Vinton-Shellsburg Seniors Awarded over $138K in Scholarships

Mason Coder with his presentation from the United States Army, testing in the top 5% of applicants he is eligible for any job he wants in the Army

Jesse Gray and Karli Hanson will be joining the United States Marines

Jaxson Rule a V-S Senior joined the United States Army and tested in the top 5% making him eligible for any job he wants with the Army

As I watched the families and the members of the Class of 2023, and the generous members of our community come together to honor this Vinton-Shellsburg class, I couldn't help but feel proud of our community. I have no idea how other towns celebrate their graduates, but it feels like Vinton tries to step it up every year.

Principal Matt Kingsley opened the Scholarship and Awards Ceremony for the class of 2023 in the high school auditorium It was estimated that there would be $120,000 in scholarships awarded to the graduates. In the end Kingsley sharpened his pencil and found the number was underestimated. There was $138,109.45 in scholarships awarded to the class.

Toward the end or the ceremony, a representative from both the United States Army and United States Marines recognized two students each for joining the ranks. Reminding those of us in the audience that without kids like these four, events, like the one we were attending, might not be possible. Less than 1% of the total population joins the military to defend and protect. A special thank you to these four seniors.

It was noted that the two new members of the Army Jaxson Rule and Coder scored extremely high on the test for entrance to the Army, scoring in the top 5%, entitling them to any job that they want in the United States Army.

Jesse Gray and Karli Hanson have also chosen to serve our country with the United States Marines.

A special thank you to these four.

Congratulations Class of 2023 and thank you to the community for your generosity. Below are the awards given and the recipients of each.

Presenting.................................................................................. Recipient(s)

Local Scholarships:

Benton County Cattlemen's Scholarship… Brant Ortner, Annabelle Newton, Joshua Wiley, Sophia Kreutner, & Clayton McKenna

Carson Wealth/Farmers Savings Bank & Trust Scholarship…Hudson Carolan

Scott Hill "Go Hard or Go Home" Memorial Scholarship… Brant Ortner & Kail Evans

+Elmo & Mary Zada Baxter Memorial Scholarship………Blake Soquet & Annabelle Newton

Shellsburg Area Community Group… Grace Schminke, Caleb Mott & Kaelyn Pettyjohn

Shellsburg Lions Club………........…….… Caleb Mott & Brant Ortner

US Bank Scholarship…………………………….. Brylee Bruce

Benton County Pork Producers Scholarship………….…… Joshua Wiley

Keystone Communications……………………………… Elizabeth Noe

Virginia Gay Hospital & Clinics Scholarship… Paige Bearbower, Ellery Johnson, Aspen Ahrenholz, & Alyssa Griffith

Jeanette M. Miller Nursing Scholarship…………………………………………… Brynn Staab

Garrison Emergency Service Auxiliary…………….…… Elizabeth Noe

^Edwin & Melba Werning……………………………..… Noel McKenna

The Ahrenstein Family Charitable Fund, Inc:

The Dean & Loretta F. Wenner Memorial Scholarship …Annabelle Newton

The Charlene F. Staab Memorial Scholarship…………...Brynn Staab

The Ellen Ahrenstein Memorial Scholarship………….. Alyssa Griffith

The Herbert Ahrenstein Memorial Scholarship…………Brant Ortner

The Holly Ahrenstein Memorial Scholarship………..... Baylee Wheeler

The Lilyan Ahrenstein Memorial Scholarship………… Kalinda Burke

The Mary Craddock Memorial Scholarship.………… Paul Herger

The Paige Davis Memorial Scholarship……………......Margaret Henry

The Ronald Craddock Memorial Scholarship…… Katherine Timmerman

The Charles Craddock Memorial Scholarship.....…….. Molly Haisman

The Marvin Rappaport Memorial Scholarship………....Hudson Carolan

The AFCF US Veterans Memorial Scholarship.………...Brylee Bruce

The Kevin Wright Memorial Scholarship…………...…Ella Haefner

The J.R. Clapp Memorial Scholarship………………...Sophia Kreutner

The Lainey Robertson Memorial Scholarship….……... Jade Coots

Nathan's Miles Memorial Scholarship...………… ........Ian Vrba & Ella Haefner

Elaine Parry FCA Scholarship……………………………....Sophia Kreutner

P.E.O. Scholarship…………………………………..…….. Lillia Dahlstrom

Jean Peterson Memorial P.E.O. Scholarship………..….........Baylee Wheeler

Garrison Lions Club……….Gracie Drury, Sophia Kreutner, & Elizabeth Noe

Mike Betterton Memorial Wrestling Scholarship…………....Curtis Erickson

Mike Betterton Memorial Soccer Scholarship…………….…Benett Rickels

Vinton Lions Club Foundation Scholarship…Abigail Davis, Kalinda Burke & Benett Rickels

Vinton Kiwanis Club Scholarship….....Rebekah Lindauer, Patience Kies & Ellery Johnson

*Craig Hackbarth Memorial Scholarship…………………..Nash Arbuckle

*GO V-S Scholarship...

