Leigh High School Holds Virtual Academic Award Ceremony
Traditionally, Leigh High School celebrates its best and brightest with an all-school assembly open to the public on the Friday morning before graduation.
With the fourth quarter of school this year taking place virtually due to the coronavirus pandemic, the annual awards ceremony went virtual too, and high school teachers used Photo Booth and other digital means to create videos announcing their respective award winners. With the help of Mrs. Kylie Hollatz and Mrs. Abby Sayers, the videos were then compiled into one mega-awards video!
“We knew we couldn’t gather in the gym like we would traditionally do, but we still wanted to find a way to recognize our students’ excellent efforts in the classroom not only during this past quarter of e-learning, but during the entire school year,” 7-12 Principal Troy Holmberg said.
Students will then be able to pick up packets containing any awards they received when they turn in their course materials and laptops to school next week. The full awards video will be available on the Leigh Community Schools webpage.
Here is a list of the honors awarded (by teacher):
General and Class Awards:
Mr. Holmberg:
NSCAS Award (Excellence in Math, Science, and Language Arts-8th Grade State Testing): Zoey VanDyke and Kyle Holmberg
High ACT Award: Reagan Settje
East Husker Conference Senior Academic All-Conference: Reagan Settje and Natalie Reeves
Omaha World Herald All-State Academic Team Honorable Mention: Reagan Settje and Natalie Reeves
Lincoln Journal Star Academic All-State Scholar Athletes: Cassidy Hoffman (VB and GBB), Reagan Settje (VB and GBB), Natalie Reeves (SB), Payje Rayback (SB)
NSAA Academic All-State: Reagan Settje (VB, GBB, One-Act, Music), Natalie Reeves (SB, Music), Kanyon Held (One-Act)
2020 Valedictorian Award: Reagan Settje
2020 Salutatorian Award: Natalie Reeves
Mr Knaak (Math):
7th Grade: 1—Brianne Kuhr, 2—Izabel Hollatz, 3—Baylee Settje;
8th Grade Pre-Algebra: 1—Aubrie Hanna, 2—James Grotelueschen, 3—Jordan Noonan
9th Grade Algebra I: 1—Sydney Reeves, 2—Zoey Van Dyke, 3—Jessica Hoffman
10th Grade Geometry: 1—Kanyon Held (tie), 2—Kennedy Settje (tie), 3—Makenna Held
11th Grade Algebra 2: 1—Cassidy Hoffman, 2—Emily Loseke, 3—Alissa Kasik
11th Grade Algebra 2A: 1—Layne Krutz
Mrs. Sayers (Business):
7th Grade Business: Kammy Held, Brianne Kuhr, Brynn Settje
8th Grade Business: Aubrie Hanna
9th Grade Business: Jessica Hoffman
Multimedia: Zoey Van Dyke
10th Grade Entrepreneurship: Makenna Held, Kennedy Settje
11th Grade Personal Finance: Cassidy Hoffman
12th Grade Personal Finance: Natalie Reeves
Accounting: Kanyon Held
Tech Guru Award: Albert Diaz
Spanish Entertainer Award: Kayden Schumacher
#BeKind/Leader/Role Model/Digital Citizenship Award: Emily Loseke, Payje Rayback
Mr. Schmidt (Science):
7th grade Science: Brianne Kuhr, Brynn Settje
8th grade Science: Aubrie Hanna, Gracelyn Eisenmann
9th grade Physical Science: Kyle Holmberg, Sydney Reeves
10th grade Biology: Kennedy Settje, Justine Thompson
11th grade Chemistry: Cassidy Hoffman, Emily Loseke
Integrated Science - Most improved students: Jose Aguirre, Lane Krutz
Odysseyware Physics - Commendation for a Freshman doing Senior level work: Kyle Holmberg
Science Aide - Commendation for a job well done: Carson Ahrens
To all LHS students for making Mr. Schmidt’s time teaching in Leigh so rewarding: THANK YOU!
Mrs. Fischer (English):
Writing 7: (Tie): Brianne Kuhr, Izabel Hollatz
Writing 8: 1—Aubrie Hanna, 2—(tie)—Macy Clausen, Gracie Eisenmann
Extra Recognition to More Great 8th grade Writers: Leah Pinkston, Sage Fernau
Reading 8: 1—Aubrie Hanna, 2—Carter Timm
Geometry: 1—Cortlynn Cadwallader
English 10: 1—Kennedy Settje, 2—(tie)—Kanyon Held, Makenna Held, Justine Thompson
Hardest Worker Award: Tanyn Larson
Best Aide Award: Taya Gross
Mr. Prososki (English):
9th Speech: Zoey VanDyke
Reading 7: Izabel Hollatz, Brianne Kuhr
Reading 8: Simon Wemhoff
English 12: Alexis Schroeder
Mrs. M. Held (English):
Reading 7: 1—Baylee Settje, 2—Brynn Settje, 3—Carter Brabec
English 11: 1—(Tie)—Cassidy Hoffman, Emily Loseke, 2—Kayden Schumacher, 3—Alissa Kasik; Most Improved: Trevor Zulkoski
College English: 1—Reagan Settje, 2—Natalie Reeves, 3—Payje Rayback; Most Improved: Taylor Larson
Freshmen English: 1—Zoey VanDyke, 2—Jessica Hoffman, 3—Sydney Reeves; Most Improved: Deandrea Rivera
Mr. Bachman (Social Studies):
12th Government: Reagan Settje
