The Echo is a monthly publication of the newspaper staff of Webster Groves High School, 100 Selma Ave., Webster Groves, MO.
To contact staff members, call 314-963-6400 ex. 11157 or write to wgecho@wgmail.org.
Unsigned editorials are the opinion of a majority of staff members; signed articles are the opinion of the writer.
Letters to the editor of 300 words or less are welcome; submit letters by the 10th of the month to wgecho@wgmail.org, or room 155. All letters must be signed, although the name may be withheld from publication if requested. The Echo has the right to
Annual Jim Schoemehl run coordinated by students
Women’s lacrosse season begins
Varsity baseball welcomes new head coach
Webster, Kirkwood High Schools unite for fashion show
New club celebrates students with Hispanic heritage
Statesmen Coffee Hour Showcase aims to connect students with senior citizens
Theater department puts on ‘Urinetown’ for spring musical on
main stage
WGHS Film Club prepares for film festival
Special Olympics preparation begins
English teacher to become Echo advisor
Review: ‘One Battle After Another’ sweeps at Oscars
Chelsea Center offers summer experiences
Students, staff remember custodian Keith Chatman
Word search
Cover cutline: Cover made in Canva 8-9
Annual Jim Schoemehl Run coordinated by students
Lucy Fish Contributing Writer
Students help host the Jim Schoemehl Run to fight against ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. The run is set to take place on May 2, starting outside of Roberts Gym.
The run was created by a former student when a teacher’s husband, Jim Schoemehl, was diagnosed with ALS. Schoemehl passed away in 2003, but his legacy continues on through the annual run, raising money to help families with members affected by ALS. This year, the beneficiaries for the run are Emily Khan and Dave Komor, who are both battling ALS.
Emily Khan, a Nerinx Hall alum, was diagnosed with ALS in December 2024. Dave Komor, a CBC alum, was diagnosed with ALS in February of 2025. The money raised from the Jim Schoemehl Run is distributed to the beneficiaries and their families, to help support the financial needs that ALS has.
Offering 5k and 10k options, the run is designed to bring awareness to ALS while helping families who have members with ALS. While running is not required, the marketing class still has ways for people to support, such as volunteering to help with race-day necessities or donating to help the sponsored families and the ALS Association.
Students in the marketing class were given different positions to help coordinate the run. Some positions are Social Media, Promotions, WGSD Promotions, Website Curator, etc. Senior Owen Hartwig has the position of Co-Chairperson, along with senior Brig MacMullan.
Hartwig explained what his job entails and what he has to do to successfully coordinate the run.
“We plan the run after our experiential trip to New York. Through the ALS Association, there are individuals in the community who have been affected by ALS, and we get in contact with them to help them along their journey. From there, we run for a spot on the board for a run, and once we have been given a
position, we start fulfilling our duties where we oversee all operations of the run and are in charge of effectively communicating with the beneficiaries and monitoring our peers to make sure they are doing things to benefit the run, as well as ensuring that the run will go smoothly on the day of,” Hartwig said.
Hartwig added if students do not or can not run, volunteering to help on the day of the run, donating or engaging with and sharing social media posts about the run are also encouraged and helpful.
Senior Elliot Blew, working as the VP of race day operations, said they use Jim Schoemehl Run’s from the past to understand how it has been planned previously, and that they talk to people who were part of previous runs to see what worked well and what didn’t work. Blew also explained the purpose of her role, and what she does to help have the run move smoothly.
“My job is to coordinate with city hall to make sure the permit for the run is approved, communicate with families if their houses are on the race course, arrange for cones to be dropped off, etc. Most of my role is arranging things for the actual race day. And of course spreading awareness about ALS, our beneficiaries, and the run,” Blew said.
Blew shared that each marketing class period they’ve had has been strictly for the Jim Schoemehl Run, explaining that there are so many parts of the run that have to be coordinated and arranged so the students will work up until race day to guarantee everything planned goes correctly.
Runners begin the 16th annual Jim Schoemehl Run for ALS on Saturday, May 6, 2017, in Webster Groves. This year the run is set to take place on Saturday, May 2.
Photo by Ashli Wagner
Women’s lacrosse team’s season starts
Edith Leslie Contributing Writer
Women’s lacrosse program, run by head coach Jeremy Winingham, has started the season off with Varsity 3-0, JV 2-0, and C team 1-1.
