The achievements, dedication, and hard work of the Class of 2026 were celebrated Wednesday morning as Newton Community High School hosted its annual Senior Awards Ceremony in the NCHS Auditorium.
Beginning at 7:00 a.m., students, staff, family members, and community supporters gathered to recognize the accomplishments of graduating seniors in academics, leadership, athletics, fine arts, community involvement, and scholarships.
The ceremony highlighted the many ways members of the senior class have made an impact during their time at NCHS. Throughout the morning, students were called to the stage to receive scholarships and awards earned through years of dedication both inside and outside the classroom.
School officials and presenters congratulated the seniors on reaching an important milestone while encouraging them as they prepare for the next chapter of life. Whether heading to college, trade schools, military service, or directly into the workforce, the Class of 2026 was recognized for its perseverance and commitment to success.
The annual Senior Awards Ceremony serves as one of the final major events before graduation and offers an opportunity for the school and community to celebrate the accomplishments of the graduating class together.
As graduation approaches, Wednesday morning’s ceremony stood as a reminder of the talent, determination, and bright futures represented by the students of Newton Community High School.
IECC Trio Upward Bound: Eathen Florey, Chloe Sutter, Rhyc Bierman NP Payton TandyOCC Brianna ZwillingWabash Valley College Laura GentryLakeland College: Drake Wolf, Hayden Borgic, Matthew Haskett, Isabelle Probst, Joslynn PitcherLakeland College Cameron Newkirk, Hayden Borgic, Kody Bergbower, Drake Wolf, Sienna Mitchell, Sadie IffertLakeland College: Reed TharpSUI-C Audrey ElliottEIU Alexis McNary, Chloe Sutter, Holly Farley, Karly Deckard, Jailyn Hall, Kaitlyn McGrath, Rhyc Bierman, Tieler LongEIU Alexis McNary, Holly Farley, Tieler LongEIU Holly Farley, Tieler LongEIU Chloe Sutter, Holly FarleyEIU Kelsey LefflerEIU Holly Farley, Karly DeckardAir Force Delanee ParsonsNCHS Ag Award Reed Tharp, Brock Tarr, Audrey ElliottNCHS Art Award Alex Birchfield and Alexis McNaryNCHS Automotive Johnnie Brant, Kevin VolkNCHS Business Award Dan Blankenship Joslynn PitcherNCHS English Award Sarah Will and Kelsie LefflerNCHS Family and Consumer Science Award Nichole Williams and Tieler LongNCHS Foreign Language Award Ana Naranjo Ramos (NP Gabriela Anguas EspinosaNCHS Math Award Hayden Borgic and Tim BowerNCHS Science Award Hayden Borgic and Cassy BakerNCHS Social Studies Award Delanee Parsons, Chloe Sutter, and Valerie SanguinettiNCHS BETA Club Scholarship Michael Kennedy, Jeffrey Finley, and Jailyn HallJCEA Future Educator Scholarship Jeffrey Finley, Tim Bower, Audrey Elliott, Jailyn Hall, Kelsie LefflerAmerican Red Cross Scholarship Owen Schackmann, Alex Birchfield, Sarah Will, Jailyn HallAmerican Red Cross Scholarship Sarah Will and Lucy BiermanNewton Athletic Boosters Scholarship Owen Schackmann, Hayden Borgic, Cheryl James, Layna Marshall, Lily YagerSouth Central FS Scholarship Jason Hermann Joslynn PitcherWabash Valley Service Company Scholarship Turner Tarr, Craig Shamhart, Isabelle ProbstPEO Scholarship Amy Jeffries, Shay Bennett, Jailyn HallJ & V Ochs/Marathon Matching STEM Scholarship Reed Tharp, Jason Ochs, Kylie Higgs, Victoria OchsEffingham Elks Scholarship Kaleb Kocher, Beth Probst, Sophia KidwellJasper County Republicans Scholarship Carson Barthelme, Tom Matson, Jamie Blake, Audrey ElliottDaring to Soar Scholarship Amy Jeffries, Jailyn HallMasonic Lodge 215 Scholarship Tanner Whitaker, Kaleb Kocher, Megan Miller, Jack Ping, Peyton Willenborg, Sienna Mitchell, Sadie Iffert, Lily YagerWinterrowd Masonic Scholarship Beth Probst, Alexandria TarrWhitetail Scholarship Kylie Higgs, Shay Bennett, Audrey ElliottWhitetail Scholarship AJ Pitcher, Reed Tharp, Turner TarrKyra F. Sidwell Memorial Scholarship Greg Sidwell Lily YagerSimply Mary Scholarship Leslie Meinhart, Jessica Frohning, Karly DeckardJasper Co Home and Community Education Martha Allison and Audrey ElliottJasper County Farm Bureau Kody Bergbower, Ryan Spiker, Joslynn Pitcher, Isabelle Probst, Audrey Elliott, Lee Elliott, Turner TarrJasper Co Soil and Water Conservation Turner Tarr, Lee Elliott, Audrey ElliottMichael P. Mulvey Memorial Scholarship Caleb Flasch, Kylie Higgs, Peg Mulvey, Lucy Bierman, Layna Marshall, Jailyn Hall, Lily YagerSons of the American Revolution Award Hayden Borgic and Curt QuindryChristina D. Wolf Scholarship David Wolf and Isabel MeinhartPeoples State Bank Business Scholarship Melissa Griffith and Lily YagerTeresa Hartrich Scholarship Mike Hartrich and Jailyn HallMorr Agriculture Scholarship Judy Morr and Joslynn PitcherMorr Health Care Scholarship Judy Morr and Drake WolfMorr Educational Scholarship Judy Morr and Audrey ElliottScott Scholarship Audrey ElliottRotary Scholarship Kylie Higgs and Layna MarshallTerry Herndon Scholarship Kelsie LefflerNorris Electric Scholarship Gordon McClure and Jailyn Hall Charles E Fritschle Memorial Scholarship Kaleb KocherNick Volk Scholarship Lily YagerChristine Alblinger Scholarship Kelsie LefflerBetty Hannaman Scholarship Jailyn HallSunrise Community Center – In Memory of Maxine Spitler Zoey MichlSunrise Youth Center In Memory of Babe Martin Kaleb KocherSunrise Youth Center Community Service Award Layne Marshall Ms. D Music Scholarship Shay BennettNCHS Academic Foundation Scholarships – Up to 4 years Shay Bennett, Zoey Michl, Layna Marshall, Lily Yager2025-26 Student Body President Lily YagerGavel ExchangeLily Yager and Madison Keller 2026-27 Student Body President Madison KellerMadison Keller Student Body President NCHS Principal Beth ProbstIllinois State Scholars Drake Wolf, Kody Bergbower, Owen Schackmann, Hayden Borgic, Lucy Bierman, Layna Marshall, Kylie Higgs NP Kahlin MichlNCHS Academic Foundation Awards Front Row Left to Right: Kahlyn McGrath, Lily Yager, Jailyn HAll, Laura Gentry, Kelsie Leffler, Isabelle Probst, Lucy Bierman, Sienna Mitchell, Brianna Zwilling, Layna Marshall. Second Row: Kylie Higgs, London Will, Elliott Kocher, Karly Deckard, Sadie Iffert, Joslynn Pitcher, Peyton Willenborg, Third Row Matthew Haskett, Drake Wolf, Reed Tharp, Kody Bergbower, Hayden Borgic, Chloe Sutter, Tieler Long, Isabel Meinhart.
