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< Middle/High School Academics District Calendar Guidance Office Media Center New Enrollment April 2020 Student of the Month Cierra Gottwalt Royalton High School faculty and staff would like to announce that Cierra Gottwalt has been named the Student of the Month for April. Cierra explains that her family has taught her to appreciate everything that she has and to enjoy the little things. They have shown her that there is a bigger picture to everything she does and that right now is just the beginning. She says that she would not have the motivation or determination she has today without them. In their free time, they do a lot of traveling, along with lake days while spending time together. Cierra’s favorite class in high school was probably drama her freshman year. She explains that she has never been in anything like that, so it was a unique way for her to get out of her comfort zone and try new things. Cierra adds that her favorite teacher is Jeff Schoenrock. She has had him for multiple years at RHS, and he never fails to joke around with the class. On top of that, he would go beyond the classroom for any of his students making sure they are understanding the lesson or checking in to see how things are going. Over the years he has been proof that teachers truthfully do care about their students. Mr. Schoenrock would like to add, “Cierra has always been a very hardworking, dedicated student. She has excelled in her college math classes. She ranks high in her class with an excellent GPA. She has been a great leader, in the classroom and on the court. Many younger students have looked up to her as a role model; she is smart, kind and caring.” She is involved in Volleyball, Basketball, YES Club and Minnesota Honor Society. From all of these activities, she has learned to work well with others, along with how to be a leader. She has also gained friendships that will last forever. Outside of school, Cierra is involved in 4-H and Junior Olympic Volleyball. She also hunts in her spare time. She enjoys 4-H because it is much different from the activities she participates in at school, and she gets to be with people that she does not get to see everyday. JO Volleyball is also very important to her because she spends time with her favorite people while preparing their team for the upcoming volleyball season. Brad Baumann, Royalton High School social studies teacher adds, “Cierra has excellent work habits and is extremely dependable, loyal and responsible. She is very approachable and has great problem solving skills. When given instructions or constructive criticism she listens and accepts them and does her best to accomplish the task and always does a great job. She does not blame others when something happens to go wrong, she takes responsibility for her actions. She is one of the most positive people that I have taught or coached and I have never seen her put down or say unkind words to her classmates and teammates. Cierra is a great role model for her fellow students and for younger students as well and defines excellence at RHS.” Cierra notes that her favorite high school memory was finally winning the Homecoming Olympics after losing in “Rock Paper Scissors” for the last two years. She also adds that the best game she was a part of during high school was when they beat Maple Lake in volleyball this past fall. She has never been so proud to be part of such an amazing team. Winning this match was such a huge accomplishment for the team and it is a feeling she will never forget. Next year, Cierra plans to attend Arizona State University and pursue a degree in Nursing. She adds that, “I chose Arizona because of the nursing program, and of course the warm weather.” In ten years, she hopes to be settled down and living somewhere warm. She hopes to be a Nurse Practitioner with a husband and a few kids. Cierra concludes with the following advice for High School Freshman, “I would tell them to enjoy the little things. I would also tell them that they need to focus on what is best for them because in five years they will be on their own and will have to learn how to create a life for themselves.”

