2024 graduation is huge 30-minute success; Abigail Carter is Valedictorian and Alden Davits is Salutatorian
By Jim Beers
CHESTER – Thursday May 16, 2024 Chester Community Grade School in Chester Unit School District #139 held its graduation ceremony for 61 8th Grade students. It was a warm, but dry, evening for the event which was held at the Chester High School Colbert Memorial Gymnasium.
A good crowd attended the ceremony which was held at CHS to offer plenty of good seating and parking. Prospective graduates, 61 total, reported to the CHS Juergen’s Gymnasium for the traditional Class of 2024 Photo.
After the photo session, the 8th Graders made the final walk down the CHS hallway, through the CHS breezeway, and into the Dr. James F. Sharp Cafeteria where they awaited the official start of the graduation ceremony.
Marshalls and Ushers were selected from the CGS 7th Grade Class of 2025. The top nine (9) honor students had the pleasure of serving as 2024 Graduation Marshals and Ushers.
The Top-4 Honor Students were 2024 Graduation Marshals, including Lucas Buskirk, Hadlie Cushman, Preston Liefer, and Arabella Mallender.
The next five (5) students in the Top-9 served as 2024 Graduation Ushers, including Emma Bogard, Jack Luthy, Natalie Draves, Morgan Nanney, and Myra Yankey.
At precisely 6:00 p.m., the 2024 Graduation Marshals began leading the Processional of 8th Graders out of the cafeteria, down the Colbert Memorial Gymnasium stairs, onto Rocky Bridges Court, and to their seats, center court.
Sue Colonel, Chester Grade School Band Director and General Music Instructor, led the Chester Grade School Junior High Band in the playing of the processional music, “Pomp and Circumstance.
Seated on the stage (left to right) were Chester Grade School Principal, William “Bill” Grafton; Assistant Principal, Tim Blair; Chester School District Superintendent, Kimberly Briggs; School Board Member, Dr. James Krieg; School Board Secretary, Charles “Chuck” Fricke; and School Board Vice President, Matt Davitz.
The “Welcome Address” from the Class of 2024 was presented by 2024 CGS Salutatorian, Alden Davitz. He was short and to-the-point and made everyone in attendance feel welcomed and excited to witness the graduation of his Class of 2024.
Tim Blair, CGS Assistant Principal, then expressed greats to Superintendent, Kim Briggs, School Board members Matt Davitz, Vice President, Charles Fricke, Secretary, and Dr. James Krieg, parents, family members and guests, for coming to the commencement exercises.
Blair then presented the 2024 1st Year Beta Club members, 2nd Year Beta Club members, 4-Year Honor Roll students, and Highest Honor Roll Students for all four quarters.
Honor Roll Students all four quarters included Ashlynn Addison, Maci Ahring, Carle Cato, Kaylee Cowell, Matthew Fuller, Ashley Sanchez, Kady Grau, Natalie Guethle, Caitlin Hargis, Aaden Hecht, Kaylin Jany, Jack Johnson, Kendall Krieg, Jaden Ramirez, Alyssa Stehle, Alicia Tucker, Bently Valleroy, Avery Wittenborn, and Danny Worley.
1-Year Beta Club Members included Natalie Guethle, Kaylin Jany, Alyssa Stehl, and Kenna Thompson.
Highest Honor Roll Students all four quarters included Abigail Carter, Alden Davitz, Reed Fricke, Eagan McClelland, Logan Springston, and Trenton Westbrook.
2-Year Beta Club Members included Maci Ahring, Abigail Carter, Alden Davitz, Reed Fricke, Logan Springston, and Avery Wittenborn.
Mr. Blair then recognized the Class of 2024 Valedictorian, Abigail Carter, and the Class of 2024 Salutatorian, Alden Davitz. Both honorees came on stage and were presented with their awards.
William “Bill” Grafton, Chester Grade School Principal, then took center stage at the podium and presented the Chester Grade School Class of 2024 and verified that all 61 students had completed the requirements to graduate from the 8th grade.
Mr. Blair, Assistant Principal, began introducing the Class of 2024 and Principal Grafton made the first round of presentations of diplomas to the graduates. Mr. Grafton then took over the microphone and introduced the remainder of the graduates as Mr. Blair, and Board Members James Krieg, Charles “Chuck” Fricke, and Matt Davitz, rotated in presenting the remainder of the diplomas.
