KHS recognizes 10 valedictorians for 2021
There s a lot of smart kids at Kewanee High School.
In fact, so many that this year s list of valedictorians and their achievements is longer than usual.
KHS named 10 valedictorians at last weekend s graduation and one salutatorian. The following is a synopsis of their high-performing high school achievements and where they plan to go next as they prepare for college and a career.
This year s list of KHS Class of 2021 valedictorians includes: Timothy Arzola, Ailynn Duarte, Chloe Gruszeczka, Natalie Yepsen, Ahtziri Castillo, Connor Bryan, Gabriel Johnson, Henry Burkhart, Isabella Tondreau and Layla Dev. Hannah Pratt is the salutatorian.
Kewanee High School students, staff embrace scheduling flexibility during era of COVID
The fallout from 2020 continues to affect once-regular occurring events and student activities at Kewanee High School.
Like other schools in the area, the district plans to have homecoming, prom and graduation activities but there won t be huge crowds or dancing at any of them because of continued social restrictions. KHS plans to hold its graduation activities outside for the first time since the 1980s. It is tough to keep everybody’s spirits up at this time, Dist. 229 Supt. Chris Sullens told the board earlier this week. Hopefully there is an end in sight.”
Kewanee Elks #724 present Teens of the Month
Star Courier
The Kewanee Elks #724 is pleased to announce the selection of Natalie Yepson and Timothy Arzola as the February Teens of the Month.
Natalie is the daughter of Marty And Kara Yepson. She is a senior at Kewanee High School. Her Class rank is 1 of 129. Her GPA is 4.0/4.0 scale. She has a 4 year achievement in High Honor Roll, Golf, Key Club, Student Council and National Arts Honor Society. She has a 3 year achievement in Golf All-Conference Honors. She has a 2 year achievement in National Honor Society, All-Conference Academic Golf and Musicals. She has a 1 year achievement in Class Secretary, Student Council Vice-President and Secretary, Key Club Treasure, Junior Board Member , Vice-President, National Arts Honor Society Projects Director and Sessions Planning Team, FCCLA and FCA.
Board adds new faces
Star Courier
Personnel matters first in closed session, then in open meeting occupied the Kewanee Dist. 229 board of education during its regular meeting on Tuesday at Petersen Auditorium at Kewanee High School.
The district made eight hires, accepted two resignations and approved one transfer.
All the votes were unanimous with the entire seven-member board in attendance.
The two resignations: Alexis Webster as track coach at Central Junior High and Chad Kelly as assistant wrestling coach at Kewanee High.
Three 21st Century student assistants were hired: Ryan Hansen and Paige Weida at Neponset and Keagan Anderson at Belle.
Dist. 229 uses break for upgrades
Star Courier
School Dist. 229 Supt. Chris Sullens said the winter break gave the district the opportunity to make upgrades and repairs at several of the district’s facilities, including the installation of LED lights at Petersen Auditorium that replaced illumination dating to 1956-57.
Sullens said the visitor bleachers at KHS Stadium were erected and the front entrance at Central is nearly complete.
And he reported that the renovation of the Kewanee High teachers’ lounge, the former home economics classroom, was completed. Because of social distancing restrictions, the room likely will see little use until restrictions are lifted.