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< Middle/High School Academics District Calendar Guidance Office Media Center New Enrollment October 2022 Student of the Month Ava Schoenrock Ava is the daughter of Jeff and Amy. When looking at how she has got to where she is today, Ava believes her family has had a big part in that, “I have a relatively big family with my three sisters and parents, and I feel that they are the reason I am where I am today. My parents have always been my biggest role models, always supporting me in everything I do. Having my dad as a teacher, parent, and coach, has had its ups and downs, but the positives have always outweighed the negatives. I have also always looked up to my older sister, Autumn, because she, along with my parents, encouraged me to get out of my comfort zone and join new activities. Having her by my side when I am scared to try new things, makes me feel like anything is possible.” When it comes to her classes Ava says her favorite class has been biology, “My favorite class I took was biology. This class was the first time I enjoyed learning about science, and I have loved learning about biology ever since. I have even considered studying biology in college. Since I liked the first biology class that I took in 10th grade so much, I decided to take College Human Biology this year and it has quickly become my favorite class. I really enjoy learning about the scientific makeup of organisms and learning about different aspects of the human body. The class is also college credit which makes it even better.” As for a favorite teacher in high school, Ava has a couple teachers that come to mind, “Most people would assume that my favorite teacher would be Mr. Schoenrock since he is my dad, but I decided to choose someone else for this category because even though he is a great teacher, there are other teachers I have had that really impacted me. Two of the teachers that have really left an impact on me are Mrs. Tordsen and Mr. Koenig. I only had Koenig as a teacher for one year when I was a sophomore, but he has been my advisor in Student Council for a couple of years now and one of my coaches in FCA, so he has helped me not only with my essays in English class but also with learning how to become a more confident leader. Mrs. Tordsen is one of the happiest teachers in our school, always smiling and encouraging me to do my best. I truly admire her carefree spirit and kind personality.” At Royalton High School Ava is involved with a number of different activities that keep her very busy, “In school, I am involved in multiple clubs and after-school activities including basketball, knowledge bowl, YES Club, student council, MHS, and FCA. I started playing basketball in elementary school and have loved it ever since. My favorite part of basketball is the rush you get after making a basket and the feeling of being a part of a team. I only recently joined knowledge bowl and YES Club, but I have found that I really enjoy being in both of these activities. Knowledge bowl gives me the opportunity to use all the information I have learned in school to compete against other schools, and YES Club allows me to learn about the environment and find ways to improve our school. I also really enjoy finding ways to help the community and volunteer which is the main reason I like being a part of MHS. In FCA, I get to spend time with other student-athletes who want to grow in their faith just like me. Student Council is probably my favorite activity to be a part of because I am able to help plan activities that go on in our school, but most importantly because Student Council has allowed me to develop leadership skills and make new friends. All of these activities have taught me the importance of teamwork and time management since juggling multiple activities as well as school and work can be quite a challenge.” When it comes to time outside of school, Ava likes to spend it doing a number different things, “Outside of school, I enjoy camping, fishing, and being a part of my church's Youth Group. As much as I love sitting inside watching movies and reading books, I also spend a lot of time outdoors camping and fishing with my family. Additionally, I enjoy being a part of youth group because I get to spend time each week playing games while deepening my faith alongside many of my friends.” Ava’s favorite high school memory came last year during the basketball season, “I would say that my favorite high school memory was when I got to play in a basketball game alongside all three of my sisters. My sisters and I were all born within 5 years, so we are relatively close in age but we never expected to all be on the court at the same time since my youngest sister would only be in 7th grade when my older sister was a senior. However, we did get the chance to play together if only for a few minutes, and even if I don’t get along with them all the time, it was pretty amazing having us all out there together.” As for next year, she had an idea but is still deciding what she wants to do, “At the moment, I am undecided about what I will be doing next year. I hope to attend a four-year college but haven’t decided where I will go, and I have yet to figure out what I want to eventually do for a living. I have considered studying biology and even animal science which are both topics I am interested in learning more about. When asked where she wants to be in 10 years, Ava had this to say. “Even though I haven’t figured out what I want to do for a career yet, I know that I want to find one that I truly enjoy and I hope that in 10 years I am happy with my decisions and where they led me. I also envision myself having multiple pets and hope to have traveled the world.” Ava’s advice to high school freshmen is this, “I know everyone says this but enjoy it while it lasts because these next four years of high school will be over before you know it. I found that the best way to truly enjoy high school was by joining a variety of clubs and activities. Even though it is scary and might be out of your comfort zone, you will make so many friendships and memories. Not to mention, being a part of multiple clubs makes you look better on college applications.

