August 11, 2026 Local Stories in and Around St. Joseph, Illinois

Opening address by Indira Robinson

Hello, it is my pleasure to be able to welcome staff, family, and friends to the Saint Joseph-Ogden class of 2021 commencement ceremony.

Whether you are here in-person or tuning in virtually, thank you all for being here to support us. I know that we never could have predicted our senior year to turn out this way, however, I am thankful that we were able to end our senior year together and to be in a somewhat normal graduation ceremony today.


It may be easy to recognize what we have lost but our struggles do not define who we are. Us being here today has proved how we have been able overcome the struggles of the past year and while I hope there is nothing worse than a global pandemic in our future, there is no doubt of our ability to adapt and overcome anything that comes our way. We also can’t let the past year and a half cloud the good memories of high school either.


For me, some of those have been marching and playing music with some of my best friends, watching Evan fall down the stairs while racing down the hallways, Alec and Mr. Searby’s alien debate, and listening to Mr. Beckett singing with his karaoke machine in the hall. Each and everyone one of us have our own memories that this school has helped us create and I hope all of our future endeavors will do this for us too. Thank you again staff, community, friends, and family for your endless support and encouragement. Congratulations class of 2021.

in Schools
Banner
Related Posts

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...

SJO 3rd Quarter Honor Roll

March 30, 2022

March 30, 2022

Freshmen Allinger, OliviaAltenbaumer, JaredBarton, RylieBirt, EliBowlin, ChazBrazelton, HoldenChristians, PresleeCoffey, HaydenDewese, LaurenFrerichs, LylaGaines, KaidenGriebat, JoeGuido, MasonHauersperger, BeauJohnson, KendrickJohnson, PaigeJohnson, SethJones, DylanKrall,...

An end of an era at St. Joseph Middle School

August 11, 2021

August 11, 2021

For the first time since 1994, Chris Graham won’t be greeting St. Joseph students on the first day of school...

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, March 27, 2023

March 27, 2023

March 27, 2023

I am here at SJO tonight so you don’t have to be. I missed 30 minutes but it looks like...

‘I have always known that the community of St. Joseph values and supports its schools’

November 7, 2023

November 7, 2023

Lance Landeck knows how important its schools are to St. Joseph. That’s why he applied to be the new superintendent...

SJO hopeful to keep in-person learning through end of semester

December 9, 2020

December 9, 2020

Six staff members at St. Joseph-Ogden High School are currently in quarantine after testing positive for COVID-19 or being a...

Sign ‘em up: SJO, Wagners help recognize high school seniors during pandemic

April 17, 2020

April 17, 2020

St. Joseph-Ogden High School senior Jordan Stiverson received a surprise when he looked out his window on Tuesday. SJO Principal...

SJO HIGH HONOR ROLL SECOND QUARTER

January 11, 2021

January 11, 2021

FreshmenAllen, LoganArmstrong, AdenBaltzell, OwenBeetz, SamanthaBurkhalter, ChloeDivan, RachelEricksen, SadieFrasca, JosephFrick, AddisonGetty, GraceHaake, LoganHarper, ChloeHarris, RachelHausman, BrodyHueber, AnnabelleJacob, TannerJolley, KyaJones, HeleneKibler, ToriLewis,...

Hallett is new SRO in place at St. Joseph, PVO schools

September 10, 2019

September 10, 2019

Champaign County Sheriff’s Deputy Shawn Hallett has always held the police in high regard. “As a child, I remember having...

Live at St. Joseph-Ogden High School Board

February 27, 2023

February 27, 2023

I am here so you don’t have to be. Tonight they are discussing facilities updates. They are discussing a new...

St. Joseph Grade School to stay on hybrid schedule through end of school year

March 11, 2021

March 11, 2021

St. Joseph Grade School Superintendent Todd Pence said he is recommending the grade school and middle school keep their hybrid...

Grade school collecting items for food pantry

January 28, 2020

January 28, 2020

The students at St. Joseph Grade School are doing more than celebrating their 100th day of school—they are helping their...

SJO announces academic letter winners

September 30, 2022

September 30, 2022

Class of 2022 (Graduates) Addison Allen Tyler Altenbaumer Kailyn AndersonNicolas Anzelmo Ella Armstrong Abigail BehrensAlanna Bensyl Ella Besson Andrew BeyersBrandie...

Comments
Leave a Reply