< Middle/High School Academics District Calendar Guidance Office Media Center New Enrollment < Back November 2017 Artist of the Month Jason Kasella Jason Kasella, son of Rob and Amy Kasella of Morrill, has earned the honor of Royalton High School's November Artist of the Month. Kasella, used one of his favorite hobbies, bowhunting, as inspiration to create his freehand, graphite drawing. "This Fall I took a trip to New Mexico to go bow hunting Elk with my dad, and his good buddy 'Bones', (my second dad)." stated Kasella. " Although it meant missing a week of football, I didn't second guess this trip. Everything, from the scenery to the number of elk we saw, stuck with me long after the trip ended. I actually passed up a nice five by five, in hopes of getting a shot at a monster elk that I saw, like the one that I drew in this picture." "I haven't seen Jason in an art class for a while," stated Royalton High School's art instructor, Carl Halverson. "It doesn't matter how long it's been though because he's got that "I'm in it to win it" attitude and work ethic. This same mind set that propels him as an athlete all the way to the State Wrestling Tourney, is mirrored in this pencil drawing. I've seen so many students who seem to be lost as they search for a direction to go after they graduate from high school. They seem fearful and confused by the number of people who constantly try to steer them towards an unknown goal in life. Then, there is this Kasella kid. He doesn't seem to be confused or afraid of anything because he is confident that he will simply outwork the competition. He's got that "farm boy work ethic" mixed with a quiet confidence that almost guarantees him success in whatever, or wherever his future may lead. Add to this, a quick-witted sense of humor, and life in the future looks as bright and exciting as his hunting trip with his two, three or even four dads who happen to be tagging along....." "Halverson has been teaching for thirty-some years. He still has the rare ability to push us to relate to our projects so that we are more motivated to work," added Kasella. "He is a "darn' good" teacher and makes his class very enjoyable, and my favorite of the day."

< Middle/High School Academics District Calendar Guidance Office Media Center New Enrollment January 2020 Student of the Month Erin Zapzalka Royalton High School faculty selected Erin Zapzalka as their January Student of the Month. Erin, the daughter of Danelle and Tim Zapzalka, learned about hard work and caring for others from her parents: her dad works on the family farm and her mom is a nurse. ​ Erin is involved in numerous activities at RHS. She enjoys band because of her love of music and learning different instruments. She also volunteers with Minnesota Honor Society, helps the environment in Y.E.S. Club, plans events with student council, as well as participating in softball, volleyball and serving as a wrestling manager. Randy Thielges, science teacher and basketball coach says, “Erin is one of the students you can ask anything of her and she will complete the task well and on time.” ​ Director of Bands, Chris Coppicus states, “Erin is a gifted musician. She directs our summer marching band, our concert band and jazz band with her French horn in hand. She is one of our strongest seniors throughout academics, athletics, and the arts.” ​ Her musical talents follow her outside of school where Erin plays trumpet at her church for Christmas and Easter masses. She also volunteers at the Little Falls Humane Society and works at Scheels in St. Cloud. She explains that at Scheels she is able to bridge her love of helping people and her knowledge about outdoor activity equipment together. She hopes that the skills acquired in her job will help as a nurse in her future. ​ When asked about influential teachers, Erin notes that Mr. Thielges, Mr. Schoenrock and Mr. Makela stand at the top of her list. These teachers “have their own way of teaching, and they each have a sense of humor to accompany their teaching styles.” ​ One highlight of Erin’s high school career was the morning the power went out right before school. She and her classmates sat in the Lion’s Den while singing songs and talking which, strangely, created a strong bond between them all. ​ A playoff softball game from her sophomore year stands as one of her greatest sporting memories. “We were down by two in the top of the ninth inning. There were two outs and I was up to bat while two of my teammates were on second and third base. Although I only had 1 strike left before the game was over, I felt no pressure. The next pitch, I hit the ball into the outfield which drove my two teammates home making the score tied. We ended up working as a team and won the game; moving onto the next round of playoffs. Seeing how a team can work together and overcome the challenge of the game has always stayed in my mind. “ ​ After high school, Erin plans to attend the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, with hopes to pursue a career in Registered Nursing. In ten years, Erin hopes to have all of her schooling completed and be working at a job that is “perfect” for her. She also hopes for marriage and a family. ​ When passing on advice for underclassmen,, Erin states, “Yes, homework is important, but so is time with friends and having fun. If you use time management and have a good balance between the two, then you will be successful in school and be able to have fun, too.”

