Twelve St. Joseph-Ogden High School students were name among 6,394 Illinois residents who earned degrees from the University of Illinois this past spring. Three of the 12 former Spartans who received bachelor degrees obtained their diplomas with exceptional academic laurels.
Former SJO cheerleader LaRyssa Randall smiles during a photo shoot with fellow cheerleaders in 2011. Randall, from St. Joseph, graduated this past spring from the University of Illinois with Highest Honors with a Bachelor of Science in Community Health. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)
LaRyssa Randall, from St. Joseph, was bestowed Highest Honors recognition after completing coursework for her Bachelor of Science in Community Health from the College of Applied Health Sciences.
Students at the University of Illinois who are awarded Highest Honors have achieved outstanding performance in their courses as well as participated in supplementary activities of an academic or professional nature. This honor generally requires completion of an undergraduate thesis or a special project of superior quality within most university departments. Highest honors are also awarded to students upon recommendation of his or her department.
Randall, from the Class of 2012, was a Spartan cheerleader at SJO.
Danielle Kaiser and Whitney Setterdahl also earned high academic recognition for their undergraduate studies.
Kaiser, from St. Joseph, earned High Honors recognition after with her degree in Speech and Hearing Science from the College of Applied Health Sciences. High honors students must have a cumulative grade point average at least 3.80 at graduation.
Setterdahl, from Ogden, graduated with Honors with a degree in Finance from the Gies College of Business. To receive a honors designation students must possess a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.50.
Two graduates in our area earned advanced degrees from University of Illinois.
Former Spartan distance runner and Ogden native Beau Barber, who has been active in plant research at the university since 2014, received his Master of Science in Agricultural and Biological Engineering in Agricultural and Biological Engineering.
Angela Mock earned a Master of Social Work from Illinois' School of Social Work. Mock did her internship at Urbana School District #116 and prior to that spent two years as a teacher at Robeson Elementary and editor at the university.
The remaining area students earning bachelor degrees from the University of Illinois include:
Ryan Allen, St. Joseph, Major: Molecular and Cellular Biology / Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts and Sciences
Amie Bott, Ogden, Major: Molecular and Cellular Biology / Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts and Sciences
Jessica Kassuelke, Ogden, Major: Food Science and Human Nutrition / Bachelor of Science in Food Science and Human Nutrition
Kimberly Newman, St. Joseph, Major: Communication / Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences
Matthew Rabb, St. Joseph, Major: Agricultural and Consumer Economics / Bachelor of Science in Agricultural and Consumer Economics
Hailee Robbins, St. Joseph, Major: Elementary Education / Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education
Hannah Zalaker, St. Joseph, Major: Kinesiology / Applied Health Sciences
Update
(8/28/19)
It has come to our attention that several area SJO graduates were omitted from this article at the time of publication. Names that did not appear in this story were not included due to those students providing a campus address as their home address to the university. Our logic in compiling this list was apparently flawed in assuming that graduates in a list provided by the university News Bureau with a 61859, 61871 or 61873 zip code attended SJO. We will address that in future graduation stories. In certain instances, graduates may not have been appeared in this story because graduates were added to the official campus list after June 24.
The original headline to this story, 12 SJO alumni earn UofI degrees, was changed to 12 area students earn UofI degrees and certain instances of SJO alumni has been changed to area students or removed from the story.
Are there other omissions? Click here to submit information for corrections.
Matthew Raab sprints the remaining yards to the finish line and a 22nd place finish in the Men's 14 - 18 division at the 2014 SJO 5K. Raab was one of 16 area students named to University of Illinois spring 2019 Dean's List. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)
Sixteen area St. Joseph-Ogden graduates now attending the University of Illinois earned recognition for their outstanding academic performance during the spring 2019 semester. Three of the academic achievers hail from Ogden and the remaining 13 listed are from St. Joseph.
Students named to the Dean's List are in the top 20% of a student’s college class or curriculum. To be eligible, students must complete at least 14 academic semester hours taken for a letter grade at Illinois. This semester, 7,025 U of I students earned that recognition. Among them, 5,048 of the awardees are from Illinois.
Members of this semesters Dean's List from Ogden include Nicholas Cagle, who is a freshman currently in General Curriculum studies, Carly Frerichs, a senior in Kinesiology and Jessica Kassuelke, who is a senior in Food Science and Human Nutrition in the College of ACES.
