Karnie Gottschalk Selected December Youth Rotarian by Seward Rotary Club
Launch the media gallery 1 playerKarnie Gottschalk, SHS Senior, was selected the 2022 December Youth Rotarian by the Seward Rotary Club and honored at their recent meeting on Wednesday, December 14th at their noon luncheon at the Seward Jones Bank Auditorium in the lower level of the Jones Bank during the club’s annual Pastor’s Day. She is the daughter of Kirk and Carrie Gottschalk of Seward. She was introduced and welcomed by Seward Rotarian Anita Foors, who also presented her with a Rotary Club Banner and a sack of information on the community and Rotary International.
Karnie is a scholar and a member of the SHS Honor Roll all twelve times of her high school career. She is a leader and three year member of the SHS National Honor Society. She was selected and served as the SHS representative to the State HOBY Conference, and was selected to be a Girl’s State representative from Seward High. She was selected to be an SHS Ambassador, serving as a host for guests, new students and visitors to the school. She was selected to be one of three school recipients of the Greater Omaha-Council Bluffs Area Youth Salute.
She loves to perform and is a member of the SHS Select Choir, as well as the SHS Show Choir (Swing Choir) and been in the SHS Musical every year of her high school career-with the leads in all three-“Bye Bye Birdie,” “Annie, “and “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.” She was selected for All State Choir, the UNL Young Artist Award in Theater, and will be a soloist for the District Music Contest. Karnie was recently selected to attend Concordia University’s Musical Arts Day and was also selected to sing the National Anthem at the Semi-Finals at the State Wrestling Meet in February.
Karnie participated in the SHS One Acts in 2021 and 2022, receiving numerous Outstanding Actress Awards at the Conference and District levels.
She is a longtime member of the SHS Speech Team and qualified for state last year as a member of the OID (Drama Team) in speech where they placed 5th at State.
Karnie is very involved in extracurricular activities. She is a loyal four year member of Key Club, Acts of Kindness Club, the A-OK Club and a member and chapter leader of the SHS SkillsUSA Chapter, participating in numerous state events for SkillsUSA. She placed Second at State Skills in both the Early Childhood Competition and as a team member in the Opening and Closing Ceremony (OCC).
Karnie is an athlete and a leader on both the Girls Cross Country and Girls Track Teams. She was a state qualifier all four years for Cross Country and was a state qualifier for Girl’s Track the last two years, with numerous awards,letters and honors over the years in both events. She was a state medalist in Cross Country this year, placing 10th individually, and part of the Girl’s State Champion Cross Country Team in 2020.
Karnie was selected as one of two students to represent the school as NSAA (Nebraska School Activities Association) Believers and Achievers.
Karnie is a member of St. John Lutheran Church and participates in St. John Lutheran Church programs. She has been involved with the St. John Lutheran Church Pure Freedom Retreat all four years of high school.
She has been employed with Bright Beginnings Child Development Center and has worked in the fields during the summer for Syngenta as a crew member roguing and pollinating for their research plots.
Karnie’s volunteer service revolves around her service projects through the SkillsUSA, as well as participated in the Community Service Days and was an Outdoor Education Counselor. She also has logged many volunteer hours serving as a Seward High Ambassador, is a volunteer a helper with the summer Youth Track Club program and helps out in the concession stand when she time permits.
She has also helped mentor the many Foster Children that the Family has had placed in their home. She and her family have been involved with Foster Care, as a Foster Family since 2014, having 16 children from seven different families live with them for various lengths of time.
Karnie plans to attend a college but has not decided which school she wants to attend. She does plan to continue to be involved in Fine Arts programs on the college level but has made no specific decisions as to a place or a major area of study.
Karnie was recognized and thanked for her work ethic and leadership in school and the community. She was presented a book scholarship and is a finalist for the Seward Rotary Youth Rotarian of the Year.
The Seward Youth Rotarian award is open to all SHS Seniors and the forms can be obtained at the SHS Counselors office. One youth Rotarian is selected for every month of the school year.