May 14, 2026
2026 CHS Signing Day honors Class of 2026 seniors (3 of 3)
76 seniors are recognized for future plans following graduation
BY JIM BEERS
4-year colleges or universities
The 46 CHS senior students going to a 4-year college or University include the following (in alphabetical order):
Columbia College (1): Annah Helvey-Ahring.
Greenville University (1): Morgan Miers.
Howard University (1): Skyla Walker.
Jefferson College (1): David August.
McKendree University (3): Gabriel Coffman, Ethan Colvis, and Jonathan Hayer.
Millikin University (1): Megan Zimmer.
Missouri Baptist University (1): Lexie Mott.
Missouri State University (1): Trevor Keeton.
Southeast Missouri University (3): Natalie Guetersloh, Southern LaChance, and Maggie Caby.
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale (9): Morgan Absher, Hayden Cartwright, Anthony Hernandez-Huert, Kylie Hicks, Rylie Myers, Kaylee Rogers, Jason Sibley, Mason Straight, and Jessica Stumpe.
Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville (2): Emily Gruenewald and Camryn Wolff.
University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana (3): Addison Gottschammer, Erin Liefer, and Elizabeth Wilson.
University of Northwestern Ohio (1): Liam Holland.
2-year colleges
John A. Logan College (3): Brenna Astin, Alexander Partin, and Brayden Tucker.
Rend Lake College (1): Reed Creason.
Southwestern Illinois College (SWIC) (11): Aaliyah Berkbuegler, Jacob Casteel, Alyssa Coffey, Caleb Coffey, Callie Davis, Lillian Diskey, Ivan Hobbs, Kylee Kempfer, Robert Myers, Madison Stauffer, and Olivia Vasquez.
Trade Schools
Renaissance Beauty School (2): Aubrey Coleman and Riley Lochhead.
Penn Foster (1): Macy Bert.
United States Military
Navy (2): Roman Carter and Derrius Shoemate.
Army (2): Luke Hobeck and Luke Kennedy.
Marines (1): Santino Decker.
Coast Guard (1): Isaac Sims.
Work Force
The following 21 CHS seniors plan to enter the work force after graduation. Lucas Chandler, Amelia Crawford, Mackenzie Deimund, Peyton Dickson, Carlos Jimenez, Franklin Jimenez, Brayden Juenger, Ryan Junger, Trayton Peters, Caleb Richmond, Jacob Shields, Konner Schroeder, Isac Smith, Jonathon, Snow, Larry Sorto, Jacob Stueve, Camden Ward, Drew Wilderman, Gavin Wilderman, Adyn Winchester, and Gage Yankey.
Gap Year
The following three CHS seniors will take a Gap Year from school to determine the path they wish take for their future endeavors. Bralynn Astin, Brayan Cates, and Sunny Jausel.
Chester High School Senior Signing Day was deemed a huge success by students and parents alike! Hats off to the CHS Class of 2026 and best of luck in all of your future endeavors!
PHOTO 17
Reed Creason will attend Rend Lake College
PHOTO 18
CHS is sending 11 students to Southwestern Illinois College (SWIC next fall including (in no particular order) Aaliyah Berkbuegler. Jacob Steel, Alyssa Casteel, Caleb Coffey, Callie Davis, Lillian Diskey, Ivan Hobbs, Kylee Kempfer, Robert Myers, Madison Stauffer, and Olivia Vasquez. Jim Beers Photo
PHOTO 19
Three Chester High School seniors will attend Trade School next fall including Macy Bert (Penn Foster), Aubrey Coleman (Renaissance Beauty School) and Riley Coleman (Renaissance Beauty School). Jim Beers Photo
PHOTO 20
Chester High School has six young men entering the United States Armed Forces after graduation. Santino Decker will enlist in the Marines. Luke Hobeck and Luke Kennedy will enlist in the Army. Roman Carter and Derrius Shoemate will enlist in the Navy. Isaac Sims will enlist in the Coast Guard. Jim Beers Photo
PHOTO 21
Skyla Walker will attend Howard University. Jim Beers Photo
PHOTO 22
This group of Chester High School seniors intend to enter the Work Force after graduation. Listed (in no particular order) are Lucas Chandler, Ameila Crawford, Mackenzie Deimund, Peyton Dickson, Carlos Jimenez, Franklin Jimenez, Brayden Juenger, Ryan Junger, Trayton Peters, and Caleb Richmond. Jim Beers Photo
PHOTO 23
This group of CHS students have chosen to enter the Work Force following graduation. Listed (in no particular order) are Jacob Shields, Konner Schroeder, Isac Smith, Jonathan Snow, Larry Sorto, Camden Ward, Drew Wilderman, Gavin Wilderman, Adyn Winchester, and Gage Yankey. Jim Beers Photo
PHOTO 24
Three students at CHS have decided to take a Gap Year off from school to decide which direction they wish to take for their future endeavors. Pictured is Brayan Cates. He is joined by Bralynn Astin and Sunny Jausel (not pictured). Jim Beers Photo