Freshman Camryn McKee (Political Science) and Emily Bluhm (Agricultural and Consumer Economics) along with sophomores Allison Place (Crop Sciences), Claire Smith (Agricultural Communications), Evan Hawkins (Advertising) and Mason Housenga (Physics) make up the group of underclass scholars from St. Joseph.
Juniors Casey Modglin (Agricultural and Consumer Economics), Hailey Collum (Architectural Studies), Lauren Gherna (English), Matthew Weyer (Information Systems) and Mira McLain (Integrative Biology) and two seniors, former three-sport athlete Jake Pence (Finance) and Matthew Raab (Agricultural and Consumer Economics), who was a distance runner for the Spartan cross-country and track program, round out the list of area recipients this semester.
After 26 years of operation, the Illinois Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program will receive $2,885,000.00 in State funding.
CASA is not-for-profit organization which recruits, trains, and monitors volunteers who serve as advocates for abused and neglected children. Their services are also used in Termination of Parental Rights (TPR) cases and sometimes in adoption proceedings. Trained volunteers work to ensure the welfare of the children under their care is closely monitored and make independent recommendations to the court system advocating in their best interest.
In Illinois there are 31 CASA programs with nearly 2,500 volunteers who in 2018 advocated for the best interests of 4,184 child victims of abuse and neglect.
"This funding means that more children across Illinois do not have to go through the court process alone," said Mari Christopherson, Executive Director for CASA. "We applaud the Governor in supporting a program that works."
According to the statement issued this week, the funding will distributed to the current local programs with the goal of expanding their ability to protect the interest of minor children who have experienced abuse or neglect with a Court Appointed Special Advocate. The funds will also be used to expand CASA into other communities to help an estimated 2,000 or more children who do not have access to volunteers and service in their area.
The local branch, Champaign County CASA, is located at 301 S. Vine, Suite 210, in the Lincoln Square Mall in Urbana.
On May 11, 2007, back when IHSA track & field was a two-class system, the St. Joseph-Ogden girls track team competed for a chance to advance to the state meet the following week held at O'Brien Stadium at Eastern Illinois University.
The Spartans, led by alum Andy Derks, failed to place in the top six in the team standings at the meet. Junior Hannah Hogan was the only Spartan to advance state.
Since then SJO's running program has blossomed into a perennial small school track powerhouse. In the past decade, the Spartans have brought home state hardware on five occasions. The bounty includes one state title, one runner-up title and three third place IHSA trophies joining the second place trophy won in 1978 and a 2000 state championship award.
Here are three of our favorite PhotoNews photos from that meet. View the entire collection here . . .
Hannah Hogan runs to a second place finish in the 3,200 meter run. She finished her eight loops in 12 minutes, 22.75 seconds. Hogan was a three-time state finalist in cross-country for the Spartans. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)
Hoping to qualify for state, Melissa Studinarz explodes out of the blocks in the 400m dash. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)
Senior Dayna Long runs the one-mile race on Friday. See more photos of Long in the PhotoNews Spartan archives here . . .
The 2019 football season just weeks away from kicking off and there is a great discussion on the St. Joseph-Ogden Football Fan Page on Facebook listing the hardest hitting linemen who put on the Spartan uniform.
Brandon Cheek put his shoulder to Lions' Dallas Gustafson on his way into the backfield during their playoff game on November 6, 2004. Cheek was mentioned as one of the many linemen mentioned in a post on Facebook about SJO's hardest hitting linemen. St. Joseph-Ogden beat Marshall in the muddiest games in program history of a field 7-3 advancing to face former conference rival. Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks
With 20 comments so far, several former players and fans have responded mentioning more than 15 players dating back as far as 1992 who could put a hurtin' on gridiron opponents.
Current head coach Shawn Skinner, who was a member of the 1989 football team that made the program's first state title game appearance and enters his fifth year at the Spartan helm, received a nod in the comments section.
Still members of the Illini Prairie Conference, Skinner and the SJO football program open their 2019 season against St. Thomas More at home on August 31. In their previous meeting, the Spartans held STM scoreless in the second half of their road confrontation to win, 30-9.
Below is a screen capture of a portion of the conversation about some of the Spartans' most memorable linemen over the years. See the complete thread here . . .
Viewpoints
Terrorists proved on September 11, 2001 that guns are not necessary to kill 2,753 people.
