SHS Sophomores Katie Daniels and Sophie Hemphill were the designated students to report to the GFWC Seward Womans Club on their recent experience as the Sophomore Pilgrims to the State Capitol on April 1, 2026. There were seven students from SHS that attended and all were invited to report, but due to school and personal conflicts, Katie and Sophie volunteered to make the report to the GFWC Seward Womans Club-their sponsor for the event.
Daniels stated that seven Seward High Sophomores were selected to represent SHS at the annual Sophomore Pilgrimage held every spring at the State Captiol, sponsored by the GFWC Nebraska Federation of Women’s Clubs, Inc. The local students are funded and sponsored by the GFWC Seward Junior Women’s Club, the GFWC Seward Woman’s Club, the School District of Seward High Ability Learner Program and the School District of Seward. They visited the Captiol on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, for their pilgrimage. The GFWC Nebraska Federation of Women’s Clubs is the state affiliate for the General Federation of Women’s Club’s, Inc. The students were selected in the fall through application and interview process.
Students attending were Linus Beck of Germany-the SHS Rotary International Student, Carly Kolterman, Sophie Hemphill, Kathrine Daniels, Jordyn Samuels, Jacey Forbes, and Mackenna Wollenburg. The teacher/sponsor for the event was Mr. Trevor Menke-History/Government Teacher at Seward High School.
“We both really enjoyed the visit with Judge Riko Bishop of the Court of Appeals and learned so much when we went to visit the legislature and watched them in action,” commented Sophie Hemphill. “It was also so nice of our Senator, Jana Hughes to be with us during the day and we even were able to be photographed with her at the Governor’s Mansion.”
The students were addressed by the elected officials and representatives from the state’s elected offices including the Governor Jim Pillen, Clerk of the Legislature-Brandon Metzler, Secretary of State-Bob Evnen, Ne Attorney General-Mike Hilgers, Deputy Nebraska State Auditor-Craig Kubicek, Senator Julie Slama-District 1, and State Treasurer-Tom Briese, along with their own senator, Senator Jana Hughes and her staff from District #24. They watched the proceedings of the Nebraska Legislature. They ate lunch at the Governor’s Mansion, toured the State Capitol and visited the Nebraska Supreme Court by Judge Riko Bishop-Court of Appeals.
The annual Sophomore Pilgrimage was created by the GFWC Nebraska Federation of Women’s Clubs, Inc over three decades ago but the late Jean Kolterman and the program has been recognized nationally. Seward High has participated in this “pilgrimage” every year since it was created over 30 + years ago.