Maria Vik, a senior at Lakeside Lutheran, received a $500 award from the Tammy Hafenstein (Kuhl) Memorial Scholarship. Vik, daughter of Matthew and Jennifer of Fort Atkinson, plans to pursue a degree in elementary education and mathematics at Martin Luther College in New Ulm, Minn.
The scholarship, presented by Brian Hafenstein at Lakeside’s Academic Awards Night on May 8, was established in 2021 for students of Lake Mills, Lakeside Lutheran, and Waterloo High Schools in honor of Hafenstein, who died on June 16, 2021. Three of her four children attended Lakeside Lutheran and the fourth is a student at St. Paul, Lake Mills. The Tammy Hafenstein (Kuhl) Memorial Scholarship, through the Lake Mills Area Community Foundation, aids students with post-secondary educational goals, with a special emphasis placed on applicants who were involved in music, choir, athletics, or industrial arts during their time in high school.
According to the family, “Tammy Ann (Kuhl) Hafenstein exemplified selfless service over a lifetime. Although Tammy was taken from us in a tragic car crash just five days following her 50th birthday, the example of faith, hope, and love that would emanate from Tammy still lives on in all we do and learn at LLHS.”
Maria Vik, a senior at Lakeside Lutheran, received a $500 award from the Tammy Hafenstein (Kuhl) Memorial Scholarship at the May 8 Academic Awards Night, presented by Brian Hafenstein.
Thirty-four Class A entries from Lakeside Lutheran High School earned a starred first rating at the Wisconsin State Music Association (WSMA) Solo-Ensemble District level held at Columbus High School on February 24. Starred first ratings in Class A, the highest level of music selection, qualify musicians to perform at the WSMA State Festival at UW-Whitewater Saturday, April 27.
Those entries included ensembles, including the Warrior Percussion Ensemble, a brass duet and quartet, Swing Choir, a piano trio, and three piano duets. In individual work, seven vocal solos, seven musical theater vocal solo performances, and seven piano solos advanced. Other instrumental solos advancing to the state festival include a clarinet, trombone, two trumpets and a violin.
In addition to the starred first entries, Lakeside Class A musicians were awarded 12 first ratings and nine seconds for a total of 55 class A performances. In class B, Lakeside Lutheran had 11 entries: nine earned a first and two a second. Five class C entries earned firsts. Overall, Lakeside had 71 solo or ensemble entries that involved more than 90 students.
The solo, duet, trio and quartet state festival qualifiers from Lakeside Lutheran include [front, l-r] Elijah Vik, Fort Atkinson (trumpet solo, vocal solo; brass quartet); Maria Vik, Fort Atkinson (trombone solo, piano solo, piano duet, piano trio, brass duet; brass quartet); Sam Schmidt, Janesville (musical theater vocal solo); Aaron Hirsch (musical theater vocal solo); Elsa Johansson, Columbus (soprano solo, piano trio, piano solo, musical theater vocal solo, trumpet solo). [Middle, l-r] Elizabeth Mellon, Verona (musical theater vocal solo, alto solo, piano solo, piano duet); Grace Zhou, Madison (piano solo, violin solo); Violet Larson, Sun Prairie, (piano solo, piano duet); Joseph Metzger (vocal solo); Joshua Kutz, Lake Mills (piano solo); Ambria McCrary, Sun Prairie (jazz piano solo, piano duet, piano trio, musical theater vocal solo). [back, l-r] Isabel Kuchta, Whitewater (soprano solo, musical theater vocal solo); Abigail Tolkinen, Lowell (clarinet solo); Lucy Kuchta, Whitewater (vocal solo, musical theater vocal solo); Noelle Vanderhoof, Watertown (alto solo); Andrew Nass, Lake Mills (piano duet); Jackson Gleesing, Johnson Creek (piano duet). Missing: Ezekiel Vik, Fort Atkinson (brass duet, brass quartet); Samson Vik, Fort Atkinson (brass quartet).
The Warrior Percussion Ensemble qualified for the WSMA state festival. Members of the ensemble include: (front, L-R) Jeremiah Borgwardt, Watertown; Caleb Studnicka, Sun Prairie; Kayla Whitaker, Watertown; Hannah Johansson, Columbus; Addison Miller, Lake Mills; Josie Brey, Columbus; Reagan Jobke, Watertown. (back, l-r) Gabe Weidner, Columbus; Evan Nowatka, Watertown; Justin Albrecht, Middleton; Easton Morris-Robinson, Johnson Creek; Alina Gulczynski, Lake Mills; Emma Hallberg, Columbus. Missing: Nico Caminata, Janesville; Will Hemling, Beaver Dam.
