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< Middle/High School Academics District Calendar Guidance Office Media Center New Enrollment April 2024 Student of Month Claire Prokott Claire is the daughter of Doug and Kari Prokott. When talking about the impact of her family Claire said she has especially learned a lot from her parents, “My family has taught me many valuable lessons in life, especially my parents, Doug and Kari. My parents have taught me how to be kind toward other people. Although they might not notice, I see and observe how they treat others with kindness and generosity and I hope to persevere and continue to do the same. My mom and dad, along with every single one of my aunts and uncles, have always encouraged me and lifted me up when I thought I had hit rock bottom. I have begun to see what life throws at you, and my entire family has been there for me through it all. If I ever need anything, I know that every one of them is always willing a helping hand. My whole family has always has my back no matter where I was in life. They have taught me that family is everything and I will be forever grateful for them. My two sisters, Lydia and Ella, have always been so supportive of me for everything I have accomplished in life so far. They have also taught me how to love others. All siblings bicker at times, but my sisters have made me realize that being a supportive and loving human being, is one of the most valuable traits to have.” Looking over the course of her schooling, Claire’s favorite class was College Human Biology, “My favorite class was College Human Biology with Mrs. Gerads. I enjoyed this class because a person really got deep into what the human body truly does and how it functions. It was mind-blowing to see what little things that your body has to do to keep functioning properly. I would definitely recommend this class to other students. Especially if you enjoy the human body or want to learn more about it. You get to do amazing labs to help you have a better understanding of the body. Along with all of that, you’ll also get an amazing teacher to help you through it all.” As for Claire’s favorite teacher, she really enjoyed Ms. Sheri Menden, “My favorite teacher is Mrs. Menden (Sheri Menden). Mrs. Menden kept me on my toes my junior year when I took College Composition I & II. Although the class was more on the difficult side, she will be a teacher I will always remember. She always helped me out in her class specifically, but she was always willing to help with other classes as well. She would take time out of her lunch and after school hours to help me perfect my essays. She also taught me how to improve my speaking skills. Before her class, I was a nervous public speaker, but after her class, I am able to speak and I will receive compliments about how I do not use “like” or “uhm” while I speak. All in all, Mrs. Menden was another grandma to me. She has the sweetest heart and the kindest soul that I aspire to have.” When looking at Claire’s time in school, she was involved in a variety of activities. “As for sports, I participated in volleyball, basketball, and track. I loved volleyball and basketball because they are team sports. You get to work together to achieve goals and celebrate together. As for track and field, I love it because it is more of an individual sport. You work together with relay teams, but you also work to compete against yourself to gain better measurements or times. Outside of athletics, I joined the spring musical, Beauty and the Beast, to do mic tech my senior year. Being a part of a school play was part of my bucket list before I graduated high school and I could not be more happy that I did it. The friendships and bonds that are created through the drama club are immaculate and irreplaceable. Being a part of the musical is something that I will hang onto and never forget. I recently joined my school’s jazz band this past year as well. We meet once a week to practice various songs that we perform to the community, judges, etc. Being in jazz band has taught me that if you want to get better at something, you have to put in work. Everyone in jazz band takes time out of their Tuesday mornings to get better and learn how to play different types of songs. All in all, I enjoy working with everyone to put together a piece of music to make it sound beautiful. The three clubs that I am a part of are Minnesota’s Honor Society, Spanish Club, and YES! (Youth Eco Solutions) Club. In MHS, we get to help others in our community. We will help with local blood drives, city-wide cleanups, etc. I am so thankful to be a part of MHS because I get to help others in our community that need it. For YES and the Spanish club, I am an officer in both and it has taught me great leadership skills. Along with being a leader for others, I gained closeness to others around me. When you are in a club, you are all there for a reason, to bond over something. Whether it is planting flowers in a prairie for YES Club or snacking on Colombian snacks in Spanish Club. I feel the most beneficial activity that I have done in school is track and field. We have never had a track, so we learn how to work extra hard to achieve our goals. Being a part of Royalton track and field is like being a part of a