Timothy McVeigh proved that a truck load of explosives can kill 168 people and injure 680 more as well as destroy one-third of building and damaging many others in Oklahoma City.
A man with a knife killed four people and wounded two others in Los Angeles last week.
A weapon of mass destruction can be a plane, an automobile, a knife, a gun or whatever an evil person chooses to utilize at a certain moment.
By and large the weapon of choice has been an automatic weapon capable of holding a high-capacity magazine.
Whether it was Las Vegas, Columbine, Charleston, El Paso, Dayton or sadly too many other locations to name, the weapon of choice has been an automatic rifle with high-capacity bullet magazines.
A truck can kill people but normally you can hear and see a truck coming. A knife can kill people but not as many as a rifle with a magazine clip holding 70 or more bullets.
An evil person can walk into a church, theatre, Walmart or school and immediately have a couple of hundred people huddled together as a target. He doesn’t have to aim. He just points the weapon and pulls the trigger. The gun acts like a sprayer of bullets hitting people so fast that running or dodging is almost impossible.
The shooter looks for scenarios where people are trapped with limited escape door opportunities. Thus a shooter with a bullet clip of 50, 70 or more has a potential of killing many people in just a minute or less.
This is why Congress must enact background checks, strict licensing for high-powered rifles and limit the number of bullets a clip can hold at one time.
However, here is the problem: What is the magic number? My ordinary pistols hold six shells and my automatic ones hold more, so what is the magic number of bullets that Americans will be limited to in one clip?
Will it be 10 or 15 or 20? Honestly, there is no right number because a skilled marksman will still be able to kill.
The hope is that maybe the ending of one clip or emptying of one pistol would give someone a chance to tackle the monster if anyone is still alive. Hopefully, someone in the room will have a gun and be able to stop the shooter.
I’m for limiting magazine capacity but it won’t eliminate terrorism and mass shootings. It’s a Hail Mary and our Congress has to do something but we have to do more.
Hollywood and network television has to change.
Universal Studios/NBC television is the biggest hypocrite of all. They constantly bark gun control and are negative toward the National Rifle Association yet coming out with a movie titled "The Hunt", which is supposedly about liberals hunting deplorables and killing them. This kind of junk is a huge part of the problem.
Hollywood, the music industry and video games makers must dramatically change their tone. Barney Fife in the Andy Griffith show carried a gun but he never made any of us want to kill anyone or hate people.
Guns, knives, trucks and airplanes can all kill. There are many other weapons that will kill massive numbers of people. We can’t eliminate them all. Our greatest need is a culture change.
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.
Twenty-three days shy of decade ago, the Spartans scored a touchdown in all four quarters with four different players making their way into the end zone. The energetic SJO squad defeated Robinson 28-12 in the 2009 season home opener. Below are four images of some of our favorite athletes from that season and the game. If you want to see more photos from this game, follow the link to the gallery republished today here in the PhotoNews Media archives.
Above: St. Joseph-Ogden players head to their postgame meeting on the field after singing the school fight song and their victory over the Maroons on August 29. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)
Left: Dylan Grove explodes off the line of scrimmage on a pass play for the Spartans. Right: Blake Hoveln rolls out looking for an open receiver on a first quarter pass play. (Photos: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)
Robinson's Jimmy Stevens is brought down by a pair of St. Joseph-Ogden defensive backs after a big fourth quarter gain. The last quarter effort fell short with the Spartan defense holding the Maroons to just two scores the entire contest. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)
If you commute to work in Urbana or Champaign, you will want leave a little earlier for work starting this Monday. The Illinois Department of Transportation announced on Friday that pavement and guardrail repairs will begin starting this Monday on Interstate 74. Drivers should expect routine delays and drive through the work area at lower speeds.
With IDOT expecting the work to last around seven weeks from start to completion and students returning to the University campus later this month, Sentinel area drivers may want to plan alternative routes on trips into CU to avoid congestion in the construction area starting near High Cross Road just east of Cunningham Avenue in Urbana heading west to Prospect Avenue in Champaign.
Nighttime lane closures will be in effect from 8 pm to 6 am Sunday through Thursday, with at least one lane open in each direction at all times.
IDOT urges drivers to pay close attention to signs in the work zones and obey the posted speed limits to avoid accidents. Motorists should be be on high alert for rapidly changing traffic flow.