The Warrior Swing Choir qualified for the WSMA state festival. Members of the ensemble include: (Front, l-r) Noelle Vanderhoof, Watertown; Clara Grow, Cottage Grove; Allianna Schleef, Marshall; Lillian Frohmader, Fort Atkinson. (2nd row, l-r) Kaelynn Gulczynski, Lake Mills; Isabel Kuchta, Whitewater; Ambria McCrary, Sun Prairie; Elsa Johansson, Columbus. (boys, l-r) Sam Schmidt, Janesville; John Loest, Beaver Dam; Joseph Metzger, Lake Mills; Isaac Garcia, Fort Atkinson; Aidan Berg, DeForest; Cooper Jensen, Fort Atkinson; Caleb Wensel, Johnson Creek; Daniel Ertman, Fort Atkinson; Aaron Hirsch, Johnson Creek. Missing: Farah Stuebs, Lake Mills.
Twelve students have been selected from the 90-member Lakeside Lutheran Concert Band to participate at the 2024 WELS West Regional Band Festival March 15-17 at Great Plains Lutheran High School, in Watertown, S.D. As a regional festival, this three-day festival involves student musicians from 10 Lutheran high schools.
With a theme of “From Sea to Shining Sea,” the west festival involves more than 15 hours of rehearsals and sectionals over two days with up to 80 select teen musicians who have prepared individually but who have not played together previously. The weekend culminates in a capstone live concert on Sunday, March 17, at 2 p.m.
The weekend will be spent under the direction of clinicians Dr. Terry Beckler, professor of percussion, bands and music education at Northern State University in Aberdeen, So. Dak., and Mr. Quinten Petersen, Director of Bands and Fine Arts Department Coordinator at Wisconsin Lutheran High School, Milwaukee.
Students selected from the Lakeside Lutheran Concert Band include sophomore trumpeter Addison Hallberg, Columbus; junior percussionist Will Hemling, Beaver Dam; senior tenor saxophonist Aaron Hirsch,Johnson Creek; senior trumpeter Elsa Johansson, Columbus; freshman flutist Molly Kalma, Oconomowoc; junior tubist Elana Litherland, Columbus; senior clarinetist Ambria McCrary, Sun Prairie; senior tubist Joseph Metzger, Lake Mills; sophomore trombonist Jack Rupnow, Ixonia; sophomore clarinetist Abigail Tolkinen, Lowell; junior trumpeter Elijah Vik, Fort Atkinson; and senior trombonist Maria Vik, Fort Atkinson.
According to organizers, “The mission of the WELS Band Festival is to foster Christian fellowship among WELS high school students as they prepare, rehearse, and perform band music, so that through their instrumental abilities, the Lord will be praised.” For more information and to find a livestream link, go to welsfinearts.org/band-fest.
Twelve students have been selected from the Lakeside Lutheran Concert Band to participate at the 2024 WELS West Regional Band Festival March 15-17 at Great Plains Lutheran High School, in Watertown, S.D. They include: back row, L-R: junior tubist Joseph Metzger, Lake Mills; junior percussionist William Hemling, Beaver Dam; sophomore trombonist Jack Rupnow, Ixonia; junior trumpeter Elijah Vik, Fort Atkinson; senior trumpeter Elsa Johansson, Columbus; senior clarinetist, Ambria McCrary, Sun Prairie. Front row: junior tubist Elana Litherland, Columbus; freshman flutist Molly Kalma, Oconomowoc; sophomore clarinetist Abigail Tolkinen, Lowell; senior tenor saxophonist Aaron Hirsch, Johnson Creek; senior trombonist Maria Vik, Fort Atkinson; sophomore trumpeter Addison Hallberg, Columbus.
Lakeside Lutheran compiled our 7th annual “top stories of the year” post. Though we consider every piece of good news to be worthy of celebration—explaining our 76 blog entries and 916 Facebook posts shared in calendar year 2023—there are always some that garner more attention due to their scope or content. We’ve narrowed the 100s to 10 newsbits that garnered the most attention or celebrated God’s blessing on our school, students, and LLHS community, and remind you of them here with links that allow you to go more in-depth if you’d like.
March—Boys Basketball heads to State
Lakeside Lutheran High School wins against Edgewood in the Sectional Championship at Oregon High School on March 11, 2023.
Our 12th annual Grand Event raised $145,000 for our mission and “fund-a needs” that included theatre lighting, a marimba, and OpGo mission trip support, as well as the return of the financial aid paddle raise.
May—Three Warriors earn State FFA degrees
Lily York, Allen Lester, and Elizabeth Gunst are three of only 382 students in Wisconsin who earned the State FFA degree, the highest degree. With 23,000 members in the state, only three percent earn the accomplishment, which is based on their leadership, service, projects, and job placements.
