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Ava Adelyn Kasik was welcomed into the world on January 22, 2008, to her parents Joe and Heather Kasik. She is the second youngest child of five siblings. Her older siblings are Hannah (25), Alissa (23), and Kyle (21). Mariah (13), is Ava's youngest sister. She also has a cat named Tipsy.

         Her grandparents are Lawrence and the late Marilyn Kasik and Alice and the late Fred Krenk, all from Schuyler, NE. 

         Throughout high school, Ava has been involved in numerous activities: FFA for five years; volleyball, basketball, journalism, and One-Act for four years; track, dance, yearbook, and National Honor Society for three years; FCCLA and FBLA for two years.

         Outside of school, Ava is involved in the Youth Advisory Committee and the St. Mary’s Catholic Church youth group.

         In athletics, academics, and organizations, Ava has received an abundant amount of honors. In academics, Ava is consistently part of the All-A honor roll. In volleyball, Ava was named 2nd team all-conference and is a three-time East Husker Conference Volleyball Champion. In basketball, Ava has received a 3rd team all-conference basketball award. She was also the basketball and volleyball team captain. In school, Ava has been a three-time student of the month recipient and officer for FFA, FCCLA, and YAC. This year she was crowned homecoming queen and named class president.

         Ava’s proudest high school accomplishment is experiencing state competition in all four sports.

         During the summer, Ava is the assistant manager and lifeguard at the Leigh pool. She also teaches swim lessons and works at the Clarkson Care Center as a CNA.

         After high school, Ava plans to attend Northeast Community College to play volleyball, and to major in Pre-Nursing with a BSN from UNMC. In the future she hopes to specialize in pediatrics. Although she has always wanted to try travel nursing, she waits to see what life situations she is in. Ava says if she continues schooling, she will further her nursing education or will get a masters in Occupational Therapy for a desired job in the school system.

         If Ava won the lottery, she would make sure her and her loved ones are all living comfortably. She plans to give the majority of her fortune to charitable organizations or use it to fund medical missionary trips. If she could travel anywhere in the world she would go to Santorini, Greece, because it is beautiful. 

         On Ava’s bucket list, she wants to backpack Europe, publish a children's book, and open some type of small business. In 10-15 years, she sees herself married with kids living somewhere in rural Nebraska. 

         One of Ava’s biggest pet peeves is loud chewing and a bad habit she has is biting her nails.       

         Three words Ava says describe her are genuine, observant, and passionate. Mr. Brester added on to that and says Ava is hardworking, caring, and whimsical. 

         Ava says her grandma Alice is someone she admires in her life because she always looks to the bright side of things and lives her life very ambitiously. She also admires her sisters because they are both the greatest role models in her life. Mrs. Fischer is also someone she greatly admires because of her strong work ethic and care for others. 

         In school, Ava's favorite subject is Parenting or Anatomy and Physiology. Her favorite high school memory was every trip or outing with her classmates. 

         Outside of school, she enjoys hanging out with friends, spending time with family, going to concerts, going on walks or runs, being outdoors or on a lake, playing sports, shopping, and trying new things. 

         Her favorite song is “Next to You” by Ole 60 and her favorite movie or show would be Tangled or The Hunger Games series. The Husker Volleyball team is Ava's favorite sports team. Her favorite food is pasta, but her favorite restaurants are Chipotle and Panera. 

         Ava says her most embarrassing moment was wiping out in the Settje’s driveway at the volleyball team supper her junior year when racing Mr. Brester.

         Her advice to underclassmen is to always be kind because you only see what other people allow you to see; you never know what someone is going through.

         Congratulations, Ava, and good luck in your future endeavors!

The Patriot boys golf team took to the tees and took the top team spots for a couple of quick 9-hole meets in Wayne on Friday, April 10th, and in Leigh on Tuesday, April 14th.

The Wayne course hosted Wakefield, Lyons-Decatur, and Pender. Clarkson-Leigh shot 181 as a team, placing first overall. Individually, Trevor Hoffman and Parker Sayers each shot a 43, Josh Eisenmann a 44, Quentin Mullenhoff a 46, Jacob Kroeger a 49, Wyatt Eisenmann a 50, Justin Eisenmann and Michael Wemhoff each shot a 55, Cash Fehringer a 58, and Tucker Matthies finished the team out with a 64. 