family. This is something that will be hard to let go of, but I will cherish the memories for the rest of my life.” Claire still has time to enjoy activities outside of school as well, “Outside of school activities, I enjoy hanging out with my friends and family. One thing that my family and I love doing together in the summer is going on the bike trails with our electric bikes. We enjoy making the 7-mile trek to BOHO in Holdingford, MN. We will start near Bowlus and make our way to BOHO to get a sweet treat and then head back. One other thing we really enjoy doing in the summer is camping. We plan weekend camping trips to spend time together. My family and I sit by the water, snack, and enjoy each other’s company. As for my friends, my favorite thing to do with them is go on coffee runs. My two friends, Arianne and Baley, and I will head to the nearest Starbucks to get ourselves a nice drink to start the day. Although our bank account might not agree with our purchases, it makes for some good memories. I will truly enjoy doing anything with the people I love.” Claire’s favorite high school memory took place this past fall during Homecoming, “My favorite high school memory is getting the opportunity to be Homecoming queen. Words cannot describe how thankful I was to be the queen. I am so grateful for everyone who thought I deserved to be it. When the drumroll started, I was going to be happy for any of my friends because each and every one deserved it. When the drumroll stopped and the applause started, I realized that the crown was set on my head. I turned to see all of my friends smiling at me with the biggest grin on their faces. I’m sure my face got a little red, but I could not stop smiling. Afterwards, I got so many genuine hugs and compliments from everyone around me, it made my heart so happy. After coronation, all of the candidates went out to eat at Boulder Tap House in St. Cloud and the girls headed to Cherry Berry after the meal for a sweet treat. I had so much fun that night with everyone. A night that was filled with so many memories and something I will never forget.” Claire was also involved in an activity that was very memorable, “The best event that I have ever been a part of was making it to and placing 5th at the State Track and Field Meet my junior year. My junior year I had the amazing opportunity to run the 4x1 in the State Meet at STMA. Something that made my experience even better, was that I got to run it with my younger sister, Lydia. I ran the first leg and she finished with running the last leg. My team and I worked our tails off last season. We would go to different tracks on our own time to practice on a real track, worked endlessly on perfecting our handoffs, and so much more little techniques. Everyone put in time and effort because we knew we could go far if we wanted to. We got to the first day of the state meet, and we did not have a tent. We had to sit behind some bleachers so the scorching heat would not get to us. The heat did not stop us, we practiced our handoffs, said a prayer before our race, and ended up PR’ing by almost a whole second! We got second in our heat moving us up to finals the next day. We went out to dinner that night to celebrate and the next day we were back at STMA to run our tails off again. When I handed off to the second leg, all I could watch was my sister, Lydia, patiently waiting for the 3rd leg to hand off to her. As Lydia received the baton, I started sprinting back to the finish line to watch her cross. As she was passing people, I was screaming my lungs out getting so excited. We ended up finishing 5th and I could not have been prouder of my teammates. They worked so hard to get where they were. I hope this year I am able to make it to the State Meet again to create another memory like this one.” Next year Claire will be heading off to the College of St. Benedict to pursue a degree in nursing and when asked where she sees herself 10 years from now, here is what Claire had to say, “After college I hope to be an ICU or NICU nurse for a couple years. After I get experience in that specific field, I hope to use my previous knowledge that I gained to become a flight nurse. Outside of my career, I hope to be married and have a family of my own living in the country. I cannot wait to see where I am and what I have accomplished in 10 years.” Finally, Claire’s advice for freshmen is, “Working hard is a big part of being successful in high school. However, making time for yourself is even more important. I learned that if you do not take time for yourself, you’re going to lose focus on your schoolwork. Being successful in school does not mean that you have to be involved in every club/activity. You have to pick your things that you enjoy and have time for. Life is too short, do the things you enjoy, while also working hard to achieve your goals. One other thing to remember is to be nice to other people. Having a genuine heart and good work ethic makes school easier. If you’re kind to others, they will be nice to you, especially teachers. The kinder you are to teachers and other faculty members, the more willing they are going to be to lend a helping hand. Being a kind-hearted and thoughtful person will not only be helpful in high school, but it will take you far in life.”