Lakeside has a lot to offer. One of my favorite activities has been marching band. It’s a great way to make friends and memories, have fun, and use musical talents to glorify God in the most public way—marching in parades. I also enjoyed being a part of the musical in the pit band, but acting is also a great opportunity. I have been a part of FFA all four years at Lakeside and I think every student should consider joining even if they don’t live on a farm. Many teachers stand out for me too. Band Director Mr. Pufahl always had a positive attitude and was encouraging around me. I’ve had so much fun doing anything and everything band-related throughout the past four years. Art teacher, Mrs. Tetzlaff, is a really good teacher, but my favorite part about Mrs. T is how easy it is to talk to her. I always know if I need someone to talk to, she will be there. Pastor Toepel, my Spanish teacher, aka Señor, was also my homeroom teacher—I learned so much in his class while having fun. Mrs. Krauklis is a gym teacher and my former math teacher. I love Coach K’s personality and how she tries to make everything more fun. Her class made me enjoy math, and she encouraged me so much to become a teacher. Mr. Doering, History, Government, and Financial Literacy teacher, teaches my least favorite subjects, but he made them so interesting and fun that I looked forward to his classes every day. Lessons from his Financial Literacy class will be extremely helpful for the real world coming up for me. Now a counselor outside Lakeside, I loved Pastor Helwig’s religion class with “Question Day” and singing every Thursday. PH’s class was more than just a religion class—it was a personal class that taught things about real life that I think is awesome for juniors becoming young adults quicker than they might want to. Pastor Yahnke had a big place to fill when PH left, and I thought he did a really good job of that. I have gotten the most out of his senior religion classes than any other year. We really dive deep into hard topics and questions that need to be brought up for young adults. So many lifelong memories for me!
A 2023 LLHS grad, Nina will attend Martin Luther College this fall to major in education. She shares, “I would love to be a high school art teacher or upper grade school teacher.” She and her family are members at Zion in Columbus.
This article was first published in the 2023 summer issue of The Legacy, published semiannually for the Annual Fund Supporters of LLHS.
Some things about Lakeside that I really appreciated were all the different sports and clubs offered to students. Trying different sports or clubs during freshman year helped create opportunities to meet and befriend other students that I am still really close to now. Not knowing many people at the start of high school can be anxious. I have participated in wrestling, golf, and soccer throughout my high school years. I enjoyed time spent with teammates and coaches. I was in FFA and Band as well, learning and memory-making.
This past year I was honored to be a charter leader for Lakeside’s new Cultural Awareness Club. It was really fun to show and experience different cultures throughout the year. Last October I was able to share my family’s Hispanic culture at the first public event— it was a great new opportunity for many students and a good number of parents and other adults that joined us in the cafeteria that night.
Among many memorable teachers, Mr. Doering with Government, Mr. Pufahl with Band, and Mrs. Tetzlaff with Art made school fun for me because I was able to connect with them and enjoy their classes. It was very beneficial for me considering my future goals.
Manny will join his older sister at Martin Luther College in the fall to study Elementary Education, with plans to become a grade school teacher. He and his family are members at St. Mark, Watertown.
This article was first published in the 2023 summer issue of The Legacy, published semiannually for the Annual Fund Supporters of LLHS.
Julianne Dollard, a 2023 graduate of Lakeside Lutheran High School, was awarded a $2,000 Carrie Crystal Stuckert Memorial Scholarship from the Dream Pool Foundation. On the basis of an autobiography and application, these scholarships are given to graduating seniors who plan to enroll in a visual arts program. Dollard, granddaughter of John and Donna of Deerfield, will attend Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design.
The Dream Pool Foundation was founded by family and friends in memory of Carrie Stuckert, “a loving and kind person who had a passion for the visual arts and exceptional talent.” Stuckert’s dream was to start a company called Dream Pool, so the Dream Pool Foundation, a non-profit corporation with proceeds to benefit student artists in the form of scholarships, is a “tribute and remembrance to Carrie’s beautiful life.”
At the Lakeside Lutheran High School Commencement Concert May 21, the school’s music department, led by Choir Director Steven Springborn and Band Director Glen Pufahl, presented music awards for the 2022-2023 academic year to several student musicians. Gary and Nancy Fischer of Janesville also continued the scholarship tradition begun 25 years ago when they presented the Steven Fischer Memorial Scholarship to three seniors.
The National School Choral Award® is the highest honor for high school choral performers. It recognizes the dedication and musical achievement of top choral students nationwide, and was awarded to senior Juan Gulrud, son of Cody and Nidia of Marshall.
A Gueldner-Rusch Music Camp Scholarship to attend the week-long UW Summer Music Senior Clinic on the Madison campus was awarded to junior Sam Schmidt, son of Steven and Sandy, Janesville.
Four A Cappella Choir members received Outstanding Vocalist awards: Chloe Berg, daughter of Nathan and Jennifer, DeForest; Naomi Jenson, daughter of Alex and Kyla, Waterloo; Sam Schmidt; and Juan Gulrud.
