SHS Senior, Emma Kuss was honored by the Seward Rotary Club as the May Youth Rotarian of the Month. She is the daughter of Cindy and Brian Kuss.  She was introduced at the April 28, 2021 luncheon meeting of the Rotary Club held at the Seward Civic Center and will be the May Youth Rotarian. She was introduced, honored and presented with some Rotary Club mementos.  She was presented a Rotary Club Book Scholarship and is now a finalist for the Youth Rotarian of the Year scholarship, based on the Rotary motto of “Service Above Self!”

Academics are important to Emma and she has attended both Seward High and Southeast Community College in the Southeast Nebraska Career Academy.  She has also taken AP and dual credit classes with Nebraska Wesleyan in Lincoln and Concordia University in Seward.  Her GPA is a 4.0 and she has always been a member of the SHS Honor Roll.  She is a three year member of the National Honor Society at Seward High, was the SHS Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Scholar and was recognized with the Lincoln Elks Lodge Youth Recognition in the area of Agriscience.  She has been recognized by her teachers with many PRIDE Awards.   

In athletics, Emma participated in Volleyball for three years, and Basketball for two years.  

She was a member of the Seward High Student Leadership Team (Student Council) for four years and served as the Vice President.  She was a member of trhe Symphonic band for two years and also played in the SHS Pep Band. 

She has been very involved with extracurricular activities including her work with the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) for four year and serving as the FBLA Secretary for two years.  She was an active member of Skills USA for two years and on the Speech Team for two years.  Her real love was her involvement with the local FFA Chapter, serving as the Vice President and currently serving as the President.  Emma was recently selected to be a State Officer for FFA next year, based on an extensive interview and selection process.  She also obtained her FFA Degree for her work over the years with FFA.

She is proud to have been certified in the computer applications of Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Google Docs/Slides and Prezi.  She currently is employed at the Seward Walmart and has been employed at the Seward Dowding Pool as a lifeguard and teaching swimming lessons.  She enjoyed her experience as a detasseler and roguing in the fields and also worked the concession stand at the Plum Creek Complex.

She is a longtime member of her God Teens program at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic church and considered a youth voice in her church.

Her “Service Above Self” volunteer activities are extensive, revolving around her service clubs, working with many food drives, FFA, FBLA and Skills USA volunteer activities and assisting with the various nursing home activities.  

She plans to attend the University of Nebraska in Lincoln and plans to major in either Horticulture or Plant Biology.  

Emma was thanked for her service and leadership by the members of the Rotary Club.  She will again be recognized at the SHS Honors Night, May 11 at the High School as one of the twelve Seward Youth Rotarians.  

Seward High Senior, Hannah Roebke was named the May Youth Rotarian of the Month for the Seward Rotary Club. She is the daughter of Galen and Julie Roebke.  Hannah was honored by the Seward Rotary Club, presented with some Rotary mementos and information and given a Rotary Club Book Scholarship.  

Hannah is an Honor Student, has been on the SHS Honor Roll every quarter and a member of the Seward High National Honor Society.

She has been very involved with extracurricular activities at SHS all four years of her career.  She participated in the SHS One Act Play/Play Production contests and a four year member of the SHS Speech Team-competing in Persuasive, Informative and Extemporaneous events for SHS.

Hannah was a four year member of the SHS Marching Band-a member of the Color Guard and a Color Guard section leader her senior year.  

Hannah was an active, devoted member of the Family Community Career Leaders of America (FCCLA) and served as a Vice President of the Group, attended many FCCLA events, meetings and gatherings and participated in the FCCLA STAR (Students Taking Action With Recognition) Program-winning at the District Level several times, and qualifying for State STAR.  She was a national qualifier in STAR last year, winning a silver medal.  

She has also been a leader in the local, SHS Skills USA Chapter all four years, attending and competing at the state level for three years-competing in Photography, Early Childhood Education and Opening and Closing Ceremonies at the State Leadership Conferences.

Hannah is a member of the rural Immanuel Lutheran Church near Garland and served on their 150^th Anniversary committee, as well as served as the Director of their Christmas Eve Service annually.  She is also a member of the St. John Lutheran Church Godparents program and attended St. John Lutheran School in Seward, volunteering for St. John Vacation Bible School and the annual Summer Horizons Enrichment Program.

