STE. GENEVIEVE – Ste. Genevieve High School celebrated its students’ academic honors for the 2024-2025 school year at the 35th annual Dan Clark Honors Banquet held recently at the Ste. Genevieve Elks Lodge.
At this year’s event, junior Eleanor McKlin, gave the opening remarks.
Guest performer and chorale student Damian Dickerson sang “Road to Mandalay” by Oley Speaks.
The guest performers for the evening were chorale students Damian Dickerson, who sang “Road to Mandalay” by Oley Speaks, and London White-Hume, who sang “The Vagabond by Ralph” Vaughan Williams.
Guest performer and chorale student London White-Hume sang “The Vagabond by Ralph” Vaughan Williams.
Damian and London both qualified for state this year with exemplary ratings at the district solo and ensemble event.
David Bova, a 1990 graduate of SGHS was the guest speaker for the event. After high school, he continued his education at both the University of Missouri-Columbia (MIZZOU) and Southeast Missouri State University (SEMO). David spent 25 years in retail management before joining the City of Ste. Genevieve, where he currently serves as assistant city administrator. For more than a decade, he has served on the Ste. Genevieve R-II Board of Education—seven years as board president—demonstrating his deep commitment to our students and community. David and his wife, Julie, have three daughters—Kara, Allison, and Alexis—and one granddaughter, Autumn. Their family’s connection to service and education continues to shape and strengthen our school community.
David Bova, 1990 graduate of Ste. Genevieve High School, President of the Ste. Genevieve County R-II Board of Education, and assistant city administrator of Ste. Genevieve.
Bova spoke to students about the lasting impact Ste. Genevieve High School has had on his life and the impact he hopes it will have on theirs. He shared that when he makes decisions as a member of the school board—whether casting votes or discussing difficult topics—he often reflects on the spirit of SGHS: its success, ambition, teamwork, and pride.
Bova encouraged students to recognize that they are now the keepers of that spirit. He described SGHS as a place that offered him happiness, learning, friendship, and support—a place that felt like home and continues to feel that way today. He reminded students that family is not limited to parents and grandparents; it also includes friends, teachers, coaches, principals, and assistant principals who support and celebrate their success.
“You each carry a responsibility to do your best for yourself and for your SGHS family,” he said. “You are Ste. Gen Dragons, and with that name comes the expectation that you will strive for excellence in everything you do—whether in college, trade school, military service, or entering the workforce.”
Bova encouraged students not to undervalue their own abilities, and reminded them that wherever life takes them, they carry the legacy of SGHS—and the responsibility to live with pride, purpose, and excellence.
Bova was followed by Tyson Schaffner, who manages the Patched Overalls Experience. Each year one student is selected to fulfill a dream experience between their junior and senior year.
This year, Carrie Staffen introduced senior Charlie Corbett, who traveled to Boston, Massachusetts, for a three-week leadership engineering program.
Senior Charlie Corbett, Patched Overalls Experience participant for Summer 2024, shared his experience in the program.
During his experience, Charlie gained insight into the processes and skills required to become an engineer, and discovered a newfound confidence in connecting with others. Through this experience, research and self-reflection, he has decided to pursue engineering as a career.
Junior Eleanor McKlin, Patched Overalls Experience participant for Summer 2025, shares her plans for the upcoming program.
For this upcoming summer, junior Eleanor McKlin was chosen to participate in the Patched Overalls Experience, and she shared that she plans to attend a week-long workshop on the Art of Filmmaking in Putnam, Vermont, in July.
Each summer, many SGHS students are chosen to represent our district at leadership conferences throughout the state of Missouri.
Summer Leadership Conference participants: (from left): Simon Fritsch, Kennedy Bowen, Trent Weber, Charlotte Mooney, Emily Merrifield, and Madden Wolk.
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 Kennedy Bowen; the GFWC Woman’s Club of Ste. Genevieve
Missouri Boys State: junior Madden Wolk; the American Legion Post 150, Bloomsdale American Legion
Missouri Girls State: junior Emily Merrifield; the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary
Missouri Leadership Seminar: sophomore Launa Gegg; the GFWC Woman’s Club of Ste. Genevieve
Missouri Scholars Academy: sophomore Simon Fritsch
Rotary Youth Leadership Award: sophomore Charlotte Mooney; the Ste. Genevieve Rotary
Sophomore Pilgrimage: sophomore Trent Weber, 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.