< Hall of Fame Kenneth McGonagle Class of 1948 Inducted May 2010 Ken McGonagle is a 1948 graduate of Royalton High School. He graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1952, completed his master’s degree in education at the University of Illinois in 1958, and fulfilled his doctorate at the University of Indiana in 1970. McGonagle lettered as a starting pitcher for the Minnesota Gophers in 1952 and 1953. He also was a two-year letterwinner for the Gophers Basketball team in 1950 and 1951. McGonagle played for the state champion Little Falls Red Sox while also playing minor league baseball for the Duluth Dukes from 1952-1954. During this time, McGonagle was signed by the Cincinnati Reds organization. After his collegiate days were over, McGonagle became a teacher and coach and worked in Texas and Illinois. As a coach, he won a Texas state basketball championship at St. John’s Private School. After moving to Evanston, Illinois, McGonagle began coaching baseball and soccer, where he won 11 league championships in baseball as well as 10 league championships and 4 state championships in soccer. He was the Baseball Man of the Year in Illinois in 1963. McGonagle is a member of both the Illinois High School Baseball and Soccer Coaches Hall of Fames. McGonagle and his wife Cele now live near Cushing, but spend their winters in much warmer Tucson, Arizona.

< Middle/High School Academics District Calendar Guidance Office Media Center New Enrollment < Back December 2019 Artist of the Month Autumn Larson After Christmas break, Royalton High School named Autumn Larson as December's Artist of the Month. Larson, a junior, is the daughter of Coralynn and Jesse Martin of Rice. She has been "doodling" characters on lined paper for as long as she can remember, and now is focused on turning these characters into something more than just a hobby. "As soon as I could pick up a pencil or a brush, everything that I had been thinking about fades away and I focus only on my artwork until I put the pencil down. During this time, it's a weightless feeling of freedom that I've never felt with anything else despite trying to replicate it with other activities," said Larson. "For a very long time, I've dreamed of creating a world that compares to the numerous books that I have read in the early years of my life. It was this year in my Design class that Mr. Halverson asked us to find an idea that we could really invest ourselves into as the Final Design project. My Ultra Violet project started in my freshman year with Sophie as the main character. She made her slow journey over the years into a shape-shifting creature with 200 years of fictional history behind the world that she lives in. The plot of the storybook will tell the reader how simply that Sophie went from Earth to Lyvida, the fairytale world that her story is set in. In one frame, Sophie is shown at her birthday party, and in the next, she is waving goodbye to her friends. As the story progresses, she discovers that if she wishes to become a fairy, she will need to grow wings. The rest of the story will show snapshots of her future adventures and the characters, like her "adoptive" father, Jinn, who will help her reach her destination in life." "While working with at all of the talented, student-artists who take art classes at Royalton High School, it sometimes is a tough task to select just one student who earned the Artist of the Month honor," stated Visual Art Instructor Carl Halverson. "December had a few artists who could have been selected. It was clear to me after seeing the time and dedication that Autumn Larson put into her original storybook, that she had clearly earned the honor. It's not just a rendered copy of a subject in which a student showcases their improvement in skills that are practiced in an art class. In this case, it is the development of a character that is totally original, never seen before, that comes to life in the artist's choice of medium. The Design goes one step further in the fact that no one knows the storyline until the artist decides where they will take you on their journey. I have an Albert Einstein quote hanging in my room which reads, "Imagination is more important than knowledge." I can teach a student the Knowledge of subject matter through the Elements and Principles of Design or by studying Art History. I can improve a student's technical abilities through the daily exercise and practice of drawing, painting, sculpture, digital media or photography projects. But I can't teach a student the "Imagination" piece that it takes to create the Original work that Autumn has shared with us in her Final Design project. This piece is a gift that never stops giving through the work created by these exceptional young people that I have had the privilege of working with for all of these years. " "I'm very grateful for the teachers that I've had, like Mr. Halverson, who have pushed me to travel down the road of Visual Art," added Larson. "I'm also very grateful for my Mom for believing that my "doodles" would one day be something so much more."

