Vanausdoll and Hale Crowned ALAH High School Homecoming Royalty, Golf Outing and Alumni Banquet Held

By Editor | October 7, 2025 |

ALAH HOMECOMING ROYALTY. The Arthur Lovington Atwood Hammond High School held coronation this past Saturday following a busy week of activities. Pictured are flower girl Sydney Cherry, 2024 Homecoming Queen Maggie Bendict, newly crowned 2025 Homecoming Queen Karaline Vanausdoll and King Cruz Hale, and 2024 Homecoming King Maddix Stirrett.

By Marty Yeakel and Stephanie Wierman

Homecoming weekend at Arthur Lovington Atwood Hammond High School began on Thursday, October 2 with a win by the girls cross country team at Monticello, the soccer team win over Argenta-Oreana and all three volleyball teams (freshman, junior varsity and varsity) with wins over Villa Grove.

The volleyball games were followed by powder puff football with the seniors/sophomore vs the juniors/freshman.

This was followed by a modified pep rally in that the usual bonfire could not take place because it has been so dry.

Led by the ALAH cheerleaders, most of the student body then had a great time celebrating all the fall sports teams and the band with representatives from each of those entities sharing news on their seasons so far. This was followed by a dance party on the track.

Friday brought games and fun in the gym that included macho volleyball. The parade which kicked off at 2 p.m. took its usual route through town with the Marching Knights leading the way followed by each class and their respective attendants and queen and king candidates and the floats the students had worked on all week. Football, volleyball, golf, bass fishing and soccer were also represented along with some community organizations.

This was followed by a tour of the school which had the most graduates to ever attend, likely brought on by the fact that many wanted to see the school one last time before it is replaced with a new high school. Principal Steffanie Seegmiller led the group showing them the high school as it is today, answering questions and listening to stories from ‘back in the day.’

Friday night’s activities started off with the JFL cheerleaders joining in a special routine with the ALAH cheerleaders. The ALAH Marching Knights then played the National Anthem and the school song before the Knights took the field. The game was, as expected and hoped, a fairly easy one for the team which defeated Arcola/CGB 48-6. Once again the Route 133 Showdown trophy, a tradition started a few years ago between ALAH and Arcola, belongs to the Knights.

Saturday morning brought the Alumni golf outing with 16 teams participating at Kaskaskia Country Club. This outing has been successful in raising funds for the ALAH Sports Boosters and the Lucas Otto Memorial Scholarship for many years. The winners are identified in the attached photo. Arthur High School Class of ‘91 graduates Shelley Yoder Brough and Jason Yeakel have been organizing the outing for several years with help from graduates and their families including Matt McCarthy (AHS 2000) and Addison Yeakel (AHS 2025).

Saturday evening culminated with the 58th Annual Alumni banquet held at Kaskaskia Country Club. Teri Malin, co-president of the alumni association (AHS ‘71) welcomed the 80+ alumni and guests to the banquet. Ann Beals Huffman (AHS ‘52) gave the invocation which was followed by a delicious meal. Rhonda Trower, co-president (AHS ‘71) conducted the business meeting which included the election of the slate of officers for next year: Teri (Thomas) Malin and Rhonda Trower, co-presidents; Vera Jane Yoder (AHS ‘74), secretary; and Billie (Mitchell) Bernius (AHS ‘95), treasurer.

Reggie Phillips and David Reedy, both 1971 graduates of AHS were then introduced as recipients of the Alumni Hall of Fame Award. Each shared a bit about their respective careers and growing up in Arthur. Their plaques, along with all former recipients of the award, are displayed in the foyer in the high school gym.

The oldest alumni present, Barbara (Bradford) Eckstein (AHS ‘49) and the youngest, Jonathan Pate (AHS ‘2007) were introduced along with recipients of the Gene Haney Memorial Award, Rod Randall (‘71), Linda (Trower) Keiss (‘67) and Jennifer (Randall) McCormick (2000).

Honorary Alumni Award winner Ann Singer was also in attendance.

Pam Herschberger introduced the Class of 1975, celebrating 50 years of graduation from Arthur High School. Matt McCarthy introduced the Class of 2000, celebrating 25 years. Both spoke of how lucky we all were to have grown up in Arthur, all that this town has to offer and how great it is to always be a Knight!

Tom Luedke won the 50/50 raffle drawing. Teri and Rhonda thanked all those who participated and all those who donated to the Alumni Association. A rousing rendition of “Up With Old Arthur High” was also sung by alumni and guests.

The evening closed with the benediction: “May the Lord watch between me and thee, while we are absent, one from another.”

Meanwhile, back at the ALAH High School gym the announcement and coronation of the king and queen took place on Saturday evening as well. The dance began immediately following coronation on Saturday. This year’s Homecoming Court members were freshmen Abby Franklin, daughter of Jennifer Franklin and Donavan Vanausdoll, son of Corrine Chancellor and Bradley Vanausdoll; sophomores Rylie Ward, daughter of Bobbi and Daniel Ward and Colin Dixon, son of Cortnee Hack and Calvin McCollom; juniors Shelbey Grimsley, daughter of Tiffany and Justin Grimsley and Elijah Van Scyoc son of Sarah Van Scyoc.

2025 queen candidates included Kimberly Krutsinger, daughter of Anita and Mark Krutsinger, Summer Melton, daughter of Sharon Mellor and Chad Melton, Karaline Vanausdoll, daughter of Jessica and Shawn Vanausdoll, and Lily Vanda, daughter of Lori Bowerman and Scott Vanda. The 2025 king candidates were Easton Frederick, son of Wes and Christy Frederick, Cash Hale, son of Sage and Parker Hale, Cruz Hale, son of Sage and Parker Hale, and Trey Strode, son of Chrissy and Brad Carter. Cruz Hale and Karaline Vanausdoll were crowned king and queen. Flower girl was Sydney Cherry, daughter of Paige and Ryan Cherry and crown bearer was Zander Hale, son of Tristan and Dalton Hale.