STE. GENEVIEVE — On Wednesday, April 12, Ste. Genevieve High School celebrated its students’ academic honors for the 2022-2023 school year at the 33rd annual Dan Clark Honors Banquet at the Ste. Genevieve Elks Lodge.
At this year’s event, junior Caitlin Gray gave the invocation. The guest performers for the evening were senior Hannah Bley, freshman Caiden Breeden, and junior Aden Eisenbeis, an extremely talented saxophone trio, who performed “Moderato and Allegro” by Carol M. Butts.
The guest speaker for the evening was introduced, Ms. Rachael Palmer, a 2013 graduate of Ste. Genevieve High School. Rachael was the valedictorian of her high school graduating class, received the Danforth “I Dare You” Award, and had perfect attendance from kindergarten through graduation. She then attended Truman State University in Kirksville, where she studied political science and communication.
She graduated in 2017 as Valedictorian of her collegiate graduating class, with honors in both of her majors and a 4.0 GPA.
Rachael then attended Saint Louis University School of Law to further her education and earn her degree in law. She graduated in 2020 in the top four percent of her law class, and was sworn in as a Missouri attorney in September 2020.
Rachael currently practices medical malpractice defense law at Kamykowski & Taylor in Clayton, Missouri.
She spoke to students about making sure to follow their interests, because opportunities will spring across their paths. Ms. Palmer pointed out that we never know how each decision we make will build a connection to the next step in our lives. “Keep an open mind and an open heart,” she said. “You have already accomplished more than you realize, and you never know what the next step will be. Once you find what you want to do, be the best you can be at it, and then use it to help others. And always remember who was there for you as you were moving forward along your path.”
Next was a presentation by Mr. Tyson Schaffner, with the Patched Overalls Experience, a project that offers one student each year the opportunity to fulfill a dream experience between their junior and senior year. This year, Mr. Schaffner introduced senior Lindsey Crump, who visited the Big Horn Basin in Montana and spent 10 days at an archaeological dig site searching for dinosaur bones. This experience nurtured a love of paleontology, and Lindsey plans to attend Mineral Area College for General Studies and Anthropology.
Each summer, many Ste. Genevieve High School students are chosen to represent our district at leadership conferences throughout the state of Missouri. The following students were recognized at the banquet for being chosen to represent our school at the following conferences, and were sponsored by the following organizations and individuals:
- Hugh O’Brien Youth Leadership: sophomore Sophia Fritsch; the GFWC Woman’s Club of Ste. Genevieve
- Missouri Boys State: junior Cole Nickelson, junior Charles Drost IV, junior Hawthorne Jokerst; the American Legion Post 150, Bloomsdale American Legion
- Missouri Girls State: junior Addison Geiler; the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary
- Missouri Leadership Seminar: sophomore Charles Corbett; the GFWC Woman’s Club of Ste. Genevieve
- Missouri Scholars Academy: sophomore Shay Coleman
- Rotary Youth Leadership Award: sophomore Raegan Winch; the Ste. Genevieve Rotary
- Sophomore Pilgrimage: sophomore Jayden Rickman; the GFWC Woman’s Club of Ste. Genevieve
Each year at the banquet, the students in the top 10 percent of each class are recognized. Following the class honors, one student is awarded for his or her performance for each course offered at the high school. Congratulations to all of the students on their recognitions!
