CHS graduates 82 seniors Sunday May 19th, 2024
By Jim Beers
CHESTER – Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. Chester High School hosted the 138th Commencement at CHS Colbert Gymnasium on Rocky Bridges Court. The Class of 2024 featured 82 graduates who walked across the CHS Graduation Platform in exquisite fashion.
In spite of a quite warm day, on one of the hottest weekends of the year, CHS support staff had Colbert Gymnasium rather cool and comfortable.
The afternoon began at 2:00 p.m. with prospective graduates showing up at CHS Juergens Gymnasium for their individual “LifeTouch” photos and then the final group photo of the Class of 2024.
Once all photos were completed, Class of 2025 Marshals and Ushers escorted the 82 graduation prospects from Juergens Gymnasium, through the breezeway, over to the James F. Sharp Cafeteria where all seniors were organized and awaited the processional.
At 3:00 p.m. the Chester High School Concert Band, under the direction of Steve Colonel, began playing “Fanfare & Processional”, better known as “Pomp and Circumstance” by Elgar, and the Graduation Marsha’s led the senior candidates into Colbert Gymnasium, down the stairs and onto Rocky Bridges Court where their seats were awaiting them.
Dignitaries positioned on the graduation stage included Jeremy Blechle, Principal; Robin Barton, Assistant Principal; Kimberly Briggs, Superintendent; Shirley Stegmann, Curriculum Director; Tim Blair, CGS Assistant Principal; Debi Caraway, Board of Education, and Matt Davitz, Board of Education.
Once everyone was comfortably seated, Kimberly Briggs, District # 139 Superintendent of Schools, gave a warm welcome address to the crowd and the seniors who were seated in front of her.
Following Mrs. Briggs’ welcome, Principal Jeremy Blechle took center stage and introduced the Marshals and Ushers.
The Top-5 members of the junior Class of 2025 were selected as Marshals. These five were ranked No. 1 through No. 5 academically in the Junior Class. Marshals included Rylie Conley, Beatriz DeGuzman, John Heffernan, Whitney Sulser, and William Welge.
The next five members of the Junior Class were ranked 6th through 10th academically and were selected as Ushers. Ushers included Mirra Krieg, Gianna Eggemeyer, Kathrine Pierce, Maddox Hunter, and Jaden Lopez.
Principal Blechle then presented the senior members of the Chester High School Summit Chapter of the National Honor Society. Those 18 members were recognized by the gold cords that they wore around their necks on their graduation gowns.
The Class of 2024 members of NHS included Jordan Buskohl, Katelyn Conway, Emma Diskey, Isaiah Roth, John Gilbert, Dyson Helmers, Garret Hopkins, Jessica Ixcoy, Korbin Jany, Hannah Kaempfe, Amanda Kennon, Kinsli McCartney, Rylie McDonough, Chloe Miller, Lucas Thompson, Kaci Trost, and Mabry Wingerter.
The Class of 2024 had a three-way tie for Salutatorian, therefore all three seniors that were tied with identical academic rankings took the stage and gave their own respective Salutatorian Welcome speeches.
The three Co-Salutatorians included, in speaking order, Mr. Lucas Thompson, Miss Jordan Buskohl, and Miss Mabry Wingerter. They all did a superlative job of providing a great Welcome to everyone in attendance.
Prior to the presentation of diplomas Principal Blechle introduce the new academic recognition system that Chester High School adopted as of this 2024 graduation. Instead of using an honor roll and high honor roll system, Blechle announced that CHS had switched to the collegiate system of indicating one of three levels for academic honors.
The highest academic honor is Suma Cum Laude. Graduates in this group have a cumulative grade point average of 4.0. This honor is indicated on the graduation program with three crosses (+++).
The middle level of academic honor is Magna Cum Laude. Students in this academic category of honor have a cumulative grade point average of 3.75. They are indicated by two crosses (++) on the graduation program.
The first level of academic honor is Cum Laude. Students with this level of academic honor have a cumulative grade point average of 3.50. They are indicated on the graduation program by one cross (+).
