Seward High Wins Sweepstakes Trophy, Named Top High School , at the 2014 Nebraska State Fair
Seward High was named the recipient of the annual State Fair Education Division’s Sweepstake Award for their participation and success at the recent education competitions at the Nebraska State Fair in Grand Island. The students from SHS competed in a variety of contests, with 43 students competing in education contests on August 23 and 24 at the State Fair.
The Seward High “Jays” Quiz Bowl team was named the first place Championship/ winner in the recent State Fair Quiz Bowl contest at the State Fair in Grand Island on Sunday, August 24, 2014. Defeating teams in the finals and semi-finals from York and Lincoln East High, they were named the State Fair Quiz Bowl Champions in a 16 team tourney with teams from across Nebraska-featuring general knowledge questions. The winning SHS Quiz Bowl Team members included Evan Mettenbrink-Captain, Austin Van Velson, Alexa Bruick, Ben Galusha, Clara Heinicke and Will Helmer. Also winning the first place trophies in the State Fair Education Division were Hailey Brown in Shakespeare Monologue, Austin Van Velson in Science, Jake Marshall in Social Studies, Siana Dyell in Computer Graphics, Delainy Baker in penmanship, Ben Galusha in Essay and Stacey Damanhoury in Cup Stacking! First place winners each won $100 scholarship to the school of their choice, a plaque, and rosette. All participating contestants were given a free pass to the fair and a tee shirt.
Seward High had six Quiz Bowl teams in the annual State Fair Quiz Bowl contest on August 24. Each team competed in a round-robin contest to determine placement in the annual single elimination quiz bowl contest –asking teams general knowledge questions. The winning SHS Quiz Bowl Team were members of the SHS “Jay’s” team and included Evan Mettenbrink-Captain, Austin Van Velson, Alexa Bruick, Ben Galusha, Clara Heinicke and Will Helmer. SHS “Blue” Quiz Bowl team members were William Brown, Nate Ketner, Megan Runyan, Josh Hendrickson, and Emma Orwen. SHS “Gold” Quiz Bowl team was Alex George, Rianna Tamasi, Clarke Chandler, Harrison Helmer and Elijah Smith. SHS “Swag” Quiz Bowl team was Michaela Brown, Montana Hill, Noah Urkoski and Bryson Schluckebier. SHS Spirit Quiz Bowl team members included Wyatt Shafer, Kevin Lyon, Grace Orwen, Makenna Aldrich and Nolan Homp. The SHS “Fireworks” Quiz Bowl team members were Jenica Hulbert, Cheyenne Cox, Brodie Oshel and Zachary Vacha.
SHS students winning in the Shakespeare Monologue contest were Hailey Brown-First, Austin Van Velson-Second, Megan Runyan-Third and Michaela Brown-Fourth Place. In the Impromptu speaking contest, Austin Van Velson won second place, Levi Dybdal was third, Makenna Aldrich was sixth and Nolan Homp placed ninth. The SHS Improv A team members included Emma Orwen, Michaela brown, Hailey Brown, Megan Runyan and Montana Hill and placed Fourth. The SHS Improv team B members were Levi Dybdal, Austin Van Velson, Clarke Chandler, Grace Orwen, and MaKenna Aldrich and placed sixth.
In the math contest, Math 9-10 winners included Josh Hendrickson-tenth, Grace Orwen-HM, Lauren Kamphaus-HM, Will Helmer-HM. In Math 11-12, Austin Van Velson was fifth place winner. In Social Studies Grades 9-10, Jake Marshall was first, Grace Orwen –third, Kevin Lyon-fourth, Will Helmer-fifth, Megan Runyan-ninth, and Alexa Bruick-HM. In Social Studies Grades 11-12, Austin Van Velson was second place winner.
In the Science tests Grades 9-10, Josh Hendrickson was fifth, Will Brown, HM, Will Helmer, HM and Ben Galusha, HM. Grades 11-12, Austin Van Velson was second place in Science. In the Spelling contest Grades 9-12, Austin Van Velson was third and Nolan Homp was fifth. In the Grammar tests-Grades 9-12, Austin Van Velson placed eighth, Alexa Bruick-HM, Clara Heinicke-HM.