Top 10% of Class:
Freshmen Top 10 Percent: (front row, from left): Gracie Ladd, Finn McClard, Brayden Pfaff, Gabriella Watts, Ashlyn Wezner, and Halle Wichern; (back row, from left): Bryna Wolk, Nino Batucan, William Elder, Dane Evelsizer, Corbin Gray, Dominic Johnson, Reese Wibbenmeyer, Ava Zerwig, and Aila Wolk.
Freshmen:
- Nino Batucan
- William Elder
- Dane Evelsizer
- Corbin Gray
- Dominic Johnson
- Gracie Ladd
- Finn McClard
- Brayden Pfaff
- Gabriella Watts
- Ashlyn Wezner
- Reese Wibbenmeyer
- Halle Wichern
- Aila Wolk
- Bryna Wolk
Sophomores Top 10 Percent: (front row, from left): Clementine Birkenstock, Anna Fischer, Kennedy Bowen, Jersey Quinn, Camille Melahn, and Hazel Schwent; (Back Row, Left to Right): Nate Basler, Jeremy Donze, Jr., Simon Fritsch, Jake Parker, Josef Rottler, Trenton Weber, Maddox Sutton, and Elcie Schweigert.
Sophomores:
Nate Basler
Clementine Birkenstock
Kennedy Bowen
Jeremy Donze, Jr.
Anna Fischer
Simon Fritsch
Camille Melahn
Jake Parker
Jersey Quinn
Josef Rottler
Elcie Schweigert
Hazel Schwent
Maddox Sutton
Trenton Weber
Juniors Top 10 Percent: (front row, from left): Kennedi Fischer, Emma Gegg, Tylin Hager, Lucille Hunsley, Vivian Kiefer, and Eleanor McKlin; (Back Row, Left to Right): Luke Ferranto, Gavin Gegg, Cecilia Mooney, Abigail Woodard, and Paul Taylor. Not pictured: Sophie Garcia and Carly Wolk.
Juniors:
Luke Ferranto
Kennedi Fischer
Sophie Garcia
Emma Gegg
Gavin Gegg
Tylin Hager
Lucille Hunsley
Vivian Kiefer
Eleanor McKlin
Cecilia Mooney
Paul Taylor
Carly Wolk
Abigail Woodard
Seniors Top 10 Percent (front row, from left): Kennedy Buatte, Shay Coleman, Sophia Fritsch, Savannah DeRousse, Ava Greer, and Kailynn Harmon; (Back Row, Left to Right): Sophia Huck, Ainsley McClard, Joleigh Parker, Jayden Rickman, Lucy Sears, and Mason Ruch.
Seniors:
Kennedy Buatte
Shay Coleman
Savannah DeRousse
Sophia Fritsch
Ava Greer
Kailynn Harmon
Sophia Huck
Ainsley McClard
Joleigh Parker
Jayden Rickman
Mason Ruch
Lucy Sears
Each of the following students (listed alphabetically by surname) earned a medal for outstanding academic achievement in his or her individual class:
Allie Abt — Show Choir
Hayden Ackman — Industrial & Engineering Tech II (PACTC)
Libby Adams — Business Technology I
Hannah Ahrens — Advanced Graphics Design Lab, German II, Organic Chemistry, Sociology
Isaiah Basler — Construction Tech II (PACTC)
Alysa Beckermann — Animal Science, English III
Grace Bird — Spanish III
Clementine Birkenstock — French II
Kendra Bowen — German I
Jacob Brissette — Fundamentals of Music
Kennedy Buatte — Calculus, Drafting & Design
Jenna Clayton — Painting
Shay Coleman — Website Design, Western Civilization
Alyssa Cook — Journalism
Charlie Corbett — Physics
Aniston Cremer — Girls Physical Education
Nathan Cummings — Forensic Analysis
Maycon Damm — Industrial Woods
Savannah DeRousse — Statistical Reasoning
Damian Dickerson — Guitar II
Avery Dippold — Automotive Service Technology II
Jeremy Donze — CP American Government, CP Geometry
William Elder — CP Integrated Science, Introduction to Applications
Ozmond Enrenreich — Adaptive Physical Education
Carson Fallert — Basic Home Repair, Power Mechanics Technology
Luke Ferranto — Personal Finance
Simon Fritsch — Algebra II, CP English II, Guitar I
Hunter Garrett — Team Sports
Gavin Gegg — ACT Prep
Corbin Gray — Spanish II
Ava Greer — Advanced Chemistry, CP English IV, Speech
McKenzie Greer — Algebra I, English I
Austin Hendrix — Contemporary Issues
Brody Henson — Algebra 1.5
Carter Howell — Integrated Science
Kayden Huck — Economics
