THE FOLLOWING IS FROM JENNIFER BAILEY’S “BAILEY BUZZ” COLUMN IN NEWS-GAZETTE
ABOVE: Ethan Jiles and his sign. (photo provided)
Bismarck-Henning Junior High School Principal Lindsey Prunkard was excited to announce the school’s newest state champion.
Eighth-grader Ethan Jiles got a field-trip surprise recently to see his name on a newly posted state-champion sign placed at the entrance to the village by the Illinois Department of Transportation.
IDOT creates the signs to honor state champions and leaves them up for the following year.
“His coach (Carrie Cool) and I surprised him with this sign once it was posted,” Prunkard said. “We had several students place in state, and one of our awesome parents reached out to me telling me that IDOT did this.”
She says Ethan earned it after taking first place in the 100- and 200-meter races at the IESA state track meet.
“It was pretty special getting to see his reaction when he saw his sign for the first time,” Prunkard said. “He was both humble and excited, exactly the kind of young man we are proud to have representing BHJH.”
FOR MORE FROM JENNIFER BAILEY’S “BAILEY BUZZ” COLUMN IN NEWS-GAZETTE PLEASE GO TO https://www.news-gazette.com/bailey_buzz/the-bailey-buzz-sept-3-2026/article_45389425-5933-4774-8af2-227d4c73620a.html