< Middle/High School Academics District Calendar Guidance Office Media Center New Enrollment January 2018 Student of the Month Kendra Kull Kendra Kull is the daughter of Lyn and Lynn Kull and she was named the January Student of the Month by the faculty of Royalton High School (RHS). Kendra has a younger sister, Jenna, who is a freshman at RHS. Every year since 9th grade, her favorite class has always been Spanish, and this year it would be her Spanish 4 class. Although there are many teachers here that she loves, her favorite would have to be her Spanish teacher, Mrs. Lindsey Gruber. She is passionate about her job, and while she is considering becoming a Spanish teacher herself Mrs. Gruber has been a role model for her. Sra. Lindsey Gruber states “I have had the privilege of having Kendra in five Spanish classes throughout her high school career, along with a class trip to Ecuador. Kendra is one of the most balanced students I have had in class. She is very disciplined, always interested in how she can better learn and succeed, and is also down-to-earth and genuine with her peers. She is a wonderful role model for underclassmen and I’m sure, will continue to achieve her goals as she starts her post-secondary career. Throughout High School Kendra has been involved in many activities. This year they include: National Honor Society, Spanish club, FFA, knowledge bowl, 4-H, We club, pep band, jazz band, marching band, and Faith Lutheran Church youth group. Her favorite high school memory is going to Ecuador on a Spanish trip in June of 2016. We immersed ourselves in the indigenous culture and used the language in the real world while exploring the Andes Mountains and Amazon Rainforest. Kendra plans on attending a 4-year university starting next fall, and is deciding between Winona State University, North Dakota State University, and University of Minnesota Duluth. She is currently undecided in my major as well, but I am thinking about becoming a Spanish teacher. In ten years, she sees herself happily married with a steady job, and thinking about starting a family. The advice Kendra would give to freshmen is “Don’t be afraid to try new things and take chances. Be yourself and make the best of every moment because high school will come to an end before you know it”.

< Hall of Fame Leo Wenner Class of 1954 Inducted May 2011 Leo Wenner graduated from Royalton High School in 1954. He began driving bus for the Royalton School District in 1959 and in 2011, 52 years later you can still find Leo behind the wheel of a school bus. To put this in perspective, a senior about to graduate from RHS in 1959 at the age of 18 would most likely be retired today and would be looking forward to their 70th Birthday in the next few years! Leo has driven our busses as a route driver and has transported many teams and activity busses over the years. The average school bus route in the Royalton District is approximately 38 miles. If you average this route twice a day for approximately 170 days per year for 52 years, the mileage adds up to almost 672,000 miles in a Royalton school bus! Leo has transported his, and his wife Joan’s, children and grandchildren as students at RHS.

< Middle/High School Academics District Calendar Guidance Office Media Center New Enrollment < Back February 2020 Artist of the Month Isaac Kasella Isaac Kasella, son of Steve and Colleen Kasella, was recently named February Artist of the Month at Royalton High School. Kasella, a senior, has taken many art classes at the middle and high school, and was also named this year's Most Valuable Editor on the 2020 Yearbook Staff. ​ "I have taken as many art classes as I could since I was in 7th grade," said Kasella. "My love for the outdoors and hunting and fishing was one of the main things that I would draw in my art classes. It was a way that I could take my mind off of school and be thinking of what I might be doing when I was out of school. My sophomore year, Mr. Halverson introduced me to yearbook during a Design class. Creating the yearbook was very interesting and after the past three years, I was the Lead Senior Editor." Kasella added. "Isaac Kasella is one of the most "hard-headed" young people who I have ever had the privilege to work with," stated RHS Visual Arts instructor Carl Halverson. "I mean that as a compliment actually. When Isaac was a sophomore, I had about a dozen students in his class who had different sets of skills. Some had photography skills, some had writing, and a few had really good leadership skills. I have been doing yearbook as a class for over thirty years and we've won many different awards from three different publishing companies. One thing remains constant through all of these years. The student who might not have the most talent or ability just might surprise you as he becomes the best leader in the entire class. While other classmates would get frustrated about trivial problems that would make most people give up, Isaac Kasella simply wouldn't throw in the towel. Farm folks might refer to this as "Hard-headed" or "Stubborn." I actually see many students like this who became the owners of local businesses simply because they refused to lose. There are many second and third generation farmers who now own and run the entire operation who also prove my point. Isaac's drawing skills have also surpassed those who didn't commit to the hours needed to reach their true potential. He finished proofing the last few pages of our yearbook the other day. All I could do was say "Thanks," as he walked out the door. Thanks to a graduating senior who will rise to the top, no matter which career he chooses." Kasella will be attending Alexandria Technical and Community College where he is enrolled in the Diesel Mechanics program.

