STE. GENEVIEVE – On Wednesday, April 10, Ste. Genevieve High School celebrated its students’ academic honors for the 2023-2024 school year at the 34th annual Dan Clark Honors Banquet at the Ste. Genevieve Elks Lodge.
Junior Ava Greer gives the opening remarks
At this year’s event, junior Ava Greer, a member of the Principal’s Advisory Group, gave the opening remarks.
Chorale students Clinton Beasley, Damian Dickerson, Aden Eisenbeis, Alexis Femmer, and Carter Hogenmiller perform “Vive L’amour” arranged by Alice Parker and Robert Shaw and “Poor Man Lazarus” arranged by Jester Hairston.
The guest performers for the evening were chorale students Clinton Beasley, Damian Dickerson, Aden Eisenbeis, Alexis Femmer, and Carter Hogenmiller, who performed “Vive L’amour” arranged by Alice Parker and Robert Shaw and “Poor Man Lazarus” arranged by Jester Hairston.
The guest speaker for the evening was Dr. Gwendolyn Scott (Dallas), a 2011 graduate of SGHS.
During her time in high school, she was in the top 10 percent of her class all four years, she had a passion for volleyball, and she was involved in numerous organizations. She went on to the University of Missouri–St. Louis (UMSL), graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Biology. She then earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree at the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) School of Dentistry in 2019. For her first four years, she worked at a public health office treating only children. Now she is an associate at Breeze Dental Care in Festus, where she lives with her husband, Tyler, and their three children.
Dr. Scott spoke to students about the importance of taking care of their mental health, as well as their physical and emotional health, and stressed to them that they should not hesitate to speak up and ask for support when they need it. She shared that just as seeking help for a broken ankle is considered necessary for physical health, it is equally important to seek assistance when other aspects of your body—including mental health—have an imbalance.
“Your journey is not just about achieving success, it’s about nurturing your wellbeing. Remember that fulfillment is not only from external accomplishments, but also aligning your actions with your wishes and your dreams,” she said. “I want you to follow your heart and embark on a path that resonates deeply with your joy, and in doing so, you will find personal satisfaction and foster a sense of profound mental health and happiness.”
Senior Penny Yang, Patched Overalls Experience participant for Summer 2023, shared her experience in the program.
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 Penny Yang, who traveled to California to work in a private biotech company’s laboratory with a group of fellow students. Not only did the group of students gain the experience of working through real-world laboratory procedures and protocols, but they had the opportunity to pursue their own experiments to research and test.
Junior Charles Corbett, Patched Overalls Experience participant for Summer 2024, shares his plans for the upcoming program.
For this upcoming summer, junior Charles Corbett was chosen to participate in the Patched Overalls Experience, and he shared that he plans to attend a leadership engineer camp in Boston, Massachusetts, for three weeks this upcoming summer.
Dr. Rodney Pensel and Dr. Bill Bratburg—from SEMO’s College of Education, Health and Human Studies—present Mr. Viox with his certificate in the company of his students and his fellow educators.
Dr. Rodney Pensel and Dr. Bill Bratburg—both from SEMO’s College of Education, Health and Human Studies—attended the banquet to make a special announcement. SGHS social studies teacher Theoren Viox was recognized among the 2023 Missouri Teacher Leaders of Tomorrow by the Missouri Milken Educators, and Dr. Pensel and Dr. Bratburg presented him with his certificate. Mr. Viox is a Southeast Missouri State University alumnus, having earned his degree in December 2023 with a Bachelor of Science in secondary education in social studies. He is native of Ste. Genevieve, and he graduated in the SGHS Class of 2018.
Each summer, many SGHS 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:
Summer Leadership Conference Participants: (Left to Right): Gavin Gegg, Vivian Kiefer, Eli Bennett, Millie Huffman, Alyssa Cook, Shay Coleman. Not pictured: Sophia Fritsch, Jeremiah Kunz, Cecilia Mooney
- Hugh O’Brien Youth Leadership: sophomore Vivian Kiefer; the GFWC Woman’s Club of Ste. Genevieve
- Missouri Boys State: juniors Shay Coleman and Jeremiah Kunz; the American Legion Post 150, Bloomsdale American Legion
- Missouri Girls State: juniors Alyssa Cook and Sophia Fritsch; the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary
- Missouri Leadership Seminar: sophomore Millie Huffman; the GFWC Woman’s Club of Ste. Genevieve
- Missouri Scholars Academy: sophomore Gavin Gegg
- Rotary Youth Leadership Award: sophomore Cecilia Mooney; the Ste. Genevieve Rotary
- Sophomore Pilgrimage: sophomore Eli Bennett, 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:
Freshmen Top 10 Percent: (Front Row, Left to Right): Nate Basler, Clementine Birkenstock, Kennedy Bowen, Lillian Crossland, Alexander O’Brien, Anna Fischer; (Back Row, Left to Right): Trenton Weber, Jake Parker, Hazel Schwent, Kierstyn Reeves, Jersey Quinn, Elcie Schweigert, Hailey Wells. Not pictured: Simon Fritsch.
