June 15, 2026 Local Stories in and Around St. Joseph, Illinois

Frisby to fly high at Illinois State

A welcome packet from Normal told St. Joseph-Ogden High School senior Justyn Frisby all he needed to know — he would be a Redbird in the fall.


“Illinois State University had been my top choice all along,” Frisby said.
“It didn’t matter where else I was accepted into.”


Frisby chose ISU because of the school’s size and the accredited business program.
.

Frisby said the school is just big enough to represent something new and exciting, while remaining small enough to give him the “small town vibes” he has known his whole life.


“I am looking forward to taking the next step and experiencing the
ups and downs that life has to offer; how I react to such a roller
coaster experience will be a testament to who I have become,” he said.


Plus, he has family in the area.


Frisby said his parents were elated with his choice.


“It was the school I talked to them about the most, it was cheaper and some of my family lives in Bloomington,” he said. “The bottom line was
that it immediately felt like home.”


Before he fully becomes a Redbird, Frisby will graduate from SJO.


Frisby will be reading a poem at SJO’s graduation on Sunday.


Graduation takes place at 3 p.m. at the high school.


Frisby, who was a defender on the SJO soccer team, said he would miss
SJO but he would take the valuable lessons he learned there with him
to college.


“I have learned to stand apart from the crowd, and to not lot other’s
perception of me mold me into the person that they want me to become,”
he said.

Frisby said he will also miss playing soccer with his teammates, the
camaraderie the sport offers and even going to practice every day.


“Becoming emotionally invested in a group of people each year is a
treasured memory of mine,” he said. “Soccer has taught me how to take criticism even when I think there is nothing left to be learned (there
always is), and how to become a better leader as I was a captain my
senior year. “

in Life
Banner
Related Posts

Kids Say

April 16, 2019

April 16, 2019

Every week we ask five students from a local school to answer a question on a worksheet. This week the...

‘No one believed in our kids and our teams more than he did’

April 24, 2024

April 24, 2024

Dan Wright loved life.  He loved his family. He loved his community.  Wright passed away on March 19 in Florida. ...

10 things you don’t know about me… Vickie Reese

July 3, 2019

July 3, 2019

Every week we ask a village resident to tell us 10 interesting things about themselves. This week we asked Vickie...

Project honoring service members to be continued

March 4, 2019

March 4, 2019

The SJO Service Member Project is being reinstated thanks to two local women. Mindy Reynolds and Lee Janusch want to...

Kids say… St. Joseph Second Grade

March 14, 2019

March 14, 2019

Every week we ask five students from a local school to answer a question on a worksheet. This week the...

Kids say…

May 27, 2019

May 27, 2019

Every week we ask five students from a local school to answer a question on a worksheet. This week the...

Talk of the Town with Superintendent Todd Pence

May 27, 2019

May 27, 2019

Every week we ask a village mayor, trustee, school administrator or board of education member three questions. This week is...

Carle now scheduling appointments for COVID-19 vaccine available to children 6 months and older

June 27, 2022

June 27, 2022

Urbana, Ill. — Carle supports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendation for children 6 months – 4...

Parkland announces 2019 Spring graduates

July 16, 2019

July 16, 2019

Parkland College announces its spring 2019 graduates. Included are those who have earned an associate’s degree or a certificate. Graduates...

‘Julie has been the backbone of this village for a long time’

December 28, 2021

December 28, 2021

Julie Hendrickson loves St. Joseph. And a piece of the small town’s footprint will soon step away from a long-time...

‘Helping them reach their potential is humbling and rewarding at the same time’

January 26, 2023

January 26, 2023

A performance today will culminate one of the most powerful artistic and personal experiences Justin Lee has had in his...

As children go back to school why is it important that they wear masks?

October 1, 2021

October 1, 2021

By: Jeanelle Murphy, DO As Covid-19 continues to thrive due to the delta variant it is more important than ever...

Where to see Fireworks

July 3, 2019

July 3, 2019

Area residents have numerous chances to see fireworks this weekend. This post is sponsored by Island Travel Group and Events....

‘Being the first of anything comes with challenges, but also a lot of opportunity’

July 13, 2021

July 13, 2021

St. Joseph Village Administrator Joseph Hackney likes challenges. “Being the first of anything comes with challenges, but also a lot...

SJO FFA holds petting zoo

February 21, 2019

February 21, 2019

An annual tradition is taking place at St. Joseph-Ogden High School today—the SJO FFA petting zoo to celebrate National FFA...

Comments
Leave a Reply