< 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 May 2025 Student of the Month Nolan Gerads Nolan credits much of his success to the unwavering support of his family. They've taught him the value of hard work and perseverance, always encouraging him to strive for excellence in both school and sports. Their motivation has been a consistent source of strength as Nolan has worked to improve his skills and push through challenges. Academically, Nolan found his stride in Welding 1, a class that stood out not only for its hands-on learning but also for the camaraderie he experienced with friends. He encourages fellow students to give it a try, especially if they’re looking to explore something new and practical. Among his teachers, Mr. Skwira stands out as a favorite. “He’s passionate about what he teaches and makes every student feel important,” Nolan shared. With years of experience and a commitment to hands-on learning, Mr. Skwira’s influence has left a lasting impact on Nolan’s education. In addition to strong academic performance, Nolan is actively involved in a variety of school activities, including basketball, track, trapshooting, FFA, and the YES Club. Each activity has contributed to his growth—building teamwork, encouraging physical fitness, and fostering leadership. His participation in FFA, particularly in the Crops CDE, reflects his deep interest in agriculture, a field he plans to continue pursuing. Outside the classroom, Nolan’s accomplishments are equally impressive. He became an Eagle Scout through Boy Scouts, where he learned self-reliance, responsibility, and even some cooking. He also gives back to the community through his involvement with the Royalton Lions Club, helping with events like Christmas tree sales and Platte River Days. Looking back, Nolan has plenty of great high school memories, from parking lot breakfasts and prom to the unforgettable Survivor Games, which stood out as the most fun and exciting week of the year. After graduation, Nolan will attend North Dakota State College of Science, pursuing a degree in Agricultural Business—a natural fit for someone already working in the field. His long-term goals are refreshingly grounded: a stable job, a loving family, and a peaceful cabin on a lake. “That just sounds really relaxing to me,” he shared. For underclassmen, Nolan offers this advice: “Try your best academically now because when things get harder your junior year, you’re ready for it.”

< 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 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 2020 Student of the Month Kelsie Norberg Kelsie Norberg has been named the February Student of the Month by Royalton High School faculty and staff. Kelsie feels fortunate to have a supportive family that shares a strong bond. One of the most meaningful lessons they have taught her is the importance of hard work and not to sweat the small stuff. Kelsie loves joking around with her family members and feeling strong support from each of them. Kelsie’s favorite classes are her art courses. From art technique to ceramics and photography, she describes art classes as a way for her to be more creative. She appreciates trying different things in art, so she has taken the opportunity to explore a variety of art courses throughout her high school career. When it comes to selecting a favorite teacher, Kelsie explains she could never pick a favorite. She emphasizes that all of her teachers have been helpful, and they want to see their students succeed. Kelsie would like to thank Mr. Skwira for pushing her outside of her comfort zone and allowing her to grow. Also, thanks to Mr. Halverson for their talks and jokes that provided encouragement. Up until her senior year, Kelsie played volleyball at Royalton High School. She says it is a fun sport, and she enjoyed the opportunity to improve. She continues to play volleyball as a recreational sport outside of the school day. Most importantly, Kelsie’s extra-curricular highlight has been her involvement with FFA throughout her high school career. She currently serves as the chapter president, and in past years has been the secretary and vice president. FFA really pushed her outside of her comfort zone and allowed her to meet some of her best friends. Additionally, it has given her the opportunity to explore her future career path. Upon being asked about her favorite high school memory, Kelsie explains painting the school banners with her friends takes the top prize. They paint the homecoming and survivor banners together. It takes hours of time and effort, but she is always proud of the outcome. She also notes the most memorable activity she is in is the Small Animals FFA CDE (Career Development Event). They practice once a week to learn about veterinary science, and it gives her a chance to learn about the career she would like to pursue. She also placed fourth in the state in the competition last year. This year, she had hoped to place in the top three so that she could be recognized at the state level. Outside of school, Kelsie likes to do all forms of art, read, do puzzles and watch movies and hang out with friends. She also works at the Dairy Queen and helps her uncle on his chicken farm to turn feeders. Kelsie has unofficially decided to attend the University of Minnesota-Morris next fall. She was drawn to Morris by its small town appeal. Her goal is to earn a degree in Biology and eventually pursue a degree in the veterinarian program at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. In ten years, Kelsie hopes to have been out of college for a couple of years, working in a small town at a veterinary clinic for dogs and cats. She is not sure that she’ll move far away from home. She emphasizes she does not want to box herself into one path because she is truly unsure of what the future will hold. In thinking about advice for high school freshmen, Kelsie revealed she was more nervous than she needed to be at that age. She knew classes would be challenging, but she realized if the effort is put in success is achievable. She said it is all about taking “one step at a time, there is never a cavernous jump. No one is perfect, everyone is human and will make mistakes. You are able to mess up at times; there is no stopping it.” Carl Halverson, RHS art instructor emphasizes that, “Kelsie is one of the finest "quiet leaders" in her graduating class. At her age, it is so refreshing to see a young person who is so "other people" centered rather than being "self centered." Her abilities are well rounded as far as both her academics and the arts are concerned. She ranks near the top of her class academically, and is extremely talented in the visual arts as well. She wrote and illustrated a children's storybook her senior year that has the kind of digital graphic arts abilities that are over the top, as well. In the future, don't be surprised when you bring your pet to the local animal hospital, and you get the privilege of meeting one of the kindest, caring, and genuine young veterinarians that you and your pet have ever met. Young people like Kelsie Norberg make this world a better place.”

