July 18, 2025 Local Stories in and Around St. Joseph, Illinois

For Schmidt, hard work pays off

Sammi Schmidt isn’t afraid of hard work.

The future Illinois State Redbird was awarded the Gary Butler award at St. Joseph-Ogden’s graduation in May.

The award goes to the senior who improved their grade point average the most since their freshman year.

Schmidt and her friend, Kabe Schuster, had joked about winning the award but Schmidt didn’t really expect her name to be called during graduation.

“When my name was called, I was honestly floored,” she said. “I really wasn’t expecting to receive this award.”

Schmidt’s family was also floored.

“My family was so beyond proud and they always take so much pride in any achievement in my life,” Schmidt said.

Schmidt said she was proud to receive the award for her academic progress because it took hard work, dedication and focus.

“I was extremely unsatisfied with the grades I received freshman year, so I decided to change my study habits,” she said.

Schmidt said to turn her grades around she made sure to get help from teachers during class and during school hours so she could focus on other things after school.

“But schoolwork always came before anything else,” she said.

Schmidt said she worked hard and reminded herself often that every assignment was achievable.

“If these assignments weren’t plausible, they wouldn’t be assigned,” she said.

Schmidt said the best memory she has from SJO is the friendships she has made with so many different people and the relationships between the students and the staff at the high school.

“The mutual respect between teachers and myself made everyday life so much more relaxing and enjoyable,” she said.

Schmidt admitted maintaining good grades can be difficult due to the pressure she put on herself.

“If I would receive a bad grade, I would get really down on myself, because I wanted to keep my grades high all the time,” she said.

Schmidt plans to major in musical theater at ISU and, in the future, hopes to support and inspire people the way the students and staff at SJO inspired and supported her.

“I really enjoy singing and acting,” she said. “Singing is such a big part of my life and something I am extremely passionate about. I want to find a way to make a big difference through what I’m good at.”

Banner
Related Posts

Comfort Quilters honor veterans

August 8, 2019

August 8, 2019

In June, 14 veterans were awarded comfort quilts. Two more could be awarded tonight at the St. Joseph Festival by...

Daily Exercise Recommendations

April 16, 2021

April 16, 2021

By: Christie Clinic Department of Family Medicine We all know physical activity is good for our overall health, but many...

Sign ‘em up: Wagners to change locations in downtown St. Joseph

October 4, 2019

October 4, 2019

Jim and Jen Wagner want to invest in St. Joseph because the community has invested in them. “Community support is...

St. Joseph Middle School 7th grade honor roll

November 14, 2023

November 14, 2023

FIRST NAME LAST NAME Ramsay Arnold Henry Beeler Adam Bello Teagan Blacker Bailey Blakley Nora Buckley Grant Clark Logan Crider...

SJO first quarter high honor roll

November 14, 2023

November 14, 2023

Freshmen Ahart, LillianBarbee, ZhouBenoit, ZacharyBowlin, AlecBurnett, ColinClark, ElizabethCrider, AbigailDahl, HaydenDavis, IrisDitchfield, NickDowns, JustinFarber, MadisonFarney, NathanielFranzen, NolanGraham, SkylerHammond, AnnaHarbourt, MarkHarris, NicholasHess,...

St. Joseph Middle School 5th grade honor roll

November 14, 2023

November 14, 2023

FIRST NAME LAST NAME Sophia Albrecht Madison Beeler Abigail Bewley Kynleigh Blunier Connor Bowman Naomi Cavanaugh Konlee Christians Henry Cluver...

Senior Spotlight… Danie Kelso

August 5, 2019

August 5, 2019

Every week we ask a St. Joseph-Ogden senior five questions. This week we spoke to Danie Kelso. What do you...

Remembering Dawn Van Buskirk: St. Joseph resident ‘admired and loved for who she truly was’

July 27, 2021

July 27, 2021

To those that knew her, Dawn Van Buskirk always had a smile on her face. “She was a happy person...

Eye clinic aiming for March opening

January 9, 2020

January 9, 2020

2020 is the perfect year for an eye care service to open. And St. Joseph is the perfect location for...

SJO announces academic letter winners

May 17, 2021

May 17, 2021

Academic Letter Winners for the 2019-2020 Academic Year Class of 2020 (Graduates)Lindsey Aden Jenna Albrecht Michara AllenMallory Ames Kendall Ayers...

How I get it done: St. Joseph-Ogden Principal GARY PAGE

June 1, 2023

June 1, 2023

We ask local leaders to discuss their views on leadership, how they set goals and what a typical day is...

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...

St. Joseph Middle School announces 8th grade honor rolls

April 16, 2019

April 16, 2019

8th GRADE HIGH HONORS McGwire Atwood Kaytlyn Baker Olivia Baltzell Tyler Burch Ariana Chambers Maddux Carter Aiden Cromwell Zachary Dahman...

Heritage First Quarter Honor Roll

November 8, 2023

November 8, 2023

High Honors: Freshmen: Ashley Barkley, Nathan Bensyl, Lillie Bishop, Erika Bonilla, Addison Hopper, Lillian Perkins, Breanna Ploense, Clark Roland, Jayden...

Get to know Matt Walsh

April 1, 2025

April 1, 2025

Matt is running for St. Joseph Village Trustee as a Republican. What is the best thing about St. Joseph? I...

Comments
Leave a Reply