< Middle/High School Academics District Calendar Guidance Office Media Center New Enrollment < Back November 2018 Artist of the Month Jordan Pesta Royalton High School recently named high school junior, Jordan Pesta, as Artist of the Month for November. Pesta is the daughter of Brenda and Neil Pesta, and has been drawing for as long as she can remember. She has created characters for an original storybook and is presently using digital imaging processes to bring her characters to life. "I've been drawing since I could pick up a pencil," stated Pesta. "My room is flooded with drawings scattered from the floor to the bed. There isn't a single notebook that I own that doesn't hold drawings or sketches of animals or imaginary characters." "I've always loved art, so Royalton High School's art classes are by far my favorite in school. In Design class this past year, our final Design project is one of our choice, so I am working with animation through a storybook. The characters each have their own unique personalities that fit into their own little piece of the world. The book, entitled Natural Oddities', has two main characters as the protagonists. These characters are much the same as every student who searches for a direction in their life. Each is like a unique piece of a puzzle. As these characters move throughout the story, each runs into road blocks, and has to find the way though to the end of their own personal story. The happy ending in every story is when one might look back with a smile after finding how their puzzle piece fits into their own life journey. I have applied the elements and principles of design that I learned to give these characters a look that is three dimensional. I also am exploring animation through digital media to give them movement from one page to the next. The other pieces show one of my more traditional watercolor pieces of the skull and one of my clay designed projects of my logo created in Design class" added Pesta. Carl Halverson, Royalton's Art instructor, sees Pesta as having such a unique perspective in not only his classroom, but also out the classroom. "Jordan is as "one of a kind" as a person as her own characters are in her story. While we may try to define success as following a given path to reach a given educational outcome, some unique individuals never seem to follow that same path. In fact, they break their own path, a path far less traveled, and arrive at an entirely different destination. All of this began through the exploration of new ideas through the use of technology. The world itself has become a university of independent instructors who can teach new areas of expertise not offered within the traditional model of a brick and mortar school building. It's exciting to watch students with such extraordinary talents explore education in such a non traditional way while pulling others along for the ride. I hope to help these gifted students like Jordan become who she is supposed to be, so that she finds where she, as a puzzle piece, finds her own place in this world." Upon graduation, Pesta sees herself taking the next step of her journey at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design to pursue a major in Graphic Design, Illustration and Comic Art.

< Middle/High School Academics District Calendar Guidance Office Media Center New Enrollment < Back September 2018 Artist of the Month Brooke Richards Brooke Richards, daughter of Angie and Paul Richards, was recently named September Artist of the Month at Royalton High School. Richards attended Sacred Heart and St. Katharine Drexel for elementary school and came to Royalton in 7th grade. "When I came to tour the school back in 6th grade, the first thing that stood out to me was Mr. Halverson’s Art room" said Richards. ""I walked into the classroom and was in awe of all the amazing tile paintings on the ceiling. I knew then that this was the right school for me and that I wanted to take classes with this teacher who allowed his students to express their creativity in such unconventional ways. I started yearbook not knowing what to expect and quickly found that I loved every aspect of it. From ad selling, to taking pictures, to laying out pages, then putting it together and handing them out at the end of the year, it was all enjoyable. We have a fantastic mentor and teacher in Mr. Halverson, who guides us, while at the same time, gives us enough freedom to make our projects our own. I’ve met some great people along the way which I probably wouldn’t have otherwise, and there is not a day that goes by that I don’t enjoy going to class." Josten's yearbook representative, Paul Sorenson, had these words to say about Richards and the yearbook program at Royalton High School. "My sincere congratulations on some new milestones and creative achievements. The yearbook business, and yes it's a business, has many facets that make it great. Brooke Richards, and your staff need to be commended for not only achieving their goals for the book, but knocking them out of the park. Old Saying, "It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog." "Royalton, not the biggest town on the map, but the quality and program you put together is at the top with the biggest and the brightest. Your book needs to be sent in for consideration against some of Josten's best books nationally!" ​ "Brooke has broken every record that exists in the history of yearbook advising that I've seen for the more than 30 years."" stated RHS Yearbook Advisor and Visual Arts Instructor Carl Halverson. "And I've had the pleasure to work with hundreds of exceptional and gifted students. In yearbook, our first goal is to raise enough money in ad sales to afford all of the bells and whistles that this project may afford. Brooke shattered the all-time Ad Sales record, which not only gives us a yearbook that visually competes with the best, but also keeps the total cost of our yearbook down for our entire student body. She broke the total number of completed pages record last year by designing 34 pages, and will break her own record again this year as she designs the cover, ad pages, endsheets, senior section and sports templates. As the lone Senior Editor, she is in charge of funding this business project, designing graphically, everything from the theme to the cover, and editing the 100 pages inside the book. This is not a make-believe project for a competition. This is the ""Real Life"" model that carries with it, the responsibilities of real world issues. With her three year Royal Yearbook experience, which includes; sales and marketing, project design, business management, graphic illustration, and quality team leadership abilities, Brooke has created the kind of portfolio to compete at the next level at any post-secondary institution that she may apply to. Thank you Brooke for stepping up to the plate all three seasons of the year, and using your extraordinary gifts to create Royalton High School's most historically significant, and memorable project of the year, 2019.

