Graduation 2026 was the 140th Commencement at CHS
By Jim Beers
CHESTER – Chester High School Graduation 2026 was Sunday May 18 at 3:00 p.m. It was a nice Sunday afternoon with a capacity crowd on hand to witness the annual event at Colbert Gymnasium.
As guests entered the building, they were greeted by ushers from the Class of 2027. Ushers gave guests a program and gave directions to the seating area. Ushers included Logan Brace, Jenna Buskhol, Kross Jany, TaShawn Palacio, Camdyn Quillman, and Katie Werner. Ushers were the 6th through 11th highest academically ranked students in the junior class.
A note of interest is that the 2026 Graduation Programs were printed on card stock. The card stock offered guests a nice item to use as a fan, as the gym was rather warm.
Prior to the graduation ceremony, seniors gathered in Juergens Gymnasium for a Class of 2026 photo. At approximately 2:50 p.m. students and Class Sponsors moved to the Professor James F. Sharp Cafeteria to organize for the processional down the stairs and onto Rocky Bridges Court.
At 3:00 p.m. Steve Colonel, CHS Band Director, began the processional music, “Fanfare and Processional”, better known as “Pomp and Circumstance”. Seniors were led to the floor by the Class of 2027 Marshalls. Marshalls included the Top 5 academically ranked students of the class. This year’s Marshalls included Aubrey Colvis, Aiden Davis, Aleah Eggemeyer, Grace Kirkpatrick, and Trey McCartney.
Once on the floor and seated, Principal Jeremy Blechle welcomed everyone to Graduation 2026. He then thanked all military personnel, past and present, Board of Education members, District # 139 Administration, Teachers, Staff, parents, and all CHS Alumni for their attendance and support of the Class of 2026. Marshalls and Ushers were recognized after which all Class of 2026 Academic Honorees were recognized.
The following academic levels of academic honors were recognized, and pertinent students were asked to stand as their names were called.
Academic Honors:
Summa Cum Laude (4.0 or higher): Morgan Absher, David August, Lillian Diskey, Addison Gottchammer, Erin Liefer, Rylie Trevor Keeton, Southern LaChance, Rylie Myers, Tray Peters, and Camryn Wolff.
Maga Cum Laude (3.75 or higher): Maggie Caby, Alyssa Coffey, Callie Davis, Ivan Hobbs, Riley Lochhead, Jason Sibley, Isac Sims, Madyson Stacy, Madison Stauffer, Jessica Stumpe, Olivia Vasquez, and Elizabeth Wilson.
Cum Laude (3.5 or higher): Macy Bert, Ethan Colvis, Peyton Astin, Annah Helvey Ahring, Brayden Juenger, and Lexie Mott.
Blechle then recognized senior class members of the Summit Chapter of the National Honor Society.
National Honor Society: Those senior students included Morgan Ansher, David August, Maggie Caby, Hayden Cartwright, Ethan Colvis, Callie Davis, Lillian Diskey, Addison Gottschammer, Annah Helvey Ahring, Trevor Keeton, Southern LaChance, Erin Liefer, Rylie Myers, Tray Peters, Kaylee Rogers, Madison Stauffer, Jessica Stumpe, Olivia Vasquez, Elizabeth Wilson, and Camryn Wolff.
The Class of 2026 has six members that will be enlisting in the United States Military upon graduation. Principal Blechle recognized these individuals.
Military Enlistees: (Navy): Roman Carter and Derrius Shoemate. (Army): Luke Hobeck and Luke Kennedy. (Marines): Santino Decker. (Coast Guard): Isaac Sims.
Class of 2026 Distinguished YellowJackets were announced and asked to stand for recognition. There were 35 seniors that were honored as Distinguished YellowJackets. Finally, two seniors were recognized for earning Biliteracy Awards.
Biliteracy Awards:
Commendation Toward Biliteracy: Addison Gottschammer.
State Seal of Biliteracy: Anthony Hernandez-Huerta
Following Principal Blechle’s welcome and presentation of awards, District # 139 Superintendent of Schools, Kimberly Briggs gave her “Charge” to the Class of 2026 and wished them the best of luck in all of their future endeavors.
The Class of 2026 had four Salutatorians this year. All four gave their own personalized “Salutatorian Welcomes” to the class and all in attendance. All four did an amazing job of presenting their speeches.
2026 Salutatorians: The four Class of 2026 Salutatorians included David August, Lillian Diskey, Rylie Myers, and Camryn Wolff.
After the Salutatorian Addresses, Principal Jeremy Blechle presented the Class of 2026 and certified that all 83 seniors had fulfilled the requirement for graduation. It was then time for the Marshalls to direct the class to the stage to receive their diplomas.
Announcing the senior’s names were Principal Blechle and Assistant Principal, Robin Barton. Diplomas were handed to the graduates by School Board Members Debi Caraway, Barb Coffey, and Shannon Wolff.
The Class of 2026 Graduates included: Morgan Absher, Bralynn Astin, Brenna Astin, David August, Aaliyah Berkbuegler, Macy Bert, Alexander Bixby, Maggie Caby, Roman Carter, Hayden Cartwright, Jacob Casteel, Brayan Cates, Lucas Chandler, Alyssa Coffey, Caleb Coffey, Gabe Coffman, Aubrey Coleman, Ethan Colvis, Amelia Crawford, Reed Creason, and Callie Davis.