< Middle/High School Academics District Calendar Guidance Office Media Center New Enrollment October 2018 Student of the Month Nathan Popp Nathan Popp, son of Larry and Renee Popp, has been named October Student of the Month at Royalton High School (RHS). He has four siblings, Allison, Corey, Nicole, and Aaron. Popp named Agriculture teacher Robert Skwira as one of his favorite teachers, and ‘growing green’, a class Skwira taught when Popp was a freshman, as his favorite class. Here is what Swira had to say about Popp. “Nathan Popp is a great young man. He is gifted and talented in many ways. In the classroom his work is done with extreme quality. Outside of the classroom he is a leader in the activities that he participates in. Students look up to him because he treats others with respect and shows them he genuinely cares about them. Nathan will succeed in whatever he does after high school! Congratulations Nathan!” Popp has been active in many activities throughout his high school career, including football, basketball, baseball, National Honor Society, Student Council, FFA, and 4-H. A favorite memory for Nathan was making it to the Section 7AA championship game 3 years in a row in football, and all the success the team has had through the seasons. “Nathan is an exceptional student as well as an exceptional athlete. He works to understand material whether in the classroom or on the playing fields. Nate understands how to use his practicing to perform well come test/game time.” said science teacher and head boys basketball coach Randy Thielges. After high school, Nathan plans to attend St. Cloud State University to double major in Accounting and Finance. Nathan’s advice to freshmen is: “Have fun in high school, don’t take for granted the time you get to have with your friends. Take every opportunity to step out of your comfort zone and try something new. Things that I am the proudest about with my time in high school started out as a thing that I thought I could not do.”

< Middle/High School Academics District Calendar Guidance Office Media Center New Enrollment September 2020 Student of the Month Anna Meemken Royalton High School is proud to announce that Anna Meemken was selected as Student of the Month for September. Anna is the daughter of Adam and Linda. Anna has two younger brothers that attend Royalton with her, Adam, Jr. a freshman and David an eighth grader. Anna believes her family has played a large role in her life when it comes to many things. “My family has taught me the importance of accepting others for who they are and not judging those who have not had the same opportunities in life and to love others, even if I do not agree with them. They have always encouraged me to pursue my interests and to look at things in a different perspective when things go wrong and were a huge part of choosing where I plan on continuing my education.” Outside of school Anna is involved in the Loyal Royals 4-H club, where she has been president of the club for 2 years and vice president for 2 years. Anna is also involved in with her church where she has taken part in the church community annual mission trip to Chicago. “The whole point of a mission trip is to help others; it has given me perspective into the needs of others not only in our own communities but across the nation” says Anna. “It has also helped me gain connections to those in the area, in which I still communicate with today.” At Royalton High School, Anna is involved in many activities. She is active in volleyball, BPA, Student Council, Minnesota Honors Society, and Y.E.S. Club. Anna believes being a member of the volleyball team has given her valuable insight into teamwork and leadership. Through BPA she had the opportunity to travel to California for a National Competition, which she says sparked her interest in the world of business and opened her eyes to greater opportunities. By being a member of Student Council, Minnesota Honors Society and Y.E.S Club, Anna believes she has improved her multitasking skills and has learned to recognize community needs and ways to serve others. For example, she has participated in habitat restoration, water quality testing, and is currently working on designing energy efficient electrical bikes. When it comes to her classes Anna says her favorite class was probably College Algebra. “I have always enjoyed mathematics and it has always come easy to me. I would suggest College Algebra because it gives you college credits while being introduced to college level algebra.” Royalton High School Mathematics teacher Jeff Schoenrock says Anna is not just a great student but she is also willing to help her fellow students. “Anna has always done a great job in any of the math classes I have had her in. She is currently taking College Credit Precalculus and is excelling,” Schoenrock says “Anna has always been a pleasure to have in class and she works well with others. Many times, other students will go to Anna for clarification on how to do homework assignments” Anna’s favorite teacher in high school was Mara Jacobson. Anna said, “Mrs. Jacobson was my favorite teacher because she introduced me to the world of business. She convinced me to join Business Professionals of America (BPA) which really set me on the path of business” Next year Annal will be attending