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Welcome to Year 9 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.
Feedback? Email N-G/VP Jim Rossow at [email protected].
On to this week’s report …
Provided
Last Wednesday, students painted ceiling tiles that soon will be displayed around the school during the fall fun day (pictured: a tile made by Hannah Walker). Last Thursday, the Jimmy John’s food truck pulled up and sold sandwiches at discounted prices for students and faculty.
— Maegan Frye
Congratulations to Maddix Stirrett, who became the school’s all-time leading tackler with 335 tackles. He surpassed the record held by Lucas Otto (324), who would undoubtedly be proud of Maddix and his achievement. “Every time I step on the field, I think about how much this sport means to me,” Stirrett said. “I remind myself to play every game like it’s my last, because before the season started, I didn’t know if I was going to have the opportunity to play at all because of my broken hand. I think about how much my teammates next to me mean and what I’d do for them. Over my four years, I have been extremely blessed to have a supportive family who’ve shown up to every single one of my events. Every time I step onto the field, I look up in the corner of the stands and see my family, led by my dad, pointing at his chest, reminding me to play with heart.”
— Addison Yeakel
Last Wednesday, National Honor Society hosted an American Red Cross blood drive. Many students volunteered at the drive — which was open to the community — during the school day, students and staff donating enough to save up to 75 lives.
— Stephanie Garza
The school’s annual food drive started Oct. 30 and ended Tuesday. Bringing in all sorts of yummy items, students compete to see which class can supply the most. On Friday, seniors were in the lead thanks to student Alexis Corley, who brought in 61 items. With Thanksgiving around the corner, the food drive allows students to give back to their community.
— Gabby Laskowski
The cheer team met for lunch at Agave in Rantoul on Monday to kick off the upcoming basketball season.
— Tierney Moran
Last Wednesday, the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America club hosted its annual food drive called “Foods for Families.” Students collected nonperishable food items from Bement, Ivesdale and Milmine that night and sorted it all at the Bement First Christian Church afterward before celebrating with a pizza party at the school. Pictured: students sorting food at the church; sophomore Kole Somers sorting food; and students enjoying the pizza party after the food drive.
— Gabby Block
Leading up to Election Day, students in dual civics class prepared a mock election. It was split into various steps. Students decided the questions and races that the ballot would contain. They also determined the amount of ballots that would be necessary based on the anticipated voter turnout. Students put together candidate informational posters that pointed out the plans on tax reform, foreign policy, health care and the economy for each candidate. Also, a commercial was created by students to share information about the ballot to the rest of the school, such as how, where and when the mock election occurred, so they could vote. The class supervised their peers as they arrived at the voting tables, initialing the ballots and watching the ballot box. After the election was over, the votes were counted and the results were revealed in an announcement broadcast to the entire school.
— Sydney Creason
Centennial’s Rho Kappa (Social Studies National Honor Society) met to discuss the results of the presidential election, talking about how different states voted and how it compares to past elections. Also, students from African history class visited sites throughout Champaign-Urbana along the Champaign County African American Heritage Trail. They learned about African American contributions to our local history. Finally, the National Art Honors Society showed off their abilities by painting around 200 faces at the YMCA’s Fall Fest.
— Allison Hemming
Students had a great time dressing up for Red Ribbon Week. Dress-up days included “Country vs. City Day,” “Groutfit Day,” “Costume Day” and a day where the students just wore red! Many showed true creativity with the different outfits produced.
— Peyton Lents
For the past week, National Honor Society members gathered outside the school before the day starts to sell wire and fabric poppies in honor of Memorial Day. Organized by the chapter’s sponsors, Erin Cornelius and Veronica Thompson, the annual fundraiser benefits the organization Stop Soldier Suicide. To spread awareness for both the fundraiser and the organization as a whole, teachers are asked to play a short video about the history of the poppies and their relevance today during third-hour classes. Many choose to attach poppies to their backpacks or student IDs in support of the cause.
— Charlotte Heads
Last weekend’s Junior Carnival included a volleyball tournament, chicken noodle dinner, variety show, raffle drawings, coronation and the dance. This year’s theme was “Welcome to the Jungle,” with each high school class being assigned their own jungle animal to sport on team shirts. The volleyball tournament consisted of students, class parents and staff members. The juniors came in first place. After all of the fundraising and entertainment, students got to hype things up at the dance. Royalty Levi Crawford and Emma Williamson attended with pride.
— Grayson Strange
The FFA chapter helped out with last week’s election. On Tuesday night, they went to the Iroquois County clerk’s office after voting closed and helped carry ballot boxes, direct election officials, and hold doors open. This is one of the ways the chapter enjoys practicing their motto: “Living to serve.”
