December 12, 2025 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 7th grade high honor roll

April 7, 2022

April 7, 2022

7th Grade High Honor Roll Ahart, Lillian Albrecht, Samuel Barbee, Zhou Burnett, Colin Clark, Elizabeth Crider, Abigail Dahl, Hayden Davis,...

Masks not optional in St. Joseph schools; PVO allows masks to be optional

February 7, 2022

February 7, 2022

St. Joseph-Ogden High School Superintendent Brian Brooks is asking the community for patience.In an email sent to parents Sunday, the...

SJO still waiting on property tax money

July 16, 2019

July 16, 2019

St. Joseph-Ogden High School has only received roughly $22,000 of the money it is due from Champaign County property taxes....

SJO fourth quarter honor roll

June 2, 2021

June 2, 2021

Freshmen Alewelt, EdwardAllinger, KadenArmstrong, AdenBott, MyaCarter, PaytonChahine, MayaDenhart, GarrettFrasca, JosephGoldenstein, GraceHayes, JayciMaroon, CarsonMcBride, SethSantiago, DanielWilson, SpencerWright, Mitchell Sophomores Adams, MadisonAlwes,...

Sorority gives grants to teachers

November 14, 2023

November 14, 2023

Psi Iota Xi is a National Sorority with local chapters in various midwestern states.  This philanthropic group helps people.  The...

5 questions with Mallory Wagner

April 16, 2023

April 16, 2023

Mallory Wagner plays Jay in St. Joseph-Ogden’s “The Descendents”. We asked Mallory five questions before the final show today at...

Opening address by Indira Robinson

May 18, 2021

May 18, 2021

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

SJO to stay with in-person instruction after Thanksgiving

November 16, 2020

November 16, 2020

St. Joseph-Ogden High School is going to stay with in-person instruction, Superintendent Brian Brooks announced Monday night. Last Thursday, Brooks...

Should children wear masks in school? Parents in St. Joseph weigh in

February 11, 2022

February 11, 2022

Earlier this week, St. Joseph Grade School, St. Joseph Middle School and St. Joseph-Ogden High School changed their decisions to...

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...

We the People holding one final fundraiser

April 2, 2019

April 2, 2019

There is one final chance to help the St. Joseph-Ogden We the People Civics Team fund their trip to Nationals...

St. Joseph Middle School 6th Grade High Honor Roll

November 14, 2023

November 14, 2023

FIRST NAME LAST NAME Jovie Anderson Adalyn Bacon June Barnhart Elijah Bronowski Ethan Burnett Bowen Crackel Kolton Cruz Cameron Daly...

SJO High Honor Roll

January 11, 2020

January 11, 2020

FreshmenActon, AlyssaAtwood, McGwire Baker, Kaytlyn Baltzell, Olivia Carter, Maddux Casanova, Yamilka Chambers, Ariana Coursey, Cale Cromwell, Aiden Dahman, Zachary Elsbernd,...

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,...

Wentzloff brings Lurch to life in Addams Family

April 3, 2022

April 3, 2022

Lili Wentzloff knows how to portray a character with few words. She is portraying Lurch, the butler of the creepy...

Comments
Leave a Reply