At the Academic Awards Night at Lakeside Lutheran High School, Lisa Henning of U.S. Figure Skating presented senior Anna Swenson with the Platinum Level Certificate, honoring Swenson’s hard work and commitment during high school.
Swenson is a U.S. Synchronized Skating Championships competitor at the novice level.
She will attend Concordia University-Wisconsin for nursing and is the daughter of Duane and Katherine of Beaver Dam.
Abigail Buxa received the American Legion Auxiliary Badger Girls State Scholarship at the recent Academic Awards Night at Lakeside Lutheran High School.
The $500 scholarship is offered to Citizens of the most recent Badger Girls State Session who plan to attend a college, university, or approved technical school.
Buxa, the daughter of Greg and Linda of Oconomowoc, will attend Lipscomb University to study applied mathematics with minors in Spanish, business, or psychology.
Andy Werner from the Lake Mills chapter of Sons of the American Legion, Squadron #67, presented a scholarship to senior Katherine Guld at the recent Academic Awards Night at Lakeside Lutheran High School. Founded in 1932, Sons of the American Legion exists to honor the service and sacrifice of Legionnaires. Guld, who is headed to Wisconsin Lutheran College, Milwaukee to study biology/osteopathic medicine, is the daughter of John and Nicole Guld of Lake Mills.
Jeff and Melody Krakow of Marine Corps League, Wisconsin Globe and Anchor, Detachment 359, presented Lakeside Lutheran senior Anna Swenson with a $1,000 scholarship at the recent Academic Awards Night at Lakeside Lutheran High School.
The scholarship, available to those pursuing an education in nursing, was established to honor the many Navy corpsmen who have served with the Marine Corps.
Swenson, whose grandfather served in the Navy, will study nursing at Concordia University-Wisconsin. She is the daughter of Duane and Katherine of Beaver Dam.
Congratulations to Tyler Holzhueter, who received the Ryan J. Zweifel Memorial Scholarship for those entering the teaching ministry, and to Seth Hackbarth, who received this year’s Zachary D. Moyle Memorial Scholarship for those entering the preaching ministry. These scholarship endowments in memory of Zachary D. Moyle and Ryan J. Zweifel, both from the LL Class of 2008, were established in 2009 after the young men were killed in a car accident after their first year at MLC. The scholarships were designed to encourage and assist Lakeside Lutheran High School graduates who attend Martin Luther College to share the gospel of Jesus Christ.
This year Lakeside Lutheran High School theme celebrated “Decades of Faithfulness,” recognizing the completion of 60 years of education.
During the summer of 2018, students kept busy. For the 16th year, the girls track team were conference champs. The boys’ team joined them at the top of the Capitol North. Danielle Schilling broke the school record in pole vault at 11’3 and Collin Schulz set the school record for high jump at 6’9 and placed first at State with a jump of 6’6.
Junior Lukas Heckmann became the 2018 WIAA D2 State Champ in golf.
Warrior baseball finished 12-6 and made an exciting comeback attempt at the regional championship. First team conference honorees included Dustin Pampel, Eric Pillard, and Alex Ryan. Warrior softball ended its season with a 10-7 overall record and saw Shannon Jones awarded 1st-team all-conference honors.
For two weeks, the Warrior Marching Band traveled to the East Coast, performing in parades in Ontario, Canada, and several U.S. cities. At the Enfield, Conn., parade they received Best Marching Band Award.
When school began in August, we had 427 students and four new faculty: Hannah Uher, Science; Nate Sievert, Math and Phy Ed; Michael Helwig, Religion; and Justin Vanderhoof, English and Geography.
Lakeside A Cappella Choir traveled to 20 area churches sharing God’s Word and also spent spring break in California singing in four churches and two schools. Warrior Band and choirs presented four concerts during the year. The band also marched in the annual Jefferson Gemutlichkeit parade and presented its annual concert in November with Federation elementary school bands.