Kaelyn Pettyjohn, Grace Schminke, Joshua Wiley, Maya Lapan-Islas, Ashlie Meyer, Gracie Drury, Destiny Slager, Steven Wichtendahl, Katherine Timmerman, Carleigh Wilson & Ryan Williams

*LeRoy & Patricia Porter Hopper Scholarship…………..….....Ali Streeter

*Masonic Lodge W. Glenn Wood Memorial Scholarship………Patience Kies

*Masonic Lodge Jack Milroy Memorial Scholarship…….. ..Margaret Henry

*GO V-S/Cedar Valley Bank "Class of 2023 Penny Wars" Scholarship…Rebekah Lindauer

*Thomas Bolenbaugh Memorial Scholarship….........Annabelle Newton & Austin Kemp

*John & Beverly Anderson Charitable Trust Scholarship………Austin Kemp & Ellery Johnson

*John & Beverly Anderson Charitable Trust Community College…........ Autumn McGowan, Jade Coots, Ashlie Meyer, Ian Vrba, Sophia Kreutner, Ann Cornell, Brant Ortner, Brynn Staab, Maya Lapan-Islas, Paul Herger, Blake Soquet, Angela Ahrenstein, Baylee Wheeler, & Benett Rickels

+Ben & Nina Smith Memorial Scholarship.…..………….....Angela Ahrenstein

+Ethel Morrillo Scholarship (John J. Dieter Trust)..........................Brylee Bruce

+John J. Dieter Trust Scholarship……Faith Thompson & Audriana Rilling

+Paul Mackey Scholarship (John J. Dieter Trust)......................Lillia Dahlstrom

+Marge Schloeman McDowell Scholarship………………Elizabeth Noe, Alyssa Griffith, Patience Kies, Ian Allsup, Molly Haisman, Cameron Dawson-Fink, Abigail Davis, Joshua Wiley, Brylee Bruce, Aspen Ahrenholz, Annabelle Newton, Lillia Dahlstrom, Kail Evans, & Kalinda Burke

+Russell T. Cottrell Memorial Scholarship…Clayton McKenna & Abigail Davis

+Gerald & Beatrice Irwin Scholarship……Aspen Ahrenholz, Molly Haisman, Paul Herger, Brai Lessig, Autumn McGowan, Annabelle Newton, & Ian Vrba

+Howard & Imogene Matters Scholarship………………..Alyssa Griffith

+Esther Williams Memorial Scholarship……Baylee Wheeler & Destiny Slager

+Kathy Luze Memorial Scholarship……Paul Herger & Autumn McGowan

Viking-Vikette Booster Club Scholarship…..Joshua Wiley, Brylee Bruce, Abigail Davis, Sophia Kreutner, Autumn McGowan, Kalinda Burke, Ashlie Meyer & Ian Allsup

Vinton-Shellsburg Education Association Scholarship……Kaelyn Pettyjohn & Grace Schminke

Iowa Farm Bureau Scholarships…………….....………..Annabelle Newton

Benton County Farm Bureau Scholarships………….. Annabelle Newton & Joshua Wiley

Other Scholarships:

Alliant Energy Children of Employees……………………Blake Soquet

Farmers Mutual/USA Communications Scholarship…Brant Ortner, Caleb Mott, Grace Schminke & Tori Schoch

Farmers Savings Bank & Trust (FFA)...Clayton McKenna & Annabelle Newton

ACCESS Scholarship……….…………………………Grace Schminke

Vinton American Legion (George G. Luckey Post #57) Scholarship…

Alyssa Griffith & Benett Rickels

Benton City Masonic Lodge 81 Scholarship…Alyssa Griffith & Abigail Davis

Benton County American Legion………………………. Brant Ortner

American Legion Auxiliary Unit 57…......Abigail Davis, Alyssa Griffith, & Aspen Ahrenholz

Benton County Legion Auxiliary……………Alyssa Griffith & Blake Soquet

3rd District American Legion Auxiliary………………Blake Soquet

Blairstown Legion & Auxiliary Award………………..Blake Soquet

Marlyn and Ann Jorgensen Family Scholarship……Annabelle Newton

Whirlpool Sons & Daughters Education and Vocational Training Scholarship…Baylee Wheeler