< Middle/High School Academics District Calendar Guidance Office Media Center New Enrollment March 2024 Student of the Month Baley Bueckers Baley is the daughter of David and Nichole. When it comes to family Baley says being the oldest of her siblings has taught her many lessons, “I am the oldest of four daughters, and having three younger siblings has taught me a lot in life, especially how I will never have a dull or quiet moment in life. I have learned things such as what not to do or say around them, because they will repeat it. I have also learned to set a good example and be a role model for my sisters because trust me, your younger siblings will want to be just like you when they grow up. I cannot give myself all the credit on how to be a good example, because I was shown how by my parents. My mother and father have taught me a lot in life including how to be kind and respectful to others while knowing how to work hard and have determination for the things you want in life. My family has had a great impact on me and even if I don’t show it enough to them, I thank and love them all for helping me become the person I am. As a family, my favorite thing we do together is go on little day trips where we go somewhere together for a day to go hiking, shopping, and try new restaurants and ice cream shops.” When it comes to her classes Baley says her favorite class was CIS Human Body Systems with Mrs. Gerads “My favorite class I have taken would be CIS Human Body Systems with Mrs. Gerads. If I could tell any student who has any interest in anything medical or dealing with the human body to take this class. I’ll be honest the class was not easy it definitely took a lot of studying and hard work, but the teacher Mrs. Gerads is so helpful and an amazing teacher and made learning this difficult stuff a lot of fun. Another thing that stood out to me about this class was my great group of friends that took the class with me and all the labs we completed such as dissecting pigs, looking at different body tissues, and my personal favorite the “Anna Garcia Crime Scene” lab.” As far as a favorite teacher, Baley looks to the past “My favorite teacher would have to be my fourth-grade teacher Mrs. Hoheisel. Mrs. Hoheisel taught our class a lot of things such as math and social studies, but my favorite thing we were taught was silent ball. Our class loved silent ball, we played it almost every day adding new rules and having fun with each other as classmates. Besides the fun of silent ball, Mrs. Hoheisel taught me something I find most important and that is to always be kind to other students. One day Mrs. Hoheisel sat our class down and had a talk to us about how a student in our class was having a hard home and the struggles this student was going through, and I thank Mrs. Hoheisel for sharing it with the class and having such compassion for this student because I think it taught not only myself, but my other classmates to be kind to one another because you never know what someone is going through.” At Royalton High School, Baley is involved in many activities, she participates in Cross Country, Basketball, Track and Field, Business Professionals of America, Spanish Club, YES Club, and Drama. Baley believes all these activities plays a large role in her ability to meet people and make friends, “I enjoy all these activities each for their own reason but the one thing they all have in common is the friends and memories I have with them. All of my best friends are in each of these different activities so it allows me to spend time with them all throughout the year. Being a part of all these activities keeps me busy and active while also learning new things and how to work as a team with people. Joining these activities has impacted my life for the better and I am so happy to be a part of these activities with all my friends.” As for outside of school this is what Baley said, “I do not really participate in any activities but I do have a job I enjoy. I work at Bill's superette during school on the weekends and throughout the summer. For my job, I open the store every Sunday morning with my friend Libby at 5:30 in the morning where she and I work together to open the store. My favorite part of working at Bill’s would have to be my Sunday co-workers and manager April. Together these people are so amazing, lots of fun, and very hard working. As a group we all work together to make sure the store is stocked with groceries, nice and clean, and that the kitchen is full. As much as having a job doesn’t seem fun, I enjoy mine because when you work with the right people who make a boring job fun, it is really worth it.” Baley’s favorite memory in high school took place outside of school, “My favorite high school memory would have to be all the Starbucks and Dunkin runs I have gone on with my friends Claire and Arianne. Although it has definitely hurt our bank accounts, being able to spend time with my friends and enjoy a little break from school to have a nice iced coffee has been the highlight of my year.” Then Baley’s favorite event that took place at school was homecoming! “My favorite event I have been involved in would have to be all the homecoming weeks I have participated in. Last year as an 11th grader, I competed in a game of human style Hungry Hungry Hippos where I beat my friend Mya with a laundry