Welcome to Year 7 of High School Confidential, powered by Danville Area Community College. It's an award-winning project made possible by aspiring student journalists from every corner of our circulation area. Each Thursday through April, they’ll tell us what’s happening in their hallways at news-gazette.com.
At least once a week, we’ll also hand over our Snapchat account (News-Gazette) to our correspondents for behind-the-scenes tours. Arcola's Katrina Warfel will take us behind the scenes at her school's homecoming festivities on Friday.
Feedback? Email N-G/VP Jim Rossow at jrossow@news-gazette.com.
On to this week's report:
Villa Grove students vie to catch pink beads thrown by cheerleader Maci Clodfelder during this week’s Fight Like A Blue Devil assembly at the high school. The annual fundraiser for the Mills Breast Cancer Institute — held in the memory of DeDe Eversole, who passed away from breast cancer in June 2016 — raised $4,277.13.
COVER STORY:
Villa Grove students vie to catch pink beads thrown by cheerleader Maci Clodfelder during Tuesday’s Fight Like A Blue Devil assembly at the high school. The annual fundraiser for the Mills Breast Cancer Institute — held in the memory of DeDe Eversole, who passed away from breast cancer in June 2016 — raised $4,277.13.
ALAH
Kaden Feagin and Ava Binion were named homecoming king and queen. Candidates also included Alisha Fredrick and Parker Dick, Reagan Bowles and Wyatt Hilgoss and Ashley Seegmiller and Brady Moore. Coronation was held during Saturday's dance, Feagin and Binion sharing the first dance.
— Jacob Adcock
Arcola
The girls' basketball team unboxed their new basketball shoes donated by the Monahans of Arcola. This season marks 50 years of girls' basketball at Arcola. Senior point guard Eva Hopkins said, “being able to be a part of the 50th-year anniversary team is really special.” Pictured, left to right: (back row) coach Travis Wisman, Hopkins, Jacey Kessler, Makenzie Thomas, Emma Vazquez, Ema Simpson and coach Corey Roberts; (front row) Shelby McGeehon, Reyli Vega, Vanessa Condarco, Kelsey Moore, Crystal Ramirez and Kiera Leal; freshmen Simpson and Leal; and seniors Condarco and Vega.
— Karina Warfel
Armstrong
For the first time since before COVID-19, the school brought back Student of the Month and also added Teacher of the Month and Character of the Month. Students recognized for August and September were Gavin Lomax and Kollin Asbury, and Nathan Gayheart was the teacher. Character of the Month winners were Kalie Hardwick and Aiden Blackford. The character trait was respect.
— Gigi Mulvaney
Bement
Yearbook Club held a raffle for a free yearbook. For students to enter, they had to dress up for one of the days. Pictured: Alexis Land and Bradly Frazee on Hat Day.
— Emily Parrish
BHRA
A Disney-themed homecoming week had outstanding participation and included hallways decorated by the students to fit their class themes, dress-up days and homeroom games. The week ended with the crowning of king and queen, Owen Miller and Natalie Clapp. It was made possible by the hard work of the staff, especially Kami Russel and her student council kids.
— Cody Drake
Blue Ridge
STEM Club celebrated Halloween with the annual STEM Club Spooktacular event, where the members are encouraged to dress up and parents can bring their kids to get hands-on with “spooky” science. The event is put on each year to raising money for the club and interest in science. It takes place in three classrooms where each group spends 15 minutes: 1. The tech room, hosted by Lauren Villwock, where kids see who can drive a robotic car past the most haunted houses in the shortest amount of time; 2. the chemistry room, hosted by Cullen Scurlock, where hands appear to be set on fire and participants make “monster slime;" and 3. the biology room, hosted by Corissa Small. In the biology room, where students have to solve the mystery of who trashed Small’s classroom by looking at a series of clues and comparing them to four suspects.
— Cadin Dozier
Centennial
Last weekend, students took part in set construction for "Clue," which takes the stage Nov. 16. Students spent hours painting, moving platforms and adding details for the play.
— Elena Reifsteck
Cerro Gordo
Around 30 middle school students volunteered to help set up a community charity garage sale at Church of the Brethren, which raised more than $5,000 for families in need. Students of the Month for September: Clark Foss (sixth grade), Knox Shackleford (seventh), Jillian Durbin (eighth) and Tyler Barnes (high school). Literature teacher Vicky Gilpin is holding a play this year called "Makin’ It," which will feature both students and staff. The play covers long-standing, relevant topics such as bullying, peer pressure, generational and family conflict, the concept of changing oneself for others and the importance of friendship. The play will take place Nov. 4-5.