Outstanding Musicians award recipients are chosen by fellow band members in recognition for outstanding musical achievements, cooperation and dedication to the Lakeside Lutheran band program. 2023 recipients include Marissa Duddeck, daughter of Tim of Whitewater and Jody Griffiths of Palmyra; Elijah Grow, son of Clayton and Stephanie, Cottage Grove; Ethan Gulczynski, son of Nathan and Emily, Lake Mills; Juan Gulrud; Aaron Hirsch, son of Kevin and Kristin, Johnson Creek; Manuel Iglesias, son of Domingo and Tammy Iglesias, Watertown; Elsa Johansson, daughter of Nils and Lara, Columbus; Benjamin Klug, son of Mark and Karen, Oconomowoc; Nina Litherland, daughter of Noah and Melissa, Columbus; Ambria McCrary, daughter of Brian and Amanda McCrary, Sun Prairie; Arnold Rupnow, son of Jason and Megen, Watertown; Maria Vik, daughter of Matthew and Jennifer, Fort Atkinson; and Isaac Winters, son of Jim and Kimara, Watertown.
Several national awards were given. The Louis Armstrong Jazz Award® was inaugurated in 1974 with the consent of his widow shortly after this great jazz artist died in 1971. It honors the outstanding jazz musician at each high school nationwide; this year’s award was presented to Maria Vik. The Woody Herman Jazz Award® was created in 1988, shortly after Herman’s death, also to honor outstanding jazz students, and was given to Marissa Duddeck. Said to be the most prestigious band award given to a high school band member, the John Philip Sousa Band Award is given to recognize superior musicianship, dependability, loyalty, and cooperation, and was awarded to Manuel Iglesias.
The Fischers instituted the scholarship 25 years ago in memory of their son who was a student and musician at Lakeside Lutheran when he died in 1998. This year’s recipients include seniors Chloe Berg, Jack DePrey, and Nina Litherland. Presented to graduating seniors who plan to continue in music and/or ministry, Berg and Litherland will attend Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn. to pursue teaching degrees, and DePrey will attend Bethany Lutheran College, Mankato, to study business and finance, with a long-term interest in having his own piano studio.
Music department award and scholarship recipients at Lakeside Lutheran in Lake Mills include (back row, l-r) Arnold Rupnow, Watertown; Isaac Winters, Watertown; Aaron Hirsch, Johnson Creek; Ethan Gulczynski, Lake Mills; Elijah Grow, Cottage Grove; Maria Vik, Fort Atkinson; Benjamin Klug, Oconomowoc (middle) Jack DePrey, Sun Prairie; Elsa Johansson, Columbus; Naomi Jenson, Waterloo; Sam Schmidt, Janesville; Manuel Iglesias, Watertown. (front) Marissa Duddeck, Whitewater; Chloe Berg, DeForest; Ambria McCrary, Sun Prairie; Nina Litherland, Columbus; Juan Gulrud, Marshall.Nancy and Gary Fischer presented Steven Fischer Memorial Scholarships to three musical seniors at the May 21 Lakeside Lutheran Commencement Concert: Chloe Berg of Madison, Jack DePrey of Sun Prairie and Nina Litherland of Columbus.
Twelve track and field athletes made it to 2022 state in 8 events. Kyle Main placed 6th in 200m and Ben Buxa took 6th in discus. Softball (13-6) saw 4 nominated to all-conference; baseball (12-11) and girls soccer (8-12-2) each saw five make all-conference.
Warrior Band showcased 74 marchers in eight local June parades and five more on a trip to northern Wisconsin for July 4th celebrations and the Michigan Cherry Festival. They earned 1st place at the always-popular Gemütlichkeit Days Parade in September.
Almost 80 teen-witnesses went on 9 mission trips across the U.S. with Operation Go.
Our 65th year commenced Aug. 18 with 511 students and six new full-time faculty: Dennis Leckwee (religion), Tanya Tomfohrde (math), Katelyn Edwards (English), Steven Springborn (Choir/English), Rebecca Johnson (ELC), Dustin Yahnke (religion) and part-time Jason Fry (religion/math). New staff include Bruce Davis (Development) and Hannah Uher (counselor). Pastor Don Schultz is interim principal and John Dorn assistant principal.
Facility renovations included the West Gym, varsity locker and mud rooms, and visitor bleachers on competition field and track bleachers.
Sophomore Bella Alvarez won Grand Champion in Division D at the Wisconsin Interscholastic Horsemanship Association District 2.
Boys Soccer (13-7-3) won regional championship. They received “Team Ethics Award of Merit—Gold,” given to teams with no red cards and fewest yellows.
Volleyball (28-12) tied for conference. Senior Olivia Bartels reached 1,000 sets and Cheyenne Johnson notched 1,000 digs. Both made all-state.
Girls golf placed 2nd in Rock Valley Conference and advanced to sectionals. Academic All-State Girls Golf: seniors Ava Heckmann and Chloe Berg, sophomores Reagan Gebhart and Tessa Schmocker.
Football (8-3) advanced to level 2 playoffs. Senior Ben Buxa received Offensive Lineman of the Year, all-region, Academic All-State, WFCA all-state 1st team & HM defensive line, and AP 2nd team all-state.