11th US History: Emily Loseke
Current Events: Zoey VanDyke
9th Civics: Sydney Reeves
8th Social Studies: Gracie Eisenmann
7th Social Studies: Brianne Kuhr
Most Improved Social Studies Students: Cassi Rayback & Keeley Campbell
Mrs. Hillen (FCS):
Most Competent and Most Organized Student Aide: Payje Rayback
Housing/Interior Design - Master Designer: Kennedy Settje
7th Grade Exploratory FCS - Silver Spoon Award: Ella Urban
8th Grade Exploratory FCS - Master Sewist: Gracie Eisenmann
8th Grade Exploratory FCS - Most FCS Experiences: Aubrie Hanna
Careers - Career Ready Award: Makenna Held
Relationships Award: Kayden Schumacher
Life Skills - Most Handy Helper Award: Cassidy Hoffman
Life Skills - Most FCS Experiences: Lexi Schroeder
Culinary Arts - Master Chef: Payje Rayback
Child Development/Parenting Award: Natalie Reeves
Intro to FCS/Foods Award: Zoey VanDyke
Mrs. Settje – (Choral Music)
East Husker Conference Elite Choral Award: Rylee Olson
East Husker Conference Festival Choir: Alicia Holmberg, Abbigail Brabec. Natalie Brabec, Makenna Held, Alexis Schroeder, Taya Gross, Kyle Holmberg, and Audie Tejkl
Nebraska State FFA Choral Award: Makenna Held and Natalie Reeves
Wayne State College Choral Award: Alicia Holmberg, Rylee Olson, Alexis Schroeder, and Taya Gross
National Choral Award - Abbigail Brabec
Mrs. Cerv (Art):
High School Art Recognition: Reagan Settje, Korbee Wendt, Emily Loseke, Kayden Schumacher, Sydney Reeves, Jessica Hoffman, Cortlynn Cadwallader, Calvin Wemhoff
8th Grade Art Recognition: Macy Clausen, Nathan Bahns, Aubrie Hanna, Dylan Higby, Tanyn Larson, Leah Pinkston
7th Grade Art Recognition: Kammy Held, Brynn Settje, Brianne Kuhr, Baylee Settje, Izabel Hollatz
Ms. B Held (Ag):
Freshman Ag: Sydney Reeves
Sophomore Ag: Kanyon Held
Junior Ag: Alissa Kasik
Senior Ag: Natalie Reeves
Life Skills: Madisyn Pelan
Bob the Builder Award: Layne Krutz
Superior Welding Award: Justine Thompson
Activity Awards:
Honor Society (Mrs. K. Hillen):
Seniors: Reagan Settje, Natalie Reeves, Payje Rayback
Juniors: Cassidy Hoffman, Emily Loseke, Alissa Kasik, Kayden Schumacher
Sophomores: Kennedy Settje, Makenna Held, Kanyon Held, Justine Thompson, Natalie Brabec, Jacob Eisenmann
Honor Cord for earning 12 or more college credits from CCC: Reagan Settje, Natalie Reeves,
Abby Brabec, Taylor Larson, Payje Rayback, Taya Gross
Journalism (Mrs. Fischer):
Letter Winners:
Seniors: Abbi Brabec, Taylor Larson, Natalie Reeves, Lexi Schroeder, Reagan Settje
Juniors: Cassidy Hoffman, Alicia Holmberg, Alissa Kasik, Emily Loseke, Maddie Pelan, Kayden Schumacher
Sophomores: Natalie Brabec, Makenna Held, Kanyon Held, Kennedy Settje, Audie Tejkl, Justine Thompson
Freshman: Kerstyn Held, Jessica Hoffman, Sydney Reeves, Dee Rivera, Korbee Wendt
Norfolk Daily News Columnists: Reagan Settje, Natalie Reeves
Best Sports Writer: Cassidy Hoffman
Best Staff Writer: Emily Loseke
Yearbook (Mrs. M. Held):
Editor—Reagan Settje; Business Manager—Natalie Reeves; Photo Editors—Taya Gross & Payje Rayback; Copy Editor—Taylor Larson
Other Staff—Riana Grotelueschen, Kyleigh Rayback, Madisyn Pelan, Emily Loseke, Kayden Schumacher, Alissa Kasik, Cassidy Hoffman, Alicia Holmberg, Rylee Olson, Natalie Brabec, Madison Noonan, Justine Thompson, Korbee Wendt, Jessica Hoffman, Sydney Reeves, Kerstyn Held, and Deandrea Rivera
One-Act Play (Mrs. Hollatz):
Conference One-Act Outstanding Actors/Actresses: Carson Ahrens, Kyle Holmberg, Kanyon Held, Alicia Holmberg, Kayden Schumacher, Logan Schroeder, and Audie Tejkl
Conference Outstanding Crew: Taya Gross: Stage Lights, Emily Loseke: Sound, Jacob Eisenmann: Spotlight, Calvin Wemhoff, Kevin Becerril, Layne Krutz, Carson Ahrens, Zane Williams: Construction, and Maddie Pelan: Hair and Makeup
District One-Act Outstanding Actors/Actresses: Reagan Settje, Payje Rayback, Alicia Holmberg, Kanyon Held, Logan Schroeder, Carson Ahrens, Audie Tejkl, and Alexis Schroeder
Speech (Mr. Prososki):
MVP: Audie Tejkl
Most Improved: Emily Loseke
Top High School Readers (Mrs. Hollatz):
75-Point Club: Baylee Settje, Morgan Bunner, Jessica Hoffman, Sydney Reeves, Zoey VanDyke, Alicia Holmberg, Reagan Settje
100-Point Club: Brianne Kuhr, Makenna Held, Justine Thompson, Kanyon Held, Cassidy Hoffman
125-Point Club: Ella Urban: Izabel Hollatz: Natalie Brabec: Kennedy Settje
175+ Point Club: Emily Loseke—189.6 points, Sage Fernau—216.1 points, Carter Timm—488.6 points (K-12th grade Top Reader)