Winona State University where her plan is to major in finance and minor in business management and in 10 years, Anna hopes to be settled into her career choice and possibly be focusing on a family. Some of Anna’s favorites memories in high school have been on the road with friends and in 10th grade Geography class, “One of my favorite memories was when a carload of students, including myself, went to return our college textbooks to the CLC campus. As we were exiting the parking lot our driver, after being warned multiple times, still turned into oncoming traffic on a one-way street. Thankfully there was no accident and everyone returned home safely,” said Anna. “One of my favorite school projects was in Geography in 10th grade when my friend Kaelee Yourczek and I attempted to make beef empanadas and almost burned ourselves testing to see if the oil was hot enough to fry them. They turned out to be delicious.” Anna’s advice to high school freshmen is, “My advice to any incoming freshman is to challenge yourselves to see things from others perspectives and if you plan on attending college after high school take advantage of the college classes offered by the school. I also encourage you to get involved in your community to open your eyes to new experiences.”

< Middle/High School Academics District Calendar Guidance Office Media Center New Enrollment March 2021 Student of the Month Jack Achen Royalton High School is proud to announce that Jack Achen was selected as Student of the Month for March. Jack is the son of Craig and Cindy and has a younger brother, Joseph. Jack says his family has impacted him with their support and the teachings, “My family has taught me the value of having a strong work ethic, which I cherish and practice in all my daily endeavors. My family and I enjoy playing the card game “500” and attending mass every Sunday. They have encouraged and supported me by pushing me to always learn and better myself. I am fortunate to have the family I have because they formed me into the individual I am today.” Jack is a member of the Minnesota Honor Society and is the acting president of the American Milking Shorthorn Junior Society (AMSJS). The AMSJS is a national society within the dairy industry. Jack cherishes his involvement with the AMSJS, “I savor this non-related school activity because it teaches me leadership, public speaking, and networking skills. I am learning these trades through running our annual national junior meeting, establishing dates and times for conference calls, and reaching out to our advisors and the adult board of the Milking Shorthorn society for assistance.” When it comes to his classes Jack says one of his favorite classes was Economics. “My favorite class was economics because I learned the basics of supply and demand. It stood out in other courses because I felt like it made sense how people interact with particular types of appreciation. I suggest other students participate in economics simply because it teaches you the manufacturing and usage of products.” Royalton High School Economics Teacher Brad Baumann has high praise for Achen. “This was Jack’s first year at Royalton. As a teacher you know for new students, its usually never easy coming into new situations, and in small schools, it can be harder because most of the teachers and students know each other and know what to expect from one another, and for Jack being a senior that was not going to be an easy task of coming and fitting in, but he did a phenomenal job. He’s such a great kid and student. Extremely polite, asks questions about the material, does a great job with his work, and gets along well with the other students. You really couldn’t ask for anything more, it was a pleasure having him in class!” As for a favorite teacher in high school Jack really enjoys Chemistry teacher Randy Thielges. “My favorite teacher is Randy Thielges, he has been employed at Royalton High for forty plus years and he is now entering retirement, he has made an immense impact on the school. Once Mr. Thiegles hands out a difficult chemistry assignment, he walks around the classroom offering help. He inspires me to help others find solutions in their struggles.” Jack’s favorite memory in high school was his first day at Royalton High School, “On the first day of school, when my younger brother Joseph and I drove into the parking lot and as soon as he parked his car, I looked at him. With a grin on my face, I said the sixth time’s a charm. We both chuckled and grabbed our bookbags and headed for the entrance. I said the sixth time’s a charm because this was our sixth first day at a fresh school. One fact we always knew while relocating around the country and attending dissimilar schools was that fact of our friendship.” Next year Jack plans to attend The Beacom School of Business at South Dakota State University. Jack plans to learn more about economics, business, and administration. In ten years, Jack hopes to own property and been employed in a stable profession, with the possibility of having his own business as well. Jack also would like to spend some time traveling around the world and exploring places he’s never been to before. Jack’s advice to high school freshmen is, “Even though graduation is still years away, the choices you make now will determine your future.”

