April 26, 2021 – Collinsville High School’s Academic Signing Day tradition was able to take place in-person for the Class of 2021 thanks to mask wearing and social distancing in the auditorium, along with other public health measures. The students, staff and families were pleased to have the opportunity to celebrate many of the academic scholarships earned by this year’s seniors.
CHS Counseling Department Co-Chair Karen Olsen coordinates the annual event that recognizes graduating seniors in the same fashion athletic scholarships are announced. The 2020 event had to be cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so last year, the Class of 2020 submitted photos to announce their colleges and scholarships. Those photos were featured in the end-of-year senior class video.
The 64 students participating in the 2021 event represented $1.9 million in academic merit scholarships from their chosen universities. Not every college-bound senior attended the signing day ceremony. The total amount of scholarships reported by by the Class of 2021 will be announced at Honors Convocation on Wednesday, May 12.
Each student invited a few family members or special guests who accompanied them on the stage for the announcement of their scholarships and future plans. Families removed their masks for the commemorative photos taken by CHS yearbook sponsor Shawn Geppert.
Click the image below to view the 2021 Academic Signing Day Photo Album:
2021 CHS Academic Signing Day Participants:
Session I:
Aguilar, Adam / Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville / Cougar Pride Scholarship, Housing Scholarship
Asbeck, Jerrica / Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville / Provost Full Tuition Scholarship
Bell, Aaliyah / University of Illinois at Chicago / Sukuma Scholars Scholarship & UIC Opportunity Scholarship
Bell, Clarissa / Southwestern Illinois College / Top 20% Full Tuition Scholarship
Bircher, Jack / University of Missouri / Mark Twain Scholarship
Boerner, Tyler / Arkansas Tech University / Board of Trustees Scholarship and University Honors Scholarship
Burchett, Holly / Lindenwood University
Chambers, Joshua / Southeast Missouri State University / Residence Life Leadership Award, Redhawks Achievement Award, Copper Dome Scholarship, College Access Partnership Award
Chandler, Sarah / Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville / Cougar Pride Scholarship, Housing Scholarship
Christopher, Jared / Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville / Cougar Pride Scholarship, Housing Scholarship
Claxton, Jeffrey / University of Nebraska / George Beadle Scholar Scholarship
Cleland, Miles / Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville / Cougar Pride Scholarship, Housing Scholarship
Cole, Shaquerria / Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville / Cougar Pride Scholarship, Johnetta Haley Scholarship, Housing Scholarship
Collins, Millicent / Northern Illinois University / NIU Merit Scholarship & Rene Lebeau Scholarship
Day, Carlei / Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville / Cougar Pride Scholarship, Housing Scholarship
Delacruz, Claudia / Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville / Cougar Pride Scholarship, Johnetta Haley Scholarship, Housing Scholarship
Deleon, Rene / Southwestern Illinois College / Top 20% Full Tuition Scholarship
Dickey, Abbigail / Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville / Cougar Pride Scholarship, Housing Scholarship
Doebber, Jessica / Maryville University / Saints Scholarship & Direct admission into their 5 year MBA program
Fairfield, Logan / Arizona State University / New American University Scholarship and Provost’s Award
Fernandez, Luis / Southwestern Illinois College / Top 20% Full Tuition Scholarship
Fisher, Kennedy / Towson University / Tiger Scholarship
Gerstenecker, Alyssa / Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville / Cougar Pride Scholarship, Housing Scholarship
Greer, Jayme / Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville / Provost Full Tuition Scholarship
Grieve, Mackenzie / Fontbonne University / Dean’s Competitive Scholarship,
Hall, Jaylnn / Missouri State University / Academic Achievement Scholarship
Hamilton, Mackenzie / Lindenwood University / Lindenwood Academic Merit Scholarship
Hay, Nathan / Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville / Cougar Pride Scholarship, Housing Scholarship
Hendricks, Anna / Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville / Provost Full Tuition Scholarship
Hoelscher, Faith / Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville / Cougar Pride Scholarship, Housing Scholarship
Hoffman, Sierra / Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville / Cougar Pride Scholarship, Johnetta Haley Scholarship, Housing Scholarship
Jones, Carstyn / University of Kansas 5 / Distinction Scholarship
Kerwin, William / Missouri University of Science and Technology / Illinois Promise Scholarship, Border County Award
Kirksey, Collin / Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville / Cougar Pride Scholarship, Housing Scholarship
Kyles, Makaela / University of Arizona / Arizona Recognition Award
Lamas, Allyson / Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville / Housing Scholarship
Lee, Jackson / Illinois College / Excellence in Education Scholarship, Heritage Award, and Ready for Success Scholarship
LeFlore, Jada / Southwestern Illinois College / Top 20% Full Tuition Scholarship
Lentz, Caroline / University of Missouri / Mark Twain Scholarship and College of Engineering Scholarship
Petty, Victoria / McKendree University / Honors Scholarship and the Daniel Kerr and Maude Alexander Scholarship
Turner, Jake / Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville / Cougar Pride Scholarship, Housing Scholarship & direct admission into Engineering Program
Session II:
Counton, Chase / University of Alabama / Out of State Academic Competitive Scholarship
Martz, Elena / Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville / Cougar Pride Scholarship, Johnetta Haley Scholarship, Housing Scholarship
McGovern, Morgan / University of Iowa / Advantage Iowa Award
Norton, Olivia / University of South Carolina / University Departmental Scholarship, Academic Scholar Merit Award, and School of Music Flute Scholarship
O’Donnell, Logan / Webster University / Gorlok Gold Academic Scholarship and Midwest Student Exchange Program Scholarship
Pettit, Hannah / Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville / Cougar Pride Scholarship, Housing Scholarship
Pfeffer, Rachel / Southwestern Illinois College 3 B Top 20% Full Tuition Scholarship
Pierce, Grace / Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville / Cougar Pride Scholarship, Housing Scholarship
Pruitt, Cadence / University of Tulsa / Tulsa Academic Scholarship
Rauk, Elizabeth / Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville / Cougar Pride Scholarship, Housing Scholarship
Rives, Kaelin / University of Kentucky / Bluegrass Spirit Scholarship & William C. Parker Scholarship
Romo, Fatima / Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville / Provost Full Tuition Scholarship
Schrage, Braden / Southwestern Illinois College / Top 20% Full Tuition Scholarship
Smith, Molly / Greenville University / Women of Leadership Merit Scholarship and a Music Scholarship
Smith, Terence / Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville / Cougar Pride Scholarship, Johnetta Haley Scholarship, Housing Scholarship
Sparks, Maddeson / Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville / Cougar Pride Scholarship, Housing Scholarship
Stahnke, Alexander / Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville / Cougar Pride Scholarship, Housing Scholarship
Stevenson, Jonathan / Southwestern Illinois College / Top 20% Full Tuition Scholarship
Stewart, Brandy / Judson University / Dean’s Scholarship, Medearis Memorial Scholarship, Women’s Bowling Scholarship
Terveer, Gage / Aurora University / Aurora University Scholarship
Thomas, Donald / University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign / Illinois Promise Award
Torres, Fatima / Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville / Cougar Pride Scholarship, Johnetta Haley Scholarship, Housing Scholarship
Wells, Colin / Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville / Cougar Pride Scholarship, Housing Scholarship