Top 10% of Class:
Freshmen:
- Jacey Bauman
- Kennedi Fischer
- Sophie Garcia
- Emma Gegg
- Gavin Gegg
- Tylin Hager
- Lucille Hunsley
- Vivian Kiefer
- Eleanor McKlin
- Cecilia Mooney
- Paul Taylor
- Linley Wehner
- Madden Wolk
- Abigail Woodard
Sophomores:
- Abby Boyer
- Kennedy Buatte
- Shay Coleman
- Savannah DeRousse
- Sophia Fritsch
- Ava Greer
- Sadie Greminger
- Kailynn Harmon
- Sophia Huck
- Ainsley McClard
- Joleigh Parker
- Jayden Rickman
- Lucy Sears
- Bennett Walls
- Lexi Warren
Juniors:
- Sophia DeRousse
- Charles Drost IV
- Alissa Grass
- Caitlin Gray
- Tessa Hager
- Hawthorne Jokerst
- Dalton McBride
- Cole Nickelson
- Elaina Schemel
- Hope Schmelzle
- Bryant Schwent
- Penny Yang
Seniors:
- Alli Byington
- Lindsey Crump
- Collin Fritsch
- Jillian Gegg
- Dru Koetting
- Miranda Ponder
- Ariella Taylor
- Madeleine Terry
- Brynna Wehner
- Lani Yamnitz
Each of the following students (listed alphabetically by surname) earned a medal for outstanding academic achievement in his or her individual class:
- Allie Abt — Biology, Spanish I
- Katie Ahne — Engineering Graphics, Power Mechanics Technology
- Zoey Ahrens — Child Development
- Kaden Albert — Forensic Analysis
- Emily Allebach — Introduction to Applications
- Paityn Basler — Economics
- Alivia Bays — Integrated Science
- Adriana Bennett — Spanish III
- Chayse Bequette — Chorale
- Trey Bloom — Competitive Speech, Debate,& Theater
- Lily Boyd — Cadet Teaching, Film
- Aiden Boyer — Broadcasting
- Cheyenne Bridges — Show Choir
- Jacqueline Brown — Creative Writing, German IV
- Kennedy Buatte — Algebra II
- Koltin Capps — Computer Applications
- Kale Clements — Video Production
- John Clinton — American Government
- Stella Cox — English II
- Faith Dailey — Fundamentals of Art
- Sophia DeRousse — Band, PreCalculus
- Charles Drost, IV — Website Design
- Aden Eisenbeis — Guitar I, Jazz Band
- Parker Esparza — Integrated Math II
- Lily Fahnestock — Landscaping
- Preston Fallert — Agricultural Construction
- Carly Fernow — German II
- Luke Ferranto — Health, Introduction to Business
- Anneliese Figge — American History, Women’s Choir
- Collin Fritsch — Calculus, Guitar II, Physics
- Sophia Fritsch — Agricultural Science II
- Gavin Gegg — English I, Introduction to Industrial Technology
- Jillian Gegg — Animal Science, College Algebra, CP English IV, Statistical Reasoning
- Addison Geiler — Modern America, Sociology
- Alissa Grass — Nutrition and Wellness
- Caitlin Gray — College Algebra with Applications
- Ava Greer — Chemistry, CP English II
- Amelia Grein — Ceramics, Welding I
- Chelsea Guenther — Physical SEL
- Tessa Hager — Advanced Graphics Design
- Ida Hjelmeland — Contemporary Issues
- Lucille Hunsley — Play Productions
- Richard Hunter — Spanish V
- Jordan Jacob — Media Literacy
- Hawthorne Jokerst — French IV, Organic Chemistry
- Orlando Jordan — English III
- Kason Kellum — World Foods
- Jamison Kemper — Advanced Chemistry, Journalism
- Ryder Keyser — Agricultural Science I
- Kole Kramer — Automotive Service Technology I
- Jeremiah Kunz — CP American Government
- Ellie Lalumondiere — Integrated Math III
- Marlena Lueken — German I
- Dalton McBride — Construction Technology I
- Ainsley McClard — French III
- Peyton McCrory — Foods – General
- Ava Meyer — Business Technology I
- Cecilia Mooney — Algebra I
- Logan Moore — Media Production
- Hannah Naeger — Drawing, Sculpture
- Logan Naeger — Adaptive Physical Education
- Cole Nickelson — Fundamentals of Music, Computer Programming, CP English III
- Mason Nix — Advanced Industrial Woods
- Wyatt Palmer — Industrial Woods
- Thomas Pecaut — Automotive Service Technology II
- Briana Pfaff — French I, Geometry
- Miranda Ponder — Mythology, Painting, Psychology
- Jayden Rhinehart — French II, Team Sports
- Elaina Schemel — Physiology & Anatomy
- Sara Schmieder — Fish & Wildlife Management
