Class of 2025 is 139th class to graduate from Chester High School
By Jim Beers
CHESTER, Ill. – Sunday May 18th Chester High School held its 139th Commencement in the history of the school. The Class of 2025 took center stage at CHS Colbert Memorial Gymnasium at 3:00 p.m. in front of a packed house.
This year’s graduation was one of the coolest graduations temperature-wise in recent history. With clouds, rain, and record-breaking low temperatures in the area during recent weeks, Colbert Gym was in the mid-to-low 70’s at the time of graduation, and most of the near- capacity crowed enjoyed comfortable conditions during the commencement.
Prospective graduates started showing up at approximately 2:00 p.m. at CHS Juergens Gymnasium for the traditional picture taking. A group photo of the Class of 2025 capped-off the photo session just prior to the start of graduation ceremonies in Colbert Gymnasium.
Fanfare & Processional (Pomp and Circumstance
At precisely 3:00 p.m. CHS Band Director, Steve Colonel, began directing the band in the traditional playing of “Fanfare & Processional”, better known as “Pomp and Circumstance”, by the composer, Elgar. At that point, CHS Faculty Members and seniors began marching out of Dr. James F. Sharp Cafeteria and down the gym stairs onto Rocky Bridges Court.
Welcome Address
After all seniors and Faculty Members were seated, District # 139 Superintendent of Schools, Kimberly Briggs gave the traditional “Welcome Address”.
Principal Jeremy Blechle Presentations
Principal Jeremy Blechle then conducted seven special recognitions of numerous groups of students. Blechle first introduced the 2025 Marshalls and Ushers. These students are selected out of the Junior Class of 2026.
Marshals: Marshals are the Top-5 academically-ranked students in the Junior Class. Marshalls included David August, Lillian Diskey, Addison Gottschammer, Rylie Myers, and Camryn Wolff.
Ushers: Next, Blechle introduced the Graduation Ushers from the Class of 2026. Ushers are selected by determining the next, five subsequent-highest-ranked students in the Junior Class or the 6th through 10th ranked juniors. Ushers included Trevor Keeton, Southern LaChance, Erin Liefer, Trayton Peters, and Morgan Throop.
Academic Honors: Chester High School now has a new system of recognizing academic honor students. No longer are students deemed with Honor Roll or High Honor Roll status. CHS now uses the same or similar system that is used at the collegiate level. There are now three levels of academic honors, including Summa Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, and Cum Laude. Mr. Blechle introduced the seniors who earned academic honors and asked them to stand to be recognized. The following are those honorees:
Summa Cum Laude (GPA 4.0)
Rylie Conley
Beatriz “Nico” De Guzman
Gianna Eggemeyer
John “Jack” Heffernan
Mirra Krieg
Katherine Pierce
Whitney Sulser
Will Welge
Magna Cum Laude (GPA 3.75)
Max Blechle
Evan Dunning
Maddox Hunter
Jaden Lopez
Elaina Lutman
Luke Schuwerk
Allyna “Ary” Shipley
Eli Stout
Alex Williamson
Cum Laude (GPA 3.5)
Brayden Absher
Cayden Brunkhorst
Emily Heinemeyer
Peyton Cole
Victoria Gercis
McKenna LaChance
Brenden Malley
Lincon Schroeder
National Honor Society: Following the presentation of the senior academic honor students, Principal Blechle recognized and honored the senior members of the Chester High School Summit Chapter of the National Honor Society. Those members are listed below:
Brayden Absher
Max Blechle
Cayden Brunkhorst
Peyton Cole
Rylie Conley
Beatriz “Nico” De Guzman
Gianna Eggemeyer
John “Jack” Heffernan
Mirra Krieg
McKenna LaChance
Elaina Lutman
Kathrine Pierce
Alayna “Ary” Shipley
Whitney Sulser
Summer Valleroy
Will Welge
Alex Williamson
Military Service: Chester High School’s Class of 2025 is proud to boast six class members that are going into the United States Military after graduation. Principal Blechle proudly introduced all six Class of 2025 students during the pre-graduation portion of the 139th CHS Commencement Exercise. Those six class members include:
Thomas Gene Bicket, United States Air Force
Olivia Rae Earl, United States Air Force
Noah Bradley Homan, United States Air Force
Maddox Scott Hunter, United States Air Force
Bryton Alexander Laramore, United States Army
Jaiden Riley Tucker, United States Army National Guard
Distinguished YellowJackets: The final item on Principal Blechle’s pre-graduation program was to introduce the Distinguished YellowJackets from the Senior Class of 2025. Blechle started the Distinguished YellowJacket Program several years ago as a way to recognize students at all levels who have made an impact on a teacher’s classroom or otherwise had an impact on that teacher.
CHS teachers and staff members make the nominations for this award and present the honoree at a special Distinguished YellowJacket Program during the spring of the school year. This year there were 15 seniors to earn the award. They include:
Zain Al-Jassim
Lannin Caron
Peyton Cole
Rylie Conley
Beatrice “Nico” De Guzman
Evan Dunning
Mirra Krieg
Jaden Lopez
Elaina Lutman
Nate Maes
Brenden Malley
Jered Powers
Sadessa Sellers
Allyna “Ary” Shipley
Jaiden Tucker
Will Welge
Bi-literacy Awards
Superintendent Kimberly Briggs nominated two senior students for a new program recognizing students who excel in interacting and functioning in two languages. Briggs was very pleased to announce that two Class of 2025 senior boys had been accepted to receive a Bi-Literacy recognition.