The Varsity captains are seniors, Elliot Blew, Sam Enlund and Ruby Toro; the JV captions are sophomore Nina Young, Lexi Drissel and Lucy Deimler; and the C team captions are freshmen Harper Corley, sophomore Leah Teague and sophomore Jayden Elliott.
Varsity’s goal this season is to “win their conference for a fourth straight year and make it to the ‘sweet 16’ bracket of the playoffs--and beyond,” Winingham said.
Senior night is also on May 1, at Moss Field, when Varsity will play Belleville West.
JV also has a goal of developing as
players, hopefully making Varsity next year.
“My lacrosse season has been going really well. I love my teammates, and my coaches are great at encouraging me,” freshman player Emily Grossenheider said.
The program also shifts away from focusing everything on winning, instead wanting members to also incorporate teambuilding and good character into everyday life outside of lacrosse.
“We always stress character above all else. We really want the players to embrace things larger than lacrosse, like community service, raising money to fight cancer, being a good teammate, etc. We want them to become well-rounded, young members of their communities,” Winingham said.
“I’m also extremely proud that our first ever ‘Stick it to Cancer’ game raised $1,000 for the American Cancer Society,”
Winingham said.
Perseverance seems to be a theme this season, with the players persevering when they are behind in the game.
“We’ve had games where we were down by several scores, but the team never gave up and found a way to overcome,” Winingham said.
The C team is focused on player development and team building this season.
“I think we’ve done well continuing to try our best and seeing improvement every day,” Corley said
About what some of his favorite memories from the season so far looked like, Winigham said,” If I had to pick just one, I’d say ‘beating Kirkwood,’ but in all honesty, there are always several plays in every game that stand out to me.”
Alum Holly Travers runs after a Kirkwood player with possession of the lacrosse ball. The game was lost 2-13 on April 6, 2022.
Photo taken by Claire Vogl.
Sophomore first baseman Chase Sylvan and freshman centerfielder Declan Hazelton celebrate after completing an inning on April 13, against Parkway North. The final score was 15-1, resulting in a win for Webster Groves.
Varsity baseball welcomes new head coach
Karter Goskie
Contributing Writer
Varsity baseball will welcome new head coach Jacob Clark for the 2026 season. Clark is in his third year of teaching math at WGHS and was previously assistant coach for Varsity baseball.
Clark is also teaching the AMPED program, an algebra program for freshmen who want to learn math and entrepreneurship skills.
Before coaching and teaching at Webster, Clark was the coach for Staley High School in Kansas City’s freshman baseball program before he coached at Webster. He has also coached the Recruits baseball club for the past seven years, a youth baseball club based in Saint Louis, hosting children from ages eight to eighteen.
“I just hope our guys can continue to get better as the year goes on. We play an unbelievable schedule where we’re going to be challenged, you know, every time out, and it’s what can we do to be as good as we can be at the end of the year? So we’re ready for Districts,” Clark said.
At press time, Webster Groves is 6-13, coming off a 0-11 loss to 5-11 Northwest. It will face Jackson next on the 30th, at Legion Field, Jackson’s home field. Jackson will participate in the Semo Conference Tournament after facing Webster.
“I think team-wise, one of the challenges we face this season is coming together and bouncing off each other’s energy,” Freshman centerfielder Declan Hazelton said.
Webster’s biggest losses were against Lindbergh and SLUH. Both games resulted in 0-15 losses.
Last year, Webster was 10-26, losing to John Burroughs in
the second round of districts. The year before that, Webster was 21-14, making it out of Districts, into Sectionals, before losing to Willard.
Photo by Karter Goskie
Webster/Kirkwood unite for fashion
Photo by Derek Duncan
It is first-come, first-served for seating arrangements. Doors will open at 6 p.m.
Amie Shea, fashion design teacher, said the designs are based on the level of skill each student possesses. While the level one students create more intermediate designs, the advanced students have more control and free range in the designs they can make.
This year, the students made shirts that they will show off in the fashion show. The designs of the shirts will vary in appearance.
The designs will be 100% student-made designs from scratch.
Senior Lia Fairbanks has worked on two Chinese dresses that represent her heritage. She has worked on these dresses for the whole semester, and she created these pieces with the hope of bringing tradition into the modern style.