- Nate Basler
- Clementine Birkenstock
- Kennedy Bowen
- Lillian Crossland
- Anna Fischer
- Simon Fritsch
- Alexander O’Brien
- Jake Parker
- Jersey Quinn
- Kierstyn Reeves
- Elcie Schweigert
- Hazel Schwent
- Trenton Weber
- Hailey Wells
Sophomores:
Sophomores Top 10 Percent: (Front Row, Left to Right): Jacey Bauman, Sophie Garcia, Gavin Gegg, Lucille Hunsley, Emma Gegg, Kennedi Fischer; (Back Row, Left to Right): Madden Wolk, Paul Taylor, Eleanor McKlin, Linley Wehner, Vivian Kiefer, Tylin Hager. Not pictured: Cecilia Mooney.
- 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
Juniors:
Juniors Top 10 Percent: (Front Row, Left to Right): Kennedy Buatte, Shay Coleman, Savannah DeRoussse, Joleigh Parker, Jayden Rickman, Ava Greer; (Back Row, Left to Right): Lucy Sears, Mason Ruch, Autumn Werner, Lexi Warren. Not pictured: Sophia Fritsch, Kailynn Harmon, Sophia Huck.
- Kennedy Buatte
- Shay Coleman
- Savannah DeRousse
- Sophia Fritsch
- Ava Greer
- Kailynn Harmon
- Sophia Huck
- Joleigh Parker
- Jayden Rickman
- Mason Ruch
- Lucy Sears
- Lexi Warren
- Autumn Werner
Seniors:
Seniors Top 10 Percent (Front Row, Left to Right): Charles Drost IV, Alissa Grass, Sophia DeRousse, Caitlin Gray, Kate Mesplay, Tessa Hager; (Back Row, Left to Right): Hawthorne Jokerst, Cole Nickelson, Elaina Schemel, Bryant Schwent, Penny Yang. Not pictured: Dalton McBride.
- Sophia DeRousse
- Charles Drost IV
- Alissa Grass
- Caitlin Gray
- Tessa Hager
- Hawthorne Jokerst
- Dalton McBride
- Kate Mesplay
- Cole Nickelson
- Elaina Schemel
- Bryant Schwent
- Penny Yang
Each of the following students (listed alphabetically by surname) earned a medal for outstanding academic achievement in his or her individual class:
- Allie Abt — Spanish II
- Hannah Ahrens — Chemistry, German I
- Zoey Ahrens — Algebra 1.5
- Kayden Allgire — Automotive Service Technology II
- Gavin Amlong — Basic Home Repair
- Taylor Armbruster — Economics
- Nate Basler — CP English I
- Adriana Bennett — Entrepreneurship, Spanish IV
- Clementine Birkenstock — French I
- Kennedy Bowen — Spanish I
- Kaelyn Boyer — English IV, Yearbook
- Kennedy Buatte — ACT Prep, CP English III, Forensic Analysis, Trigonometry
- Sofia Cellitti — Journalism
- Chloe Choate — Media Literacy
- Alyssa Cook — American History
- Raelyn Cooper — Foods, General
- Trinity Davenport — Women’s Choir
- Savannah DeRousse — Advanced Chemistry
- Damian Dickerson — Chorale
- Avery Dippold — Automotive Service Technology I
- Jeremy Donze — Algebra I, Photoshop
- Charles Drost IV — Physics
- Aden Eisenbeis — Jazz Band
- Alexis Femmer — Family & Consumer Sciences I
- Luke Ferranto — Broadcasting
- Anna Fischer — Fundamentals of Art, Health
- Seth Fischer — Fish & Wildlife Management
- Simon Fritsch — CP Geometry, CP Integrated Science, World History
- Sophia Fritsch — French IV, Fundamentals of Music, Landscaping
- Sasha Gallup — Adaptive Physical Education
- Sophie Garcia — Spanish III
- Hunter Garrett — Boys Physical Education
- Gavin Gegg — Engineering Graphics, Industrial Woods
- Scarlette Gonz — Animal Science
- Alissa Grass — College Algebra
- Ava Greer — PreCalculus, Advanced Biology
- Amelia Grein — Sculpture, Welding Tech II (PACTC)
- Johnathan Hacker — Introduction to Industrial Technology
- Tessa Hager — CP English IV, Media Production, Statistical Reasoning
- Tylin Hager — Personal Finance
- Kai Harris — Advanced Media Lab
