
Reece Sarver
Natalie Weller
Kayla Daugherty
Anthony Chaney
Cale Rawdin
Annabelle Steg
Maria Buffo
Nicholas Nosler
Haley Carrington
Anna Clark
Paige Farney
Emily Hollett
Zoey Sorensen
Taylor Warfel
Eden Markstahler
Cole Marheine
Logan Allen
Jayden Clem
Anna Hamilton
Audrey Remole
David Baker Jr.
Alivia Renfroe
Andrew Mowrer
Haylen Handal
Junior High Honor Roll
Taylor Drennan
Tatum Meyer
Carson Parker
Briana Ritchie
Brooke Hewing
Lauren Neverman
Rylee Richardson
Analyse Carter
Cassidy Keller
Caelyn Kleparski
Dalton ONeill
Piper Steele
Bridget Vazquez
Breanna Weller
Abigail Woolcott
Keaton Roether
Carsyn Smith
Bailey Wayne
Santiago Sanchez
Madysen York
Rebecca Carter
Emma Fish
Brooklyn Haas
Caroline Jamison
Eden Johnson
Bayleigh Jones
Jocelyn LeFaivre
Reagan Little
Eric Miebach
Anna Polonus
Ava Price
Rosalia Requena Menchon
Isaac Ruggieri
Aubrey Sanders
Olivia Shike
Logan Siuts
Lily Steffens
Brock Suding
Ruby Tarr
Andrew Thomas
Jeremy Wells
Erica Woodard
Junior Honor Roll
Bryson Weaver
Kolten Wells, Anna Wood
Thayden Root
Lynndsay Talbott
Addison Ray
Kamryn Edenburn
Zachary Lorbiecki
Henry Thomas
Dean Niswonger
Gabriel Pound
McKayla Schendel
Sophia Wozencraft
Trevor McCarter
August Niehaus
Nicholas Brown
Natalie Ellars
Emma Plackett
Aubrey Schaefer
Carly Scroggins
Trevor OBryan
Connor Cahill
Bailey Grob
Shelby Hoel
Luna Thomson
Gabriel Carter
Kendra Cromwell
Margaret Ingleman
Meredith Reed
Alexia Vandiver
Emberly Yeazel
Desire De Los Santos
Madison Henry
Aiden Porter
Evelyn Albaugh
Kate Thomas
Sophomore High Honor Roll
Bentten Cain
McKenzie Hart
Brady Parr
Jordan Daugherty
Ava Davis
Reigna Price
Ryan Rink
Ashley Rennels
Catharine Ford
Jenna Adkins
Lindy Bates
Molly Baxley
Sophia Beckett
Paige Brewer
Elle Cheely
Josephine Cler
Madelyn Darnall
Emily Decker
Ashlyn Denney
Estella Dodd
Kade Dubson
Chloey Duitsman
Hunter Eastin
Ava Fenter
Kadence Goff
Faith Hall
Sophia Hartke
Lauren Hellmer
Dallas Hollingsworth
Wyatt Huffstutler
Lindsey Johnson
Lindsey Lewis
Gracie Meharry
Alex Mowrer
Camryn Reedy
Rylee Reifsteck
Lydia Rossi
Meagan Rothe
Savannah Rubin
Lauren Shaw
Joseph Tempel
Avery Watson
Gavin Weaver
Sophomore Honor Roll
Noah Bryant
Caleb Hoewing
Jamessa Reinhart-Pelmore
Cohl Boatright
Dakota Brown- McClain
Nolan Remole
Braden Roderick
Teaguen Williams
Nathaniel DeNeal
Makayla Nonman
Emmerson Bailey
Jacob Davidson
Taylor Prough
Grant Steinman
Owen Taylor
Tessah Williams
Nolan Wishall
Austin Mikeworth
McKinley Weller, Brianna Blakley
Michael Bromley
Paige Garretson
Andrew King
Ryan Robinson
Daniel Stein
Logan Zumbahlen
Ezekiel De Los Santos
Ewa Klos
Freshmen High Honor Roll
Anna Vasey
Chason Daly
Tanner Gallivan
Logan Jeurissen
Bailey Tompkins
Samantha Gumbel
Isaac Neverman
Alexander Wells
Claire Zorns
Analea Popovics
Anna Amias
Aria Battaglia
Mylie Castle
Kaylee Cooke
Chloe Cousins
Eli Crowe
Ella Darnall
Crewe Eckstein
Olivia Egelston
Dane Eisenmenger
Callie Ellars
Camden Fairbanks
Margaret Garcier
Collin Graven
Isabel Grob
Caden Hensch
Lucas Hood
Miles Johnson
Faith Lampe
Kallista Lancaster
Mylie Loftsgaard
Claire Meharry
Ethan Mohr
Pheonix Molina
Deakin Moore
Mason ONeill
Harry Polonus
Dallas Porter
Mackenzie Pound
Ty Rodems
Katie Ruggieri
Jillian Schlittler
Hunter Shike
Annalise Shunk
Shelby Smith
Caden Stierwalt
Ginna Stierwalt
Madelyn Stierwalt
Emma Swisher
Ian Taber
Carter Tiemann
Lucille Wiesbrook
Paula Wilson
Freshman Honor Roll
Brody Osterbur
Jaiden Wilson
Taylor Daly
Kenley Harris
Brayden Henry
Tyler Huntington
Johanna Langley
Olivia Tempel
Athea Baird
Phoenix Navarre
Travis McCarter
Vanna Schriefer
Kamden Schuckman
Savanna Cruz
Joshua Heath
Anna Kuhns
Tyler Henry
Liana Sheets-Cowan
Shelby Zoch
Illinois teachers are focusing on post-pandemic learning strategies
Illinois News Connection
Recognized for his contributions and dedication, Kermit Esarey is inducted into the 2022 SJO Hall of Fame
ST. JOSEPH -- St. Joseph-Ogden High School will introduce four new inductees to the St. Joseph-Ogden Hall of Fame during the Spartan football team's Homecoming game against Nokomis. The distinquished group includes 1960 graduate Dee Evans, former three-sport athlete Brandi Carmien Burnett, veteran teacher Kermit Esarey, and The Gary Olson Family.
