April 21, 2025 Local Stories in and Around St. Joseph, Illinois

Ingram to fly high as a Redbird

Kalli Ingram had a simple audition for the Illinois State University Dance Team.


Ingram was in Washington D.C for the We the People Contest during the audition process.


So instead of dancing in person, she sent a video.


“I was really shocked and excited when I found out I made the team,” she said. “We were on our way back to the hotel on the bus in DC when I found on via Facebook and I honestly couldn’t believe it. Abby Schlueter actually tackled me from across the aisle in congratulations.”


Ingram said she has many great memories from dancing for the St. Joseph-Ogden dance team as well as dancing with Gallo Dance Studio from going to state with the SJO team to the yearly Gallo pool party.


“I have learned how to be a teammate and how it’s okay to rely on others occasionally to help you through almost anything,” she said. “I love the bonds you form and the people you get to meet along the way as well as expressing myself in a way that doesn’t involve talking.”


Ingram said most people assume that dance is easy and that is not the case.

“It is so much more than just moving your body to music,” she said. “You have to be able to memorize the steps and have to be flexible enough to complete them.”


Ingram has danced for 16 years.


“I really couldn’t see myself stopping now,” she said.


In addition to dance, Ingram will be focusing on her academics at ISU.


Ingram chose to attend ISU in the fall because she enjoyed the campus and it was close to home.


She plans on majoring in chemistry with a focus on forensic chemistry.

“I want to hopefully be working for a crime lab somewhere and solving crimes,” she said. “My ultimate goal would be to work for the FBI.”

in People
Banner
Related Posts

Senior Spotlight: Libby Rowland

May 13, 2019

May 13, 2019

Leading up to graduation, we asked five seniors five questions. First up is senior Libby Rowland. What will you be...

Senior Spotlight… Drew Coursey

July 17, 2019

July 17, 2019

Every week we ask a St. Joseph-Ogden senior five questions. This week we spoke to Drew Coursey. This post is...

Wagle reaches out of her comfort zone

April 3, 2022

April 3, 2022

Alayna Wagle loves Halloween. So the Addams Family spooky motif is right up her alley. “I was pretty familiar with...

Always Looking to Give Back: Short honored for volunteerism

June 7, 2022

June 7, 2022

Tim Short wants to inspire the younger generations. Short, who was honored with the SJO Friend of Education Award this...

Senior spotlight: Chloe Duckett

May 16, 2019

May 16, 2019

Leading up to graduation, we asked five seniors five questions. Next up is Chloe Duckett! What will you be doing...

Plotner to be honored with scholarship

January 22, 2019

January 22, 2019

Mary Derenne decided to start the new year right. Even though she had been thinking about it for a few...

10 things you don’t know about me… Cindy Berry-Rajlich

September 11, 2019

September 11, 2019

Every week we ask an area resident to give us 10 facts about themselves. This week we talked to Cindy...

Kids say

July 19, 2019

July 19, 2019

Second graders from PVO South tell us if they would like to be a farmer. This post is sponsored by...

Upcoming SJO graduate Lewis ‘excited’ to take next step at University of Kentucky

May 16, 2019

May 16, 2019

Hannah Lewis always wanted to go to college out of state. She traveled to Alabama and Florida trying to find...

Booker to be honored tonight at fire station

October 12, 2023

October 12, 2023

When Ross Booker was 10 years old he went with his mother, Marita, to volunteer with their church group at...

10 things you don’t know about me… Tammie Mabry

May 8, 2019

May 8, 2019

In honor of teacher appreciation week we asked one of our favorite teachers to tell us 10 things we didn’t...

Kids say…Would you like to be a farmer? Why or why not?

October 22, 2019

October 22, 2019

Every week we ask area students questions about being a farmer. This week we spoke to kids at PVO South....

Senior Spotlight… Hannah Rajlich

June 18, 2019

June 18, 2019

Every week we ask an SJO senior five questions. This week we talked to Hannah Rajlich. This post is sponsored...

Why is it important to keep your blood pressure under control?

April 9, 2021

April 9, 2021

By: Christie Clinic Department of Family Medicine What are some signs of high blood pressure and why is it important to...

10 things you don’t know about me… Pastor Kim Dancey from Homer UMC

August 23, 2019

August 23, 2019

I am a friend and follower of Jesus and live in the wonder of his grace. I’ve been married to...

Comments
Leave a Reply