< Middle/High School Academics District Calendar Guidance Office Media Center New Enrollment December 2020 Student of the Month Aubrey Krueger Royalton High School is proud to announce that Aubrey Krueger was selected as Student of the Month for December. Aubrey is the daughter of Isaac and Amy and older sister of Hannah. Aubrey gives her family a lot of credit for where she is today, “My family has taught me to work hard for the things I want in life and never take anything for granted. I feel very blessed to be surrounded by the support of immediate family, my grandparents, and my extended family throughout my high school career. They have been my cheering section for nearly all of my activities, edited my English papers, obtained their bus driver’s license, and always provided me with words of encouragement. I am very thankful that I have such a supportive family! Some of the things I like to do with my family are camping and taking our boat out on the lake in the summer.” At Royalton High School, Aubrey is involved in basketball, softball, volleyball manager, YES Club, BPA and Minnesota Honor Society. Aubrey believes being involved in these activities has played a huge role in her life, “I think everyone should take advantage of the extra-curricular activities at school because there is something for everyone. Being involved in activities has introduced me to some of my closest high school friends.” “I’ve had the opportunity to get to know Aubrey these past 4 years. I’ve seen so much growth in Aubrey as a student and person in the classroom and in her activities like basketball. Her work ethic in the classroom and in her activities has been awesome and it’s been a pleasure teaching and coaching her. I expect her to do great things in the years to come.”- Brad Baumann, Social Studies teacher and Head Girls Basketball Coach. When it comes to her classes Aubrey says her favorite classes were her Math classes. “I like math because it challenges me. I also like that although there are many ways to solve a problem, most of the time there is only one right answer so you can check your work. I would suggest taking a class that challenges you because it helps you learn and grow.” As for a favorite teacher in high school, Aubrey says Ms. Menden really comes to mind, “Ms. Menden challenges me to grow as a student and she also takes time to get to know me as an individual. Even though her class was early in the morning, every day she greeted me with a cheery personal greeting. She inspires me to be the best version of myself I can be in and out of the classroom.” Aubrey’s favorites memory in high school has been Homecoming. “My favorite high school memory was Homecoming. I loved being able to cheer on the football team with all of my classmates/friends and being able to compete in the Homecoming Olympics as a class.” Next year Aubrey plans to attend North Dakota State University to pursue a degree in accounting and in ten years she wants to have taken that degree and obtained a full-time accounting job. “In 10 years, I plan to be settled into a full-time accounting job, married, living in a house in a small town in either North Dakota or Minnesota, and probably starting a family.” Aubrey’s advice to high school freshmen is short but sweet “Don't take anything for granted because it can all be gone in no time!”

