Nineteen students received scholarships and awards at Sunday’s Wethersfield High School graduation. They are, front row from left to right: Maci Hauser, BreAnna Peed, Jzahbel Rivera, Joey Drawyer and Makenna Witte. Second row: Ava Landwehr, Wavelynn Peart and Camryn Anderson. Third row: Lilly Clark and Abigail Cabada. Fourth row: Addison Looney, Megan Oliver, and Natalie Nelson. Top row: Devon Horrie, Drew Hornback, Ayden DeValkenaere, Brian Sauer, Parker Miskinis, and Noah Feltner. [Photo by Dave Clarke]

Thirty-three seniors said farewell to Wethersfield High School Sunday as the Class of 2026 received their diplomas.

Addresses were given by Salutatorian Maci Hauser and Addison Looney. Hauser plans to attend the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University and pursue a career in investment banking. Looney will attend Black Hawk College-East Campus this fall and pursue a career in radiology.

Wethersfield Junior/Senior High School Principal Tyler Nichols, right, thanks Wethersfield 1993 graduate and current Kewanee City Councilman Tyrone Baker for being the guest speaker at this year’s graduation. [Photo by Dave Clarke]

The guest speaker was Kewanee City Councilman Tyrone Baker, a 1993 Wethersfield graduate who served 10 years on the school board. He recently retired as warden of the Illinois Department of Corrections facility in Galesburg.

Scholarships and awards were announced including:

Abby Farther “Abbytude” Award – Camryn Anderson
Andy Koehler Scholarship – Abigail Cabada
American Legion Award – Ayden DeValkenaere
Black Hawk College Presidential Scholarship – Devon Horrie, Addison Looney, and Breanna Peed
Brian P. Murphy Memorial Scholarship – Drew Hornback
Chamber of Commerce Business Award — Maci Hauser
Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizen Award – Addison Looney
DEKALB Corn Seed Accomplishment Award – Megan Oliver
Detective Sergeant James R. Mock Memorial Scholarship – Noah Feltner
Robert and Donna Dobbels Memorial Scholarship – Megan Oliver
Dr. Carol Gleich Memorial Scholarship – Wavelynn Peart
Emerit E. Baker Memorial Scholarship – Addison Looney
ISP Sergeant Floyd Blanks Memorial Scholarship – Camryn Anderson
Frank H. Craig Scholarship/Lois Gleason Memorial – Joey Drawyer, Breanna Peed
Glidden Family Scholarship – Camryn Anderson
Laurence Horler Scholarship – Devon Horrie
Jack Koepke Foundation Scholarship – Ayden DeValkenaere
John Philip Sousa Award – Noah Feltner
Kathy Beck “A Challenge for Life” Award – Makenna Witte
Kiwanis Foundation Scholarship – Camryn Anderson
Linda K. Bialobreki Scholarship – Lilly Clark
Lou Little Memorial Scholarship – Megan Oliver
Margaret Palmer Memorial Scholarship – Natalie Nelson
Masonic Lodge Scholarship – Camryn Anderson
Mike Plano’s Memorial Scholarship – Parker Miskinis
National Choral Award – Breanna Peed
Orgullo Hispano Scholarship – Jzahbel Rivera
Renee Gillespie Scholarship – Addison Looney
Rotary Academic Scholarships – Maci Hauser, Assison Looney and Makenna Witte
Rotary Vocational Scholarship – Ayden DeValkenaere
Richard Schieler Scholarship – Ava Lendwehr
Sons of the American Legion Good Citizen Award – Brian Sauer
State Bank of Toulon CBAI Scholarship – Camryn Anderson
Wethersfield FFA Alumni Scholarship – Lilly Clark, Addison Looney, Megan Oliver
Wethersfield AcademicFoundation Scholarship – Joey Drawyer
Wethersfield Education Association Awards and Scholarships – Devon Horrie, Ava Landwehr
Wilbert and Karol Keppy Memorial Scholarship – Camryn Anderson

Valedictorian Maci Hauser, left, and Salutatorian Addison Looney led Wethersfield High School’s Class of 2026. [Photo by Dave Clarke]

The Top 10% of the class included Maci Hauser, Addison Looney, Makenna Witte, Devon Horrie and Megan Oliver.

Five members of the class were named Illinois State Scholars placing them in the Top 10% of all graduating seniors in the state. They are Hauser, Looney, Lilly Clark, Raiyna Verway and Joey Drawyer.

Principal Tyler Nichols also announced that Lilly Clark and Makenna Witte, in addition to receiving their high school diplomas Sunday, will also receive their associate degrees from Black Hawk College-East Campus on Friday through the dual credit program.

Mother and grandmother were on hand, making Abigail Cabada’s graduation a three-generation event. Her mother, Jessica Nevarez, left, and grandmother Guadalupe Umani, congratulate the graduate after Sunday’s ceremony. [Photo by Dave Clarke]

He also recognized seniors Josh Cervantes, German Garcia and Carson Jermenc who received their welding certificates from Black Hawk College-East Campus.

Ava Landwehr was recognized for her enlistment in the Illinois Air National Guard.

Nichols also thanked Superintendent Dr. Andrew Brooks for his four years of service to the district, and Heidi Merrick for 15 years of service as a Special Education teacher. Dr. Brooks will be leaving June 30 to take over as superintendent of the Knoxville School District and Merrick has taken a position as instructional coach in the Knox-Warren Special Education District.