Cross country boys were conference and sectional champs, and the team was D2 State Runner Up. Conference Performer of the Year, junior Cameron Weiland, was sectional medalist and 12th at state. Girls were conference and sectional runners-up, earning a team berth at State for the first time since 2010. Both teams earned Academic All-State honors.
37 fall athletes were awarded 40 post-season conference honors, including 16 first team all-conference spots, nine 2nd team and 15 honorable mentions.
At Fall Grandparents Day, 240 grandparents of freshmen & juniors visited campus. In spring, 145 soph/senior grandparents joined us.
Isaac Winters was named a National Merit Finalist. Jack DePrey and Rose Hissom are Commended Students.
18 Swing Choir members performed “Human” and “Dance Monkey” at the 9-school West Regional Choral Fest in Mankato, Minn.
Teacher Tim Matthies was inducted into the 2022 class of the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
Our Cultural Awareness Group held its first public event, celebrating Hispanic Heritage in Oct. Over 100 students, families, and businesses sampled authentic food, and enjoyed ethnic displays and a message about gospel work south of the U.S. border.
For Veterans Day, more than 90 came for breakfast, a message about Honor Flight experiences from Aaron Meyer (Army National Guard) and a school-wide chapel service.
50+ were Teens for Christ and hosted a clothing drive for Girl Power in Liberia; a bake sale raised $800 for shipping. New Friends, a tri-annual event welcoming special needs friends to campus with LLHS students, is in its 6th year. TfC raised autism awareness in the spring with bracelets.
Twice is Nice Resale Store granted over $57K in wishes in 2022/23, over and above the more than $500K gifted to general operating this school year.
Lake Mills Optimists hosted 25 Warriors at its 21st Annual Leadership Breakfast. Teens were nominated by teachers and coaches.
Our Academic Bowl team placed 5th in the conference. Rose Hissom took first in English for the 4th year. Maria Vik placed 1st in English for juniors.
Varsity took first place at both the Fall and Spring Conference Math Meets.
In December, two athletes signed to play D1: Levi Birkholz for basketball at The Citadel and Ben Buxa for football at the University of North Dakota.
National Honor Society collected for the Lake Mills PD’s annual food drive, cleaned the highway twice, and held a car wash to help tornado victims.
Senior Jordan Genz and junior Maria Vik were awarded the Certificate of Merit from the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) at Michigan Technological University.
December 18 was National Twin Day and we celebrated 13 sets of students and one teacher twin.
Sophomore Natalie Clark received a $500 Start-Up SAE grant for certification classes with her therapy mule Willard. Elana Litherland will participate with her dog, Buddy.
For the 13th straight year, Forensics were conference champs. They placed third in Division 3 at the Wisconsin Forensics Coaching Association state tournament in Oshkosh.
Girls basketball (16-10) reached the regional final. Three girls were all-conference selections. Junior Ava Stein broke the school single-season rebound record.
Boys basketball (25-4) shared a three-way tie for conference, won regionals and sectionals and took the second trip to WIAA state in school history. Four players were all-conference. Levi Birkholz, who broke the school scoring record, was Conference Player of the Year and made the all-state team. Ten players were Academic All-State.
Freshman wrestler Colten Schultz (170#) took conference championship. Schultz and junior Sam Schmidt (152#) advanced to sectionals. Three earned Academic All-State.
FFA week was celebrated with “Drive Your Tractor to School” Day, ag-related contests, and breakfast for teachers. As part of an FFA Week fundraiser, assistant principal John Dorn won the privilege of kissing a calf.
Student Council hosted a blood drive with 117 donors stepping up, 56 of them first-time donors.
8 instrumentalists participated in the West Regional WELS Band Fest at Luther High in Onalaska in March.
42 girls from 20 public and private elementary & middle schools joined Society of Women Engineers at Lakeside Lutheran members for a girls-only STEM Workshop.
VEX robotics team “Code Red” finished in the top 16 at the State Robotics Tournament in March at the Resch Center.
The boys bowling club team qualified for state competition in Weston, Wis.
24 class A solos and ensembles earned a starred-first rating at WSMA District festival, including percussion ensemble, jazz ensemble, and Swing Choir. Overall, Lakeside had 54 entries, involving over 75 students. At state in April, 19 entries earned another 1st, and Jack DePrey’s piano solo and a piano trio by DePrey, Jonah Heyerholm and Isaac Winters were nominated for Exemplary Performance Recognition.
Elizabeth Gunst, Allen Lester, and Lily York earned their State FFA degree.
The Lakeside Loop team produced 22 episodes of this school news video, archived on the school YouTube channel.
At the 12th annual Grand event held on April 22, donors raised over $142,000 for ministry.
Boys & Girls Badger State representatives include juniors Kooper Mlsna, Kylie Roekle, Sam Schmidt, and Maria Vik.