Owen Huck — Introduction to Industrial Technology
Kadence Hutchins — Physical SEL
Aubrey Joggerst — Geometry
Brooklyn Johnson — Spanish IV
Kamree Johnson — Family & Consumer Sciences I
Ryder Keyser — American History
Vivian Kiefer — Introduction to Business
Kyrah Kreitler — Housing, Environments & Design
Jeremiah Kunz — Accounting I
Grace Ladd — CP English I
Ainsley McClard — Creative Writing, French V, Modern America
Ava McConkey — American Government
Allison McCrory — Drawing, Landscaping
Charles McGuire — German V
Eleanor McKlin — CP English III, Film Composition & Lit, French III, Physiology & Anatomy, PreCalculus, Psychology, Trigonometry
Emily Merrifield — Band
Drew Merriman — German IV, Multimedia Media Production
Blake Naeger — Agricultural Science II
Evan Naeger — Fish & Wildlife Management
Jake Parker — Sculpture
Laurie Parker — French I
Briana Pfaff — Chemistry
Kylor Plunk — Broadcasting
Talan Plunk — Introduction to EMT
Lillie Reed — Marketing Production
Jayden Rickman — Business Technology II, French IV
Josef Rottler — Computer Science, Multimedia Photoshop
Mallory Rottler — Studio Art
Mason Ruch — Music Production & Engineering
Heidi Schmelzle — Welding Tech 2 (PACTC), 2025 “Breaking Traditions” Region 1 (PACTC)
Kale Schmelzle — Boys Physical Education
Caden Schweiss — Body Conditioning
Brenden Sexton — CP American History
Justin Slinkard — Earth Science
Shane Sonderman — Health
Chloe Staffen — College Algebra
Easton Stanley — Automotive Service Technology I
Jacob Sulser — Agricultural Construction
Levi Sutton — Engineering Graphics
Chloe Tarrillion — Foods, General
Paul Taylor — Advanced Biology, Mythology
Chase Thompson — Industrial & Engineering Tech II (PACTC)
Mason Trollinger — Multimedia Video Production
Renee “Val” Vogt — Ceramics
Bennett Walls — World Foods
Kailyn Warren — Biology
Gabriella Watts — World History
Trenton Weber — CP Biology, German III
Chloe Wehner — English II, Yearbook
Kamdyn Wehner — Fundamentals of Art
Reese Wibbenmeyer — Agricultural Science I
Shane Williams — Advanced Industrial Woods
Raegan Winch — Chorale, Play Production
Rika Windoffer — English IV
Aila Wolk — Spanish I
Grant Wolk — Modern Band
Abigail Woodard — Algebra III, Cadet Teaching, Child Development
Hollyn Zangaro — Nutrition and Wellness
Dr. Boyd shared a special thank you to the following for their role in the event:
the sponsors of the 35th Annual Dan Clark Honors Banquet:
presentation partner MLC (formerly Mississippi Lime) and Julie Griffith;
sponsor Lhoist North America; and
sponsor Bloomsdale Excavating, Inc. (Scott and Jami Drury),
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;
Lori Dunn, Brandy Henderson, Stephanie Brumfield and Jamie Mittermeyer for their hard work and dedication they provide to the students and staff; program assistants Rori Hughes, Sophia Jordan, Jeannette Kloepper and Shaelyn Wolk; and the SGHS faculty who do an exceptional job in making the banquet possible.
In closing the Honors Ceremony, SGHS Principal Dr. John Boyd shared a message about the power of perseverance and consistency, drawing on his experience as a runner. He recounted the story of Cliff Young, a 61-year-old farmer who unexpectedly won a grueling ultramarathon through steady determination and grit.
“Whether you’re going on to college, entering a career, or still figuring out the next step—don’t stop running your race. Keep showing up. Keep doing the little things right. Keep pushing when it’s tough. Because greatness isn’t built in the spotlight—it’s built in the quiet moments when no one is watching,” he said.