Fairbanks said, “I have always been fascinated with their style of clothing, specifically the traditional dresses, big hairstyles, and vibrant makeup.”
The fashion show celebrates students’ designs that they have worked on all semester. Shea said she loves the inclusiveness and collaboration from the teachers and students.
William McEneny Contributing Writer
Webster and Kirkwood fashion show will be Wednesday, April 29, at 6:30 p.m. in the Black Box Theater at Kirkwood High School.
The fee for students will be $5 and for the general public, $15.
Senior Sophie Robinson said, “Ms. Shea gives us enough freedom to really bring our projects to life and to create an enjoyable environment.”
Shea’s biggest pressure surrounding the event is hoping the show goes smoothly. Sometimes fashion designers make last-minute changes to their designs, which stresses Shea out because students are their own biggest critics.
However, Fairbanks doesn’t feel any pressure at all. “The show is meant to be a fun way for people to show off their creativity, so there are low standards,” she said.
Amie Shea’s students (freshmen Allie Thomson) show off their creations for the fashion show. The theme for the 2025 show was floral.
Statesmen Coffee Hour Showcase reaches out to senior citizens
Photo by Elizabeth Fox
Elena Oliveira Contributing Writer
Webster put on the Statesmen Coffee Hour Showcase on April 27, from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. in the Frick Theater.
The program was organized to give senior citizens an opportunity to understand some of the programs offered at Webster and to engage with students.
Persons ages 60+ were invited to the event, where multiple programs were featured.
Programs like FACs and the art department were included.
Jocelyn Reiss, art department head, gave a presentation as well. Reiss gave this presentation with junior Eva Davis.
Davis stated, “The goal is to explain what the art department is doing, our goals, our accomplishments to hopefully receive further funding and donations.”
Fox, organizer for the showcase, said, “We have had a lot of fun organizing the
“We want to engage with them and show them all of the amazing programs and students we have at WGHS.”
event. The Statesmen Coffee Hour is for seniors who live in the community. We want to engage with them and show them all of the amazing programs and students we have at WGHS.”
Fox also said the catering club from the FACs department made breakfast treats for the event and gave its own presentation about the department. Presentations about different departments were given.
FACs teacher Matthew Lehmann, who organized the catering, said, “The showcase will share what some of the cool things different departments are doing with community members. Catering club is excited to provide food for this event.”
New club to celebrate Hispanic heritage
John Engman Contributing Writer
Hispanic Heritage club is a new club coming for students who identify as Hispanic. This club promotes their cultural heritage through activities, research projects and more to spread awareness about Hispanic Heritage.
Founded by juniors Viviana Acevez and Luna Dilorenzo, this club plans to meet once every other Tuesday at 8 a.m. starting April 21, in room 360 with Amy Rowland in the world language hallway.
“I wanted to make the Hispanic Heritage club because in a school like Webster, where there is not a large population of Hispanic students, it is important for us to come together to create a community so that we can all share and express our cultures,” Acevez said.
The point of the club is to build awareness and appreciation for Hispanic culture. The club’s meetings are designed to highlight culture, creativity and causes that matter to the community, all in a space where students feel supported and welcomed.
“We plan to celebrate Hispanic Heritage in a few different ways: bring in successful Hispanic guest speakers to share their experiences, watch films that highlight Hispanic culture and share foods that are specific to our different backgrounds. We want to make it a point to discuss current issues affecting the
Churros may also be served in the mornings when the club meets, another way of celebrating Hispanic Heritage Picture by Foodie Flavours on Unsplash
Hispanic community and work together to decide on a fundraiser we can do to actually make an impact,” Dilorenzo said.
The club will also have special activities for holidays. “In addition, we want to hold small celebrations throughout the year for holidays that represent the diverse cultures in our community,” Acevez said.
Theater department puts on ‘Urinetown’
Lucy Fish Contributing Writer
For its spring musical, the theater department performed “Urinetown,” a satirical musical set in a dystopian future with a severe water shortage.
The musical follows the story of a revolution against the corrupt corporation controlling public restrooms using dark and satirical humor.
The dates to see “Urinetown” in the Jerry R. Knight auditorium were April 15, 16, and 17.
Senior Charlotte Snell, playing Hope Cladwell, said while she was excited for the show, she was also very nervous.
Snell said she was excited to put the show on for an audience, especially since the theater department has spent a lot of time preparing for the show to hit stages.