< Middle/High School Academics District Calendar Guidance Office Media Center New Enrollment September 2021 Student of the Month Autumn Schoenrock Royalton High School is proud to announce that Autumn Schoenrock was selected as Student of the Month for September. Autumn is the daughter of Jeff and Amy and older sister of Ava, Addison and Alise. Autumn gives her family a lot of credit for where she is today, “My family has probably been one of my biggest motivators when achieving success. From an early age, they taught me the importance of hard-work and determination which shaped me into the student I am today. Growing up with 3 younger sisters, I’ve learned how to share and be a leader. Although we argue, my sisters and I share an inseparable bond which shows in nearly every activity we are involved in together.” At Royalton High School, Autumn is involved in many activities such as: volleyball, basketball, softball, knowledge bowl, MHS, Y.E.S. club, and student council. Autumn believes all these activities have been beneficial for her with each offering her different skills. “Over the years, I’ve learned the importance of teamwork, time management, and goal setting within my activities.” “Autumn is a one-of-a-kind special student. She excels in everything she does, and isn’t afraid to try new things. She is also a great worker and leader, as a coach she is one of those players that you always want on your team. It’s been a pleasure having her in class and coaching her over the years, she will be deeply missed across all areas of Royalton High School when she graduates.”- Brad Baumann, Social Studies teacher and Head Girls Basketball Coach. Just like in school, Autumn enjoys numerous activities outside of school. She loves to hunt, fish camp and is also involved in her church youth group. “I love spending time outdoors, so most of my out-of-school activities occur in the fresh air. Additionally, I enjoy participating in my church youth group because it gives me the opportunity to spend time with other students and friends.” Autumn commented. When it comes to her classes Autumn says her favorite class was College English Comp. “Contrary to many of my classmates, I enjoyed my Composition I class Of course, it was challenging, but I learned so much and found I really love expressing myself through writing. For any student considering taking this class, I highly recommend it. I grew tremendously in my writing skills and knowledge. Plus, the class is college credit!” As for a favorite teacher in high school, Autumn says she would go with Ms. Menden, “One of my favorite teachers was Mrs. Menden. While helping me with class work, she found time to get to know me at a more personal level. Through our conversations, Mrs. Menden encouraged me to branch out as I made my after high school decisions. Because of her, I have been looking into the career of occupational therapy” Autumn’s favorites memory was beating Holdingford in the basketball playoffs last March, “My favorite high school memory was winning against Holdingford in the first round of basketball playoffs. This is my favorite memory not only because it was exciting and fun, but because this game proved how much my team grew over the year. The first time we played Holdingford we lost by nearly 40 points!” For next year, Autumn knows she wants to continue her education, but has yet to decide where she wants to go, “Next year, I plan on attending a 4-year college. I am unsure as to what career I will be pursuing, but I have been looking into elementary education and occupational therapy. I love working with children, so whichever direction I choose, I hope to be involved with kids.” When asked where she wants to be in 10 years, Autumn had this to say. “In 10 years, I hope to be successfully working and providing for my family. I see myself as a strong individual, capable of tackling any issue. One day, I hope to travel around the world learning from new experiences each and every day.” Autumn’s advice to high school freshmen is this, “Freshmen, high school can be challenging, but you’ll only get back as much as you put in; so, work hard, and have fun, for it’ll be senior year before you know it.”

< Middle/High School Academics District Calendar Guidance Office Media Center New Enrollment September 2017 Student of the Month Brock Snyder Brock Snyder, son of Mary and Boyd Snyder, was named the September Student of the Month by the faculty of Royalton High School (RHS). He has 3 older brothers, Adam, Ryan and Lucas. Brock is an athlete in basketball and baseball and his basketball coach Mr. Randy Thielges says “Brock has been a 3-year starter as well as captain of the basketball team last year. While being very competitive Brock has the ability to keep his team moving forward with positive talk. Brock is also involved in different clubs, Student council, NHS, Knowledge Bowl, 4-H, FFA, Spanish Club, Drama, Royal Pride, PBA, Pep and marching band. His Royal Pride advisor Mrs. Kelcie Neumann says he was a huge part of the successful homecoming events, he went above and beyond when it came to planning, setting up, and facilitating the events. Mr. Brent Lieser, Royalton’s Athletic Director says, Brock is one of those go-to students that is involved in so many facets of the high school experience. Whether it is academics, activities or athletics, Brock is so invested in all those areas. This was evident as he was a selected as a Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) state finalist for the 2017 ExCEL award. This achievement is given to the top 36 juniors from throughout the State of Minnesota. This year Brock has stepped up and helped present at our Senior Social events. Brock put a presentation together on the events and activities of student council and Business Professionals of America. When I think all that Brock is involved in, this quote comes to mind. "If you ever want a special project, new endeavor, or simply a hand, always ask the busiest person you know." Brock is one of those busy yet dependable individuals that will always deliver!