— Julia Edelman
The Black Student Union used Saturday to encourage people and give back to the community by cheering on veterans in the 5K and giving Thanksgiving food boxes to grateful families. Hosted by the Jelani Day Foundation, the Thanksgiving Food Drive allowed families to celebrate the holidays with good food and quality family time. Photos courtesy Aajaelia Darnell and Ginysia Vander-Austin.
— Nadia Gamble
National Honor Society induction took place last Monday, and the Fisher chapter welcomed eight new juniors: Alex Elwood, Addisyn Hilligoss, Ava Huls, Iain Marx, Sophie Moore, Kesiah Musick, Ashlyn Reedy and Connor Vestal. NHS gives the new inductees, as well as those who were already a part of it, opportunities to serve their community and gain valuable leadership skills.
— Emma Jent
A group of advisers and students gathered for a fundraiser in remembrance of Colson Carley from Cissna Park. Students from GCMS showed up last Thursday night to support the glow golf fundraiser. There was a $25 Amazon gift card awarded for the longest drive for boys and girls, and there was a competition for the closest putt. The golf balls handed out would light up on impact with a club or bouncing on the ground. A total of $180 was donated to the Cissna Park athletic department to go toward making uniform patches in remembrance of Colson. On Saturday, the football team dominated Sterling Newman 28-0 to advance to Saturday’s Elite Eight game against Lena-Winslow at 2 p.m.
— Anna Warren
In preparation for the school’s book fair, the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America members read to elementary school students. Pictured: Zaien Smith, Kashton White, Jedidiah Nickleson, Harlee Gustin, Ali Rivard and Madi Wilson.
— Madi Wilson
On Friday and Saturday night, the drama club put on its annual fall play in the high school auditorium. “Get Smart,” based on the popular TV series, was a big hit, as it was entertaining and provided joy for all who participated and attended. Pictured courtesy Ginger Gonzalez: Silas Yates as Maxwell Smart; Lilie Elliott as the Chief; and four seniors in the play, left to right, Addison Lewis, Taylor Page, Emma Vines and Matthew Vines.
— Macy Warner
The music boosters packed the gym Saturday with their annual craft show. Over 20 vendors sold baked goods, crafts and clothes. The show had an amazing turnout that enjoyed live entertainment put on by choir and band students while they shopped. The event also serves as an opportunity for other school organizations, like the Iroquois West Entrepreneurs, to raise money for their clubs. Photos courtesy of Carrie Miller.
— Traeh Kissack
Maestra Haegele’s Spanish 4 class visits Living Alternatives once a month. The 10 seniors — Braydon Mora, Noah Aldridge, Keaton Welch, Rachel Ondo, Colton Frye, Gloria Okeke, Braden Laird, Max Li, Mary Garza and Zach Shaefer — assist Spanish-speaking clients by facilitating communication with staff and helping them complete forms to access essential resources like diapers, clothing and wipes.
— Maggie Newell
Forty students who take choir attended the annual Youth in Harmony Festival. They learned a few songs in the barbershop style, which they then performed at the Bloomington Center of the Performing Arts. Four girls and four boys were selected to represent LeRoy. The Sweet Adeline group consisted of Addison Creech, Annie Conn, Hailey Vollmer-Fogle and Emma Wiechman. The barbershop group consisted of Thatcher Ross, Gabe Sutter, Colin Dunafin and Jase Hobson. These two groups performed at the end of the festival. Dunafin, Ross and Vollmer-Fogle were selected for the district band and choir festival. Dunafin went as a tenor, Vollmer-Fogle as a soprano and Ross as a tuba player. These three were selected through an audition hosted by the Illinois Music Education Association.
— Molly Scheuer
Senior Jenna Harmon plays the part of Henry’s third queen (of six), Jane Seymour, in this year’s fall play titled “Queens.”
— Brooklyn Dyer
On Saturday and Sunday, the Milford Play Committee performed “The Great High School Whodunnit,” an audience-participation play solving the mystery of who took the diamond ring. Students who made this play possible: (back to front, left to right) Emerson Johnson, Xavi Cintora, Zachery Moore, Peyton Cluver, Noah Brittenham, Preston Janssen, Jason Moore, Kaleb Kuester, Hannah Shelton, Sydney Seyfert, London Clark, Lillie Harris, Sophie Newman, Erica Felton, Sesilia Salinas, Anna Mann, Brycea Brown and Eliana Salinas.
— Kami Muehling
Students from kindergarten through 12th grade celebrated Veterans Day by singing songs, performing music, giving speeches and participating in trivia. Students learn about Veterans Day weeks before in order to help honor them correctly. Oakland schools invited local veterans to a breakfast followed by a fun morning full of activities.