“I love how funny this show is, so I am really excited to see what the audience thinks of all of those funny moments. I also
am so happy that we get to have a live band. The show sounds amazing. I am, of course, always nervous just for myself about memorization of lines, but I think the show is going to be amazing and I can't wait to perform it,” Snell said.
Snell said this show has been in the works since their auditions in February, with many rehearsals to focus on the music and scene work.
“A show like this takes a lot of dedication from the cast and crew, and I think that everyone involved has really shown that,” Snell said.
Junior Eliza Thompson, playing Little Becky Two-Shoes, shared she was a bit nervous, but she knew she was prepared.
“Well, I am excited and nervous because I have a tap solo, and this is my first time tapping ever. It is definitely different from what I’ve done before because my old school did not have mics, so this is such a good upgrade for me,” Thompson said.
Thompson said the cast has rehearsed since the start of this semester, and they were able to try on their costumes finally.
Junior Myles Thompson, playing Cladwell B. Cladwell, said he felt a little overwhelmed with all the additions that were added to the runs, but the cast has been adjusting well.
Thompson said he feels more prepared for this show than he did for the previous shows he’s been in, and that the process for this show has been different than past shows.
“There has been so much prep done by everyone for this show,
by Lucy Fish
“Urinetown” cast takes the stage on Friday, April 17, the final main stage
Senior Charlotte Snell and junior Martha Poppen perform “Follow Your Heart” in “Urinetown.”
Photo
‘Urinetown’ for spring musical on main stage
stage performance of the school year.
Photo by Lucy Fish
specifically in class. The show was cast out of our advanced acting class, so the cast has been working together on projects all year and are excited to be part of this big of a project together, especially with us starting the rehearsal process in February,” Thompson said.
Thompson described the show as very fun, with lots of surprises and unexpected moments, so the audience will be on its feet the whole time and will enjoy the show.
“There has been a lot of work done especially by [junior] Charlotte Jennings, who is an actor in the show, stage manager, student director, and props manager, and this is her first main stage production as an actor. I am very proud and inspired by all the hard work she has been putting in,” Thompson said.
Todd Schaefer, director, said they had some little challenges as they approached opening night, but that the cast adapted like pros. Schaefer said opening night and the following nights both went really well, and that the audiences enjoyed the performance greatly, adding that the cast has been on fire.
Schaefer went into this production with a new idea, planning to utilize class time to rehearse instead of after school rehearsals. Since the cast was produced from the Advanced Drama class, they all had the same class period to rehearse.
“This was an experiment, and it was a success. They learned a lot of the music and staging in class and then did a ton of rehearsal on their own with some video resources. All of the choreo was
done by members of the cast and several elements of the tech were also handled by members of the class. All in all the show was a group effort and many had never done a project like this before or had never been in a musical before. Many had done shows before and they all lifted each other up. I wouldn’t have done anything differently,” Schaefer said.
Alongside Schaefer, Charlotte Jennings helped direct the show and worked as the stage director. Jennings said the show and lead up to the show were stressful, but that it was rewarding to see the show come together in the end.
Jennings wasn’t able to direct as much as she had expected, due to time constraints; however, her voice in decisions was still heard and respected as a director. Jennings also had a lot more creative liberties than she would have had as just a cast member.
“I think the cast listened more to my suggestions and followed my lead a bit more than they would another cast member. I think they also paid more attention to what I told them to do and when I gave them directions. Overall, I think everyone in the cast listened to each other pretty well, I just had a bit more structure to my role,” Jennings said.
Jennings said the show went well on all three nights it was on stage, although more rehearsals could have been beneficial for the cast.
Senior Jerimiah Lee performs “Cop Song” in “Urinetown.”
Photo by Lucy Fish
Film Club prepares for film festival
Photo by Savannah McClendon
Connor Spellecy Contributing Writer
Reel Film Club plans to host its short film festival in the Jerry R. Knight Auditorium on May 1, at 7 p.m. Entry is free.
This is the club’s second film festival of the school year. The first was held at the end of last semester. In the weeks leading up to the event, students work together on short films. Students can work on many different parts of their film, such as the writing, sound or makeup. Students can also direct their own film or act in a film.
During the festival, 10 of what the club considers its best films from that semester are then shown at the festival in an hour-long presentation. Club members also get to speak about the making of their films on stage, and free popcorn is also given to audience members at the entrance.