- Jacob Schweigert — Body Conditioning
- Mia Schweigert — Accounting I
- Bryant Schwent — Advanced Biology, Trigonometry
- Lucy Sears — German III
- Justin Slinkard — World History
- Kaden Smith — Electricity/Electronics
- Lillian Smith — CP Biology
- Arie Taylor — CT Prep, School Development Seminar
- Paul Taylor — Boys Physical Education, Photoshop
- Maddie Terry — French V, Western Civilization
- Aiden Trollinger — Internet of Things 2
- Brynna Wehner — Drafting & Design, Yearbook
- Linley Wehner — Girls Physical Education
- Trent Wichern — Construction Technology II
- Cameron Wolf — English IV
- Ezra Wolk — Earth Science
- Abigail Woodard — Family & Consumer Sciences I, Spanish II
- Penny Yang — CP American History
- Jacob Yates — Welding II
Dr. Boyd shared a special thank you to the following for their role in the event:
- the sponsors of the 33rd Annual Dan Clark Honors Banquet: presentation partner Mississippi Lime; Platinum Level sponsor Lhoist North America; Gold Level sponsor Bloomsdale Excavating, Inc.;
- the Ste. Genevieve Elks Lodge for their readiness to host;
- Shelly Dallas, Lori Dunn, Brandy Henderson, and Stephanie Brumfield for their hard work and dedication they provide to the students and staff;
- program assistants Clementine Birkenstock, Lillian Crossland, Kierstyn Reeves, Kate Rowland, Hazel Schwent, Franki Wittu, Aila Wolk and Bryna Wolk;
- and the SGHS faculty who do an exceptional job in making the banquet possible.
Superintendent Dr. Julie Flieg closed the evening with a few words for the students in attendance.
“Students, you are turning into fine young people, and we have enjoyed watching you learn and grow here at SG R-II. The education you are receiving at Ste. Gen is wonderful, and I hope that you take advantage of all of those opportunities that you have,” she said. “As you get closer to leaving these halls to pursue your dreams, remember to use and rely on the hard work and dedication that brought you to this celebration, and look toward your teachers and your parents, to their hard work and dedication. Just watching and learning those lessons— that will take you far in life.”
Junior Caitlin Gray gives the invocation.
Senior Hannah Bley, freshman Caiden Breeden, and junior Aden Eisenbeis perform “Moderato and Allegro” by Carol M. Butts.
Ms. Rachael Palmer, a 2013 graduate of Ste. Genevieve High School and a medical malpractice defense law at Kamykowski & Taylor in Clayton, Missouri
Lindsey Crump was chosen to participate in the Patched Overalls experience.
Summer Conferences: (Left to Right, Front Row): Shay Coleman, Sophia Fritsch, Raegan Winch, Jayden Rickman, Charles Corbett, Addison Geiler; (Left to Right, Back Row): Charles Drost IV, Cole Nickelson, Hawthorne Jokerst.
Freshmen Top 10 Percent: (Left to Right, Front Row): Jacey Bauman, Sophie Garcia, Gavin Gegg, Kennedi Fischer, Emma Gegg, Vivian Kiefer; (Left to Right, Back Row): Tylin Hager, Eleanor McKlin, Cecilia Mooney, Abigail Woodard, Paul Taylor, Linley Wehner, Lucille Hunsley, Madden Wolk.
Sophomores Top 10 Percent: (Left to Right, Front Row): Abby Boyer, Sadie Greminger, Shay Coleman, Savannah DeRousse, Sophia Fritsch, Ava Greer; (Left to Right, Back Row): Kailynn Harmon, Kennedy Buatte, Joleigh Parker, Ainsley McClard, Sophia Huck, Jayden Rickman, Lucy Sears, Bennett Walls, Lexi Warren.
Juniors Top 10 Percent: (Left to Right, Front Row): Caitlin Gray, Sophia DeRousse, Alissa Grass, Tessa Hager, Hope Schmelzle, Hawthorne Jokerst; (Left to Right, Back Row): Charles Drost IV, Penny Yang, Cole Nickelson, Elaina Schemel, Bryant Schwent. Not pictured: Dalton McBride.
Seniors Top 10 Percent (Left to Right, Front Row): Jillian Gegg, Lindsey Crump, Alli Byington, Brynna Wehner, Madeleine Terry, Collin Fritsch; (Left to Right, Back Row): Miranda Ponder, Ariella Taylor, Lani Yamnitz. Not Pictured: Dru Koetting.