— Carleigh Clifton
On Friday, student council hosted a blood drive in the library. A total of 23 people — a wide variety of ages — donated for a good cause. Two seniors, Natalie Johnson and Noah Carpenter, chaired the event.
— Samantha Dunavan
With fall sports ending and the transition to winter, students can be seen in the hallways wearing both coats and shorts and T-shirts. Basketball and indoor track conditioning starts next week.
— Cooper Anderson
Thanks goes out to Dr. Curt Mitchem and Anderson Dental from Champaign, and Ault and Massey Family Dentistry in Savoy for donating an abundance of toothbrushes and toothpaste to this year’s Box of Joy charity collection. Box of Joy is a way for students to make presents filled with anything from socks to toy cars for children to make their holidays more special. This year, STM was able to send over 150 boxes in partnership with Cross Catholic Outreach to kids all over the world.
— Will Devocelle
National Honor Society hosted its annual Veterans Day breakfast. Veterans were able to enjoy a breakfast with family while listening to Salt Fork High School’s chorus and Salt Fork North fifth-grade chorus students. Pictured: Brycie Hird, Callie Richardson, Alexa Jamison, Maya Smith and Anna McCollum.
— Alexa Jamison
The junior and sophomore classes had the opportunity to visit OSF and Carle hospitals in Danville. It was a great opportunity for students to learn about future career paths.
— Evy Kelsey
A new organization has been introduced this year: FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America). Club sponsor and business teacher Julia North has a background that is a helpful asset to the club, which includes more than 10 members who are interested in business, gaining leadership skills and volunteering opportunities in the community.
— Lydia Richardson
Students (left to right) Anderson Crouse, Isabel Donovan, Olivia Cordes and Madison Flexer — as well as Addison Brush (not pictured) — were awarded the 2025-26 Illinois State Scholar on behalf of the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC). They were chosen due to their exemplary college assessment examination scores and their achievements in high school. Photo courtesy Jackelyn Collins.
— Isabel Donovan
On Monday, the school district and members of the Tuscola community attended a Veterans Day assembly. It was a way to celebrate and honor the many veterans from the community and thank them for their service. Guest speaker and Tuscola alum Zachary Kibler (Navy) discussed working hard to achieve your dreams to become who you want to be. The Tuscola FFA helped set up the event and put on a breakfast for Veterans attending the assembly. Members include Carleigh Kleiss, Abbie Meyer, Zane Rennels, Jaxsyn Taylor, Keyton Lance, Cooper Wigall, Ava Whitson, Trey Waldrop, Tessa Brucker, Keller Beachy, Jayla Hochstetler, Celia Dandy and Jazmine West.
— Olivia Wallace
The Uni community celebrated Diwali with a lunch of Indian food on Friday cooked by Indian American parents of students. Main courses were butter chicken, butter paneer and chickpea curry. Each plate included various sides like samosas, paratha and rice. Pictured is Kruthi Ramanath holding up her plate and (left to right) Sarah Bijoy and Emily Dossey getting Gulab Jamun, fried dough balls soaked in syrup.
— Ivy Pullen-Heuman
The girls’ cross-country team had an outstanding season, culminating in a second-place finish at the IHSA state meet on Saturday. The team was led by Emily Decker, who placed 10th, and Mackenzie Pound, who finished 19th. The team’s success is a testament to the leadership of coach Kara Leaman, who will be inducted into the Illinois Track and Cross Country Coaches Association Hall of Fame on Jan. 11. Leaman’s coaching legacy includes leading Unity to five state championships (2015, 2017, 2021, 2022, 2023), as well as multiple top finishes with second-place results in 2016 and third-place finishes in 2018 and 2019. With a history of remarkable achievements and a bright future, the team and Leaman’s leadership remain a powerful example of the dedication, hard work and success at Unity.
— Avery Watson
The culinary arts program is getting students into the holiday season already with Crumbl cookie dupes — tasty treats that went around for everyone. Pictured: sophomores Samiia Clanton, Joshua Nyembwe and Curtis Kennedy.
— Danyla Nash
During the first day of school, students were divided into groups called houses. Each house came up with a mascot and team name. Throughout the year, the houses compete against each other to win prizes and field trips. Two of the houses, the Black Mambas and Illuminati, won a house challenge, in which they were rewarded with a roller skating field trip.
— Kirstyn Jones
The National Honor Society chapter welcomed a new group of 10 impressive juniors. The inductees met high standards of scholarship, service, leadership and character and pledged to withhold those qualities for the rest of their high school years. The inductees include Taylor Bright, Lydia Heeren, Christa Holohan, Abigail Neukomm, David Parmenter, Cara Petersen, Thayren Rigsby, Noelle Schroeder, Ainsley Urban and Kyah Westerfield.
— Maya Machev