One of Hannah’s real loves and interests is her work with the local 4-H program.  She is a member of the Shooting Stars 4-H Club and has been every officer of the club.  Hannah has served as many officers of the Junior Leaders 4-H Club and also serves as the Youth Representative on the Seward County 4-H Council.  She has served as the Junior Superintendent at the Seward County Fair for many years and involved in a host of 4-H competitions and contests every year both at the County and State levels.  

Hannah is employed as a cashier at Pac and Save in Seward and enjoys helping families with childcare and is a very popular babysitter.  

Her volunteer efforts for the “Service Above Self” requirements centered around her service through her church, her high school service clubs and her involvement with various 4-H community service projects.  

Her college plans include attending the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, where she is pursuing a career in Broadcast Journalism.

Hannah will again be honored at the SHS Honors Night on May 11 and recognized with the other eleven Youth Rotarians, where they will announce the 2021 Youth Rotarian of the Year from the twelve students honored this year.  

Three Seward High students-Rory Nolan, Noah Fields and Grace Roberts were honored at the recent Seward Optimist Club meeting on Thursday, April 22, 2021 at the Seward Civic Center in the West Fireplace room.  They each entered the local Seward Optimist Oratorical competition and were judged at an informal contest prior to the meeting. The students each wrote, prepared and presented a 4-5 minute speech on the topic “Healing the World with Optimism.”  The contest was sponsored by the Seward Optimist Club and judged by SHS student teacher, Bailey Zimmerer of Creighton, Nebraska.

The winner of the local contest was First Place-Rory Nolan-Grade 12, Second Place-Noah Fields-Grade 10 and Third Place Grace Roberts-Grade 10.  The students all qualified for the State Oratorical Competition, which will be held on May 1, 2021 at 1:00 pm via a virtual presentation. Rory Nolan will be sponsored by the Seward Optimist Club, Noah Fields will be sponsored by the North Platte Optimist Club and Grace Roberts will be sponsored by the Lincoln Friends Optimist Club.

At the Seward Optimist Club meeting, the Seward Optimist Club President Morgan Kozisek and Optimist Club Secretary  Lana Urban presented each speaker with the appropriate, special Optimist Club medal, a certificate and a gift certificate to the Dairy Queen-from the Seward Optimist Club in appreciation for their work on their speech.  Each student then presented their speech to the Seward Optimist Club membership.

Local Oratorical Chair is Clark Kolterman for the Seward Optimist Club.  First Place prize at the state level in this contest is a $2500 scholarship, Second Place is a $1500 scholarship and Third Place is a $750 scholarship.  Last year, Seward High student Cordell Vrbka was Runner-up and won the $1500 scholarship.

Seward High Senior, Hannah Kolterman-Wagner was selected the Seward Rotary Club Youth Rotarian of the month for the month of April. She is the daughter of Amanda Kolterman and David Wagner.  Hannah was recognized and honored at the April 21 Seward Rotary Club meeting at the Seward Civic Center and was presented with various materials and mementos from the Seward Rotary Club, along with a Rotary Club Book Scholarship. She was introduced to the Rotary Club by Matt Dominy.  

Hannah values academics and has been on the SHS Honor Roll every semester of her High School career and has a GPA of 4.11 -  Cum Laude.  She has been recognized numerous times with the SHS P.R.I.D.E. Award, nominated by many teachers at Seward High School.  She was a member of the SHS Academic Decathlon Team, participating in the Regional contest-winning eight medals and the SHS team qualified for the State contest as well.

She has also been involved in a host of activities at Seward High. She participated in the SHS Family Community Career Leaders of America (FCCLA) all four years-participating the FCCLA STAR (Students Taking Action with Recognition) leadership program all four years. She won her division in STAR at Districts three years, qualified for state and qualified/ participated in STAR program on the  national level last year-winning a Silver Medal (Second Place).  Her STAR programs involved Helping the Homeless, Suicide Awareness and Prevention, Global Warming Awareness and Saving the Environment.  

Hannah was a loyal member of the SHS Marching Band, participating in the SHS Award Winning Marching Band all four years of high school-playing the baritone. She also was a member all four years of high school with the SHS Symphonic Band, and SHS Pep Band.