< Hall of Fame Kathleen (Justin) Schultz Class of 1970 Inducted May 2010 Schultz graduated from RHS in 1970, before there were any girls sports being played in Royalton. She was active in almost every other activity offered including drama, debate, band, choir, and cheerleading. Schultz was also a member of the National Honor Society and a delegate to Girls State in 1969. After high school she went to St. Cloud State to pursue a career in teaching. While at SCSU, women’s sports were beginning to emerge. Schultz was active in volleyball where SCSU captured the 1973 intercollegiate state tournament championship, badminton, basketball, and softball where she posted a .538 lifetime batting average. Kathleen played recreational softball for many years and has participated in national tournaments in Salt Lake City, UT, Duluth, MN and Savannah, GA. Kathleen has been a teacher in southern Minnesota since 1974 and has coached in the United South Central school district and in the Mankato area schools with a great deal of success. She was the Mankato Public Schools Teacher of the Year in 2005-06. Schultz has been an official for the MSHSL State Volleyball Tournament for 8 years. Schultz is a member of the Mankato Softball Players Association Hall of Fame and a 1989 inductee to the St. Cloud State Athletic Hall of Fame. Schultz has two sons and a grandson and lives in North Mankato.

< Middle/High School Academics District Calendar Guidance Office Media Center New Enrollment November 2020 Student of the Month Samuel Zimmerman Royalton High School is proud to announce that Samuel Zimmerman was selected as Student of the Month for November. Samuel is the son of Doug and Karen and comes from a large family, but says even though its large, it is very close knit, “Having nine siblings creates plenty of opportunities to learn lessons I never thought I would learn. For example, when we would have to cut down trees for firewood, I would always despise going out to do the work, but my brothers taught me that complaining only prolonged the work, and if you just get the work done, you can go home faster. I still apply this lesson in school and life in order to just get things done, or as I like to say “procrastinate procrastination”. My brothers and sisters have always encouraged my passion for music, drama, and art. They were always in the audience for my many concerts, shows, and programs.” At Royalton High School, Sam is involved in many activities. He has been involved in Drama, Speech, Knowledge Bowl, Marching Band, Jazz Band, Pep Band, One Act Play, FFA, Cross Country, Track & Field, Student Council, Choir, Minnesota Honor Society and directing the Junior High Drama . Sam says all of these activities has helped him learn so much about himself. “Sam is a phenomenal musician, both vocally and instrumentally! He is extremely dedicated to whatever he puts his mind to, whether it's music, theatre, school work or anything else!” – Cheri Ploof Royalton Choir Director. “Not only is Sam an excellent student but he is known in school for his fun-loving attitude and willingness to help whenever needed.”- Social Studies teacher Brad Baumann. When it comes to his classes Sam says his favorite class was Human Biology. “This class was the perfect mix between notes, projects, and experiments. This class sparked interest in a completely different field of study that I had never considered before. Ms. Gerads did a fantastic job of explaining what she was teaching and kept it fun! I enjoyed doing all of the projects and labs and this class made me want to learn. I highly recommend this class to anyone who has any interest in biology, or just wants to take a fun class.” As for a favorite teacher in high school Sam says it’s impossible to pick just one, “I have built a fantastic relationship with each one of my teachers so it is not possible to pick a favorite. I have had positive experiences with every teacher whether or not I was enrolled in their class. Positive motivation and encouragement from all the school staff have pushed me to do my best in whatever I'm doing, whether it be the arts, academics, or athletics.” Sam’s favorites memory in high school was being involved with the student conducted concert, “During the spring of 2020, the band was holding a student conducted concert and I chose to conduct the song Arabian Dances. The song was relatively difficult and I was definitely ready for the challenge. My favorite memory was the first day I stood on the podium and we ran the piece. It was intoxicating. I felt the music in a way I had never experienced before. I was handed this ability to control the song, to change the different instrumental sections to form this beautiful and electrifying piece and I never wanted