Later, on their home turf versus Humphrey and Madison, the team took 175 strokes, once again taking the top spot. Trevor Hoffman scored 38, Luke Wellman shot 41, Parker Sayers scored 43, Quentin Mullenhoff finished with 46, Layton Held shot 47, Josh Eisenmann scored 48, Wyatt Eisenmann scored 49, Jace Prinz scored 50, Cash Fehringer and Briggs Klug each scored 51, Jacob Kroeger scored 55, Tucker Matthies and Caleb Settje each scored 56, Michael Wemhoff scored 57, Justin Eisenmann scored 59, and Trent Olson scored 64. 

There were no official placings individually. 

Coach Connor Blum said, “Our golfers did extremely well at the meets in Wayne and Leigh. We were able to win both of those meets individually and as a team. The season is off to a great start, and I am very pleased with how we have been doing so far.”

Senior Quentin Mullenhoff stated, “Nice day out to play 9 holes.”

On Wednesday, April 15, the Clarkson-Leigh boys’ golf team hosted their annual Patriot Invite golf tournament at the Club 91 Golf Course. 

This year's invite consisted of 16 teams and 72 golfers from all over the area. The first-place team was David City with a final team score of 312. The second-place team was LHNE with a final score of 320. 

The Patriots’ five varsity golfers for this meet were Trevor Hoffman, Parker Sayers, Quentin Mullenhoff, Josh Eisenmann, and Jacob Kroeger. The tournament began with some rough weather, however the rest of the day was pleasant.  

In the end, sophomore Trevor Hoffman finished 10th overall, leading the Patriot team with a 78 after 18 holes. Following Hoffman was Quentin Mullenhoff and Parker Sayers who placed 31st and 45th, individually. To round out the team was Josh Eisenmann placing 40th and Jacob Kroeger placing 60th. The Patriots shot 349 as a team, resulting in them finishing in the top half on their home course in 7th place. 

Hoffman said, “The meet started out less than extraordinary with a rain delay, but it didn't end up being too bad of a day. Everybody did their part on the team and shot close to what we expected. This was a huge tournament, so to come out with the place that we did was a big improvement from last year. We hope to keep improving throughout the year and placing better and better.”

Click to see FFA Banquet Invitation

Brett and Kim Loseke welcomed their first child, Brayden Daniel Loseke on March 11, 2008, in Norfolk, Nebraska. Brayden is the older brother to Grayson Loseke, 14, and Sophie Loseke, 11. Brayden is the grandson of Rick and Judy Loseke of Leigh and Marv and the late Janet Janssen of Creston. 

Brayden also has one dog named Dusty, who is a Yorkie-Maltese mix (Morkie). 

Throughout high school, Brayden has participated in many events: Stream Team, 5 years; FBLA, 4 years; One Act, 4 years; Speech, 4 years; Quiz Bowl, 4 years; Journalism, 4 years; Band, 3 years; National Honors Society, 2 years; FFA, 2 years; Track, 1 year; and JAG for 1 year. 

Outside of school, Brayden has participated in YAC for 4 years and St. John’s Youth Group also for 4 years. 

Brayden is a really smart guy and has earned many honors throughout his school career, including 1st place State JAG Financial Literacy, 2026; 1st Place State FFA Farm and Agribusiness Management, 2026; 5th Place State FFA Farm and Agribusiness Management, 2025; 1st place State FBLA Cybersecurity, 2025; 2nd place State FBLA Management Information Systems, 2023 and 2024; 3 time National FBLA Qualifier/Competitor; 24-25 Student of the Year; 4 time Student of the Month; A Honor Roll, and 1st Place in American Government and 2nd in Physics at the Northeast Community College Academic Day 2026. 

Brayden’s biggest high school accomplishment was making the National FBLA in Atlanta his freshman year. He didn’t think he would do very well, and then was surprised to find out he qualified. He thought it was a great learning experience and he had a lot of fun. He even made the top 15 in the nation that year!

