January 20, 2026 Local Stories in and Around St. Joseph, Illinois

Harper finds positive outlet in music

St. Joseph-Ogden sophomore Lauren Harper loves to sing.

That is why she loves the choir.


“It’s basically the time where I get to de-stress and do what I love,” she said. “I also love the people there.”


Harper was named Fine Arts Student of the Month and was nominated by band director Chuck Hess.


Hess said Harper is a team-player.


“She always exhibits a great attitude,” he said.


Harper said she is looking into attending Illinois State University where she plans on studying music or becoming a theater director for high school programs.


Harper said being a fine arts student at SJO is great because of the family atmosphere.


“I cannot stress enough how much of a family we are,” she said. “We all support and lift each other up.”


Harper only joined the band this year, which she said was an adjustment.
“Entering a program in the middle of your high school career is hard,” she said. “I’ve been in fine arts before but never high school band. It has been a struggle getting used to it, but so worth it.”


Harper said she was honored to be chosen as Fine Arts Student of the Month during her first year in band.


“It feels awesome knowing that I have made a positive impact,” she said.

in Schools
Banner
Related Posts

St. Joseph Middle School 6th grade high honor roll

June 7, 2023

June 7, 2023

LAST NAME FIRST NAME Barbee Charlene Bewley Reid Blunier Brady Buckley Nora Buhs Ella Chahine Sophia Christians Charlotte Clark Grant...

Prairieview-Ogden first quarter 7th and 8th grade honor roll

October 21, 2024

October 21, 2024

Highest Honors (GPA greater than or equal to 3.7) Sydney Abernathy Reagan Blakey Allie Bott Chloe Bressner Ava Buhr Kolbie...

SJO third-quarter high honor roll

March 30, 2022

March 30, 2022

FreshmenBeckett, EJBenoit, AudreyBesson, WillBonny, SarahBrown, LandonClampitt, MadisonDavenport, AerolynDietiker, EllaDitchfield, LukeEnnis, JacksonFranzen, SavannaFunk, AddisonGerdes, TaytonGetty, OliviaHamilton, MakennahHarris, LaurenHesterberg, HaleyHouston, MaebreeKearney, SaraKindle,...

Live at SJO school board, January 23, 2023

January 23, 2023

January 23, 2023

I am here until 8 p.m cause Matt has to go back into work. They are discussing sports field placement...

Heritage marching band modifies season

July 15, 2020

July 15, 2020

The Heritage Performing Arts department announced that their marching band season has been canceled. Band Director Justin Lee said that...

SJO Third Quarter Honor Roll

March 30, 2021

March 30, 2021

FreshmenArmstrong, AdenBott, MyaBuss, TylerDenhart, GarrettFrasca, JosephHayes, JayciLannert, LaurenMaroon, CarsonMcBride, SethMcMahon, ShannonSantiago, DanielWard, ElissiaWilson, Spencer SophomoresActon, AlyssaAlwes, CanyonBurch, TaylorCarter, PaytonChatterton, GwenCollins,...

National Honor Society inducts new members

April 23, 2019

April 23, 2019

On April 22 the St. Joseph-Ogden High School National Honor Society inducted 20 new members. Those students include: Isabelle Brooks,...

SJO seniors earn $2 million in scholarships

June 14, 2019

June 14, 2019

The senior class at St. Joseph-Ogden High School received $2 million in scholarship money. Principal Gary Page told the Board...

Live at Heritage High School Board March 15, 2021

March 15, 2021

March 15, 2021

I am here at Heritage School Board. My dog ate my computer charger so I’m on chromebook instead of my...

Maxey to step aside, but ‘SJO is a better place’ because of former SRO’s role at school

August 15, 2019

August 15, 2019

Alicia Maxey, like many other high school students, didn’t exactly know what she wanted her future job to entail when...

St. Joseph Middle School 8th grade honor roll

June 7, 2023

June 7, 2023

LAST NAME FIRST NAME Albrecht Samuel Barbee Zhou Canamore Willis Ditchfield Nickolas Ennis Jameson Gaines Leah Garrett Elijah Graham Skyler...

Senior Homecoming Court Spotlight… Bailey Dowling

September 27, 2019

September 27, 2019

St. Joseph-Ogden Senior Bailey Dowling is honored to be on the Homecoming Court. “It’s pretty cool being on homecoming court...

Heritage Junior High Honor Roll

March 26, 2019

March 26, 2019

Heritage Junior High has compiled the list of honor roll students for the second quarter. A student must have a...

Live at SJO school board, Oct. 24, 2022

October 24, 2022

October 24, 2022

It’s the special education department and me here at the school board. They are doing a curriculum review. (I seriously...

SJO 2022-2023 2nd Quarter Honor Roll

January 13, 2023

January 13, 2023

FRESHMANBell, AdalynCarlson, WilliamClark, WadeCrozier, CadeCruz, AdreonaDaly, NathanDwyer, CalebEricksen, KatherineFranklin, WilliamFrick, LandonHaley, WilliamHayes, CoyHood, BryannaHouchens, BrysonMcComas, VancePreston, GraceRay, GrahamRetz, LanceSanders, EthanSexton,...

Comments
Leave a Reply