- Isaiah Hill — Music Production & Engineering
- Rocksanna Hutson — English I
- Hawthorne Jokerst — French V
- Ayden Jowers — Contemporary Issues
- Evan Kemper — Modern America
- Vivian Kiefer — CP Biology
- Olivia Klump — Child Development
- Brayden Kuhns — Geometry, American Government
- Ellie Lalumondiere — Ceramics
- Jaylinn LaPlante — Integrated Science
- Lily Largent — World Foods
- Aidan Lewis — Accounting I, Speech
- Cash Loughary — Physical SEL
- Ethan Maloney — Agricultural Construction
- Matthew Martin — Computer Science Principles
- Charles McGuire — German IV
- Eleanor McKlin — Algebra II, CP American Government, CP English II, Creative Writing, French II, Mythology, Video Production
- Jonathan Merklin — Team Sports
- Drew Merriman — German III
- Kate Mesplay — Auto Collision (PACTC)
- Cole Nickelson — Calculus
- Lilah Oberreiter — English II
- Taylor Peterson — Biology
- Jayden Rickman — French III
- Solange Roth — Band, Sociology
- Josef Rottler — Introduction to Applications, Website Design
- Mallory Rottler — Drawing
- Mason Ruch — English III, Film Composition & Lit, Psychology
- Hope Schmelzle — Painting
- Brooke Schwartz — Cadet Teaching
- Bryant Schwent — Drafting & Design
- Hazel Schwent — Agricultural Science I
- Justin Schwent — Auto Collision Repair Tech 2 (PACTC), Power Mechanics Technology, Highway Riders Auto Award Scholarship
- Lucy Sears — CP American History, Organic Chemistry
- Lillian Smith — Physiology & Anatomy
- Miranda Snyder — Nutrition and Wellness
- Jacob Sulser — Agricultural Science II
- Hayden Vanamburg — Body Conditioning
- Bennett Walls — Dramatic & Argumentative Arts
- Kailyn Warren — Girls Physical Education
- Lexi Warren — College Algebra with Applications
- Isabella Watkins — Introduction to Business
- Trenton Weber — German II, Guitar I
- Autumn Werner — Earth Science
- Damien Wheeler — Accounting II
- London White-Hume — Show Choir
- Ezra Wolk — Play Production
- Grant Wolk — Guitar II
- Hannah Woodruff — Studio Art
- Penny Yang — Business Technology, Western Civilization
Dr. Boyd shared a special thank you to the following for their role in the event:
- the sponsors of the 34th Annual Dan Clark Honors Banquet: presentation partner Mississippi Lime and Julie Griffith; sponsor Lhoist North America; and sponsor Bloomsdale Excavating, Inc.
- the Ste. Genevieve Elks Lodge for their readiness to host;
- Eleven Eleven Catering and Mimi’s for the wonderful meal;
- National Junior Honor Society members who served during the event;
- Shelly Dallas, Lori Dunn, Brandy Henderson, and Stephanie Brumfield for their hard work and dedication they provide to the students and staff;
- program assistants Rori Hughes, Abbey Stomberg, Cierra Voelker, Aubree Worley, Emma Mittermeyer, Kahsu Mittermeyer and Noah Mittermeyer;
- and the SGHS faculty who do an exceptional job in making the banquet possible.
Dr. Boyd also took the time to recognize Mrs. Shelly Dallas, who will be retiring on June 30, 2024.
“Mrs. Dallas takes on so much planning and preparation for this event, and it will be the last that she coordinates for SGHS. She has attended the banquet as a parent, an administrative assistant, and tonight as a parent supporting our guest speaker. We all want to wish her the very best and appreciate everything that she has done for the Ste. Genevieve R-II Community. Mrs. Dallas, from all of us, thank you!”