Volunteers, journalists, musicians, many others honored at board meeting

A-Plus students who each donated more than 100 hours to the program during their high school careers, were given board recognition certificates. 

PHOTO BY JENNI RABENAU

Rolla High School journalists and musicians were honored at the Thursday, May 11, Rolla Board of Education.
So, too, were studetns of sales and merchandising, as well as students who compete academically with other teams from other schools.
And students from throughout the high school who volunteer to help other students were also honored for their hours and hours of service.
The school board hands out board recognition certificiates throughout the academic year, but especially in the final month or two, to affirm for the students and the community the pride the board has in students who excel in their chosen fields or in the classroom or in voluntarism and service.
And sometimes others from outside the district show up to honor students.
For instance, Alyssa Moses from Walsworth Publishing Company at the May 11 meeting presented the RHS Growler Yearbook staff with the company's Gallery of Excellence award.


“Your yearbook is an elite book,” she said. She also presented a special plaque to Mary Gillis, the journalism and publications teacher.
Gillis followed up with an announcement of all the state awards won by the RHS ECHO MAgazine staff. The magazine was named an All-Missouri publication for the second straight year, she noted. Senior Editor-in-Chief Celia Parsons won three awards, an All-Missouri award for feature writing, plus anExcellent and an Honorable Mention for two other feature stores.
Theresa Lauer, another senior, received an Excellent award in feature writing. Sophomores Diya Allada and Maia Bond won Honorable Mention in feature writing.
Junior Caroline Adams received a Superior award in feature writing and an Honorable Mention in page design and an Excellent Award in feature design.
Junior Sophia Gesualdi earned a Superior award in feature writing, a Superior in newsmagazine design and an honorable mention in page design.
Senior Ashanti Owuso-Brafi, earned an Honorable Mention in page design.
Junior Adrienne Pyeatt earned a Superior in newsmagazine design.
Sophomores Bailey Allison and Lorren Black each earned  Excellent awards in feature writing..
Sales and marketing students who compete in DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America) contests also were honored. Maddy Jones and Ryann Rigsby were International Qualifiers and Top 10 finalsits. The club also raised more than $14,500 for MDA, fourth place nationally.

Choir members  who competed in the State Music Contest were recognized. The vocal trio of Aaron Haberman, Sam Wilsdorf and Tristan Lietz received a I rating, the highest rating at the contest. Hannah Holton-Langley received a I rating on her vocal solo. Christina Woelk received a II rating on her solo.
And band students who  received a I rating at the District Band Contest were recognized. They are: Kristina Happel, flute and flute trio; Sudatta Hor, tuba; Sam Kimball, bass clarinet; Rachel Phelps, flute trio; Sarah Woods, French horn; Katherine Yu, flute and flute trio.

The school  board also  recognized the highly competitive RHS Academic Team for sectional match wins, top 8, advancing to state playoffs, finishing fifth at state. Co-captain Tim Van Hoose made the All-State team as the third highest scoring competitor of the preliminary rounds. Others on the team: Eireena Bay, Isaac Brown, Kayla Copeland, Julia Giesey, Kassi Hayes, Samuel Kimball, Jesse Liu (captain), Ifeanyi Orizu, Zane Peterman, Samuel Wilsdorf and Renee Wang.
And the board recognized A-Plus students who have volunteered 100 or more hours during their high school career: Jordan Asberry, Amber Back, Amber Breen, Douglas Brigham, Isaac Brown, Alexis Brown, Kaley Burgess, Tyler Dillon, Victoria Freppon, Valerie Freppon, Klayton Garner, Luke Gibfried, Kayla Halinar, Mohammed Jawad, Kameron Jordan, Landon Kamper, Jessica Mallery, Mackenzie Masters, Brittany Miller, Jeffrey Moss, Celia Parsons, Morgan Phenix, Lara Powell, Jia Qiu, Olivia Rinck, Emily Robertson, Ashley Wilson, Christina Wilson, Darby Young.

Alyssa Moses, right, of Walsworth Publishing Co., presented the Gallery of Excellence award to Growler Yearbook staff members and a plaque to journalism/publications mentor Mary Gillis, left.
PHOTO BY JENNI RABENAU

ECHO Magazine students received board recognition awards from school board President-Elect Jane Haskell, left, for state awards won this school year.
PHOTO BY JENNI RABENAU

DECA students Maddy Jones and Ryann Rigsby, shown with teacher Billie Jo Stringer and school board President-Elect Jane Haskell, received board recognition awards for their achievements. 

PHOTO BY JENNI RABENAU

Choir director Jason Bartelsmeyer, left,  and choir members were honored by the school board recently. Board president-elect Jane Haskell presented recognition certificates to these students who attended. Choir members announced were Aaron Haberman, Sam Wilsdorf, Tristan Lietz, Hannah Holton-Langley and Chjristina Woelk

 PHOTO BY JENNI RABENAU

Band members were honored with certificates presented by board President-Elect Jane Haskell. Named were Kristina Happel, Sudatta Hor, Sam Kimball, Rachel Phelps, Sarah Woods and Katherine Yu. Choir director Jason Bartelsmeyer subbed for the band directors who were preparing for a concert at the meeting time.

 PHOTO BY JENNI RABENAU

RHS Academic Team, shown with coach Lisa McCarthy and board President-Elect Jane Haskell, received recognition certificates.

 PHOTO BY JENNI RABENAU