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A group of finishers

Posted May 01, 2015 11:00 pm

By Pete Spitler The Herald Tribune

CHESTER -- April 30 was a big day for 74 members of the Chester High School Class of 2015.

The school held a Reach Higher College Signing Day event, during which the students signed a certificate indicating their intent to pursue training and education beyond high school. Eighty-three percent of the Class of 2015 has committed to this initiative.

"Reach Higher is the First Lady's (Michelle Obama) initiative to get more kids to and through post-secondary education," said Franciene Sabens, school counselor at CHS. "Whether it's technical, college, university, whatever it might be.

"On working with that initiative with the First Lady's office, Reach Higher College Signing Day came up. They really push it as part of that initiative, to get kids - not just the seniors, but the underclassmen - inspired to really think about post-secondary education of any type or form."

Sabens said athletes signing letters-of-intent is common, but schools do not seem to do it for students who are just going on to college.

"I thought this was a perfect opportunity to do something like this," Sabens said. "To let them all really feel special about what they're doing and celebrate all of their accomplishments. That was the inspiration for the whole thing."

Nine groups, including eight college-bound, took their turn walking across the Juergen's Gymnasium floor to sign in front of friends, family and classmates. At the end of the event, the entire group was revealed to those in attendance for pictures.

"The students who are about to come through those doors represent the mission of our school, to reach higher," said Chester High School teacher Bryan Lee, who was the Master of Ceremonies for the event. "They will soon step through new doors, some will be educational institutions and some will be military barracks.

"They will leave us physically, but their spirit will remain part of the school forever. They are finishing a race that you are still running."

According to CHS Principal Tim Keefe, May 1 was the deadline for students across the nation to send in their commitment to the college or university that they will attend the following academic year.

"A lot of media attention is focused on promising athletes when they select the college of their choice and that is well-deserved," Keefe said. "We want every CHS student to receive just as much attention and have that same feeling of importance so they too can feel special about one of the biggest decisions they will ever make."

The first group to be recognized contained those who are entering the armed forces. Josh Miller (U.S. Army), Dylian Griffith (National Guard), Danny Simmons (National Guard), Savannah Jones (U.S. Navy), Nick Rinehart (U.S. Navy), James Jones (U.S. Marines), Brian Liefer (U.S. Marines) and Josh Yow (U.S. Marines) were honored for their commitment to enlist.

The second group was Sarah Liefer (Digital Photography, Art Institute of St. Louis), Makayla Macbeth (Nursing, Career Center of Southern Illinois), Dee Hohgrefe (Athletic Training, Concordia University), Peyton Lee (Education, Eureka College), Tawnie Kozora (Film Production/Youth Ministry, Greenville College), Kennedy McCormick (Youth Ministry, Lee University), Chloe Wallace (Psychology, Lee University), Madison Wofford (Elementary Education, Lincoln Christian University), Robbie Lindner (Psychology, Lindenwood University), Connor Little (Technology and Psychology, Lindenwood University) and Taylor McDaniel (Athletic Training/Physical Education, Lindenwood University).

Those attending John A. Logan College are: Justin Bert (Automotive Technology), Logan Deere (Automotive Technology), Trevor Dillman (Law Enforcement), Devon Eggers (Automotive Technology), Andrew Frazer (Law Enforcement), Shaundra Glander (Veterinarian Technology), Wyatt Ruehling (General Studies) and Aidan Savage (Criminal Justice).

Another group of students attending various colleges was next. Megan Stewart (Occupational Therapy, Maryville University), Mikayla Atchison (Pre-Dental, McKendree University), Danny Moeller (Engineering, Missouri S&T), Charles Morefield (General Studies, Morthland College), Tristen Junger (Business, St. Louis Community College - Forest Park), Mckenzi Griffith (Journalism, SEMO), Ronald Kueker (DNA Analysis, SEMO) and Mallory Westerman (Accounting, SEMO).

The next three groups all planned to attend Southwestern Illinois College for General Studies: Megan Brockmeyer, Lanie Hasemeyer, Eli Hasemeyer, Hunter Howie, Tyler Knop, Samantha Kozora, Dustin Lilley, Kara Mehrer, Anthony Morefield, Orlando Morris, Chris Williams, Brea Braun (Nursing), Paige Davitz (Science), Cody Eggemeyer (Welding), Megan Ernst (Radiology), Bayleigh Hahn (Nursing), Samantha Mathis (Early Childhood Education), Drake Middendorf (Science), Zach Poe (Law Enforcement), Brandon Sauerhage (Journalism), Daulton Stahlheber (Nursing), Brooke Straight (Business Administration), Bradley Surman (Accounting), Chase Usher (Law Enforcement) and Cody Usher (Law Enforcement).

Another group of students attending various colleges came next: Liam Canady (Biological Sciences, University of Missouri), Nick Leffler (Software and Game Development, Neumont University), Madi Kueker (Molecular Biology, Penn State), Brenden Heins (Automotive Maintenance Technology, Ranken), Jesse Phelps (Automotive Maintenance Technology, Ranken), Zhan Gao (Computer Programming, University of Illinois Springfield), Samantha Lingle (Business, University of Southern Mississippi) and Tyler James (Game Software Development, Westwood College).

Finally, the students who will be attending either SIU campus (SIU-Carbondale or SIU-Edwardsville) were recognized. Rachel Clendenin (Radiologic Sciences, SIUC), Dylan Kaspar (Psychology, SIUC), Zach Martin (Nursing, SIUC), Issiac Wingerter (Physical Therapy, SIUC), Ted Knop (Botany, SIUE) and Mckenzi Rucker (Nursing, SIUE).

"Today, we honor a group of finishers," Lee said on Thursday. "It doesn't matter where they started. Or the temporary setbacks they may have encountered. They finished and so can you."

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