Josalynn Anaya and Korbin Jany are Queen and King; Elaina Lutman and Kolton Jany are Princess and Prince
By Jim Beers
CHESTER, Ill. – Saturday night April 6 was Chester High School’s Prom 2024.
Chester High School 2024 Prom Royalty pose for a group photo following the Coronation Ceremony Saturday April 6 at CHS Juergens Gymnasium. Pictured (Left to Right) are Princess and Prince Candidates Mirra Krieg and Max Blechle; Queen and King Candidates Lexi Eggemeyer and Isaiah Roth; 2024 Prom Prince and Princess Kolton Jany and Elaina Lutman; 2024 CHS Prom Queen, Josalynn Anaya and 2024 Prom King, Korbin Jany; Retiring 2023 Prom King Chance Mott and Retiring 2023 Prom Queen, Julia Venus; and Queen and King Candidates Libby McCormick and Aden Runge. Jim Beers Photo
The annual event was held in CHS Juergens Gymnasium.
The CHS Junior Class served as hosts and hostesses for the evening under the direction of Sponsors Adrianne Kern and Emily Millburg.
Chester High School 2024 Prom Queen and King, Josalynn Anaya, daughter of Tera and Juan Anaya and Korbin Jany, son of Matthew and Kasi Jany, pose for a photo immediately following the coronation. Both are seniors and were crowned at the 2024 CHS Prom Saturday April 6. The theme of Prom 2024 was, “Red Carpet”. Jim Beers Photo
The doors opened to students at 7 p.m. with music provided by D.J. D’Tale, better known as Aidan Blechle. The musical fare for the evening was “Hip-Hop” and “Top Hits”.
CHS Principal, Jeremy Blechle (left) served as Master of Ceremonies and Aidan Blechle, D.J. D’Tale (right) provided the music for the Chester High School Prom Saturday April 6 at CHS Juergens Gym. Jim Beers Photo
The Junior Class had Juergens Gym beautifully decorated to the 2024 theme, “Red Carpet.” The stage was adorned with a huge white sign that took the entire width of the stage that read, “HOLLYWOOD”!
The perimeter of the room featured a “big city” motif that made Juergens Gym appear as a major city landscape, complete with the appearance of “big city” lighting. Refreshments were served throughout the evening.
The Juergens Gym Stage awaits the arrival of the 2024 Chester High School Prom Court Saturday April 6th. The event was CHS Prom 2024, the theme of which was, “Red Carpet” and the “Hollywood” motif along with the red carpet set the tone for the glamor of “Big City” life. Jim Beers Photo
Parents and community members were invited to attend the coronation which began at 9 p.m. The doors opened to the public at 8:45 p.m.
Prom 2024 featured a new twist.
Throughout the evening attendance prizes were given away. The Junior Class recruited Prom Sponsors this year from various businesses and others in the community to help with the high costs of producing a prom of high quality.
This additional funding assisted in adding the new activity of giving away attendance prizes. Students attending the prom had to be present to receive prizes. D.J. D’Tale announced the first round of prize winners just prior to the start of the coronation.
Principal Jeremy Blechle and Assistant Principal Robin Barton supervised the event with assistance of Ms. Millburg and CHS Math Teacher-Technology Coordinator, Dwight Lochhead.
At precisely 9 p.m., Principal Blechle served as Master of Ceremonies for the Coronation. Blechle welcomed everyone to Prom 2024, “Red Carpet”, and began introducing the 2024 Prom Court.
Princess and Prince Candidates were nominated from the Junior Class of 2025. There were two sets of Princess and Prince Candidates.
The first set of candidates included Mirra Krieg and Max Blechle.
Mirra is the daughter of Jeff and Krista Krieg. Mirra is involved in Dance Team, FCA, Theatre, NHS, and The Hive Pep Club.
Max is the son of Chris and Valerie Blechle.
Max enjoys Golf, Baseball, Band, FCA, and FFA.
The second set of Princess and Prince Candidates included Elaina Lutman and Kolton Jany. Elaina is the daughter of David and Carrie Lutman.
Elaina is a member of Softball, Volleyball, Cheerleading, FCA, SADD, NHS, Prom Committee, and The Hive Newspaper.
Kolton is the son of Trisha and Pete Jany.
Kolton is involved Football, Basketball, Baseball, FCA, and FFA.
Queen and King Candidates were nominated from the Senior Class of 2024. There were three sets of Queen and King Candidates.
The first set of Queen and King Candidates was Josalynn Anaya and Korbin Jany. Josalynn is the daughter of Tera and Juan Anaya.
At CHS Josalynn is involved in Cross Country, Track, Basketball, Volleyball, Dance, Spanish Club, SADD, Band, and The Sting Newspaper.
Korbin is the son of Matthew and Kasi Jany.
Korbin is active in Football, Baseball, Basketball, NHS, and FCA.
The second set of candidates included Lexi Eggemeyer and Isaiah Roth.
Lexi is the daughter of Lisa Tindall and Jamieson Eggemeyer.
Lexi is involved in Softball, Cheerleading, Basketball, The Sting Newspaper, The Hive Pep Club, Spanish Club, FCA, and she is the President of SADD.
Isaiah is the son of Sara Roth and Grandson of Alisa and Denis Roth.
He is active in Student Council, Band, NHS, The Hive Pep Club, Track and Field, Spanish Club, Theatre, and the Randolph County Start-Up Program.
The final set of Queen and King Candidates was Libby McCormick and Aden Runge.
Libby is the daughter of Jonathan McCormick and Terri and Ken Little. Libby has been active in Volleyball, Track, Cheerleading, FCA, SADD, The Hive Pep Club, and Spanish Club.
Aden is the son of Aaron Runge and Farrah Fricke.
In his time at CHS Aden has been involved in Football, Baseball, FCA, and the Hive Pep Club.
Retiring 2023 CHS Prom King, Chance Mott (left), crowns 2024 Prom King, Korbin Jany (right) during the Coronation Ceremony Saturday April 6 at the 2024 CHS Prom. Jim Beers Photo
The Retiring Queen and King from last year’s Class of 2023 were on hand to crown the 2024 Prom Royalty.
Retiring Queen was Julia Venus.
She is the daughter of Cassondra and Henry Venus.
During her time at CHS Julia was involved in Band, Theatre, and Choir. She is now in college studying Art.
The Retiring King was Chance Mott.
Chance is the son of Jeff and Tracy Mott.
Retiring 2023 CHS Prom Queen, Julia Venus (left), crowns 2024 CHS Prom Queen, Josalynn Anaya (right), at the Coronation Ceremony Saturday night April 6 at the Chester High School “Red Carpet” Prom. Jim Beers Photo
At CHS Chance excelled in Golf, Baseball and Basketball. He currently attends Mineral Area College studying Social Work. He is also a member of the Mineral Area Baseball Team.
After introducing all candidates, Principal Blechle announced the 2024 CHS Prom Princess and Prince.
The 2024 Prom Princess is Elaina Lutman. The 2024 Prom Prince is Kolton Jany.
The highlight of the evening was the announcement of the 2024 Chester High School Prom Queen and King.
The 2024 Queen is Josalynn Anaya.
The 2024 King is Korbin Jany.
The remainder of the evening was spent socializing, taking photos, dancing, enjoying refreshments, and the company of fellow classmates.
The overall event was deemed a huge success!