East Central Iowa REC Scholarship…………………Annabelle Newton

MercyOne……………………………………………Aspen Ahrenholz

Student Scholarships…Aspen Ahrenholz, Elizabeth Noe & Rebekah Lindauer

VS-HS Recognition Awards/Scholarships:

KWWL Best of Class……………………………Cameron Dawson-Fink

Governor's Scholar……………………………………………Brylee Bruce

Des Moines Academic All-State……………………………Mason Coder

Black & Gold Community Service Awards…Aspen Ahrenholz, Paige Bearbower, Brylee Bruce, Kalinda Burke, Mason Coder, Abigail Davis, Alyssa Griffith, Ellery Johnson, Maya Lapan-Islas, Brai Lessig, Ashlie Meyer, Annabelle Newton, Elizabeth Noe, Blake Soquet & Baylee Wheeler

American Citizenship Award…………………………Annabelle Newton

United States Marines:

Scholastic Excellence Award……………………………Brylee Bruce

"Semper Fidelis" Award for Musical Excellence……Lillia Dahlstrom

Distinguished Athlete Award…….....Curtis Erickson & Abigail Davis

United States Army…………………………Jaxson Rule & Mason Coder

National Honor Society Scholarships………Brylee Bruce, Alyssa Griffith, Noel McKenna, Kaelyn Pettyjohn, & Blake Soquet

Project Lead the Way Awards...

Ian Allsup, Ryan Carolus, Mason Coder, Kail Evans, Dane Moore, Brant Ortner, Sawyer Rast, Ian Vrba, Austin Kemp, Autumn McGowan, Caleb Mott, Kaelyn Perryjohn, & Blake Soquet

State of Iowa Seal of Biliteracy Awards…Abigail Davis, Alyssa Griffith, Audriana Rilling, Ali Streeter, & Faith Thompson

Val Patrilla Award………………………………………Faith Thompson

Senior Art Award…Paul Herger, Brynn Staab, Tori Schoch, Faith Thompson, Macie Enos, Tristan Sisco, Destiny Slager, Justyce Dominick, Audriana Rilling & Austin Mosher

Art Curation Recognition… Ian Sallee, Ann Cornell, Brynn Staab, Paul Herger, Justyce Dominick, Austin Mosher, Destiny Slager, Audriana Rilling, Ali Streeter, Aspen Ahrenholz, Tori Schoch, Tristan Sisco, Macie Enos, Noel McKenna, & Steven Wichtendahl

Vinton Popcorn Project Awards………………Josh Wiley & Kalinda Burke

Student Impact Award…Abigail Davis, Justyce Dominick, Alyssa Griffith & Ashlie Meyer

Athletic Awards:

Bernie Saggau Award………………………………………Brylee Bruce

E. Wayne Cooley Award Nomination………………………………………………....Brylee Bruce

Viking Athlete of the Year………………………………Curtis Erickson

Vikette Athlete of the Year………………………………Brylee Bruce

Academic Letter Awards

Aspen Ahrenholz*

Ian Allsup

Brylee Bruce*

Kalinda Burke*

Hudson Carolan*

Mason Coder*

Jade Coots

Lillia Dahlstrom

Abigail Davis

Cameron Dawson-Fink*

Justyce Dominick

Gracie Drury*

Curtis Erickson*

Alyssa Griffith*

Molly Haisman

Karli Hanson

Paul Herger*

Ellery Johnson*

Austin Kemp*

Patience Kies*

Maya Lapan-Islas*

Gabriel Marzen

Autumn McGowan*

Noel McKenna

Ashlie Meyer

Caleb Mott

Annabelle Newton

Elizabeth Noe

Brant Ortner

Kaelyn Pettyjohn

Benett Rickels

Audriana Rilling

Destiny Slager

Blake Soquet*

Ali Streeter

Faith Thompson

Reese Truax

Bryce Walker

Logan Watson

Baylee Wheeler

Steven Wichtendahl

Joshua Wiley

*Denotes 4.0

Presidential Excellence

Aspen Ahrenholz

Ian Allsup

Brylee Bruce*

Kalinda Burke

Hudson Carolan

Mason Coder*

Jade Coots

Lillia Dahlstrom

Abigail Davis

Cameron Dawson-Fink*

Justyce Dominick

Gracie Drury

Curtis Erickson

Alyssa Griffith

Molly Haisman

Karli Hanson

Paul Herger

Ellery Johnson

Austin Kemp

Patience Kies

Maya Lapan-Islas

Autumn McGowan