2018 ACT results placed LLHS in the top 2% in the state. Of 85 members in the 2018 class, 73, or 86%, wrote the exam. Based on a 36-point scale, the composite score of these students was 24.2, which is above the state composite of 20.5.
Three students participated in Wisconsin’s Youth Apprenticeship program, working in farming and manufacturing. This allows them to receive hands-on learning in an occupational area at a worksite.
Lakeside Lutheran boys cross country team saw junior August Gresens earn 1st team all-conference honors. Former cross country coach and current German teacher Gerry Walta was inducted into the Wisconsin Cross Country Coaches Hall of Fame in January.
With a record of 11-1 Warrior football took conference and made the longest trek in program history, reaching Division 4 semifinals. Brevin Jegerlehner, Cam Paske, Caleb Raymond, Tyler Holzhueter, Casey Ponyicsanyi, Will DeNoyer, and Charlie Miller all received first-team honors. Casey Ponyicsanyi was named conference Offensive Player of the Year. Coach Paul Bauer was named Wisconsin State Journal/WisconsinPrepZone.com All-Area football coach of the year.
Girls golf took third in the Rock Valley Conference. Sophomore Maya Heckmann was named conference Golfer of the Year, topping it off with a trip to State.
With a record of 9-1, Warrior Volleyball took the Capitol North Conference for a sixth straight year and also won region. Ella Collins and Kaitlyn Shadoski received first-team all-conference honors.
Lakeside boys soccer ended its season with a 7-9-0 overall record.
The varsity math team took first in the highly competitive Madison LaFollette meet and first in both fall and spring Capitol Conference Math Meets.
Senior Noelle Gates won the overall medal for the World History category at the Capitol North Conference Academic Bowl—for the fourth year in a row!
Senior Abby Buxa was named a Commended Student in the 2019 National Merit Scholarship Program.
Our STEM Academy began this year with 19 students enrolled in Introduction to Engineering Design. LLHS is also one of the first high schools in the state to start a chapter of the Society of Women Engineers.
Boys basketball finished as conference champions with an overall record of 17-4. Jack Monis and Cameron Paske received first-team honors, and Monis was named Conference Player of the Year.
Girls basketball finished with an 11-11 overall record; Kaitlyn Shadoski of Janesville received first team honors.
In wrestling, the team went 10-4 overall and Cole Lauersdorf (182) and Austin Meyer (220) were Capitol Conference Champs.
Dance team was the WACPC Regional Champ and placed fifth in the state after competing in D3 jazz for the first time in school history.
This year, 127 students participated in Teens for Christ. The group held three “New Friends” events, where young people with special needs join with Lakeside teens in fun activities such as human bowling, karaoke, basketball, crafts, and devotion. Students also visited residents at London Lodge, Cambridge, on several Mondays after school. At Christmas, Teens held a bake sale with proceeds funding a foosball table for the ROC in Watertown. Teens hosted a school-wide “Life Day” and heard from speakers about life-related issues to youth today.
In February, students enjoyed a week of costume contests sponsored by Student Council, which also organizes Homecoming festivities and a blood drive in March.
In February, Warrior FFA celebrated National FFA Week with many ag-related contests and activities. The almost 50-strong group held its annual banquet and recognition night in early March. In addition, they joined forces with the construction class and renovated the school’s greenhouse.
The 8th annual Grand Event dinner/auction “Called to Serve” featured a WWII era military theme. Generous supporters raised over $90,000.
The forensics team took its ninth straight conference championship and received The Excellence in Speech Award for the 10th year at State WHSFA Festival in April.
Six Warriors attended the WELS National Band Festival at Wisconsin Lutheran High School, Milwaukee, from March 15-17.
In April, the drama department produced “Murder in the House of Horrors.” Almost 20 students performed while many other students participated behind the scenes.
Sixteen Class A entries earned a starred-first rating at the WSMA Solo-Ensemble District level held in February at Lakeside, qualifying them to perform at State. Overall, Lakeside had 53 solo/ensemble entries involving more than 75 students.
At the Capitol Conference Art Show at the Madison Pyle Center, eight Warrior artists displayed their work.