Last week, on August 1 near a construction zone on westbound Interstate 74 between Fithian and Oakwood, a semi driver was lost his life while another motorist was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries in two separate accidents. Ronald C. Schaer of Danville, who was hospitalized life-threatening injuries, was ticketed for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident.
Drivers are asked not use mobile devices and be prepared to avoid workers and construction equipment.
St. Joseph-Ogden alumnus Brennan Guido holds two trophies after winning the overall champion title and Hometown Pride award at the 2019 SJO 5K. He finished in first place overall with a time of 16:07.80. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)
Terry Hill waves to the camera as he starts our on his run and eventual fifth place finish in the Male 60 and Over division. He finished in 118th place overall with a time of 30:05.70. Click here to see more photos from this year's race. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)
Chelsea Blaase photographs her father receiving his award at the SJO 5K. After at least a decade of having a parent photograph her on a podium, the former SJO standout returns the effort. Just under 200 runners competed at this year's race. Proceeds are donated to the St. Joseph Middle School and St. Joseph-Ogden cross country and track programs. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)
Kristi Sabo steps up to receive her award for her third place finish in the Female 45 to 49 division during the awards ceremony at 2019 SJO 5K. She finished in 72nd place overall with a time of 25:25.30. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)
Hamming it up for the camera, Paul Byron runs the last 40 yards of his race on his way to a seventh place finish in the Male 45 to 49 division. He finished in 76th place overall with a time of 25:53.40. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)
Sara Myers runs to fourth place and 82nd overall finish in the Female 45 to 49 division. She clocked in at 26:22.70 to finish her race on Saturday. Click here to see more photos from this year's race. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)
See 140 more PhotoNews photos from this year's 5K race and fun run here: 07-27-19 SJO 5K
Above: With 15 yards to go, Beau Barber (left) and Dean Meyer go all out as they approach the finish line at the 2012 SJO 5K. Barber, who held on to his ultra thin lead, crossed over a split second ahead of Meyer. Barber was 30th, while Meyer finished 31st in their Chariots of Fire like sprint to the finish line. See more than 300 additional photos from the 2012 race here: 2012 SJO 5K photo gallery. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)
Left: Aiden Meyer runs to a 90th place finish at the 2012 SJO 5K. Meyer, who graduated from St. Joseph-Ogden High School in May and signed a national letter of intent to play football at St. Ambrose College in Davenport, Iowa, before that back in February, completed the course that day at 25:06. Right: Brenda Hixson runs to a 120th place finish. She finished the race in 26 minutes, 38 seconds. Below: Sara Wolfersperger heads to finish line to clock in at 26:22, good for a 113th place overall. (Photos: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)
PhotoNews Media has covered nearly every SJO 5K race since its humble beginning in 2008. This weekend will be no exception when the starter's gun fires this Saturday at 7:30 am on Main Street signalling the start to this year's race.
Despite its growing competitive field of runners each year featuring some of the best distance athletes across several age categories, the SJO 5k has an incredibly family friendly, supportive atmosphere.
Proceeds from the event supports the St. Joseph Middle School and St. Joseph-Ogden High School girls and boys cross country and track teams. Revenue from entry fees help pay for uniforms, warm-ups, travel expenses and other costs incurred during the season.
Here's a sprint down memory lane highlighting some of our favorite photos from nearly 2,000 photos and a decade of SJO 5K coverage. Search for more photos using the search tool at the top of the next column. Enter name, date or race to find more great action photos from this race and other in the PhotoNews Media archive.