When he isn’t in school, you might find Brayden giving you a friendly greeting while working at Steve’s Madhouse Market in downtown Leigh. 

Brayden’s future plans consist of studying Mechanical Engineering at the University of Nebraska Lincoln.  

If Brayden ever wins the lottery, you can find him donating it to YAC or Leigh Legacy Fund and then saving the rest for college.

If he could travel anywhere, he would visit Cape Canaveral to see cool museums and NASA rocket launches. Three things on his bucket list are learning how to fly a plane, go skydiving, and visit all the national parks.  

Three words to describe him are smart, adaptable, and easygoing. His biggest bad habit he has is procrastination.

Brayden says he admires his parents the most in his life. They are both incredibly smart and compassionate, and he would not be the person he is today without them. 

Brayden's favorite hobbies include building model kits, playing video games, and reading books. His favorite subject in school is history or science. His favorite movie is Interstellar; sports team, New England Patriots; and restaurant, Culvers. His favorite songs are "Ain't Talkin’ ‘Bout Love” by Van Halen or “Money For Nothing” by Dire Straits. He can’t decide on his favorite airplane because he “really likes the B-36 Peacemaker, but the SR-71 Blackbird is a marvel of engineering.”

 In 10-15 years, you can find Brayden settled down somewhere in Nebraska with a wife and 1 or maybe 2 kids, with an engineering-related job. 

Brayden says that his most embarrassing moment in high school was not knowing how to make grilled cheese in FCS class. His favorite high school memory is attending National FBLA in Orlando Sophomore year.

Before he graduates, Brayden leaves this advice to underclassmen: “Take challenging classes and spend time with your classmates. Don’t stress too much about homework.”

On November 8th, 2005, in Marysville, Kansas, Daniel Whitlinger and Anna Nicholson were blessed with their first child, Jordan Whitlinger. 

Jordan has one sister, Ryleigh, 18, and one brother, Jackson, 16. His life wouldn’t be complete without Rocky, his dog. 

Jordan is new to the senior class this year, and he has been a great addition! 

Jordan says one of his proudest accomplishments of high school would have to be winning a tournament for E-sports at Beatrice, where he previously went to school. 

In the near future, he plans to start working as an apprentice for an electrician. Also in the future, he hopes to travel to either Canada or Germany for a change of pace and scenery. He even hopes to someday become an electrician in Canada. In the meantime, Jordan is currently trying to find a part-time job, so if anyone needs help, hit him up!

Something everyone hopes and prays that happens to them in the future is winning the lottery! If Jordan won, he said he would first start investing it into stocks and later start his own electrical company.

Jordan's biggest pet peeve is when people yell while talking to someone. In his life he created three goals he hopes to achieve: become an electrician, move to Canada, and retire happily. 

Someone he admires in his life would have to be his mother. When asked why, he replied, “My mother has gotten back up every time she got knocked down.” 

Being a newly added member to the class of 2026, he hasn't had much time to make memories, but he said his favorite part has been making new friends at Leigh and having fun. His favorite hobbies outside of school are playing video games and watching videos. 

Jordan's favorite school subject in school is science; his favorite TV show is Tokyo Ghoul; His favorite song is “Drunken Sailor”; favorite sports team is the Nebraska Cornhuskers; favorite food is BBQ, and lastly, his favorite thing is being the oldest in the class. His not-so-favorite thing, more like his most embarrassing moment, has to be when he tripped in front of everyone at school. 

The last little piece of advice Jordan wants to leave the underclassman with is “It’s too early to quit.” We wish Jordan the best of luck in his future!

On April 8th, 2026, Leigh High School hosted the annual East Husker Conference quiz bowl competition.
Members of the Leigh team included seniors Brayden Loeske and Elizabeth Hoffman, junior Carmen Malena, and sophomores Trevor Hoffman, Aidan Ellsworth, and Kaycee Lange. Loseke was the team captain. 

The Leigh quiz bowl team did very well, finishing 3rd out of 16 schools!