to stop. This is my favorite memory because it clarified what I wanted to do for the rest of my life: I want to conduct; I want to teach music.” Next year Sam plans to attend Concordia College in Moorhead, MN and is going to pursue a degree in Music Education in order to be a high school music teacher. In ten years, Sam hopes to be teaching high school students in music and would love to spread his joy and love for music to his students. Eventually he says he may want to teach at the college level. Sam’s advice to high school freshmen is, “My biggest piece of advice is to build a positive relationship with your teachers. Teachers are people too and like the other people in your life, friends or family, a positive relationship will give you the best experience possible. Believe it or not, teachers want you to succeed, to learn, to do your best, and having a positive personal relationship will only make school quite a bit better. I don't know where I would be if I wouldn’t have become friends with the majority of my teachers.”

< Middle/High School Academics District Calendar Guidance Office Media Center New Enrollment February 2023 Student of the Month Mya Yourczek Mya is the daughter of Andy and Amber. Mya gives a lot of credit to her family for many of the things she has learned in life, “My family has taught me the importance of hard work and dedication. My mom and dad never deterred me from joining any club or activity I wanted to join. They also come and support me in all my sports whenever they can. Some things I like to do with them is play board games and go fishing.” At Royalton High School Mya participates in many activities such as: volleyball manager, basketball where she was a 2-year captain, track & field, softball, President of Student Council, YES club, Knowledge Bowl and Minnesota Honor Society. When it comes to these many activities Mya had this to say, “I enjoy knowledge bowl and sports because they allow me to compete head-to-head with others. I enjoy the YES club because I miss school for field trips and being outside. And finally, I enjoy student council and MHS because it allows me to be active in the community and the school. I have gained friends and lifetime experiences in all of the different activities, and that has probably been the most beneficial part of being involved in so many activities.” Head Girls Basketball Coach and High School Social Studies Teacher Brad Baumann had this to say about Mya, “It has been a pleasure coaching Mya in basketball and having her as a student. She has a fun-loving spirit and has done a great job being a leader in all her activities and our student body. Watching her grow into the great player and student that she is, has been fantastic to see and I hope many of our younger student and athletes use her as an example to look up to. She will be dearly missed after she graduates, but its going to fun to see where she ends up in life because whatever she decides to do, I know she will be super successful.” Looking at her classes Mya says civics comes to mind first, “My favorite class is probably civics. This is because J. Schaa always cracks funny dad jokes, and I like listening to his odd fun facts. It's also my favorite because I get to take walks when I get antsy.” As for favorite teacher Mya says Sheri Menden is her favorite, “My favorite teacher is Ms. Menden. She made comp class something to look forward to with her bubbly personality and her constant joke cracking. She never thought twice about helping me even if I had dumb questions. She inspires me by treating everyone fairly and equal.” Mya’s favorite high school memory came during her freshman year, “My favorite high school memory was spending all of spring freshman year being with my friends doing whatever we wanted all day because of covid.” Mya also added that she had a memorable memory sophomore year as well, “My favorite event I was a part of was beating Holdingford in section playoffs my sophomore year. This stands out above the rest because the gym was full and tensions were high and I'm not sure a person in that gym thought we were going to leave with a win.” As to what she plans to do next year and where she sees herself in 10 years, Mya had this to say, “Next fall I'm attending the University of Minnesota twin cities to pursue a degree in criminology. I hope to eventually get a job in federal law enforcement. I decided on this because I was always interested in crime and I simply cannot stand the thought of being stuck in an office all day and in ten years I plan on living somewhere in a house I built with a couple of dogs, and traveling in my free time. My career goal is to join the FBI, and one of my life goals is to visit all 7 continents, and visit North Korea.” Mya’s advice to high school freshmen is this “find something to get involved in, and find an upperclassman to look up to. Also getting in a little trouble once in a while never hurt anyone :)”