Hannah was a member of the SHS Skills USA -winning the State Skills USA Bridge Building Contest and participating in the Skills USA Speech contest and Medical Terminology Contest.  She was one of the VFW Voice of Democracy Speech Contest winners on the local level and a VFW District Speech contest finalist.  

She participated in the SHS Soccer program and was part of the annual One Act Play competition.  She participated in the annual Nebraska State Fair Education Division program and placed Sixth Place Sweepstakes in the High School programing awards for her art entries.  Her art was recently featured in the student show at the Red Path Gallery SHS Senior Show and she annually participated in the GFWC Seward Women’s Clubs Children Art Contest.

Hannah has been a longtime employee of the local Seward Runza.  Her volunteer work for the “Service Above Self” award has centered around her community service through FCCLA-worked at the Breakfast with Santa, helped at the Recycling Center, worked at the annual Seward Clean-up Day, hosted a booth at the local Health Fair and Suicide Awareness walk, and coordinated a Suicide Awareness and Prevention Week at SHS for three years in a row and sponsored a coin drive to Save the Rain Forests-promoting Environmental awareness.   She volunteered with many of the activities of the Seward Sesquicentennial and worked a various activities for the annual Fourth of July Celebration in Seward.

Hannah is a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Seward and attended St. John Lutheran Grade School. Her hobbies include reading, her art, horses, and her pet dog and cat.

She plans to attend the University of Nebraska in Lincoln to study in the areas Chemistry and Environmental Awareness.

Hannah will again be recognized at the annual SHS Honors Night in May and is now a finalist for the annual Seward Rotary Club Youth Rotarian of the Year. The Seward Rotary Club honors one Youth Rotarian of the Month every month of the school year and all of the ten students will be recognized at the annual Honors Night.  Applications are available from the local SHS High School Counselors.  

The two Seward High Quiz Bowl teams placed Second and Third at the recent Central Conference Quiz Bowl Tourney for 2021 at the Seward Civic Center on Wednesday, April 14^th in an all-day contest featuring a quiz bowl contest over general knowledge. Teams of four from the Central Ten Conference Schools competed against each other in a round robin contest in the morning, with the results from the morning used for bracket placement in the afternoon, single elimination tourney.  Winning the tourney was Adam Central High Team A, which was awarded a trophy and the official Central Ten Conference Championship medals for everyone on the team.  

There were four students participating on a Quiz Bowl team contest against four students from another school. Six rooms of contests were taking place at the same time, each playing 20 minute rounds, with 40 toss up questions and 40 bonus questions, if the team answered the toss up correctly.  

Placing second overall in the final, single elimination tourney for the Central Ten Conference was SHS Team B, with members Natalie Axt, Jacob Mueller, Clarie Novak, Ella Gray and Elianah Wunderlich on the Runner-Up QB Team. The team received a trophy, sponsored by the Central Ten Conference.  Placing third in the Central Ten Conference was SHS QB Team A, involving members Emily Gokie, Braden Adams, Owen Krahulik, and Rory Nolan. They too were awarded a trophy.  Aurora High School QB Team A placed fourth and was also awarded a trophy.  SHS Educator Melissa Pohl serves as the coach for both teams. 

The Quiz Bowl Readers and Judges for the tourney included Pat Ohlmann, Sue Imig, Dr. Louis Reith-all from Seward, Kathleen Wilcox from Crete, and Stan and Nancy Meyers of Geneva, Nebraska.  Riley Nuttleman served as the Quiz Master for the day, with Charles Gebhardt preparing the tourney brackets and team competition assignments. Clark Kolterman served as the chair for the event, along with the SHS Activities Director, John Moody.

Seven of the ten schools in the Central Ten Conference participated in the program, with 14 teams pre-registered for the tourney.  Schools that participated included Seward High, Aurora High, Holdrege High, York High, Adams Central High, Schuyler High and Grand Island North West High.  Other schools in the Central Conference that did not participate due to conflicts included Lexington High, Columbus Lakeview High and Crete High.

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11/20/2020 Parent Letter

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Seward Community Letter #sewardjays

10/23/2020 Parent Letter

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Screening Exclusion and Re-admittance for Schools - updated

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