Leigh faced tough competition in pool play and struggled to find a flow, losing to Oakland-Craig and Wakefield and defeating Howells-Dodge, placing them as the 8th seed entering the tournament.

After winning their first match in the single-elimination tournament, Leigh went on to knock off number 1 seed Pender! Then in their next match against Wisner-Pilger, they ended the round tied and lost on a sudden death question. This placed Wisner-Pilger against Wakefield in the finals and Leigh battling for third.  

In the consolation match-up, Leigh had a rematch against Oakland-Craig, who had beaten them in pool play. This time, Leigh got the best of them, winning the match and the third-place plaque! 

  Brayden Loeske said, “Quiz bowl was a lot of fun. Our pool play results were mixed, but we did great once it got to the tournament and ended up placing 3rd out of 16 teams, which is pretty good.”

Quiz Bowl Sponsor Mrs. Maddie Gall said, “Hosting the EHC Quiz Bowl Tournament this year was an exciting opportunity for the Leigh staff and school, and I am so proud of our students for showing up dressed to impress, competing with confidence, and earning a strong 3rd place finish out of 16 teams!”

Luke Eisenmann Elected as 2026-2027 State FFA Secretary!

 

This spring, more than 8,000 FFA members, advisors, and guests attended the 98th Annual Nebraska State FFA Convention in Lincoln. Competitive events began on Wednesday, March 25th, and concluded on Friday, March 27th. Over the course of the week, members competed, attended workshops, and general sessions.

From previous success in district competitions, Leigh had qualified nearly the entire chapter to compete in Leadership and Career Development Events! Members also partook in proficiency interviews and were recognized for receiving their state degrees. 

Senior Luke Eisenmann also represented the chapter by completing state officer interviews, advancing onto the final rounds!

​ This year, Leigh achieved remarkable success and recognition at the state level! The Farm and Agribusiness Management team of Luke Eisenman, Kyle McMullin, Brayden Loseke, and Carmen Malena finished as state champions, qualifying for Nationals in October. Additionally, Luke Eisenmann placed 2nd overall in the event.

​ Sophomores Tyce Larson, Easton Brabec, and Cash Fehringer advanced to finals in their Agriculture Demonstration. In the end, they finished as State Runner-Up, placing 2nd! The team's demonstration consisted of showing the process of milking a cow, pasteurizing its milk, and making ice cream.

​ Junior Carmen Malena was interviewed in her Ag Sales Entrepreneurship Proficiency, receiving State Runner-Up. Karly Wendt also received State Runner-Up in her Swine Production Placement Proficiency. In the area of Livestock Evaluation, Briggs Klug, Luke Eisenmann, Carmen Malena, and Daphne Jedlicka placed 3rd overall as a team, with Briggs Klug placing 2nd and Luke Eisenmann placing 10th.

​ During the second general session, Leigh was recognized in the Connecting Chapters Program for dedicating service in educating elementary students on agricultural topics. Leigh received the award due to the Little Sprouts program established with all elementary classes.

​ Among 948 FFA members, Luke Eisenmann, Kyle McMullin, Ava Kasik, Neveah Zulkaski, Karly Wendt, and Sydney Messerlie all received the highest and most prestigious degree applicable in Nebraska. All seniors received their state degrees and were recognized on stage for their accomplishments.​

Additionally, Sydney Messerlie participated in the State FFA Honor Chorus. Sydney spent the week attending choir practice and singing during each general session.

In the final general session, FFA members had the opportunity to listen to keynote speaker Clair Woeppel, the National FFA Central Region Vice President. Clair shared an empowering message about waiting in all seasons of your life.

​ Ending the convention on an extremely high note, Luke Eisenmann was elected as the new State Secretary during the final session! Alongside six individuals, Luke will be serving Nebraska FFA throughout the 2026-27 year. He and the newly elected officer team will travel the state, connect with chapters, and share their agriculture and leadership experiences.  

“State FFA is something we look forward to all year long. We competed in a lot of different events and had great success as a chapter. We also made great memories together” said senior Brayden Loseke. 