The 61 CGS graduates included Ashlynn Addison, Maci Ahring, Kaelly Amaro, Aubrey Andrews, Alison Bainter, Paxton Beam, Jaden Bert, Abigail Carter, Carlee Cato, Aurorah Chambers, Kaylee Cowell, Alden Davitz Kylie Eggemeyer, Reed Fricke, Matthew Fuller, Ashley Sanchez, Kady Grau, Natalie Guethle, Caitlyn Hargis, Hayden Haslett, Aaden Hecht, Matthew Hecht, Jailey Holt, David Inman, Christine Jackson, Kaylin Jany, Jack Johnson, Kelsie Joiner, Anthony Keeton, and Alyssa Kelley.
The list continues with Kendall Krieg, Logan Laramore, Mitchell Liter, Justice Mattingly, Eagan McClelland, Landon Murphy, Daegan Neilson, Nelvin Guijon, Sydney Presswood, Isabela Rafael, Jaden Ramirez, Tesa Ray, Raven Rinderer, Jaimy Duran, Donathan Sabo, Amelia Shipley, Logan Springston, Alyssa Stehl, Kenna Thompson, Alicia Tucker, Trenton Tucker, Bently Valleroy, Joshua Velasquez, Ashlyn Via, Trenton Westbrook, Layla White, Xzayvier Wilson, Avery Wittenborn, Danny Worley, and Maddie Worley.
Following the presentation of diplomas, Class of 2024 Valedictorian, Abigail Carter, took the stage and gave the official Farewell Address to end the 2024 Chester Grade School 8th Grade Graduation Ceremony. Her message was well received and drew a great round of applause.
Immediately following the dismissal by Principal Grafton, Sue Colonel and her Junior High Band began playing music for the Recessional of graduates from Rocky Bridges Court. The entire event took exactly 30-minutes.
Parents, family members, and guests then took time taking pictures and wishing the graduates congratulations and a fond farewell.
((INSERT PHOTO…CGS 1 Chester Grade School Class of 2024…HERE))
The Chester Grade School 8th Grade Class of 2024 poses for a group photo prior to graduation exercises Thursday May 16. Jim Beers Photo
Chester Grade School Valedictorian, Abigail Carter, gives her “Farewell Address” at the 2024 CGS Graduation Thursday May 16. Jim Beers Photo
Pictured is a birds eye view of the floor at Chester Graded School’s 8th Grade Graduation Thursday May 16. The photo was taken high above Rocky Bridges Court inside the broadcast booth at Chester High School’s Colbert Memorial Gymnasium. Jim Beers Photo
The Chester Grade School Junior High Band, under the direction of Sue Colonel, CGS Band Director, performs at the 2024 CGS 8th Grade Graduation Thursday May 16, The band played both the Processional, “Pomp and Circumstance” and the “Recessional” as the 8th Graders entered and exited the gym. Jim Beers Photo
Chester School Board Member Charles “Chuck” Fricke presents 8th Grade Ashley Dain Garcia Sanchez her diploma at the 2024 Chester Grade School Graduation Ceremony Thursday May 16. Jim Beers Photo
Seated (left to right) on the grand stage at the 2024 Chester Grade School Graduation are William “Bill” Grafton, CGS Principal; Tim Blair, CGS Assistant Principal; Kimberly Briggs, District Superintendent; Dr. James Krieg, Board Member; Charles “Chuck” Fricke, Board Secretary; Matt Davits, Board Vice President. Jim Beers Photo
Chester Grade School 8th Grade Salutatorian, Alden Davitz, gives his opening Welcome Address at the 2024 CGS Graduation Thursday May 16. Jim Beers Photo
2024 CGS Graduation Marshals are (left to right) Lucas Buskirk, Hadlie Cushman, Arabella Mallender, and Preston Liefer. The foursome are the top four academic students in the 7th Grade Class of 2025. Jim Beers Photo
Chester Grade School 8th grader, Nelvin Josue Padilla Guijon, returns to his Class of 2024 seating area following the presentation of his diploma at graduation ceremonies Thursday May 16. Jim Beers Photo
The Ushers for the Chester Grade School Class of 2024 Graduation ceremonies include (back row): Morgan Nanney and Jack Luthy and front row seated (in no particular order) Emma Bogard, Natalie Draves, and Myra Yankey. They were the 5th through 9th highest academic students from the 7th Grade Class of 2025.Jim Beers Photo