At the annual senior art show, 28 seniors displayed their artwork. Eight displayed work at the Conference Art Show at the Madison Pyle Center.
Disney’s Newsies, the spring musical, included more than 50 students in the cast, crew, and pit band, performing four times over three days.
Junior Karsten Grundahl broke the 1982 school 800m record with a time of 1:55.38.
On May 28, 100% of 98 seniors are expected to graduate. Hadley Wendorff is valedictorian and Salutatorian is Jack DePrey.
Faculty member Damon Tracy, a ‘83 alum, is retiring. He has taught science, chemistry, and physics since 1996 and is A/V Club director.
This year-in-review summary and senior photo collage are provided in early Mayto the Lake Mills Leader weekly newspaper for publication in its annual graduation insert, available at the LLHS graduation service on campus, on May 28, 2023.We couldn’t fit all the memories into one collage, so check out more photos on our SmugMug page.
The Academic Top Ten for the Lakeside Lutheran Class of 2023 are: (back, from left) Elizabeth Kendall, Cambridge; Benjamin Buxa, Oconomowoc; Ava Heckmann, Middleton; Averi Wolfram, Sun Prairie; Hadley Wendorff, Watertown. (front, from left) Olivia Bartels, Johnson Creek; Rose Hissom, Oconomowoc; Grace Korth, DeForest; Jenna Shadoski, Janesville; Jack DePrey, Sun Prairie.
Lakeside Lutheran High School announced its Academic Top Ten from the Class of 2023. These students will have cumulatively earned 293 high school credits, an average of 29.3 credits per person; 26 credits are needed to graduate from Lakeside. Their number of credits range from 27.5 to 31.
Through seven semesters, the Top Ten has a mean grade point average of 4.0098. As a group, their cumulative grade point averages through those 7 semesters range from 3.987 to 4.031, 44 thousandths of a grade point.
Besides the Top Ten, this particular class of 2023 as a whole is very gifted academically. There are 10 additional students who have a GPA over 3.9. The top third of the class has a GPA over 3.75. The top half of the class has a GPA over 3.5.
“These high grades show that God has given many academic gifts to this particular class. These high grades also show that students are putting forth high effort to use their gifts to the best of their abilities. We thank God for every student here at Lakeside and pray that God would bless each student as they discover the gifts that God has given to them, and then use them to his glory,” says Don Schultz, Lakeside principal.
The top ten profiles, in alphabetical order, follow:
Top Ten Olivia Bartels, daughter of Mark and Stephanie, Johnson Creek, will attend Milwaukee School of Engineering, where she received the Werwath Scholarship. She plans to pursue a Biomedical Engineering degree. “My ultimate goal is to discover and develop the gifts God has given me and use them to his glory,” she says.
A four-year volleyball player, Bartels was named Capital North Conference Player of the Year, All-State First Team, AAU All-American Academic Award, AVCA Best and Brightest First Team.
Bartels was also a member of National Honor Society, Society of Women Engineers,, Teens for Christ, Student Council, and Yearbook and Newspaper staff. She participated in Operation Go mission trips, Cultural Awareness Club, was named a Lake Mills student rotarian, and received the Student Achiever Award.
She volunteered for Thanksgiving for Kids at her church, St. Paul Lutheran, Lake Mills. She’s also volunteered at Twice is Nice Resale and works at Kwik Trip and Doyle’s Dogs.
“Lakeside provided four years of preparation for both the physical and spiritual aspects of life,” she says. “As excited as I am to pursue my future career, Lakeside education and culture was a fundamental step that guided me towards future success as a Christian adult.”
Top Ten Benjamin Buxa, son of Greg and Linda, Oconomowoc, plans to attend the University of North Dakota. He will study math with the goal of working in sports analytics, and play football for the Fighting Hawks.
The president of the LL chapter of National Honor Society, Buxa also participated in Teens for Christ, math team, and went to Phoenix last year with Operation Go. He has volunteered at Ruby’s Pantry, Twice is Nice, and Bethany Recovery Center.
Buxa, who played basketball for two years, has also participated in track throughout high school and has received first team all-conference awards for shot and discus. He participated in the 2022 State Track & Field Championship for both events and was a 6th place medalist for disc. A four-year varsity football starter, Buxa was a three-time all-conference selection at offensive line and two-time defensive line. He was named all-region offensive line for three years and defensive line for two. He earned Offensive Lineman of the Year in 2021 and 2022. From the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association he was named All-State for first-team offensive line and honorable mention defensive line, and was AP second team all-state as an offensive lineman. A Joe Thomas award finalist, he earned WFCA Academic All-State recognition too.
“I really liked being able to go to a school that stuck to its beliefs, not wavering in times where people like to reject Jesus,” says Buxa, a member at Abiding Shepherd Lutheran, Fort Atkinson. During the summers, he worked on the grounds crews for Lakeside and Western Culvert. He also enjoys playing cards and board games, working out, and Legos.
