A team approach utilizing a partnership with CHS, the Mississippi Valley Art Guild, and a generous stipend from the Lambda State Foundation for Educational Studies, is making art a possibility at CHS
By Jim Beers
CHESTER, ILL – Several years ago, the art program at Chester High School was discontinued. That left a huge hole for those students who loved art and the related programming as part of their curriculum.
Recently CHS worked out an alternative which allows students at CHS who are still interested in art to have the opportunity to engage in artistic activities with the help of outside entities. Chester High School now has an “Art Club” and students are enjoying taking part in learning activities in a “club atmosphere”.
Concerned citizens came together to create a space at CHS in which to meet and keep their art supplies. Members of the Mississippi Valley Art Guild, located in downtown Chester, Illinois, have stepped up to offer occasional assistance, training, and guidance to members of the CHS Art Club.
Officers of the CHS Art Club include Grace Kirkpatrick, President, Emily Gruenewald, Vice President, Elizabeth Wilson, Secretary, Hanna Stueve, Art Director, Taelyn Cleland, Project Manager, and Neaveh Armbruster and Ashley Garcia, Art Assistants. The Art Club Sponsor is Cheri Diercks-Boyd, who is a CHS Teacher. There are currently 33 members of the club.
A recent grant received by the Beta Delta Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma, an International Educator’s Society, has helped make the new program a possibility. Beth Stumpe Bell, a former Chester High School graduate and Mississippi Valley Art Guild Member, assisted with writing the grant which is valued at $1,800.00. Bell wrote the grant on behalf of the Beta Delta Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma. The award was funded by the Lambda State Foundation for Educational Studies, Inc.
Mrs. Bell is also a Facilitator of the program. Bell said, “The grant funded a rolling cart which was stocked with a wide range of art supplies. For some time, there was no dedicated space at CHS to hold Art Club meetings and activities. The “Art Cart”, as it is known, allows members to roll the large cart, which is on sturdy wheels, to various locations around the school which are available to hold Art Club activities. Since the start of the program, there has now been a space dedicated for storing the “Art Cart” and to host meetings.
The grant also comes with a partnership with the Mississippi Valley Art Guild (MVAG). This partnership is offering a series of six “hands-on” workshops for students. Various very talented members of MVAG have dedicated their time and services to working alongside CHS students with their artistic endeavors.
Bell noted, “The workshops are designed to focus on drawing, painting, sculpture, watercolor, Scale design projection, and collage. The workshops are offered after school on early-release days at CHS, on Fridays. This helps reduce transportation barriers and makes it easier for students to participate. Interest in the arts has garnered additional contributions from the Chester High School Class of 1974 and the Mississippi Valley Art Guild.”
The first workshop took place January 23, 2026 and was held at the school. Beth Stumpe Bell directed the session with assistance from Carolyn Schwent and Jeanne Wagner of the Beta Delta Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma. Both Schwent and Wagner are retired school teachers who are experienced in working with students and love the opportunity to assist with the program.
The first workshop focused on “collage”. Bell introduced the students to the art principles of composition, character, and contrast, prior to demonstrating the basic techniques of creating collage. The students then selected materials from a table filled with supplies. They then began creating their own individual works of art.
The grant also enabled each student to receive a zippered portfolio in which to collect and protect their artwork throughout the year. Bell stated, “These portfolios will also be used for a future art show and may help students prepare for admission to art or graphic design programs. Often such programs require a portfolio as part of the application process.”
Another member of the program is Michelle Daschka, a former Chester High School student. Daschka is the current President of the Mississippi Valley Art Guild. Michelle said, “Art is a key component of brain development. Many of us have fond memories of the skills and friendships built in Pauline Paetzhold’s art classroom at CHS”.
Paetzhold, better known to everyone at CHS and the community of Chester as “Teach”, helped students develop artistic skills and lasting friendships. We hope that this new collaborative effort will bring a creative spark to our community!
Carolyn Schwent commented regarding the grant, “The Beta Delta Chapter of the Delta Kappa Gamma Educational Society was awarded this generous stipend of $1,800.00 from the Lambda State Foundation for Educational Studies, Inc. The purpose of this stipend is to provide programs and supplies for the Chester High School Art Club members”.
Grace Kirkpatrick, is the current President of the CHS Art Club. Kirkpatrick said, “It is surreal to see this huge collection of art supplies. Last year we operated mostly with brushes and paints students brought from home. It is exciting to see how these resources will help us grow Art Club membership and skills.”