Below is a short biography and highlights about Kermit Esarey provided by the high school.
Guest Commentary: The best we can do, let's be kind
Dr. Glenn Mollette is a syndicated American columnist and author of American Issues, Every American Has An Opinion and ten other books. He is read in all 50 states. The views expressed are those of the author and are not necessarily representative of any other group or organization.
This article is the sole opinions of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of The Sentinel. We welcome comments and views from our readers. Submit your letters to the editor or commentary on a current event 24/7 to editor@oursentinel.com.
High Honor Roll students named at St. Joseph-Ogden
Last week, St. Joseph-Ogden High School announced their list of students who earned high honor roll status during the 4th quarter. Forty-nine members of the junior class were the among the 173 that achieved a high level of academic achievement.
To receive honor roll recognition at SJO students must earn a grade point average of 3.25 or higher on a 4.0 scale. Students whose GPA soared above 3.74 are recognized as High Honor Roll students.
High Honor Roll
Freshmen
Owen Baltzell
Samantha Beetz
Chloe Burkhalter
Rachel Divan
Sadie Ericksen
Addison Frick
Grace Getty
Brianna Grant
Logan Haake
Chloe Harper
Rachel Harris
Brody Hausman
Annabelle Hueber
Tanner Jacob
Kya Jolley
Helene Jones
Tori Kibler
Lauren Lannert
Hayden Lewis
Quinn Lewis
Taylyn Lockhart
Addisyn Martinie
Shannon McMahon
Talan Miller
Isaiah Mock
Rowan Musselman
Caleb Ochs
Cole Pruitt
Macy Reed-Thompson
Addison Roesch
Addison Ross
Lucas Skelton
Logan Smith
Drew Thurman
Emma Thurman
Elissia Ward
Colin Wayland
Corbin Wells
Hayden Williams
Peyton Williams
Sophomores
McGwire Atwood
Kaytlyn Baker
Olivia Baltzell
Taylor Burch
Tyler Burch
Maddux Carter
Yamilka Casanova
Ariana Chambers
Bryce Collins
Morgan Cramer
Aiden Cromwell
Zachary Dahman
Emily Elsbernd
Joselyn Frerichs
Kennedy Greer
Andrew Guelfi
Mikyla Haley
Maya Hewkin
Taylor Hug
Shayne Immke
Emily Jeffries
Peyton Jones
Jacob Kern
Hunter Ketchum
Aaron Lane
Collin Livesay
Aidan McCorkle
Kyle Meccoli
Teagan Miller
Courtney Myren
Allegra Pearman
Ty Pence
Jack Robertson
Kirsten Schaefer
Johanna Schmitz
Jack Setterdahl
Isabel Sexton
Paige Siegmund
Payton Vander Logt
Taylor Voorhees
Alayna Wagle
Mallory Wagner
Maggie Ward
Juniors
Tyler Altenbaumer
Kailyn Anderson
Ella Armstrong
Abigail Behrens
Alanna Bensyl
Ella Besson
Andrew Beyers
Mara Burkhalter
Kennedi Burnett
Angela Chahine
Braden Clampitt
Anastasia Conerty
Deanna Cummins
Benjamin Cunningham
Sidney Davis
Zander Dressen
Ashley Eldridge
Jared Emmert
Hannah Fox
Mackenzie Fulk
Brennan Haake
Liam Hamer
Lauren Harper
Claire Huffman
Kailyn Ingram
Payton Jacob
Alison Kearney
Ava Knap
Ashlyn Lannert
Jacey Lewis
Wyatt Loghry
Kelsey Martlage
Sophia McDade
Ava Miller
Coby Miller
Conrad Miller
Elijah Mock
Jett Morris
Jessica Palmer
Emma Parkinson
Jonathan Poulter
Hope Rajlich
Grace Schmitz
Taryn Sexton
Alyssa Shoviak
Luke Stegall
Rebecca Steinbach
Mackenzie Trame
Regan Uden
Seniors
Makenzie Barron
Isabelle Brooks
David Bytnar
Taylor Campbell
Rylee Clements
Cameron Costa
Kylie Duckett
Jacob Dwyer
Hanna Eastin
Dakota Franzen
Isabella Getty
Atleigh Hamilton
Emmy Houston
Lukas Hutcherson
Logan Ingram
Cailer Kellenberger
Shelby Kofoot
Spencer Lahners
Ethan Lane
Madigan Loman
Alyssa Maddock
Tyson Madsen
Sophia Martlage
Garren Meeker
Abigail Moberg
Samantha Naylor
Alec Painter
Erin Patton
Aidan Roberts
Indira Robinson
Mazie Ronk
Evan Schmitz
Max Shonkwiler
Tessa Smith
Isabella Smith-Fawver
Payton Vallee
Nora Walden
Brayden Wendt
Mikayla Wertz
Rachel Wilson
Logan Wolfersberger
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