— Hannah Copeland
Champaign Central
On Oct. 4, Spanish Club held its second annual hot sauce tasting competition, inspired by the celebrity interview show "Hot Ones." The tasting was held in Central’s commons area. While trying the sauces was reserved for club members and faculty, all were free to spectate the two rounds of tasting, ask competitors any burning questions they had, and help themselves to chips with salsa and homemade queso. The sauces tried were from Season 19 of Hot Ones, and boasted Scoville ratings from 1,800 shus to 642,000 shus. Though the spiciness reached tongue-sizzling heights, the competitors proved that they could handle the heat. Pictured: the charming and hilarious host for Round 2 of the competition, student Robert Russell; the hot sauces tried; student observer Andrea Czart; science teacher Daniel Reid, trying to recover after Round 1; freshmen Kara Ficek (left) and Alice Bell (right); Spanish teacher Caitlyn Vanderbeek braving a smile during the heat of the competition; English teacher June Choi trying the very last hot sauce; and student Alfonzo Edwards showing off the hot sauce he brought to “spice up” the competition.
— Janani Pattabi
Chrisman
The school's EcoTeam attended the 45th Annual EcoMeet at Lake Shelbyville, finishing in second place after a day full of tests. Pictured: Landes Strange, Ali Prisecaru, Autumn Baker and Ellie Lorton.
— Reese Anderson
Cissna Park
FFA students went to National Dairy Judging in Wisconsin last Monday and Tuesday, had their auction collection Wednesday and a leadership conference on Thursday.
— Mikayla Knake
Danville
Homecoming Week was full of fun events, starting with a pep rally where O'Shawn Jones Winslow and Mariyah Brown were named king and queen. Thursday's spirit night included limbo, a girls' powderpuff game and tug-o-war between classes. Seniors and sophomores won the powderpuff game, and juniors won tug-o-war. The Vikings won Friday's football game against Champaign Central, 41-6. The theme for Saturday's homecoming dance was "Lost in Wonderland" and enjoyed by all.
— Josie Hotsinpiller
DeLand-Weldon
At last week's Fall Festival, parents and students played games, painted pumpkins, won prizes, met with teachers and gathered as a community. Pictured: Emma and Jacob Barton.
— Abigail Trimble
Fisher
Students last week spent an 11:30 day picking different activities to participate in, like hiking, balloon-twisting, painting, cooking, an escape room, handball and more. Teachers came up with the activities, and students decided which ones to take, making it a fun change of pace from a normal school day. Pictured: Students were led on a hiking trip by Cody Moody, Jake Chittick and Tom Cravens; math teacher Daniel Lyman showing student Dylan Zwilling how to make a balloon animal; and students Aiden Cheek and Bradon Eby cooking meatballs.
— Emma McFarling
Georgetown-Ridge Farm
Volleyball celebrated Senior Night, the varsity going out in style with a win against visiting Schlarman. Pictured, left to right: Jasmine Ray (J-Money), J’Lynn Waltz (J Murda) and Makaelyn Lagacy (Mak Daddy) and later celebrating with coach Kim Frazier.
— Izabella Wills
Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley
Band, cheerleading, football, golf, soccer, tennis and volleyball recognized seniors as their seasons were wrapping up, as the community celebrated members of the Class of 2023 in different ways.
— Katie Steidinger
Heritage
Last Wednesday, FFA students made harvest lunches (pork chop sandwiches, chips and a dessert) for farmers and workers at the Homer elevator. FFA adviser Emilee Sorensen accompanied officers Paige George, Gwen Happ, Brennan Struck, Loran Tate and Hunter Montgomery, as well as FFA members Olivia Wallace, Rylan White, Gracie Tate and Katelyn Learned.
— Katelyn Learned
Hoopeston Area
Homecoming week included a bonfire, pep assembly, coronation, football game (the Cornjerkers won) and dance. Pictured: Waylon Lee (king) and Lacie Breymeyer (queen) stand alongside the court (Logan Watson, Meghan Simpson, Emma Rayls, Cameron Zorns, Gabriel Joneikes and Grant Morgan).
— Emma Rayls
Iroquois West
On Friday, students were able to participate in an incentive day. Not only was guest speaker Clay Harbor a huge hit with students and staff, but the fall-themed activities went over well, too. Pictured, left to right: Kristy Arie, Harbor and Erin Smith (photo-bombed by Robert Rhodes). Smith helped land Harbor, a Dwight High graduate who went on to play in the NFL and make appearances on TV shows like The Bachelorette and Bachelor In Paradise.
— Calli Kraft
Judah Christian
Last Thursday's ceremony inducting this year's National Honor Society members included seven juniors (Elise Coulter, Klementine Davis, Josh Frederick, Grant Ipsen, Hannah Jackson, Grace Maxwell and Toby Tschetter) and six seniors (Grace Garrison, Bethany Jackson, Joey Limentato, Daryl Okeke, Caleb Yant and Tucker Yasunaga). The ceremony was run by NHS adviser Marlene Behrends and past inductees Grace Bailey, Connor Cox and Owen Jones.
— Bethany Jackson
LeRoy
Recently, students have noticed tape sculptures placed around the school. It's a project completed by eighth-grade art students called "Start Seeing Tape Sculptures," led by art teacher Meredith Little. It's based on the work of artist Mark Jenkins, in which students create life-size sculptures using tape, paper and scissors, using their own bodies as models. The idea: encourage students outside of the art programs to have a look into what art students have been up to. Pictured: "SpiderMan" by Dalton Wittenberg, Truett Dotson and Dane Harden in a high school stairwell; "Don’t Do What You See Online" by Megan Ashenbremer, Megan Lindsey and Aleah Prospal at a high school ramp. Photos courtesy Kim Wohlwend.