Members of the SJO High School girls cross-country team pause for the singing of the national anthem before the start of the St. Joseph Festival 5K Run/Walk on August 8, 2009. A record 313 runners competed in this year's event. (Photo: Photonews Media/Clark Brooks)
On the left, dressed as Superman, Ross Baker runs as an unregistered competitor at the St. Joseph Festival 5K in 2009. This year's costume was the first in what will be come a tradition by Baker at the annual community race. On the right, a runner splashes a cup of water on to her face to stay cool as heads down the final stretch to the finish line in the 2009 race. (Photos: Photonews Media/Clark Brooks)
Carol Firkins is all smiles as she heads out on the course on the fun walk at the St. Joseph 5K Run and Fun Walk in 2008. (Photo: Photonews Media/Clark Brooks)
August 9, 2014 - St. Joseph, IL - Chelsea Blaase runs to the women's overall title at the 2014 SJO 5K. Blaase, who finished the course with a time of 17:07.2, won her fourth consecutive women's title at the race. Then a University of Tennesee standout, she trimmed a minute and 39 seconds off her time 2013 time at this year's race. Over 300 area runners competed in the seventh installment of the annual event. Meanwhile, on the right, Mike Tankersley rounds the corner at Evergreen Drive and Main on his way to the finish line in 2013. (Photos: Photonews Media/Clark Brooks)
Piles of bananas wait for runners after the St. Joseph Community Festival 5K Saturday morning. Over 190 competitors ran for top honors, trophies and 40 door prizes offered at the inaugural race in 2008. (Photo: Photonews Media/Clark Brooks)
Tracy Ingram waves her arms in celebration as she nears the finish line and a ninth place finish in the Women's 40 - 44 division at the 2014 SJO 5K. Ingram finished the course with a time of 39:57.6. See more photos from the 2014 race here ... On the right, Ryan Thompsen smiles as he recognized with his Hometown Award after running the SJO 5K on Saturday morning. Earlier, the student-athlete at North Central College and former St. Joseph-Ogden High School standout, received the All-Area Circuit's top overall runner award. The crown was courtesy of NCC teammate Ryan Root who won the overall race title. (Photos: Photonews Media/Clark Brooks)
Justin Jones, right, and Jolee Paden, on the left, pose for a photo after receiving their awards at the 2009 St. Joseph Community Festival 5k, the name of the race before becoming the SJO 5K. Paden was the top women's finisher circumventing the course in 20:42. Jones was the overall winner taking an even 16 minutes to win the top award. Paden will be a sophomore at St. Joseph-Ogden in a few weeks, while Jones, an Oakwood graduate, will attend Olivet Nazarene this fall where he will run cross country on a partial scholarship. (Photo: Photonews Media/Clark Brooks)
Braydon Rupert goes up for a shot against a Longwood player at the Toyota of Danville Classic basketball game in December of last year. Rupert, who will be senior, and the Spartans will face three new teams at this year's installment of the holiday tournament. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)
In a little more than four months from today, St. Joseph-Ogden and five other teams will compete in SJO's annual holiday tournament starting on Tuesday, December 3. The Spartan basketball program will host The Toyota of Danville Classic on December 3, 4, 6 and 7.
Fifteen games are scheduled over the four days with three contests will be held daily on each of the first three days of the tournament. All teams will play twice on December 7 with a total of six games going back-to-back on that Saturday.
Three familiar teams from the past several years, Chicago CICS Longwood, Oakwood and Armstrong-Potomac will not return to holiday tourney. New teams include Georgetown-Ridge Farm, who will represent the Vermilion Valley Conference and former Sangamon Valley Conference foe Watseka.
Also, joining the field of competition will be Lions of La Salette, who lost a one-point decision to Watseka in their last meeting on December 19 last year.
First year head coach and SJO alum Kiel Duval keeps a close eye on his team during their game against CIS Longwood at the Toyota of Danville Classic. SJO kicks off their tournament opener against Georgetown-Ridge Farm on December 3. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)
The Spartans will open pool play against Georgetown-Ridge Farm at 6:30 pm on December 3 and a day later face La Salette in the 8 pm nightcap on December 4. After 48 hours of rest, head coach Kiel Duval's team will square off against 2019 Class 1A runner-up Cissna Park at 8 pm on December 6.
SJO will close out the Classic on December 7 in an 11:30 am matchup against the Hilltoppers of Schlarman and play the tournament finale at 7 pm against Watseka.
Jordan Kelly goes up for a shot in the second half during the Spartans' Toyota of Danville Classic basketball game against Cissna Park on December 21. SJO, who hope to rebound later this year and win this year's title, fell 66-37 to the Timberwolves, who went on to become a final four team in Class 1A and IHSA runner-up in the March 2019 state basketball finals. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)
2019 Toyota of Danville Classic Schedule
(All games at St. Joseph-Ogden High School)
Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2019
Game 1: Cissna Park vs. La Salette, 5 p.m.
Game 2: St. Joseph-Ogden vs. Georgetown-Ridge Farm, 6:30 p.m.
Game 3: Schlarman vs. Watseka, 8 p.m.