Senior Luke Eisenmann said, “We had another great year at State Convention with many groups and individuals placing very highly in their competitions. In my last high school state convention, I had a great time being with friends. After the long week, it was great to see the hard work of all our members pay off. Being announced as State Secretary is an incredible honor and exciting way to end convention. I am grateful for the support everyone has shown for me including the posters that were made, and I hope to have another great year serving Nebraska FFA.”

We are extremely proud of all the accomplishments honored at the state convention and with the chapter, and Luke, the best success! 

 

State Degree Recipients:

Luke Eisenmann, Kyle McMullin, Ava Kasik, Neveah Zulkaski, Karly Wendt, Sydney Messerlie

 

Farm and Agribusiness Management: State Champions (National Qualifier) 

Luke Eisenmann - Purple (2nd) 

Kyle McMullin - Blue (50th)

Brayden Loseke - Blue (57th)

Carmen Malena - Red (64th) 

 

Ag Demo: State Runner-Up (2nd)

Tyce Larson

Easton Brabec

Cash Fehringer

 

Proficiency: Ag Sales Entrepreneurship  

Carmen Malena - State Runner-Up (2nd)

 

Proficiency: Swine Production Placement

Karly Wendt - State Runner-Up (2nd) 

 

Senior Livestock Evaluation: 3rd

Briggs Klup - Purple (2nd)

Luke Eisenmann - Purple (10th)

Carmen Malena - Blue (27th)

Daphne Jedlicka 

 

Floriculture: 22nd (Red)

Hannah Martensen - Blue (52nd)

Rebecca Hastreiter - Red (80th)

Reann Bruhn

Grace Hansen 

 

Parliamentary Procedure: Silver

Carmen Malena, Kaylee Brabec, Reese Bruhn, Reese Wietfeld, Luke Eisenmann, Kyle McMullin

 

Agronomy: 33rd 

Cody Jedlicka - White  

Reese Bruhn 

Daphne Jedlicka

Sadie Brabec

 

Livestock Management:

Wyatt Eisenmann, Cash Fehringer, Briggs Klug, Avery Kuester, Tyce Larson, Blake Loseke

 

Poultry Evaluation:

Kaylee Brabec, Reese Wietfeld, James Moore, Ben Rodenburg

 

People in Ag Posters:

Bergan Settje - Gold 

Cooper Fehringer - Gold

Ella Hansen - Gold

Harper Wendt - Silver 

Ryan McMullin - Silver

 

Jr. High Quiz Bowl:

Team 1 - Cruz Malena, Blair Wietfeld, Korbin Hake, Grayson Loseke

Team 2 - Grant Zabka, Cooper Fehringer, Bergan Settjie, Ryan McMullin

 

State Honor Choir:

Sydney Messerlie 

 

Nearly 1,200 youth members, chapter advisers, and guests from across the state gathered for the Nebraska Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America’s (FCCLA) State Leadership Conference held in Lincoln, Nebraska, March 29-31, 2026, at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Over the three-day conference, students attended general sessions, participated in workshops on relevant youth issues, toured local organizations, networked with organizations and post-secondary institutions, competed in various competitive events, and much more! 26 members from the Leigh chapter attended this year’s conference!

Students started on their conference path on Sunday, March 29, with the Opening General Session led by the 2025-2026 State Officer Team. This session featured adult and adviser awards along with individual member recognition. This year, Mrs. Megan Hillen was the recipient of the Adviser Committed to Excellence Award.

Attendees had the opportunity to attend a variety of breakout sessions on Monday and Tuesday presented by FCCLA youth leaders and outside partners, including Kaiti Blackburn from Jana’s Campaign, Derek Feyerherm from the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce, Meghan Christensen from Midland University, KB Mensah & Kris Whisenhunt from Visionary Youth, Dr. Vernetta Kosalka from UNL Hospitality, Tourism, & Restaurant Management, Dr. Kimberly Clawson & Wendy Baumeister, PsyD, LMHP from BHECN Southeast, Dr. Dawn Lindsley, UNL Child, Youth and Family Studies & Dr. Carol Erwin, Wayne State College, and Abby Miller from The Leadership Center. The Opportunity Fair featured various colleges, organizations, and businesses for members to connect with.