Beth Stumpe Bell noted that the 2025-26 program will feature a series of six classes to be taught by members of the Mississippi Valley Art Guild. Bell said, “We hope to be able to offer classes at least monthly, and possibly even during the summer. This fall of 2026 we may offer a program of painting the windows of Chester businesses as a fund-raising project to help fund future Art Club activities.”
The second Art Club class was held Friday February 13, 2026. It was held at the Mississippi Valley Art Guild building in downtown Chester. The focus of this class was on mixing colors, perspective and paint composition. Those in attendance created an “acrylic” art piece.
Beth Stumpe Bell was joined by Cathy Eggers, Carolyn Schwent, and Jeannie Wagner of the MVAG and the Beta Delta Chapter of the Delta Kappa Gamma Educational Society. There were 12 CHS students who attended the class including Samantha Poppens, Julia Reeves, Emily Gruenewald, Ella Jackson, Maddie Worley, Kylie Eggemeyer, Layla White, Ashlynn Young, Hannah Stueve, Grace Kirkpatrick, and Taelyn Cleland.
The March 2026 meeting of the CHS Art Club is scheduled to meet at Chester High School. The unconfirmed date is Friday March 27, after school (early dismissal).
Beth Stumpe Bell displays her “collage” that she used as a sample for Chester High School Art Club students in the first-class of the Art Club Friday January 13. Bell, a former CHS student when she was Beth Stumpe, is a facilitator for the new Art Club at CHS. Jim Beers Photo
Pictured with the brand new “Art Cart” that was purchased by the Beta Delta Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma Educational Society via the $1,800 grant from the Lambda State Foundation for Educational Studies, Inc., are (left to right) Carolyn Schwent, President of Beta Delta Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma Educational Society, Beth Stumpe Bell, Mississippi Valley Art Guild, facilitator, and Jeanne Wagner, member of the Beta Delta Chapter. The “Art Cart” is fully supplied with a wide variety of items to use with the new CHS Art Club. Jim Beers Photo
Caroln Schwent works with CHS Art Club member, Zander Thomas, at the first CHS Art Club Class. The focus of that class was to create a collage and learned the principles of Composition, Character, contrast, and put them to use in their own works. Jim Beers Photo
Chester High School Art Club Officers (left to right) Emly Gruenewald, Vice President, Taelyn Cleland, Project Manager, and Hannah Stueve, Art Director, show off the new “Art Cart” that they now use to store and transport art supplies to-and-from the dedicated art room at CHS. Jim Beers Photo
CHS Art Club members sophomore Taelan Clelland, junior, Julia Reeves, and junior, Hannah Stueve, work on creating a “collage” during the inaugural Art Club class January 13 at CHS. Jim Beers Photo
Jeanne Wagner of the Beta Delta Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma Educational Society and Beth Stumpe Bell of the Mississippi Valley Art Guild, assist Chester High School Art Club students in their first class focused on creating a collage. Jim Beers Photo
The following Chester High School members of the CHS Art Club pose for a photo Friday February 13 at the second class of that Art Club. The session was held at the Mississippi Valley Art Guild in downtown Chester and focused on mixing colors, perspective, and paint composition. Pictured with their acrylic compositions were (front row. left to right, kneeling) Samatha Poppens, Julia Reeves, Emily Gruenewald, and Ella Jackson. (Back row, left to right, standing) Ashley Garcia, Maddie Worley, Kylie Eggemeyer, Laya White, Ashlynn Young, Hannah Stueve, Grace Kirkpatrick, and Taelyn Cleland. Beth Bell Photo
Chester High School Art Club members diligently work on an acrylic art project at the Mississippi Valley Art Guild building in downtown Chester under the watchful eye of Jeanne Wagner, a volunteer facilitator of the Beta Delta Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma Educational Society. That group wrote and acquired an $1,800 grant from the Lambda State Foundation for Educational Studies, Inc. to purchase a mobile Art Cart and supplies to use in the CHS Art Club educational activities. Beth Stumpe Bell Photo
Ashlynn Young, a Chester High School Art Club member, works hard to create her acrylic project Friday February 13 at the Mississippi Valley Art Guild building in downtown Chester. The Art Guild has teamed up with the Beta Delta Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma Educational Society to utilize an $1,800 stipend from the Lambda State Foundation for Educational Studies, Inc. This stipend provides educational activities for Chester High School students who are interested in expanding their artistic skills and knowledge. Beth Stumpe Bell Photo