“It’s generally just our payoff day for the club. It’s the whole accumulation of all the months of preparation and work up until that point… making 10 movies is a lot of work, but we usually
make that deadline,” senior Will Roche said about the festival.
Senior Roxanne Flood shared a similar sentiment to Roche.
“Getting it done is a big part of it, but I think just figuring out stuff during the editing process and getting through hurdles is, I’d say, the most rewarding part. I think just seeing it all pay off is pretty interesting. I’d say it’s just a big relief after all that stress of getting everything done,” Flood said.
Both club members and Bo Roche, club sponsor, also look forward to the festival, because it relieves the stress of needing to finish each film before the deadline.
The films shown at the festival cover multiple different genres, ranging anywhere from comedy to drama. Comedy is the most prominent genre at most of these festivals, especially last semester’s, according to Flood.
“The best part of a festival is very similar to theatre or standup. It’s when that moment you know is coming lands for the audience, and you get that laugh, gasp or big reaction you were hoping for. It’s incredibly validating and makes everyone feel connected for a moment,” Bo Roche said about his favorite part of the festival.
Leading up to the festival, the club participates in lectures and labs to build inspiration for new projects, while also creating a setlist for the festival. However, the club not only serves as a space for people interested in filmmaking to hone their skills, but also fosters a sense of community.
“It’s a natural oasis of creative, nice, and funny people that want to work together and want to make their ideas work using other people’s talents, and that’s what’s really been valuable to me,” Will Roche said about the club.
This sense of community is also felt by not only the students, but the sponsor as well.
“Storytelling has been my passion for as long as I can remember. It’s great to share that with students and to help them see and understand the storytelling tools they experience every day,” Bo Roche said about being the club’s sponsor.
Seniors in 2024-25 Saroya Williams and Vanessa Schroeder direct their film, “Famiglia.”
Webster hosts Special Olympics
Edith Leslie
Contributing Writer
Special Olympics took place on April 28, consisting of track and field events. The event began with an opening ceremony with a torch run and the national anthem.
This was followed by events that were run by the student council members.
The Hixson volunteers ran the victory village, where the athletes could collect their prizes. They also greeted the athletes, and the Hixson band performed.
Buddies for the event who volunteered from the high school and middle school were there to help the event run smoothly and to create a fun environment for those competing. High school students who became buddies for the event earned A+ hours for their help.
“Volunteers help make the day special for the athletes. They help ensure that
the events run smoothly, and they get the opportunity to work one-on-one with the athletes,” assistant activities director Corey Toenjes said.
Toenjes predicted that about 230 students from 18 different schools would participate in the Special Olympics. The participants received a T-shirt and lunch provided by Webster.
With the number of people that were predicted to attend, “Over 700 hot dogs will be cooked,” Toenjes said.
“I think students look most forward to being part of something bigger than just a track and field day! Students get a chance to connect with someone new, cheer each other along, and just have a great time! Any Special Olympics athletic event is always the best atmosphere because it is all about just trying your best, being brave, and having fun; the athletes exude that to the fullest, and it truly is just a day full of smiles for everyone involved,” said coach
The main point of the event was not for students to win their events, but to be able to have fun with others and enjoy their day.
“Seeing students come together to make this event special for all involved. It’s not about who wins or loses; it’s about creating a memorable and positive experience,” Toenjes said.
This idea of having a positive enviroment for the students competing and those helping run the events was important.
“A fun environment is important for any sporting event, as it can help motivate the athletes and quell any nerves they have in competing! For our special Olympic athletes, there is also the added layer of making the day less scary: they are in a new environment, and the stress of performing and being somewhere new can be really intimidating and felt differently then it would for a typical student athlete,” Spencer said.
Echo archive of Martez Marti passes a baton to George Zychinski in a relay at the 2017 Special Olympics.
Photo by Ashli Wagner
Evyn Spencer.
English teacher to become Echo advisor
Jasper Winterton Feature/Video Editor
Kurt Johnson, yearbook advisor and English teacher, will take over the position as the journalism teacher and Echo newspaper advisor next school year.
Johnson has taught at Webster for two years, currently teaching Freshman Literature and Composition and Honors World Literature and Composition, and serving as the Yearbook advisor. Prior to joining Webster, he taught English at KIPP St. Louis High School, and prior to that, he worked as a journalist at a local TV station in Evansville, IN.
