Six students received top spots among Kewanee High School graduating Class of 2026 with four graduates sharing the honor of valedictorian and two graduates earning salutatorian. Kewanee High School valedictorians for the Class of 2026 are Katlyn Carton, Kendyl DeBlieck, Kalleigh Gale and Taylor Van Winkle and the salutatorians are London Pettis and Jack Wallace Robert Anderson.
Katlyn Carton is the daughter of Karyn and Randy Carton.
Her extra-curricular activities included: volleyball – 4 years, winter cheerleading – 4 years: JV captain and varsity captain, track – 1 year, band – 2 years, Key Club – 4 years, junior class board member and FFA – 4 years: historian, secretary and president.
She received the following honors: September Elks Teen of the Month, Travis Weaver Leadership Award, Gold Chapter President, State FFA Degree, Academic All-Conference, Illinois State Scholar Award, NHS Officer and Commendation of Biliteracy.
Katlyn plans on attending the University of Minnesota majoring in marketing with a minor in sports management.
Kendyl DeBlieck is the daughter of Mark and Tara DeBlieck.
Her extra-curricular activities included: volleyball, Key Club and student council.
She received the following honors: Student of the Month, Illinois State Scholar Award, National Honor Society Officer and Academic All-Conference
Kendyl plans on attending the University of Iowa as a biology major.
Kalleigh Gale is the daughter of Kraig and Dawn Gale.
Her extra-curricular activities included: softball – 4 years, cheerleading – 4 years, FFA – 4 years, student council – 4 years, volleyball – 2 years and National Honor Society – 2 years.
She received the following honors: Illinois State Scholar, 2A 2nd Team All-State Pitcher – 2024 and 2025, 2A 3rd Team All-State Pitcher – 2023, Seal of Biliteracy, Elks Teen of the Month, 2025 IL FFA State Proficiency Winner in Food Service Entrepreneurs, Top 10 Chapter President in IL FFA – 2025 and IPA Leadership Award.
Kalleigh plans on playing softball at Augustana College while studying Biology and Spanish on the pre-physician assistant track.
Taylor VanWinkle is the daughter of James and Kelly VanWinkle.
Her extra-curricular activities included: volleyball – 4 years, two years varsity captain, Key Club – 4 years, freshman board member, treasurer, secretary and president, student council – 4 years sophomore class VP, junior class president, senior executive VP, FCA – 4 years, NHS – 2 years, president and girls basketball – 2 years, one year varsity captain.
She received the following honors: Ill State Scholar, Academic All-Conference, Seal of Biliteracy, Elks Teen of the Month – February, IPA Leadership Award, Key Club Distinguished – president, secretary and treasurer, All-Conference Honorable Mention for Volleyball and Travis Weaver Leadership Award.
Taylor plans on attending Illinois State University to major in nursing.
London Pettis is the daughter of Tami Pettis and Eric Tucker.
Her extra-curricular activities include: band – 4 years, tennis – 4 years, choir – 1 semester, fall play – 1 year, contest play – 3 years and musical – 1 year.
She received the following honors: All Sectional Cast for Contest Play, Illinois State Scholar and
NHS Member – 2025.
London plans on attending Black Hawk College for an associate of science and then the University of Illinois majoring in biochemistry and a minor in music.
Jack is the son of Greg and Katie Anderson.
His extra-curricular activities included: golf team August 2022 – October 2025, co-captain from August 2022 – October 2025, marching band – 2 years, pep band – 4 years, concert band – 4 years, jazz band, spring – 4 years, jazz combo, spring – 4 years, basketball – 1 year, wrestling – 1 year, FFA – 4 years, FFA Agronomy Team – 2 years, FFA Parliamentary Procedure team – 2 years, A Leadership Team – 2 years, class president – 1 year, student council – 1 year, Key Club – 4 years, student photographer for The Kewanee Voice – 2 years and student reporter for The Kewanee Voice – 1 year.
He received the following honors: Coaches and Athletic Director Award for Golf, fall 2023, All-Conference Academic Award in Golf – fall 2024 and fall 2025, National Honor Society – March 2025 to present, FFA Greenhand Degree – May 2025, Kewanee Elks Club Student of the Month – September 2025, Illinois State Scholar, January 2026, FFA Chapter Degree, February 2026, Won 18 District Level 1 Music Awards at Solo/Ensemble contest – March 2024-2026, In the Three-Time Music Sweepstakes State Champion, 2024-2026 and FFA State Degree – June 2026.
Jack plans on attending the University of North Carolina to major in environmental biology and minor in political science.