Salutatorian Jack DePrey is the son of Steve and Beth, Sun Prairie. “I want to work in finance, retire early, give generously, and maybe—if I have enough money—I can start a music studio and give private lessons,” he says. To get started on those plans, he will study Business Finance and Music at Bethany Lutheran College, where he received the Marvin G. Meyer Scholarship.
DePrey sings with and accompanies the A Cappella Choir and was also the pianist for Lakeside’s jazz band and chapel services. He has accompanied individuals for judged performances and won music awards at Wisconsin State Music Solo and Ensemble. In addition, he has performed with the Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestra Chamber Music program in trios, quartets, and quintets. He plays piano at his home church, Holy Cross Lutheran, Madison, and at other area churches. He gives piano lessons to grade school students in Madison.
A Badger Boys State representative, DePrey has been on the math team all four years, was part of the Lakeside Loop video team, and is in the Cultural Awareness Club. He is the secretary of the National Honor Society chapter, where he has participated in highway cleanup. He played basketball freshman year and has played baseball throughout high school. He has attended Lake Mills Optimist Breakfast, was a Lake Mills student rotarian, and attended WLC Leadership days.
DePrey, who enjoys working out almost every day and volunteering at Twice Is Nice Resale, appreciates his time at Lakeside. “It was a real blessing to be immersed in God’s Word throughout my four years of high school, and to be surrounded by peers with similar beliefs,” he says. “My favorite thing about Lakeside is that there is a place for everybody there. Regardless of what your interests or hobbies are, you will be able to find friends.”
Top Ten Ava Heckmann is the daughter of Matt and Amy, Middleton. She is a member at St. Andrew Lutheran, Middleton, where she is paid as a lead musician, playing piano and running rehearsals. Next year she plans to study Creative and Entertainment Industries at Belmont University, Nashville, where she received a General Academic Merit Scholarship.
“No matter what I end up pursuing as a career, I want to be able to travel often both in the United States and abroad,” she says. “My goal through work and relationships with others is to share God’s love in every situation.”
Heckmann has played soccer for three years and golf and basketball for four. She was first team all-conference for golf her junior and senior year. “Golf was definitely a highlight,” she says. “All of the coaches were so encouraging and I got to play with a great group of girls, including my sister, the first two years. We also had a lot of success—regional champs, conference champs, state—which made it an even more amazing experience.”
In addition, Heckmann is a chapter member of the National Honor Society. She has also served with the National Charity League since 7th grade. This Mother-Daughter charity volunteers around the community and develops important leadership skills. “What I liked best about Lakeside is the Christ-centered education it offers and the great classmates and teachers that have supported me” she says.
Top Ten Rose Hissom, daughter of Russell and Rita Hissom, Oconomowoc, will attend University of St. Thomas, Minnesota, to double major in Political Science and Psychology with a minor in Legal Studies. She was accepted into the Minnesota Aquinas Scholars Honors Program and earned the St. Thomas Academic Merit Scholarship.
“Lakeside offered me so many opportunities to meet new people, try out new things, and get involved. I’m thankful that I’ve learned so much about what I enjoy and how to best help my community,” says Hissom who plans to go to law school and become an attorney.
Some of those many opportunities included participating in the Academic Bowl all four years where she was the conference champion in Language Arts in 2020, 2021, and 2022. As a four-year forensics speaker, she won conference in Extemporaneous Speaking the past two years. Hissom is also Editor-In-Chief of the Warrior Times Weekly and President of Technology/AV Club. In addition, she’s a member of the National Honor Society, varsity math team, Cultural Awareness Club, and SWELL—the Society of Women Engineers at Lakeside Lutheran. For three years, she has also traveled with Operation Go mission trips.
A three-year varsity cross country runner, she was on the 2022 state team. A National Merit Commended Student, Hissom was the 2023 District 13 delegate for Senate Scholar Program, a 2022 delegate for Badger Girls State, and is an active American Legion Auxiliary Member for Post #91 in Oconomowoc.
Hissom started a mask-sewing business in 2020 and sold over 750 masks on eBay. She currently works at Sendik’s Food Market in Oconomowoc and is a member at St. Matthew Lutheran, Oconomowoc, where she has assisted with vacation Bible school. In her spare time she enjoys knitting, reading, and writing.
Top Ten Elizabeth Kendall, daughter of Orvin and Andrea Kendall, Cambridge, plans to study digital communications at UW-Whitewater, where she received the Chancellor Scholarship. “I hope to be a part of the study abroad program and follow God’s direction from there. I would like to travel the world and tell the stories of the people I meet,” she says. “I find other cultures fascinating and cannot wait to discover the hidden wonders in God’s creation.”