“I worked at a local TV station for five years in various roles, starting out as a news producer and ending my time there as a digital media manager. After that, I worked for two years as a corporate communications specialist for an energy company before realizing that I wanted to make a career change and become a teacher,” Johnson said.
“When my wife got a job offer in St. Louis, we decided that moving was the best option for both of us. I did some deep reflection and realized that the most fulfilling part of my ‘work’ life was coaching middle school soccer at the time,” Johnson said. He added that was when he decided to transition to a career in education, and he had hoped to combine his previous career experience with his passion for coaching and teaching.
English teacher and yearbook advisor Kurt Johnson will also take over as Echo advisor beginning in the 2026-27 school year.
Photo provided by Kurt Johnson
Johnson said growing up, he had two uncles he really looked up to who were radio broadcasters, and when he was in high school, he was a staff member for his school newspaper. Due to his professional experience and passion for journalism, he thought teaching it would be amazing. Though he didn’t actively pursue teaching journalism at Webster, the opportunity presented itself to him.
Donald Johnson, current Echo advisor and English teacher, will retire at the end of this school year. Due to his retirement, his role as the Echo advisor and journalism teacher became available, which led Johnson to fill in those positions.
“Mr. Donald Johnson has done an incredible job at giving students an opportunity to explore the field and building a tradition of journalistic excellence. Even though we have the same last name, we are not related, but I hope to carry on the legacy he’s built, while hopefully providing valuable insight from my days as a communications professional,” Johnson said.
‘One Battle after Another’ sweeps at Oscars
Connor Spellecy Contributing Writer
“One Battle After Another,” the newest film from director Paul Thomas Anderson, premiered on Sept. 26, 2025. The film proves itself to be one of Anderson’s finest works.
The film is Anderson’s most expensive yet, with a budget of $130-175 million, which is very apparent in the numerous action sequences. It is also his highest-grossing film, making $212.7 million at the box office.
The film follows former revolutionary Bob Ferguson, played by Leonardo DiCaprio (“Titanic”) as he looks for his daughter Willa, played by Chase Infiniti (“Presumed Innocent”), who is on the run from Colonel Steve Lockjaw, played by Sean Penn (“Mystic River”), Bob’s former nemesis. Willa’s karate sensei, Sergio, played by Benicio del Toro (“The Usual Suspects”), assists Bob along the way.
DiCaprio’s performance as Bob Ferguson is comedic with a layer of sincerity underneath. In the second act, he is portrayed as more of a comedic relief character, which is unlike the first act. However, as the film goes on, DiCaprio’s performance reveals more and more of Bob’s genuine love for Willa, and the same goes for Infiniti’s performance.
Penn also delivers a very entertaining performance. Anderson makes Steve Lockjaw an antagonist that viewers should laugh at, but Penn also delivers his lines with an added intensity, especially near the climax of the film.
With a runtime of nearly three hours, the film could easily get tiring. However, the film is very well-paced, making it feel faster than it actually is.
Even though the pacing is well done, the first act begins to drag on after a while, even with its length of only 34 minutes. The film picks up again when the second act begins, and shows how Bob has changed 16 years after the events of the first act.
The film was nominated for 13 Oscars
”One Battle after Another” was released on Sept. 26, 2025.
Graphic from “One Battle After Another” website
and won six, including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay.
The film has been praised by audiences for its political relevance, as well as its comedy. Audiences and critics alike have also praised Teyana Taylor’s performance as Perfidia Beverly Hills, who serves as a clear representation of the film’s themes of revolution and power, while also heavily influencing the lives of other charac-
ters and allowing conversations to be held among viewers about the complexity of her character.
The film has a 94% on Rotten Tomatoes, a 7.7 out of 10 on IMDb, and received high praise from NPR.
“One Battle After Another” is rated R for language, violence, sexual content, and drug use. The film can be watched on HBO Max and Prime Video.
Chelsea Center Offers Job Shadowing Experience
Chase Hoskins Contributing Writer
Senior Owen Gillis-Davis thought his future was in the veterinary industry until a Chelsea Center job shadow helped him realize he “definitely” didn’t want to be a veterinarian.