Warrior Times Weekly was again awarded first place by the American Scholastic Press Association, newspaper division.
On May 26, 100% of the 111 seniors are expected to graduate. Co-valedictorians are Abigail Buxa, Will DeNoyer, and Brevin Jegerlehner, and the salutatorian is Kaitlyn Shadoski.
Seven Operation Go mission trips made up of 60 students will travel around the United States this year to help with church activities and summer camps.
For the 2019-2020 school year, Kirk DeNoyer will become Executive Director, while Todd Jahns joins the school as the Activities Director and boys varsity basketball coach.
Perception and image are important. When people think well of someone or something, they want to belong. When perception or image is negative, people distance themselves.
One day, as Jesus and his disciples traveled through Galilee, he asked, “Who do people say I am?” His disciples repeated the common theories of the day: he was a reincarnation of Moses or Elijah, or perhaps another prophet.
Our Savior then repeated the question, changing one word to aim it at his audience: “Who do you say I am?” (Mark 8:29a). The Master Teacher did this for the sake of his hearers. To this, Peter boldly proclaimed, “You are the Messiah” that is, the Anointed One, the Deliverer (Mark 8:29b).
Jesus is “the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16). He is to be revered and trusted. He is also to be the focus of our lives and behavior.
Yet, we don’t always live for Jesus. Our sinful nature overcomes our good intentions. We say and do things that defame Jesus and his Church. The public comes away thinking that Christianity is shallow and powerless to effect change.
We need to understand that our “friendship with the world”—evidenced by sinful actions— “means enmity against God” (James 4:4). When we publicly contradict God’s command to love him and others as ourselves, we “preach a sermon.” We tell others that we may say and do what we want since we are above God and his Word.
At these times, God lead us to see the damage we do. May he confront us with the law to realize our sin and turn from it. After this, may he assure us through the gospel that we are forgiven because Christ fully paid sin’s price.
“Who do you say I am?” By God’s grace, may you and I confess that Jesus is “the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
Jim Grasby is principal of Lakeside Lutheran.
Reach him at 920.648.2321 or jgrasby@llhs.org
Lakeside Lutheran High School announced its Academic Top Ten from the Class of 2019. These individuals cumulatively earned 292.3 high school credits, an average slightly above 29.2 credits per person. 26 credits are needed for graduation from Lakeside.
Through seven semesters, the Top Ten has a mean grade point average of 3.968 and their cumulative grade point averages range from 3.898 to 4.000—102/1000ths of a grade point. In one case, the difference in grade point between four of the Top Ten was 21/1000th of a point. Three of these students earned straight As, not a single A-, for semester grades, and one had just one A- through seven semesters.
Their profiles, in alphabetical order, follow:
Valedictorian Abigail Buxa, daughter of Greg and Linda, Oconomowoc, will attend Lipscomb University, Nashville, to major in Applied Mathematics with minors in Spanish, business, or psychology.
She is a National Merit Commended Student, Herb Kohl Excellence Scholarship Recipient, Badger Girls’ State representative, and Lake Mills Student Rotarian. She runs her own business, Signs from Above by Abigail.
While at Lakeside, she was the National Honor Society President, Operation GO Student President, and was math team captain. She served as a choir accompanist and soloist, received the Art Show Best of School, was part of the yearbook and newspaper teams, and volunteered with Teens for Christ. She played volleyball for two years, basketball for four, and track for four, serving as a captain and receiving all-conference honors in track.
“I loved the little unexpected moments,” she says about high school. “Being involved in sports and other clubs helped me meet and grow close with people I love. In these four years, I feel like I have not only grown academically but as a person in general. Most importantly, my faith became my own responsibility and it is so much stronger now.” She is a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Johnson Creek.
Valedictorian Will DeNoyer, son of Brad and Jennelle, is a member at Peace, Sun Prairie, where he volunteers as an usher and an instrumentalist. He will head to UW-Madison to “major in Mechanical Engineering and minor in Business, and use my education to run my own company.”