Nathan Sorsen was second in the High School Individual Community Service Individual contest for his work with Seward’s Fourth of July celebration and Aaron Jensen place third in the same event for his work with Independence Landing, building a picnic shelter. The SHS FCCLA was second for their various recycling efforts at SHS and in the community.
Siana Dyell placed first in the Computer Graphics Division for her Seward Fourth of July promotional graphic presentations. Second place was awarded to Elizabeth Snyder, third was awarded to Cheyenne Hallberg and Fourth place was presented to Macy Perdue in the Computer Graphic art division as well.
On August 23, three freshmen quiz bowl teams competed in the Junior High Quiz Bowl contest. They were required to enter using their “4-H” age, referring to their grade level as of last year. One team represented the students from St. John Lutheran School and one represented the Seward Middle School. Representing St. John were Chase Prochnow, Thomas Ringler, Jack Russell, Marcus Travino and Angelo Wignall. Representing the Seward Middle School were Kenna Gottschalk, Lance Dybdal, Chris Galusha, Abby Rood, Nora Halder, Greta Hughes, Molly Newburn, and Clint Koetter. The teams were coached by Clark Kolterman and Pam Franck.
In the Essay Contest Grades 9-10 from SHS included, Ben Galusha was first, Delainy Baker-2, Bryson Schluckebier-3, Sara Granfors-4, Will Helmer-5, Autumn Hallberg-6, Alexa Bruick-7, Grace Landon-8, Montana Hill-9, Katie Keough-10, Rebekah Krause-HM, Amanda Marcov-HM, Taylor Rouse-HM, Chad Uhing-HM, Cohl Gottschalk-HM and Chloe Kruse-HM. Grades 11-12 winners from SHS were Kaseii White-4, Sarha Chilcoat-5, Ariel Spidell-6, Zach Grunke-7, Alyssa Winterfeld-8, Makenzie Hemphill-9 and Makenna King-10, Sarah Frisbee-HM, Kyle Glandt-HM, Traci Koppel HM, and Trevor Maloy-HM.
In penmanship competition, first place was awarded to SHS’s Delainy Baker, Erin Simmerman-2, Courtney Meyer-5, Corrin Siebrandt-6, Annie Damman-8, Chloe Kruse-9, Josh Behlen-10, Nicole Canning-HM, Kaylee Schmutte-HM, Anna Schulz-HM, Emma Orwen-HM, Clara Heinicke-HM, Katie Keough-HM, Kenna Heath-HM, Hannah Wallace-HM.
In the poetry contest on Nebraska Spring, in grades 9-10 Kayla Gadeken was second, Jensyn Myers-3, Taron Wissing-4, Kyler Nolan-5, Megan Runyan-6, Alexandra George-7, Scott Wolverton-8, Dakot Fernau-9, Sara Granfors-10, Delainy Baker-HM, Joshua Behlen-HM, Elise Bohning-HM, Daniel Cahoon-HM, Will Helmer-HM, Riley Kamphaus-HM, Katie Keough-HM, Isabel Kiechle-HM, Kaylee O’Dell-HM, Nolan Suellwold-HM. In the Poetry Contest “Nebraska Spring” in grades 11-12, Logan Bundy was second, Makenzie Hemphill-3m Alyssa Winterfeld-4, Joshua Brumm-5, Zach Grunke-6, Kaseii White-7, Ariel Spidell-8, Sarah Chilcoat-9, Josh Rolfsmeyer-10 and McKenna King-HM.
Over 40 students from SHS participated in the numerous education division competitions each day, for a total of 80+ during the two day event on Saturday, August 23 and Sunday, August 24, 2014 in Grand Island. Students from Seward High won many awards and recognitions in the various contests of the State Fair Education Division and their names and awards will be listed on the SHS Counselor’s Door. The State Fair entries from Seward High are sponsored through the High Ability Learner Program (HAL) in the Seward School District and supervised by Pam Franck and Clark Kolterman.