Those two boys are listed below:
Will Welge received the “Commendation toward Bi-Literacy” Award
Jaden Lopez received the “State Seal of Bi-Literacy” Award
Salutatorian Welcome:
The Class of 2025 Salutatorian was William Henry Lee Welge. Will, as he is better known, gave a great welcome speech and set the tone for the remainder of the 139th Commencement Ceremony!
Presentation of the Class of 2025 and Diplomas
Principal Jeremy Blechle, and Assistant Principal Robin Barton were joined on the graduation platform by three members of the District # 139 Board of Education in presenting diplomas to the Class of 2025. Mrs. Barb Coffey, Dr. James Krieg, and Mrs. Nikki Malley assisted with the presentation of diplomas.
The Class of 2025 totaled 62 students who are listed below:
Brayden Absher
Zain Al-Jassim
Thomas Gene Bicket
Max Blechle
Cayden Brunkhorst
Miranda Burgdorf
Lannin Caron
Cayden Cavaness
Nick Coffey
Peyton Cole
Nick Collins
Rylie Conley
Joshua Copple
Hunter Decker
Beatrice “Nico” De Guzman
Evan Dunning
Olivia Earl
Gianna Eggemeyer
Sawyer Fricke
Victoria Gercis
Mason Green
Caiden Hamilton
Devin Hamilton
Paige Hamilton
Justin Hayman
Jack Heffernan
Emily Heinemeyer
Noah Homan
Kourtney House
Maddox Hunter
Kolton Jany
Logan Jausel
Cole Johnson
Jonathan Jones
Mirra Krieg
McKenna LaChance
Bryton Laramore
Jaden Lopez
Elaina Lutman
Robert Lyons
Alexander Maes
Nate Maes
Brendan Malley
Ortencia Martinez
Eva Mead
Devante Palacio
Kathrine Pierce
Jared Powers
Wyatt Prater
Florentine Rafael, Jr.
Victor Duran
Lincon Schroeder
Luke Schuwerk
Sadessa Sellers
Allyna “Ary” Shipley
Lydia Smith
Eli Stout
Whitney Sulser
Jaiden Tucker
Summer Valleroy
Will Welge
Alex Williamson
Valedictorian Farwell Addresses
The Class of 2025 had three Valedictorians. Each of the three gave their own brief farewell addresses. Valedictorians included Miss Beatriz Nicolette Alva “Nico” De Guzman, Miss Whitney Sulser, and Mr. John Michael Liam “Jack” Heffernan.
Moving of the Class of 2025 Tassels
Miss Whitney Sulser was the Class President of the 2025 Chester High School Class of 2025. Following the Valedictorian Farewell Addresses Miss Sulser led the class in the traditional moving of the graduation tassels from right-to-left. This customary gesture indicates that the graduation candidates have completed the graduation commencement.
Fanfare and Recessional
Following the moving of the tassels, Mr. Colonel and the Chester High School Band began playing exit music titled, “Fanfare & Recessional” by Ployhar, as the Class of 2025 Graduates left the floor. Numerous post-graduation photographs were then taken as the graduates left Chester High School for the final “official” time!
CHS Class of 2025 President, Whitney Sulser, leads the class in the traditional “Changing of the Tassels” immediately following the distribution of the diplomas. Jim Beers Photo
Steve Colonel, CHS Band Director, leads the CHS Concert Band at the Class of 2025 Graduation exercises Sunday May 18 at CHS Colbert Gymnasium. Jim Beers Photo
CHS Administration and Chester School Board of Education members arrive on the graduation platform just prior to the arrival of the Class of 2025 at CHS Graduation Sunday May 18. Pictured (left to right) are Jeremy Blechle, Principal, Robin Barton, Assistant Principal, Shirley Stegman, Curriculum Director, Kimberly Briggs, Superintendent, Dr. Jim Krieg, Barb Coffey, and Nikki Malley, District # 139 Board of Education Members. Jim Beers Photo
Chester High School Graduation Marshals are chosen from the junior class top 5 academic students. Pictured (left to right) are Rylie Myers, Addison Gottschammer, David August, Lillian Diskey, and Camryn Wolff. Jim Beers Photo
Jeremy Blechle, Chester High School Principal, addresses the Class of 2025 at the 139th Commencement at CHS Sunday May 18. Jim Beers Photo
Salutatorian of the CHS Class of 2025, Will Welge, welcomes everyone to the Class of 2025 Graduation Exercises Sunday May 18. Jim Beers Photo
Chester School District # 139 Superintendent Kim Briggs addresses the 139th Commencement of Chester High School as the Class of 2025 gets ready to graduate Sunday May 18. Jim Beers Photo
The 2025 Graduation Ushers are chosen from the junior class students with the 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th, highest grade point averages. Pictured (left to right) are Morgan Throop, Southern LaChance, Erin Liefer, Trevor Keeton, and Trayton Peters. Jim Beers Photo
The Class of 2025 Valedictorians include (left to right) John “Jack” Heffernan, Whitney Sulser, and Beatriz “Nico” De Guzman. Jim Beers Photo
The Chester High School Class of 2025 graduated Sunday May 18 at CHS Colbert Gymnasium. There were 62 graduates in the class. Here they pose for one final group photo prior to commencement exercises. The Class of 2025 was the 139th class to graduate from CHS since its inception. Jim Beers Photo