Jessica Stumpe and Jason Sibley received 2026-27 Methodist Men Scholarships and Jessica Stumpe also received a Methodist Women Scholarship; Gabe Coffman was also offered a UMM Scholarship
BY JIM BEERS
A long-standing tradition at the First United Methodist Church in Chester was continued this year as four college scholarships were offered to three Chester High School graduates that will began their post-high school education during the upcoming 2026-27 school year.
The Methodist Men and Women of the church have maintained their scholarship programs since the early beginnings in the 1960’s. The Methodist Men’s Scholarship Program is chaired by Dr. Jim Beers, while the Methodist Women’s Scholarship Program is chaired by Donna Clendenin.
The Methodist Men (UMM) presented two $1,500 scholarships for the 2026-27 school year and the Methodist Women (UMW) presented one scholarship for $650.00. The UMM Scholarship recipients included Jessica Stumpe and Jason Sibley. Gabriel Coffman was also offered a UMM Scholarship, but has chosen to enlist in the United States Army instead beginning his collegiate career at this time. The UMW Scholarship was presented to Jessica Stumpe.
Stumpe is a life-long member of the United Methodist Church in Chester. Sibley attends church at FUMC, Chester, and is seriously considering joining the church. Coffman, a non-member, was offered a UMM Scholarship, but will postpone his college journey until following his enlistment in the United States Army.
Jessica Stumpe. Miss Stumpe is the daughter of Scott Stumpe and Jennifer Cartwright. She graduated from Chester High School in May of 2026 with a Grade Point Average of 3.73. At CHS she was in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), Spanish Club, the “HIVE” Pep Club, National Honor Society, Student Council, and the Interact Club.
Jessica was a very good athlete throughout high school. She earned All-Conference Honors and All-South Honors in Track and Field. In Basketball she was a Varsity Letter winner and she was selected for the All-Tournament Team at the 2026 Sparta Tournament as well as the Chester Mid-Winter Classic Tournament. Stumpe was also the MVP for Defense in Lady Jacket Basketball. She won the Pat Mulholland Scholarship for her track and field skills in 2026.
In addition to the Methodist Men Scholarship, Jessica received the Methodist Women’s Scholarship, Gary Schwent Memorial Scholarship, Dick Roth Sportsmanship Award, and the Jeff Brown Memorial Track Award. For her excellent academics Miss Stumpe also earned an “Academic C”.
Jessica will begin her collegiate career Monday August 17 at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale where she will study Radiology Technology.
Jason Sibley. Jason is the son of Frances and Kyle Heins. He graduated from Chester High School in May with a Grade Point Average of 3.82. At CHS he was active in Swing Choir, Concert Choir, Marching Band, Jazz Band, Concert Band and Theatre. He was the Percussion Section Leader of the band.
Jason was also a very key member of the CHS Theatre Department having had lead roles in both musicals and plays. He earned the coveted Director’s Award in Theatre and was Co-Winner of the highest award in band, The Arion Award.
Mr. Sibley won the Amanda Kahre Award for being the best 1st Year Swing Choir Member and he was the Outstanding Vocalist in Theatre Musicals. He was in Band for all four years and chorus for all four years. He was also a Four Year Theatre member.
At CHS Honors Night Jason was the top Music Award Scholarship winner of the Camille Fieschi Chappius Scholarship. He also received an SIU Scholarship, a Rotary Club Scholarship and the Methodist Men Scholarship.
Jason has already been involved at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale for a week as he is a member of the SIU Marching Salukis and had to report last Sunday August 9 for Band Camp. Mr. Sibley was accepted at SIU in the Music Department and will study for a degree in Music Education.
Gabriel “Gabe” Coffman. Gabe Coffman is the son of Nick and Angelique Gearhart and Crystal Coffman. He graduated from Chester High School in May with an overall Grade Point Average of 2.83.
At CHS Gabe was Team Captain of Cross Country and was a member of the YellowJacket Basketball Team and he excelled in Track and Field. This year he broke the school record in the 400-Meter and he was a member of the 4 X 400 Relay Team that set e new school record.
He was presented with a CHS Distinguished YellowJacket Award for having a positive impact on a CHS Staff Member and his classroom. Gabe was in scouting and he volunteered in the community.
At the 2026 CHS Honors Night Mr. Coffman was presented with a Maroon Scholarship from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. He also won the Jeff Brown Memorial Track and Field Scholarship for Track and Field for his athletic and academic achievements.
Gabriele had offers at both McKendree University and Southern Illinois University. He had decided to attend McKendree University in Lebanon, Illinois where he wanted to study Business and run on the Cross Country and Track and Field Teams.
He was offered a Methodist Men’s Scholarship, however, at the last minute, Gabe decided to postpone his collegiate pursuits and join the United States Military. He will join the United States Army later this month and help defend his country. He will later regain his pursuit of a college degree following his service to the United States of America.
The Methodist Men’s Scholarships are memorials. One is the Jerry Lamkin Scholarship. Jerry graduated from Chester High School and was attending McKendree College to become a Methodist Minister. On his was home to Chester one weekend in January of 1962, Jerry was killed on an icy road enroute to Chester. He was the son of George and Katherine Lamkin, long-time members of the First United Methodist Church in Chester.
The Jerry Lamkin Scholarship was started to help keep Jerry’s memory alive. Since 1962. Jerry was so well liked in Southern Illinois that churches across the region funded and managed the scholarship program from 1962-1972.
In 1973 the Methodist Men of Chester accepted responsibility for funding and managing the program. Since that time, the Jerry Lamkin Scholarship has been awarded to 52 different students for a total of 64 scholarships (some have received the scholarship more than once). A total of $24,500.00 has been awarded for scholarship recipients.
In 1997, another Methodist Church family, Elbert and Mabel Hoppe, and daughters Nancy, Ann, Trudy, and Helen, began another Methodist Scholarship Program. This program was in memory of Elbert’s parents, John and Caddie Hoppe, and Mabel’s parents, John and Ellen McNelly. Mabel’s brother, Rev. Hugh McNelly, was also memorialized through this scholarship.
In the past 26 years, the McNelly-Hoppe Scholarship Program has provided 63 scholarships to 48 different individuals (some had received it more than once). In that time period, $42, 500.00 in scholarships have been awarded.
Since the inception of the McNelly-Hoppe Scholarship Program, both Elbert and Mabel, long time loyal members of the First United Methodist Church in Chester, have both passed away.
Prior to his death, Elbert Hoppe said, “It is our hope and prayer that the money distributed to the recipients will help train young people to be Christians by faith, and that they will carry on the ministry of our Savior, Jesus Christ, in their chosen occupations.”
Since the United Methodist Men of Chester have accepted responsibility for the funding and management of the Jerry Lamkin and McNelly-Hoppe Scholarship Programs, there have been 127 scholarships provided to 100 different individuals for a total of $67,000.00.