— Lily Monigold
Mahomet-Seymour
The Marching Bulldogs traveled to Effingham last weekend for their second competition of the season. After bringing home the Class 5A title as well as grand champion at Mount Zion, the band won Class 5A and finished second out of 25 bands. On tap: a trip to Lincoln Way High School next weekend with the UI to follow. Photo courtesy Ryken Kirby.
— Madelyn Grindley
Milford
During homecoming week, students participated in dress-up days (PJs, neon, glam, surfers vs. bikers) that were decided on by cheerleaders, who picked the “best dressed” each day. For class colors, freshmen were green, sophomores white, juniors red and seniors blue.
— Maddie Hardwick
Oakwood
Injuries to quarterbacks Dalton Hobick and backup Jackson Dudley as well as standout senior Luke Wallace are testing the Comets in football, but spirits remain high.
— Kalie Tison
Paxton-Buckley-Loda
The cross-country team, coached by Dustin Franckey, made an early morning bus ride for Saturday's Pontiac/Prairie Central meet.
— Kate Wilson
Rantoul
St. Joseph-Ogden
Advisory Mentoring Program leaders Shayne Immke, Addison Roesch, Kyle Meccoli, Maddux Carter, Tanner Jacob and Alyssa Acton played a Kahoot with freshmen students. Advisory Mentoring Program is a program in which upperclassmen leaders advise and help younger students with academic goals and everyday life skills.
— Alyssa Acton
St. Thomas More
Students took a bus to OSF Healthcare Heart of Mary Medical Center to help at their celebration of 100 years of service in Champaign-Urbana. The students waited tables and served guests during the luncheon. Pictured, left to right: (front) Kate McMillan, José Andino Guerra, Jasmine Waite, Jenna Purnell, Anthony Hoffman, Sister Judith Ann Duvall, Kambyl Stipes, Natalia Andino Guerra, Celie Leibach, Emily Herges and Christiana Pembele; (back right) Father Andru O’Brien.
— José Andino Guerra
Salt Fork
Homecoming week was a blast, thanks to student council leader Sara Wochner. From Games Day to the town parade to the dance itself, everyone found something to enjoy. Seniors Reef Pacot and Karlie Cain were named king and queen. Attendants included freshmen Addie Earles and Ian Church, sophomores Callaway Cox and Jamison Remole and juniors Ava Marrow and Evan Hageman. The rest of the homecoming court: seniors Kendyl Hurt and Garrett Taylor, Derrek Richards and Shelby McGee, Kailey Frishcorn and Ethan Davis and Brylie Smith and Nathen Kirby.
— Macie Russell
Schlarman
The school celebrated Senior Night for girls' tennis (Karlee Belton, Lilli Perez and Madison Watson) on Oct. 5 and Senior Day for football players (Chris Brown and CJ Lucky) and cheerleaders (Makayla Blurton, Karlee Belton, Ella Dixon, Perez and Natalie Vasquez) on Oct. 8.
— Lilli Perez
Shiloh
To celebrate National Yearbook Week, teachers put their yearbooks in a display case and copied a page from their own yearbooks to put around our halls. The yearbook staff is doing a great job with the help of teachers Kendra Saddoris and Julia North.
— Lydia Richardson
Tuscola
Pep band had the opportunity to perform alongside Eastern Illinois’ marching band at last weekend’s football game in Charleston.
— Kaleb Jeffers
Uni High
Audiences enjoyed the romantic mischief and buffoonery in William Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing," performed Thursday through Saturday at the school's theater. Saturday saw more than 250 high school students descend upon the Champaign Country Club for homecoming. The dance was highlighted by the most delightful selection of drinks, light desserts and sweat stains. The chaperones cringed at the music selection and lack of dancing ability and escaped to watch the Illini-Iowa football game on a laptop. Meanwhile, mosh pits formed multiple times, creating toxic clouds of body odor that blanketed the dance floor.
— Wes Lu
Unity
Homecoming week included dress-up days, float-building, gym-decorating, winning a football game, crowning a king and queen and a dance in our gym — the first since 2019. Pictured: the homecoming court, including queen Kara Young and king Hunter Duncan; class floats (freshmen fourth, sophomores third, seniors second and juniors first); and student council members before cleaning up their hours of decorating after Saturday night's dance.
— Jolie Meyer
Urbana
The school's a cappella group took a field trip to the University of Illinois School of Music to work on their skills with fellow students of music and professors. Pictured: The group conducts vocal warmups with the UI's Sarah Wigley; Jaiden Burgess, Angel Valadez and Mia Fragoso; Kaila Juday, Cecelia Birdsley, Addy Rund and Leo Dougan.
— Jennifer Arriaga-Lopez
Villa Grove
FFA students host a first-of-its-kind Ag Field Day for the entire school, offering hayrides, pumpkin pie, a petting zoo and a pumpkin launcher.
— Emma Bratten-Noice