The Graduating Class of 2024 had five students graduate Summa Cum Laude including, Jordan Brook Buskohl, Emma Sue Diskey, Garret Michael Hopkins, Lucas Daniel Thompson, and Mabry Ann Wingerter.
There were 13 members of the Class of 2024 that graduated Magna Cum Laude including Scott Edward Brown, Joshua Allen Casteel, John Chase Gilbert, Dyson Rheal Helmers, Haley Rose Hoskin, Korbin Matthew Jany, Hannah Grace Kaempfe, Colby Alan Kelkhoff, Amanda Lauren Kennon, Kinsli Raye McCartney, Rylie Elizabeth McDonough, Chloe Grace Miller, and Kaci Lee Trost.
Finally, eight graduates from the Class of 2024 graduated with Cum Laude honors including Katelin Marie Conway, Alexis Joella Eggemeyer, Jessica Maria Sica Ixcoy, Connor Gene Mott, Isaiah Farrell Roth, Anarosa Ruiz Huerta, Davis Andrew Sullivan, and Grace Rilyn Welborn.
Principal Jeremy Blechle then certified that all of the seniors that were present for graduation had completed the requirements for graduation. Assistant Principal, Robin Barton then announced each candidate’s name as he or she was escorted to the stage to make the grand walk across the platform to receive his or her high school diploma.
Presenting the diplomas to the Class of 2024 were Board of Education members Matt Davitz, Board Secretary and Debi Caraway, Board President.
Graduates of the Chester High School Class of 2024 included the following seniors in the following order:
(A thru D): Josalynn Marie Anaya, Leslie Marie Asbury, Cailey Marie Bainter, Raegyn Lyn Baker, Bethany Taylor Baughman, Griffin William Berry, Evan Michael Bland, Scott Edward Brown, Joel Evan Buskohl, Jordan Brooke Buskohl, Joshua Allen Casteel, Hailey Kristine Clendenin, Drew Eliot Coleman, Braxton Scott Conder, Katelin Marie Conway, Gavin Daniel Cowan, Nolin Joseph Crain, Cheslli Page Cumberland, Bryce Jacob Cushman, and Emma Sue Diskey.
(E thru J): Alexis Joella Eggemeyer, Trentin Dennis Eggemeyer, Tristen Michael Eggers, Blake Allen Farmer, John Chase Gilbert, Aydain Lee Greene, Daphney Ann Helmers, Dyson Rheal Helmers, Blake Jeremy Hennemann, Nathaniel Robert Welge Heuer, Landon Thomas Hicks, Gage Matthew Hopkins, Garret Michael Hopkins, Zachary O’Ryan Grant Hornbostel, Haley Rose Hoskin, Jessica Maria Sica Ixcoy, and Korbin Matthew Jany.
(K thru M: Hannah Grace Kaempfe, Colby Alan Kelkhoff, Amanda Lauren Kennon, Aron Matthew Korando, Dylan Tyler Kulich, Christopher Michael Luebke, Jr., Camryn Nicole Luthy, Thomas James Lyons, Isabelle Marie Marshall, Kylie Kay Maue, Kinsli Raye McCartney, Alyssa Dawn McCormick, Ellen Brooke McCormick, Liberty Rae McCormick, Austin Michael McDonald, Rylie Elizabeth McDonough, Aden Joseph McFarland, Joseph Paul McLain, Shea Patrick Menefee, Jasmine Christine Merideth, Matthew Dustin Mifflin, Chloe Grace Miller, and Connor Gene Mott.
(N thru W): Skyla Dawn Niemeyer, Robert Charles Palacio, Jr., Jacob Austin Pfeiffer, Isaiah Farrell Roth, Anarosa Ruiz Huerta, Aden Coleman Runge, Bailey Diane Sellers, Maison August Shemonic, Brittany LeAnne Shipley, Albert Joseph Smith, Jazmin Eunice Sorto, Kaylie Jo Springston, Gabriel Langston Steele, David Andrew Sullivan, Gavin Dallas William Thompson, Lucas Daniel Thompson, Kaci Lee Trost, Brooklyn Ann Webb, Grace Rilyn Welborn, Mason Ryan Werner, Gabriel Mikah White, and Mabry Ann Wingerter.