Wednesday, December 4
Game 4: Cissna Park vs. Watseka, 5 p.m.
Game 5: Schlarman vs. Georgetown-Ridge Farm, 6:30 p.m.
Game 6: St. Joseph-Ogden vs. La Salette, 8 p.m.
Friday, December 6
Game 7: La Salette vs. Schlarman, 5 p.m.
Game 8: Georgetown-Ridge Farm vs. Watseka, 6:30 p.m.
Game 9: St. Joseph-Ogden vs. Cissna Park, 8 p.m.
Saturday, December 7
Game 10: Cissna Park vs. Georgetown-Ridge Farm, 10 a.m.
Game 11: St. Joseph-Ogden vs. Schlarman, 11:30 a.m.
Game 12: La Salette vs. Watseka, 1 p.m.
Game 13: Schlarman vs. Cissna Park, 4 p.m.
Game 14: Georgetown-Ridge Farm vs. La Salette, 5:30 p.m.
Game 15: Watseka vs. St. Joseph-Ogden, 7 p.m.
Mike Nix, from St. Joseph, runs toward the corner of Lincoln and Florida Avenue during the Freedom 5K on Thursday. Crossing the finish line at 16:58.0, he finished third out of 26 runners in the Male 25 to 29 division. In all more than 400 athletes participated in this year's race. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)
Colton Bowser (left) maintains control of the ball in SJO's home game against Urbana University High School. This past May, Bowser, from Ogden, received his Bachelor of Science from Illinois State University. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)
Illinois State University awarded more than 3,500 college degrees on May 11. Among the recipients were four St. Joseph-Ogden High School alumni.
Colton Bowser and Dalton Smith, both from Ogden, earned a Bachelor of Science from the university located in Normal. Katie Kurtz, also from Ogden, received her Bachelor of Science in Education.
Brandon Burnett, from St. Joseph, completed the requirements for a Bachelor of Science and eligible to walk at the spring commencement ceremony.
Illinois State will awarded 3,523 baccalaureate degrees and 708 graduate degrees. There were a total of 3,885 students scheduled to participate in the spring ceremonies across the campus.
Three St. Joseph-Ogden alumni earned college degrees from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale in May.
Olivia Hutcherson was awarded a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. Tori Stierwalt earned a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences. Both Hutcherson and Stierwalt are from Ogden.
Former Spartan pitcher Hunter Hart, who was a 37th round pick in the 2014 MLB June Amateur Draft, completed the requirements to obtain a Bachelor of Science in Sports Administration. Hart is from St. Joseph.
Back on August 29, 2014, Ryan Allen evaded tacklers from Paxton-Buckley-Loda in SJO's home opener. Allen was one of 23 St. Joseph residents who received associates degrees at Parkland College. SJO went on to defeat PBL in their non-conference battle, 27-7. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)
Last month, thirty-one area college students were candidates for the 52nd Commencement Exercises at Parkland College. The following individuals completed all the necessary requirements to accept their diploma this past May.
Ogden
Matthew R. Alsip, CER, Construction: Plumbing and Pipefitting
Andrea L. Crain, CER, Practical Nursing
Grant C. Harper, AAS, Automotive Technology; CER, Automotive Technician
Devon M. Miezio, AGS, Associate in General Studies Ethan O. Mizer, AA, General
Tanner E. Morris, AS, General Kolten T. Taylor, AS, General
St. Joseph Ryan M. Allen, AS, General
Lacey N. Berlatsky, CER, Practical Nursing
Jason E. Brown, CER, Building Construction and Repair
Craig M. Chochola, AES, Engineering Science
Paige B. Dalton, AA, Social Work
Dezarae R. Dowers, AFA, Art Education
Carson D. Florey, AA, General
Stephanie E. Gonzales, AA, Psychology
Chloe A. Graver, AS, Aviation
Rylan J. Housenga, AGS, Associate in General Studies
Kohlten D. Johnson, AS, Business Administration
Riley S. Knott, AS, General
Danielle C. Long, AAS, Nursing
Robin R. Poff, AGS, Associate in General Studies
Kevin O. Sandefur, AAS, Accounting
Caleb T. Smith, AA, General
Kayla S. Sparks, AAS, Accounting
Abigail R. Stites, AA, Liberal Art and Sciences
Elizabeth AB Taylor, AAS, Nursing
Allison R. Voyles, AA, General
Taura Ward, AFA, Art Education
Tori R. Witruk, AS, Secondary Education
Jacob P. Zagorski, AAS, Electronic Control Systems Technology
Four St. Joseph-Ogden alumni attending South Illinois University - Carbondale earn academic recognition for their studies during the spring semester.