The Center was founded in 2010 in honor of Chelsea Detrick, a Webster Groves alumna who passed away in 2009 from cancer. The center was founded by her father, Glenn Detrick, as a construction legacy to her love of school and adventurous spirit.
Glenn said in an article by Elon University, “I felt that I could be depressed, or I could work to guide the future in a positive way. I wanted to create something constructive and useful in her memory.”
The Chelsea Detrick Memorial Scholarship was also created in her honor, offering $1,000 to a student who is “conscientious, hard-working, motivated, intelligent, and
admired by WGHS teachers for their attitudes and personalities.”
The Chelsea Center offers students opportunities to gain hands-on experience. Experiential Learning Teacher Patrick Bommarito said, “[The Chelsea Center has] about, I would say, about 60 to 70 students right now.”
Bommarito said one of the most popular job shadows is partnering with the Webster Groves Animal Hospital. He said this helps people find out that they love the job, or maybe it’s not right for them.
The Chelsea Center has also partnered with Mercy Hospital for 40 hours of job shadowing for nursing as a course.
“A big part [of the Chelsea Center] is the exploration… and people seeing themselves in the fields as a young person before they declare majors and start spending money,” Bommarito said. The center has helped over 3,000 people through hands-on activities and contributed over 86,000 hours to organizations.
“Become involved with Chelsea Center opportunities by stopping by Room 200 to inquire, emailing us for an appointment to share your interests and learn what we have available in those areas, filling out our Get Involved - Students interest form, or signing up for a semester Chelsea Center class with your counselor at course enrollment time,” according to the Webster Groves Chelsea Center website.
Picture wall outside the Chelsea Center showcases experiences through the Chelsea Center. Photo by Chase Hoskins.
Staff, students remember custodian’s positive legacy
Arianna Peper Editor-in-Chief
“Keith was a gentle giant. Like, he really was just all kindness,” drama department teacher Todd Schaefer said about his colleague Keith Chatman.
Keith Chatman, born September 21, 1963, passed away on Feb. 12, 2026.
Chatman served as a part of the Custodial Daytime team for 27 years, sharing kindness and compassion with each person he interacted with, Schaefer said.
Schaefer, who spoke daily with Chatman in the mornings, said, “What I always loved about Keith too was when students were coming, because I always had people stopping by in the mornings, and he would always engage the kids in conversation. Keith was very religious, so he was always promoting a good kind of vibe in the room. He led by example, and he was a very kind-hearted person.”
Senior Malachi Lewis said what stood out the most to him about Chatman was “his smile and his care for the people around him.”
Lewis also added, “Everyday last year I
didn’t have lunch with any of my friends so I sat with Mr. Keith and we would just talk and talk and it was amazing.”
Custodians and close friends of Chatman Gladys Campbell and Robert Burns also described Chatman as a funny guy, full of laughter, who one could ask for anything and he’d never let them down.
“As a person he was ‘Crazy Keith’ because he would come in every morning and put on a dance, and he loved dancing,” Campbell added.
Burns also said how “everybody liked him; he was a really respected guy.”
Outside of WGHS, Chatman was a member of the Saints Fellowship Mission Church and enjoyed helping and spending time with his family.
Schaefer said, “He knew I was rehabbing houses, and he was working on his house, so we’d always have conversations about, ‘oh what was he gonna do about fixing this or that’ and how to lay flooring, etc. He was doing all kinds of reconstruction on his house. I also gardened, so we had a lot of gardening talk those last couple of years because he was helping his mom clean up her yard, and then it got to planting and landscaping talk.”
With only two years left until Chatman could retire, Schaefer said Chatman would often mention his post retirement goals of shifting from working on campus to working more to help his loved ones.
“I think it was just kind of moving and shifting that time over to people that were directly connected family wise, but he didn’t really get an opportunity to do that, and that’s the sad part. I feel for his family and I know they are definitely missing the man. That man bent over backwards for his family, and in our talks in the morning he would always tell me what he was doing to help his family or church group,” Schaefer said.
Chatman’s connection to his church was reflected through his kindness and positive approach to others, Schaefer said. Campbell said, “If anything ever upset him, you would never know unless he told you because he always kept a smile on his face.”
As for his legacy at WGHS, principal Tony Gragnani said, “Keith’s willingness to help anyone is something that is truly inspirational. It did not matter who you were. Keith was always willing to help out.”