Following the presentation of senior diplomas, 2024 Chester High School Valedictorian, Garret Hopkins, gave the “Farewell Address” on behalf of the CHS “Class of 2024”.
Immediately after the completion of his speech, Garret Hopkins, Class President, directed the entire Class of 2024 in the moving of their graduation tassels to symbolically indicate that they had successfully graduated from Chester High School.
The Class of 2024 was then led by the Graduation Marshals in their final official walk off of CHS Rocky Bridges Court, up the Colbert Gymnasium stairs, and out of Colbert Gymnasium and into the CHS Dr. James F. Sharp Cafeteria when they were greeted by parents and guests for post-graduation wishes and photos.
The Chester High School Band, under the direction of Steve Colonel, played the traditional song, “Fanfare and Recessional”, by Ployhar, as the newest CHS Graduates exited the gymnasium.
The Chester High School Graduating Class of 2024 poses for a group photo prior to the commencement of 2024 on Sunday May 19. Jim Beers Photo
The Chester High School Class of 2024 had three Salutatorians at graduation this year. Pictured (left to right) in order of speaking were Lucas Daniel Thompson, Jordan Brooke Buskohl, and Mabry Ann Wingerter. Jim Beers Photo
Chester High School senior, Braxton Scott Conder, poses for a photo prior to CHS Graduation 2024 Sunday May 19. Conder proudly wears his red United States Marines banner on his graduation gown indicating that he will be entering the Marines upon graduation. Conder will report to the Marines just nine days after graduating from CHS. Jim Beers Photo
The 2024 Graduation Ushers included (left to right) Jaden Lopez, Mirra Krieg, Gianna Eggemeyer, Katherine Pierce and Maddox Hunter. Ushers were selected by their class rank 6th through 10th in the Junior Class of 2025. Jim Beers Photo
As is in tradition, the Senior Class President leads the graduating class in the changing of the tassel on the graduation cap to signify that the class has completed graduation exercises. Shown here, Chester High School Class of 2024 President, Garret Hopkins, leads the class in moving the tassels to close the 138th Graduation Exercises Sunday May 19th. Jim Beers Photo
CHS senior John Chase Gilbert receives his diploma from Board of Education member Matt Davitz Sunday May 19. Gilbert graduated Magna Cum Laude (3.75 GPA) and was a member of the CHS Summit Chapter of the National Honor Society. Jim Beers Photo
The 2024 Graduation Ushers included (left to right) Jaden Lopez, Mirra Krieg, Gianna Eggemeyer, Katherine Pierce and Maddox Hunter. Ushers were selected by their class rank 6th through 10th in the Junior Class of 2025. Jim Beers Photo
As is in tradition, the Senior Class President leads the graduating class in the changing of the tassel on the graduation cap to signify that the class has completed graduation exercises. Shown here, Chester High School Class of 2024 President, Garret Hopkins, leads the class in moving the tassels to close the 138th Graduation Exercises Sunday May 19th. Jim Beers Photo
Kaylie Springston, a graduating senior from the Chester High School Class of 2024, receives her diploma Sunday afternoon May 19 from Board of Education member Debi Caraway. Jim Beers Photo
This is a birdseye view of Chester High School Colbert Gymnasium high above Rocky Bridges Court at the 2024 CHS Graduation Sunday May 19. A full house enjoyed experiencing the 138th Commencement Exercises as CHS graduated 82 seniors in a beautiful program that lasted less than an hour. Jim Beers Photo
CHS senior Lucas Daniel Thompson receives his diploma Sunday May 19 from Board of Education member Debi Caraway. It was the at 138th Commencement at CHS. Thompson graduated with high honors, Suma Cum Laude, with an overall grade point average of 4.0. He was also a member of the CHS Summit Chapter of the National Honor Society. Jim Beers Photo