Michael Bott and Olivia Hutcherson, both from Ogden, along with St. Joseph's Dakoda Jones and James Moore each will receive marks denoting their academic achievement on their official transcripts.
SIUC undergraduate students who were enrolled for and earned full-time credit during the term, and whose grade point average (GPA) meets or exceeds the minimum established by the University, will be included on the Dean's List.
Forty-six area residents, out of about 825 students, were recently named to the Parkland College Dean's List for spring 2019.
Nine students from Ogden earned academic honors included: John M. Acklin, Cody A. Ayers, Zach T. David, Brandi L. Huson, Devon M. Miezio, Tanner E. Morris, Lindsey K. Osterbur, Regan E. Spicer and Rachel Q. Timm.
Erin Beyers, from St. Joseph, strike a pose while competing at the IHSA Competitive State Dance Final in January. Beyers, who graduated from SJO in May, also earned Dean's List recognition at Parkland College during the spring semester. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)
St. Joseph residents who made the list were Jenna M. Anderson, Hollie N. Baltzell, Erin M. Beyers, Katelyn N. Burch, Dwight Colvin, Paige B. Dalton, Alissa J. Deweese, Tenneal R. Frerichs, Stephanie E. Gonzales, Chloe A. Graver, Kaitlyn M. Hess, Hope A. Hoffschneider, Ronald J. Hoppe-Hastings, Ian J. Hulette, Riley S. Knott, Kenneth Elijah-Lewis Lahners, Kaitlyn M. Landis, Hannah E. Lewis, Rebecca L. Long, Alexis G. Manning, Amanda J. McFadden, Erinn C. Miller, Heidi M. Novak, Brendan Z. Olauson, Alyssa R. Omana, Adalyn J. Parke, Adam P. Rose, Elizabeth J. Schluter, Ty A. Stegall, Keisha R. Taylor, Michael C. Wagner III, Nathan R. Walden, Brianna M. White, Alyssa R. Whitlock, Sarah E. Wiseman, Tori R. Witruk and Wanting Zhao.
In order to be included on the list students must earn a minimum grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 grade scale for the semester they are being honored. Students who earn less than 12 hours in that semester can make the Dean's List by achieving a 3.5 cumulative GPA for 12 or more hours in the academic year.
With about 300 meters to go, Chelsea Blaase, on the right, and Sidney Long are splashed, per their request, with water by a race volunteer while running in the Gifford 5K on June 27. The race was the first in what festival organizers hope to become an annual tradition in conjunction with the Gifford Community Festival.
On sunny, picture perfect day, Terry Hill of St. Joseph, IL, makes the final turn toward the finish line at the Freedom 5K race in 2008. The annual Fourth of July event drew 525 runners and walkers to its' 15th installment. Hill finished 21st in the Mens 40-44 division with a time of 26:58.8. In case the weather for this year's Champaign County Freedom Celebration turns less than favorable, organizers have a well-thought out plan to allow area residents to celebrate our nation's independence this week. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)
With scattered thunderstorms in the forecast for the Fourth of July, the Champaign County Freedom Celebration posted its Inclement Weather Policy on Facebook. Here is what you need to know if you plan to participate in the 5K walk/run, take in the annual parade or view the evening's exciting fireworks display.
With rain chances at 40%, the event organizers are plans in place for the parade, the evening show and fireworks run as close as it can to the schedule on the Freedom Celebration website. Revelers are encourage to check the site should weather conditions warrant possible changes to start times.
Should weather conditions force the parade to be canceled, it will not be reschedule for another date.
Depending on the timing of any precipitation moving into the area or wind conditions on Thursday, the Board of Directors and Committee consider all the factors that best serves the public and safety protocols and make a decision as when start the fireworks show. The performance may start earlier than scheduled. If the fireworks show is cancelled, it will be held on the following Saturday, July 6.
If weather conditions are favorable, the fireworks show provided by Melrose Pyrotechnics will begin at dusk, approximately 9:15pm.
Visit the CCFC website at https://www.july4th.net for the latest schedule updates and event information.
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