< Middle/High School Academics District Calendar Guidance Office Media Center New Enrollment May 2022 Student of the Month David Fountain Royalton High School is proud to announce that David Fountain was selected as Student of the Month for May. David is the son of Matthew and Jackie. David says his family has been a huge part of his life, “My family has played a big part in where I am today. From a young age my family has taught me that I have to work hard for what I want and that I need to have a strong work ethic. I’ve always been expected to try to be the best I can be and work towards what I want in life. My older siblings have always pushed me in life, and that doesn’t matter if we were fishing, playing baseball, or even comparing grades. If it weren't for my family's support I don't know if I would be as successful as I am today. Some things I enjoy doing with my family are going fishing, golfing, and camping with them.” David loves being outdoors especially hunting and fishing, “Outside of school activities I pretty much only hunt and fish. I enjoy hunting and fishing a lot because it's a good way for me to forget about everything else going on in my life and relax. Hunting and fishing give me reasons to be outside and enjoy nature.” If David is not on the lake fishing or hunting, he’s probably busy being involved with a bunch of high school activities and with is his favorite activity being Cross Country, “In school I participate in cross country, basketball, track, and I am in Minnesota Honors Society. I enjoy all of these activities because I get to hang out with friends competing in different sports, and being involved in the community. My favorite activity I was involved in during school was cross country. One of the main reasons it was my favorite activity was because it felt more like a family than a team. After every meet all the runners are walking around congratulating the other runners no matter if they took first place or last place, and it doesn't matter if they know the person or not.” When it comes to his classes David says his favorite class was his Get Wired class. “My favorite class was Get Wired with Mr. Skwira. The reason this was my favorite class was because it was a super fun class and you learn how to wire up an entire house. This class stood out from the other classes because it gives you real life experience of wiring up a circuit. The reason I suggest taking this class is because if you ever need to fix something like an outlet it gives you the skills to do so.” As for a favorite teacher in high school David enjoys having Mr. Silbernick as a teacher. “My favorite teacher is Mr. Silbernick because he is an amazing teacher. The reason he is because he is always willing to help no matter what you are doing. It doesn't matter if you are two weeks behind or are needing help before the test, he will always make time for you to get help. Mr. Silbernick always makes sure us students have time to work on our assignments during class which is a big help. Not only is he super helpful, he makes his lessons fun by adding jokes into the lesson.” David’s favorite memory from school involved one of his classmates, “My favorite memory was when Tyler Swenson stepped on the foot railing on Mrs. Mick’s van and he received a lunch detention for it.” After graduating David plans to head north to Duluth “I will be attending the University of Minnesota Duluth and pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering and hopefully after graduation getting a career in aerospace engineering. The reason I chose to go into the engineering field is because I've always had a knack for math and I’ve always liked building things so my parents told me to look into engineering, and I felt that I would fit in perfectly.” In ten years, David has an ideal place to live, “In 10 years I see myself having a stable job in the engineering field, also having a house with my wife and hopefully starting a family. One of my life goals is to either own a house on a river, stream, or lake and have a good amount of land that I can hunt and fish on with my children. This is important to me because I've always dreamed of owning a house on a body of water, and that I'm able to give my children the same great experience my parents gave me by living so close to a body of water.” When asked to give advice to high school freshmen, here is what David had to say, “Always hold yourself accountable and to a high standard in school because it will build a great foundation and a great work ethic for your future self.”