She volunteers as a leader of the AWANA Bible Club ministry, sings and plays bass guitar as a part of the praise band at Willerup Church, Cambridge, and is active in the youth group. A junior transfer into Lakeside, “I loved the Christian environment. I still cannot believe how normal it is to pray in class,” she says. “I was immediately embraced by a group of friends who continue to love and encourage me. The other students support and challenge me academically, physically, and spiritually to be the best person I can be. I’m sad I’m graduating already.”
In her time at two high schools, she has played soccer, volleyball, managed wrestling, and joined golf. She’s participated in Science Olympiad (a competitive STEM club), various musicals, Swing and Show Choirs, and National Honor Society in both high schools. She represented Lakeside as a delegate for Badger Girls State. In her spare time, Kendall works at Home Again Assisted Living in Cambridge.
Top Ten Grace Korth is the daughter of Matthew and Heather, DeForest. “I want to pursue Clinical Psychology so that I can be a Christian influence for people who are struggling and to facilitate their healing and growth,” she says. With a goal of cash-flowing college, she will receive her general education requirements at Madison Area Technical College, transfer to Wisconsin Lutheran College to complete her psychology classes, then finish with a master’s through Bethany Lutheran College, Mankato.
Korth, who reads non-fiction on finances, personal improvement, and leadership, also enjoys working out, cooking healthy meals, and spending time action-planning her future. At Lakeside, she played volleyball for two years and was on the Math Team, Student Council, Teens for Christ, and the Cultural Awareness Club. She participated in A Cappella and Swing Choir. A member of Zion Lutheran, Arlington, and a Kwik Trip employee, Korth has a goal of being a regular blood donor.
“What I enjoyed most about Lakeside was making friends with people, some of whom are like-minded to me and others who showed me new ways of approaching things. I not only found those qualities in kids my age, but also faculty,” she says. “I especially valued the Christ-centered focus of my education and being around that daily drew me closer to the faith. Looking back, I have changed immensely as a person, and it all happened while I was at Lakeside.”
Top Ten Jenna Shadoski is the daughter of Fred and Debra, Janesville. She will attend Concordia University Wisconsin and play softball for the Falcons. A recipient of the Concordia University of Wisconsin Presidential Scholarship, she will pursue a major in sports management and a minor in accounting; she also intends to join Campus Ministry and other business organizations in college.
A member at St. Matthew’s Lutheran, Janesville, Shadoski has helped with Vacation Bible School, and Christmas and Easter for Kids. She worked at her local YMCA as a summer camp counselor for 5 and 6-year-olds organizing activities and games. At Lakeside, she has been a member of the National Honor Society and a student rotarian, volunteered at Twice is Nice Resale and helped with sports tournaments and athletic camps. She played volleyball, basketball and softball all throughout her high school career, and was awarded the AVCA Best and Brightest First Team for volleyball, 1st team all-conference for basketball and softball, and WFSCA all-district honorable mention for softball. She was also her club softball team’s captain for two years. She was nominated for the WIAA Scholar-Athlete Award.
“The Christian atmosphere at Lakeside has taught me many things that I will carry with me in the future, specifically, the lessons that I have learned through playing on different teams and with different coaches. The memories from all my sports, boys’ games, and school dances will be something I will never forget,” she says. “Knowing so many people who share the same faith, care about me and support me is an incredible blessing.”
Valedictorian Hadley Wendorff is the daughter of Will and Kelly, Watertown. “I enjoyed the close-knit community at Lakeside the most. There isn’t a face that I don’t recognize and most of my closest relationships began at Lakeside,” she says.
While at Lakeside, she participated in the Warrior marching band and A Cappella choir. She ran track, played volleyball, and was the stage manager of last year’s musical, School of Rock. Wendorff also was the vice president of National Honor Society and served on Student Council. She traveled with Operation Go mission trips twice, serving in Austin, Tex., and Abita Springs, La.
Wendorff plans to pursue a pre-med track at UW-Madison in hopes of being a neonatalogist. “I have been heavily influenced by a few people in my life, and I hope to someday impact others’ lives in a similar way. I believe that working in healthcare will help me do so, and it’s the simple touches on others that I want to best define who I become.”
A member of St. Luke’s Lutheran, Watertown, she helps out with Sandwiches in the Park and plays french horn for church. Outside of school, she works at Watertown Regional Medical Center as a Room Server to patients. In her free time, she enjoys painting, her dog, pickles, and spending time with family and friends.
Top Ten Averi Wolfram, daughter of JoLynn and Shane, Sun Prairie, plans to attend UW-Madison. She will study biology on the pre-med track and plans to become an orthopedic surgeon.
“I definitely liked that, at Lakeside, every class is rooted in our faith. I also liked being involved socially and going to all of the home sporting events, and being on sports teams,” she says.
A member of the National Honor Society, Wolfram is also on Teens for Christ and Student Council. She’s been involved with soccer, basketball, and cross country. A member of Eastside Lutheran, Madison, she helps with Sunday school, food drives, and Christmas for Kids.
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