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2018 Spring District Newsletter

SHS Senior, Broc LaVelle was selected the last Youth Rotarian for 2017-2018, honoring him as the May Youth Rotarian of the Month.  He is the son of Todd and Mindy LaVelle of Seward.  Broc was honored at the recent Seward Rotary Club meeting on Wednesday, May 2 at the Jones National Bank and Trust Co. Auditorium in Seward. He was presented some Rotary Mementos, a Rotary Banner and a “Book Scholarship” from the Seward Rotary Club.

Broc is one of the senior athletes at SHS.  He participated in the SHS Football program all four years and was named Captain of the team his senior year.  He lettered in football two years and was on the SHS State Qualifying Football team his Freshman year. He was named “Most Inspirational” player by the Seward Football coaches/team in 2018 and was All District First Team in Football.  

In SHS Wrestling, he also participated in the program all four years, winning a wrestling letter all four years as well.  He was a State Qualifier his senior year in wrestling.  He was named “Most Improved” wrestler in 2018 and was both Conference Runner-up and District Runner-up in wrestling.  He was rated #6 in wrestling at 182 Class B in the State.  He won the “Jeramie Schoepf” Leadership Award for wrestling in 2018

He played SHS Baseball one year and American Legion Baseball as well.  He served as Assistant Baseball Coach for the Jr. Jays for two years.  

Broc has participated in the SHS Track program for three years and has lettered all three years. His track event is the open 800.  

Broc has been a student aid for the Seward Elementary Kindergarten class this year, volunteering as a role model for the first year students.

Broc has been a member of the SHS Honor Roll and participated in the Agronomy Academy for one year.  He participated in the SHS VFW “Voice of Democracy” program as a sophomore.  

Broc is a loyal member and leader in the SHS FBLA program and participated in a variety of activities for the organization.  He is also a three year member of the local SHS FFA program and has contributed in the area of community service through FFA.

He is a dedicated member of the Seward United Methodist Church, active and a leader in their local Godparents program all four years and a strong voice of the youth in the congregation.

He was a member of Team Elite Detasseling Company for six years, and will be the supervisor for Team Elite this year.  This summer he will be employed by Plum Creek Ag and work in a leadership position. 

His area of “Service Above Self” is found in coaching and working with a variety of young adults in various youth sports camps.  Brock is a longtime, ready volunteer and has assisted with many youth camps during the summer and has devoted many hours to the Midget Wrestling program at Seward. He feels the program influenced him and he has devoted many hours assisting their efforts to train young wrestlers.  

He plans to attend Southeast Community College in Beatrice in the area of Agriculture/Business

Four SHS Sophomore students attended the annual GFWC NFWC Sophomore Pilgrimage at the State Capitol on Wednesday, April 4, 2018 and were involved in a series of leadership workshops, discussion groups and tours.  Attending the event and representing Seward High were Sophomores Kenna Piskorski, Nolan Whitney, M.E. Porter, and Emily Lintt.  Also selected but unable to attend due to illness was Madalyn Lobmeyer and Macy Gebhardt.  Also attending from the SHS History Department and serving as a sponsor was Mr. Mark Cidlik. 

The students met with Governor Pete Ricketts and other elected officials and representatives of the officials, staff and office representatives, if the elected officials were unable to meet with the students.  Jessica Kolterman, legislative lobbyist with JK Consulting also spoke to the group about the lobby process.   It was noted she was a part of the Sophomore Pilgrimage her sophomore year at SHS! 

They also met with Senator Mark Kolterman in his office, visited the Legislature in session and dined with him at the Governor’s Mansion over the noon hour.  His staff shared a special tour of the capitol with the Seward students and they visited the Nebraska Supreme Court Chambers after lunch, before returning home.

The annual Sophomore Pilgrimage is an award winning program sponsored by the GFWC Nebraska Federation of Women’s Club’s Inc. and was developed to promote leadership in local, tenth grade students, hoping that they can return and share their experiences and leadership observations with others in the high schools across Nebraska. The local students were sponsored by the GFWC Seward Woman’s Club, GFWC Seward Junior Women’s Club and the School District of Seward High Ability Learner Program (HAL).

Each student attending will receive a certificate and group photo of them in front of the Governor’s Mansion.  They plan to report to the GFWC Seward Woman’s Club in August at their membership meeting.

The students were selected from written application and individual interviews last October, coordinated by GFWC local representative Bonnie Kruse of the GFWC Seward Woman’s Club.  Seward has sent representatives to this program since its inception over two decades ago!  

The May SHS Fine Arts Youth of the Month is Lena Hughes. She is the daughter of John and Jana Hughes of rural Garland.

Lena is a musician, plays the piano and has been a leader in the SHS Vocal Music department. She is considered a leader in the SHS Swing Choir, having been part of the group all four years of her high school career.  She is also a longtime member of the SHS Honor Choir, and participated in all of the SHS musicals, with major roles, all four years as well.  She has also participated in the annual Seward Concordia University’s Musical Arts Day.

She participated in the Evening of One Acts this year, and also was involved in the Seward VFW “Voice of Democracy” Speech contest.

Lena is a member of Skills USA, participating at the state level competitions all four years.  She is also involved in the SHS Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) and participated at the state level in a host of contests over the years.  She is also an SHS Ambassador and very involved with the Junior Jays Mentoring program.

In the community, Lena has been a longtime leader in her 4-H Club and involved in a spectrum of activities’ with her local club, as well as at the county and district level-many involving the area of Fine Arts and 4-H.  

Lena attends Our Savior Lutheran Church in Lincoln and participates in the Godparent program at St. John Lutheran Church in Seward and is considered one of the voices of youth in her congregations, and was very involved with the Fine Arts programs at St. John Lutheran School in Seward.  She attended the Lutheran Church’s National Youth Gathering.  She is a longtime Vacation Bible School teacher at St. Johns, and assists with the St. John Summer Horizon program as well. 

She plans to attend the University of Iowa next year and study in the area of Nursing.

The Board of Education has set the calendar for the 2018-2019 school year.  To aid in your planning, click on the link below to view the calendar. 2018-2019 SPS School Calendar

Seward Elementary is currently accepting registrations for students eligible for Kindergarten in the 2018-2019 school year.  In order to be eligible, students must turn 5 years of age by July 31, 2018.  Registration information has been sent out.  If you did not receive one, or you have any questions, please contact our office at (402) 643-2968.