< Middle/High School Academics District Calendar Guidance Office Media Center New Enrollment < Back November 2019 Artist of the Month Jordan Pesta Jordan Pesta, the daughter of Neil Pesta and Brenda Weiss-Pesta, is Royalton High School's November Artist of the Month. She has explored many different electronic mediums besides the usual, traditional applications that are offered at the high school level. ​ "I’ve always loved doing art, ever since I could pick up a pencil. Mr. Halverson has helped me further my career in art by offering instruction and support in classes like Drawing, Painting, and Graphic Illustration to develop my artistic ability and discover a love of different media. My personal favorite mediums are acrylic and watercolor along with drawing digitally on my phone or computer. ​ Illustrating and painting have helped to take the worlds out of my head and onto paper and canvas. I want to share the pictures I visualize and the stories I create with the world as much as I can. Each subject has its own abstract way of being viewed, like my toucan painting or watercolor. They are both original paintings inspired by either things I see in life or just brought life in my head. ​ Since middle school, I’ve been bringing characters to life and developing stories about their lives in my head. I one day hope to illustrate these stories in a graphic novel. Characters are, in a way, bits and pieces of their creator’s personality projected onto said characters. You create what you are, essentially." Pesta's favorite teacher at Royalton High School is visual arts instructor, Carl Halverson. Halverson thinks that Pesta is the most diversified of all of the talented art students he has ever seen. ​ "Jordan excels to new levels in every medium that she picks up," said Halverson. "From traditional to nontraditional artforms; from creating original characters to applying computer generated animation; she transitions so seamlessly. Her original characters tell stories, that are as unique to the reader, as the characters are themselves. The best post secondary options for a student with Jordan's abilities can't be judged by where they are located, but rather, by what they are producing in the way of successful artists. Several artists with a degree earned from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, (Matthew Meyer, Dan Lund, and Justin Weber) for example, were members of the team of animators who created the Disney film Frozen, which won an Oscar. In Jordan's case, I truly believe that she has all of the ability in the world to pursue character development and illustration and as a career. I also believe that any school with a visual art program, in the area or the state for that matter, would welcome Jordan as a student. After all, they are businesses which profit from students attending and filling their programs. But unless they have a program with recent graduates who are extremely successful in their respective fields, they pretty much sound and resemble a "good, honest car salesman", (if one of these types of salesmen actually does exist.) Royalton High School's Visual Arts program has graduates who have become Art Teachers, Graphic Designers, Freelance Artists, Web Page Designers, and Illustrators to name a few of the many careers in the field. We are about to add a Famous Animator to this list in my opinion. All I can do as a high school art instructor, is try to point her in the direction of her strengths. Jordan Pesta has so many artistic strengths, that I believe she will be one of these students who will join the ranks of like the previously mentioned artists above. Artists, who don't sit around at a local pub talking about their glory days of high school. Instead, Artists who have actually held up an Oscar in their hands or published a book that they wrote as well as illustrated. She will be missed around here, but if I were a betting man, I would bet that she will return one day, extremely successful." ​ After high school, Pesta hopes to attend a college centered around artistic careers or offering pathways to the art field. She has been looking into, and is in the process of applying to, the Academy of Art University, the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, and the Savannah College of Art and Design.