In addition to playing on the football and basketball teams and earning all-conference honors, he was a member of National Honor Society, Teens For Christ, Student Council, and participated in drama productions. “My favorite part about Lakeside is the people,” he says. “My buddies, who were always there to do funny (dumb) things with, my classmates and teachers who I was blessed with the opportunity to play music with, and Louie, who was always good for a short conversation every Tuesday.”
Top Ten Katherine Guld, daughter of John and Nicole, is a member of St. Paul, Lake Mills, where she volunteers with Vacation Bible School. A presidential scholarship winner, she will attend Wisconsin Lutheran College, Milwaukee, for a degree in Biology/Osteopathic Medicine. “Getting accepted and finishing medical school is an important next goal for me after graduating,” she says. “Giving back to the community through service and my healthcare profession is something that I hope to accomplish in the future.”
At Lakeside, she has played volleyball, soccer, and intramural basketball. In addition, she participates in the newspaper, STEM Club, the robotics team, Society of Women Engineers, Student Council, National Honor Society, Teens for Christ, and Operation Go mission trips.
Top Ten Lukas Heckmann, is the son of Matt and Amy of Middleton. He will be attending the University of New Orleans to study mechanical engineering. A recipient of the Homer Hitt Scholarship, he was recruited to be part of the UNO golf team.
A member at St. Andrew Lutheran Church, Middleton, Heckmann volunteered with 8 Miles for Water and his church’s music team. He is a member of the National Honor Society and Student Council. He has been selected Capitol Conference Golfer of the Year in both 2018 and 2019; he won the WIAA Division 2 state boys golf championship in 2018.
“I have enjoyed the ability to represent my Savior in each school activity I have been able to be a part of,” he says. “God blessed me with many gifts and Lakeside has given me the opportunity to give all the glory back to God.”
Valedictorian Brevin Jegerlehner, son of AJ and Betty, Sun Prairie, will attend Wisconsin Lutheran College, Milwaukee, to study Sports and Exercise Science. A presidential scholarship recipient, he “would like to get my doctorate in physical therapy where I can help athletes return to sports, while also being active in my church” he says. He is currently a member at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Madison.
During high school, Jegerlehner has been involved with NHS, Student Council, and was a Badger Boys State rep. He attended the Rotary Youth Leadership Academy, and was a Lake Mills Student Rotarian. He volunteered with highway clean up, the “New Friends” program with Teens for Christ, and was a rep for Lakeside at area Lutheran elementary schools. A WIAA Scholar-Athlete and Robert Muehrcke Scholar-Athlete scholarship recipient, he participated in football, basketball, track, and earned all-conference honors.
“I enjoyed learning from hard-working and dedicated teachers who tried to help me in every way they could,” he says. “I had fun playing sports and spending time with my friends.”
Top Ten Lucas Schneider, son of Troy and Kris, Waterloo, will attend UW-LaCrosse to study accounting and business management. “I hope to get a good job as a financial advisor after I double major,” he says.
A member at St. Paul, Lake Mills, he serves as an usher. He participated on the varsity Math Team for three years, placing both individually and as a team for Madison area and Conference math meets, and is a founding member of the STEM Club. He sings in the A Cappella Choir, is part of NHS, served as the Editor-in-Chief of the newspaper, and completed a youth apprenticeship with AKT Businesses Services in Lake Mills.
About high school, he says, “It was a great time for personal and social growth. I met my best friends who I plan to keep for the rest of my life. I also think that Lakeside prepared me well to succeed in my future.”
Salutatorian Kaitlyn Shadoski, daughter of Fred and Debra, is a member at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Janesville.
While at Lakeside, she was first-team all-conference and captain for volleyball and was a member of the 2017 state championship team. She also participated in varsity basketball and track. This earned her the Lakeside WIAA Scholar-Athlete Award as well as the Warrior Athlete Award. She was National Honor Society member, volunteered with Teens for Christ, and was a Lake Mills Student Rotarian. “I liked the Christian atmosphere in every single class,” she says. “It was great that my faith was strengthened not only in religion class, but also in classes like math and science. I also loved every single sports team that I was on and I will miss playing high school sports.”