The conference continued with the Recognition General Session on Monday evening, where attendees heard from Dr. Brian Maher, Nebraska Commissioner of Education, and keynote speaker, Ketric Newell. Newell challenged FCCLA members to examine the limiting beliefs and messages that influence their confidence, choices, and leadership potential. Through an encouraging and reflective message, he emphasized the power of selfawareness, truth, and personal responsibility in shaping one’s future. 

Chapter awards were presented during the Recognition Session on Monday evening where recipients were recognized on-stage for their accomplishments. This year, the Leigh Chapter received recognition as a Gold Chapter and received the Red and White Affiliation Award.

On Tuesday morning, FCCLA members showcased their projects and initiatives from the past year through the Spotlight on Projects event. More than 30 displays from chapters across the state were available for members to review. Ava Kasik, Karly Wendt, and Nevaeh Zulkoski shared their project NourishED. For Spotlight on Projects, participants highlight their work in categories like Community Service, Career Connection, and National Programs, setting up displays to share results with evaluators and peers.

This year, more than 700 students participated in STAR events at the State Leadership Conference. STAR Events (Students Taking Action with Recognition) recognize members for proficiency and achievement in individual and chapter projects, leadership skills, and career preparation in over 30 national events. Students who were named the State Champion or Runner-Up and earned a Gold or Silver medal also qualified to compete in the national competition in Washington, D.C. this July!

For the Leigh Chapter, Sydney Messerlie, Ava Kasik, Karly Wendt, Nevaeh Zulkoski, Emersyn Urban, Vylet Hollatz, Lainey Urban, Eisley Urban, Khloe Kabes, and Emery Malena all qualified for nationals in their respective events! 

The conference wrapped up on Tuesday, March 31, with the Closing General Session. Additionally, the 2025-2026 State Officer Team reflected on their year of service to Nebraska FCCLA prior to the installation of the 2026-2027 State Officer Team. The 2026-2027 State Peer Officer Teams and overall SPOT council were also announced prior to the adjourning of the conference.

The best and brightest of Leigh High School put themselves to the test, literally, at the Northeast Community College Scholastic Day competition this past Wednesday, April 1. After last year’s cancellation, this day of arduous testing—and meal at the college’s dining hall—was a welcome celebration and ended rather victoriously, with the students of Leigh High School placing second overall in Class D!

There were four students who officially placed well in their own respective tests. Senior Luke Eisenmann took first place in Technical Math and, in a similar subject, stole second place for Trigonometry. Senior Elizabeth Hoffman snagged the silver in both English Composition and Vocabulary tests. Senior Brayden Loseke came home with first place in American Government and second place in Physics. Finally, Caleb Settje, a sophomore, placed third in Drafting. 

As for the other representatives of Leigh in each of their testing categories: Kaylee Brabec competed in Anatomy & Physiology, Vivian Bunner competed in Biology, Aidan Ellsworth competed in Welding, Madilyn Freudenburg competed in Medical Terminology, Mia Glissman-Mayner competed in Literature, Layton Held competed in Algebra I, Ella Higby competed in Parenting & Child Development, Cade Hoesly competed in Computer Literature, Vylet Hollatz competed in Public Speaking, Briggs Klug competed in Geometry, Kaycee Lange competed in Algebra II and Geography, Wyatt Langhorst competed in American History and Introduction to Psychology, Carmen Malena competed in Accounting I and Chemistry, Kyle McMullin competed in Basic Construction and Workplace Communication, Jurnee Mullenhoff competed in Agri-Science, Lainey Urban competed in Foods & Nutrition, Brett Wemhoff competed in Personal Finance, and Michael Wemhoff competed in World History. 

“I was proud to place so well in both my American Government and Physics tests,” stated senior Brayden Loseke. “As a team we did great and I'm glad to end my competition there on a high note.”

About his experience, sophomore Caleb Settje said, “The day itself was entertaining and I was very happy about getting 3rd place.”