Santino Absher, Mackenzie Deimund, Peyton Dickson, Lillian Diskey, Addison Gottschammer, Emily Gruenewald, Natalie Guetersloh, Jonathan Hayer, Annah Helvey Ahring, Anthony Hernanez-Huerta, Kylie Hicks, Ivan Hobbs, Luke Hobeck, Liam Holland, Ella May Jackson, Tyson Jausel, Carlos Jimenez, Franklin Velasquez, Brayden Juenger, Ryan Junger, and Trevor Keeton.
Kylee Kempfer, Luke Kennedy, Southern LaChance, Erin Liefer, Riley Lochhead, Aiden Lyons, Morgan Miers, Lexie Mott, Chace Murphy, Robert Myers, Rylie Myers, Alexander Partin, Tray Peters, Samantha Poppen, Evan Richardet, Caleb Richmond, Kaylee Rogers, Konner Schroeder, Jacob Shields, Derrius Shoemate, and Jason Sibley.
Isaac Sims, Isac Smith, Jonathan Snow, Larry Sorto, Madyson Stacy, Madison Stauffer, Mason Straight, Jakob Stueve, Jessica Stumpe, Brayden Tucker, Olivia Vasquez, Skyla Walker, Camden Ward, Drew Wilderman, Gavin Wilderman, Elizabeth Wilson, Adyn Winchester, Camryn Wolff, Gage Yankey, and Megan Zimmer.
Valedictorian Farewell Address: The 2026 Class Valedictorian is Addison Gottschammer. Miss Gottschammer did a wonderful job of giving the farewell address on behalf of the Class of 2026.
To complete the 2026 Graduation Ceremony, which was the 140th at Chester High School, Class of 2026 President, Callie Davis, came forward to direct the class in the official moving of the tassels to indicate that their graduations were complete.
Steve Colonel, CHS Band Director, then directed the band in the recessional, “Fanfare and Recessional”, as the graduated proceeded from their seats, up the stairs, and out of Colbert Memorial Gymnasium for the last time.
Chester High School Graduation Marshals Aubrey Colvis, Aiden Davis, Aleah Eggemeyer, Grace Kirkpatrick, and Trey McCartney pose for as photo prior to the 2026 Class of 2026 Graduation. Jim Beers Photo
The Chester High School Class of 2026 poses for a last photo prior to its graduation ceremony Sunday May 17. In front in the white robes are the graduation marshals. Jim Beers Photo
The Class of 2026 had four Salutatorians including David August, Lillian Diskey, Rylie Myers, and Camryn Wolff. Jim Beers Photo
The CHS Class of 2026 Valedictorian is Addison Gottschammer. Jim Beers Photo
The Ushers for the CHS Class of 2026 Graduation were juniors Logan Brace, Jenna Buskhol Kross Jany, TaShawn Palacio, Camdyn Quilman, and Katie Werner. Jim Beers Photo
Jeremy Blechle, Chester High School Principal, welcomes a packed Colbert Gymnasium to the 140th Commencement at CHS Sunday May 17th. Jim Beers Photo
The Chester High School Class of 2026 celebrates at the conclusion of the 140th Commencement at CHS Sunday May 17th. Jim Beers Photo
Kimberly Briggs, District # 139 Superintendent of Schools presents Charge to the Class of 2026 at the 140th Commencement Sunday May 17th. Jim Beers Photo
Steve Colonel, CHS Band Director, gets ready to direct his final graduation performance Sunday May 17th at CHS Colbert Gymnasium. Colonel retired at the end of the 2025-26 school year after 31 years of service to Chester High School. Jim Beers Photo
Chester High School, Camryn Wolff, sends a loving smile to members of her family at the 2026 CHS Class of 2026 Graduation. Wolff was one of four classmates who earned the title of Class Salutatorian. She therefore had the privilege of giving one of four Welcome Speeches at Chester High School’s 140th Commencement Sunday May 17th. Jim Beers Photo
CHS Class of 2026 Valedictorian, Addison Gottschammer, closes the 2026 Graduation Ceremony with her Farewell Address Sunday May 17th. Jim Beers Photo
David August, a Chester High School Salutatorian, presents a very moving speech Sunday May 17 at the 140th Commencement Ceremony at CHS. Jim Beers Photo
CHS senior Rylie Mysre, was one of four Salutatorians at the 2026 CHS Graduation. Shown here she gives her Welcome Speech at the beginning of the 140th Commencement Sunday May 17th. Jim Beers Photo
Lillian Diskey presents her Welcome to the Class of 2026 and all in attendance at the CHS Graduation Ceremony. Jim Beers Photo
CHS senior, Jason Sibley, poses for a photo immediately after receiving his diploma at the 2026 Chester High School Graduation Sunday May 17th. Sibley will attend Southern Illinois University at Carbondale next fall to study Music Education. Jim Beers Photo
Dignitaries on the stage at the 2026 Chester High School Graduation Sunday May 17 include Jeremy Blechle, Principal, Robin Barton, Assistant Principal, Kimberly Briggs, District # 139 Superintendent of Schools, Debi Caraway, Barb Coffey and Shannon Wolff, Board of Education Members. Jim Beers Photo
CHS Graduate Megan Zimmer happily leaves the stage at the Class of 2026 Graduation after receiving her diploma. Jim Beers Photo