A recipient of both the WLC Presidential Scholarship and Presto Foundation Scholarship, she will attend Wisconsin Lutheran College to study Elementary Education and Special Education. “I hope to be teaching young, possibly disabled, children. I would love to coach as well,” she says.
Top Ten Anna Swenson, daughter of Duane and Katherine, is a member at St. Stephen Lutheran, Beaver Dam. She will head to Concordia University-Wisconsin for nursing, where she earned its Presidential Scholarship. She plans work as a nurse in an ICU for one to two years, then go back to school for a masters or doctorate as a nurse anesthetist.
“At Lakeside, I was part of the Dance Team for two years. I am also part of the National Honor Society and Teens for Christ,” she says. “I have also been figureskating for Swan City Ice Skaters in Beaver Dam for 12 years and part of a synchronized skating team for 10 years.” She received a Team Spirit Award for Intermediate Synchronized Skating Team and the United States Figure Skating Senior Skater Platinum Award.
She appreciated Lakeside’s faith-based community. “Having chapel and religion every day are the best things that Lakeside offers,” she says. “I also liked how friendly most of the teachers are. They are always there if you need help with anything even if it is unrelated to school.”
Top Ten Kira Tweit, daughter of Bernt and Katie, will attend Bethany Lutheran College in Makato, Minn., to study biology, with the goal of becoming a dentist or orthodontist. She received a Bethany Presidential Scholarship.
A member at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Madison, she loves “the Christian atmosphere here at Lakeside. At Lakeside our knowledge and faith is strengthened everyday. All of my teachers are really supportive, and I would feel comfortable talking about anything.”
She has participated in dance, as part of the regional champions in D3 jazz that also went to State. In addition, she was in drama, Teens for Christ, A Cappella Choir, track, and cross country, where she earned all-conference honors.
Top Ten Taylor Wolfram, daughter of Brett and Jodi, Fort Atkinson, will attend UW-Madison for a degree in business management and human resources along with a certificate in photography. Her goal is to find a career within the photography industry. She has received the Marshall Hans Memorial Scholarship.
She participated in Teens for Christ, NHS, Photography Club, newspaper, yearbook, and 4-H. In her church, St. Paul, Fort Atkinson, she helped with Christmas for Kids, Vacation Bible School, the holiday parade, and Easter breakfast.
“My favorite part about Lakeside is all the memories that I have made. I really enjoy the strong Christian community and hearing God’s Word everyday. I have also been blessed with a amazing group of friends and some pretty awesome teachers,” she says.
Greg Hoffman, Energy Services Representative from Lake Mills Light & Water, presented the 2019 Public Power Scholarship to Jacob Ulrich at the recent Academic Awards Night at Lakeside Lutheran High School.
The $500 scholarship, part of Lake Mills Light & Water’s commitment to give something back to the community and contribute to educational efforts, is available to seniors whose parents are customers.
Ulrich is the son of Rick and Tina of Jefferson. He will attend UW-Stevens Point to study business management.
Katherine Guld, daughter of John and Nicole of Lake Mills, was awarded a Lake Mills Rotary Scholarship at the recent Academic Awards Night at Lakeside Lutheran High School. The $1000.00 award was presented to Guld by Ann Lee, president of the Lake Mills Rotary Club.
Guld was awarded the scholarship based on her academic success as well as character, leadership, and participation during her high school years, her essay on the value of Rotary in the community, and her future plans regarding community service. She plans to attend Wisconsin Lutheran College, Milwaukee, to pursue a career in biology/osteopathic medicine.
According to Rotary International, Rotary Clubs are committed to service, fellowship, diversity, integrity, and leadership. Supporting education is one of the six top priorities of Rotary, along with promoting peace, fighting disease, providing clean water, saving mothers and children, and growing local economies. The scholarships are funded primarily through the annual Scholarship Brunch offered to the public each February.
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