< Middle/High School Academics District Calendar Guidance Office Media Center New Enrollment April 2023 Student of the Month Morgan Duevel Morgan Duevel was selected as Student of the Month for April. Morgan says her family has played a large role in her life and has made her who she is, “My aunts are very comforting when it comes to my struggles and I go to their houses’ when I need some support. My oldest sister and cousin, Maja, are my biggest role-models in my life and they have helped guide me through what I should do when I come across a difficult situation. My family has also taught me how to wood work, craft, bake, cook, fish and paint. I also enjoy spending time with my family camping, fishing, playing Wii, tubing kayaking and car trips.” At Royalton High School, Morgan is involved a variety of activities, “I participate in knowledge bowl where I get to learn random facts, and its rewarding getting a question you didn’t fully understand right. I help manage softball, where I like to keep the girls upbeat and take of them when they get hurt. I am in band and jazz band. I enjoy both because I get to learn many new aspects of music and a variety in song styles.” When it comes to her classes Morgan says her favorite class was probably English Composition 1 & 2. “My favorite classes were English Composition 1 & 2. The class is memorable because I learned skills I will never forget. While it was extremely difficult for me it helped me develop wonderfully as a writer.” As for a favorite teacher in high school Morgan says one of her favorite teachers is Mrs. Alyssa Gerads, “I have taken many of her biology classes and environmental classes. She always has a very kind aura, and does whatever she can do to help her students. I have taken one of her classes every year in high school, and I enjoy all of them. She likes to do as many labs with her classes as possible to make the class more fun. She is more relaxed with her older students, and it makes me feel more comfortable in her class. Mrs. Gerads gets really anxious trying to cram everything in for our college class at the end of the year and her life outside of school as well as how she acts in school makes me want to be more like her.” Outside of school Morgan says youth group is something she is involved with, “Youth group at my church, almost all of the members are my family, so it is more like hanging out with my second cousins, which is nice. I get to help with events at my church, and I really like using the industrial dishwasher.” When asked what her favorite memory and activity from high school were, this is what came to Morgan’s mind, “My favorite memory from high school happened this year before our senior runout at homecoming. We were in the hallway excited and getting along with each other. Kyler was playing very loud music, and everyone was getting their confetti poppers ready. I mostly remember being very happy even though I knew that we were never going to be in a moment like that again. My favorite activity is being involved with softball. All the girls make the sport so enjoyable because of all the energy they have toward the sport, and we all are civil with each other and have fun together.” As for here future, Morgan as this in mind, “I will attend Minnesota State University, Mankato in the fall. I am enrolled in the Pre-Chiropractic program to get a Bachelor’s of Science degree. I have known, since third grade, that I wanted to be a chiropractor. I will need to go to Chiropractic school after I get my degree and get an internship. After I get my doctorate, I will probably move back home and work at a Chiropractic place in Brainerd or St. Cloud.” Morgan’s advice to high school freshmen is short and sweet, “Don’t be a jerk, be a decent human being instead.”

< Middle/High School Academics District Calendar Guidance Office Media Center New Enrollment May 2019 Student of the Month Austin Gibbs Austin Gibbs, son of Angie and Josh Gibbs, has been named May Student of the Month at Royalton High School (RHS). He has a younger brother, Braydon, who is an eighth grader at Royalton. Gibbs’ favorite class was accelerated metals, taught by his favorite teacher Robert Skwira. “I built a trailer from a pile of metal and am now able to use it for things around the farm,” said Gibbs. “Austin Gibbs is an outstanding young man with a great work ethic,” said Skwira. “He takes pride in the projects he is working and does not give up. He cares about other people. Austin works hard in school to keep up his grades while working 20 hours a week at DJ Products in Little Falls. He served as the 2018-2019 FFA Chapter President where he displayed many leadership skills as he lead the Royalton FFA chapter throughout the school year. Austin will be a great asset to any future employer.” English teacher Sheri Menden said, “Austin is a quiet leader; he takes in the actions of those around him, thinks before he speaks, and offers significant insight where needed. I enjoy the maturity he shows when bringing up discussion issues, especially when he offers ideas contradictory to his peers.” Austin is involved in FFA, and National Honors Society. His favorite high school memory was going to nationals for FFA in Indianapolis. Future Plans for Gibbs are to attend Alexandria Technical College. Once he has fished there, he plans to go to work at Dakota Fluid Power in Aberdeen, South Dakota. The advice he would give to freshmen students is: “If you are not loud and obnoxious and listen to the rules, you won’t get into much trouble.”