basket in order to grab the last ball and win the game for my grade. This year as a senior, I was a part of the homecoming court and later spent time with my senior class competing in games and having fun together for one last year.” Baley’s post high school plans consists attending UND, “This fall, I will be attending the University of North Dakota for forensic science on a pre-med path. After I receive my degree in forensic science, I plan to attend medical school with the career goal of becoming a medical examiner. For me, I have always had a passion to help people and as odd as it might be, becoming a medical examiner is the way I want to help. Being a medical examiner is hard, but I want to put this career to use and help the families of the individuals who have passed away and figure out how they passed so the family can have closure.” In 10 years Baley has this thought, “In ten years, I hope to see myself with a career as a medical examiner of course, but I also want one thing in life and that is to live in an old Victorian style mansion. If I can have one thing in life when I am older it is my dream house. My long-term plan is to see myself having one of these old mansions one day with a nice lake close by, sitting with my future spouse on our porch with our many cats and our golden retriever and vizsla dogs.” When it comes to advice she would give to high school freshmen, this is what Baley had to say, “If I can give any advice to freshmen, I would tell them that of course school and grades are important and they should complete their work, but the most important thing is to surround yourself with good people who encourage you to be successful and kind to others because that is how you will make it far in life.”

< Middle/High School Academics District Calendar Guidance Office Media Center New Enrollment March 2018 Student of the Month Hannah Cimenski The faculty of Royalton High School (RHS) has named Hannah Cimenski, daughter of Melanie and Gregory Cimenski the March Student of the Month. Hannah has three siblings, Bethany, Hailey and Colten. Hannah’s favorite class is anything art related, Art has always been her escape, if only for a couple of hours. She grew up with the teachers at Royalton High School being very involved with her life. So, it is hard to pick just one. If she had to choose her favorite teacher it would be Mr. Carl Halverson. Halverson has pushed her to be the best she could be and has been an inspiration for many years. Mr. Halverson gets to know every one of his students individually, not caring about their past or anything going on outside of that art room. He motivates and inspires kids to be better than what is expected of them. This is what Mr. Halverson said about Hannah. “Hannah is one of the most artistic students that I've seen in the many years I've been teaching. She's won too many awards to keep track of and has been hired to do commissioned work outside of school. Many times in high school, we tend to focus on athletic success on the field, track or court. While I agree with honoring these athletes, I see the arts in a light that goes far beyond most of these accomplishments. To put this in perspective in an artistic scenario, Hannah would be not just all-conference, all-section, or even all state. She would be competing and winning at a level in the visual arts that most high school athletes will never see. Her wall mural that will be finished this spring will be viewed and admired by many, long after the school record for "leading scorer" will be broken again and again”. Hannah has been active in many activities throughout her high school career, Volleyball, Basketball, Softball, Flag Squad, FFA, Theatre, Speech, YES and Tech club. This year she has cut back on a lot of her extracurricular and decided to focus on her schooling. So for this year she is involved with Softball and Flag squad. Hannah states that it is hard to pinpoint one high school memory because they have all been a roller coaster of good times and hard times. After high school she plans to attend Saint Cloud State University to get her generals out of the way, her second year of college she wants to study abroad. After her generals are done she will enter into the Nursing program and obtain her LPN and then her RN. After college she wants to travel and work with children as much as possible. Hannah has so much planned for her life in ten years; she wants to have a steady career and perhaps a fiancé to go with that. She wants to have traveled the world and have seen all that she can before she settles down. When she is ready for the responsibility she will get married, buy a nice house, and then maybe she’ll start to think about having kids. The advice she would give to freshmen is this, “My biggest advice to the freshmen that are just starting high school is to not let the time get away from you. Bask in the glory that is high school because this will be the best and the worst times of your lives. Don’t push off your work and get lazy with your grades because, trust me, they count. Go to football games, dance at the spring fling, and hangout with your friends on the weekends. Live the best life you possibly can because it ends pretty dang fast. Don’t let stress overwhelm you; learn how to deal with it. Go to bed early and take care of your mental health before your schoolwork. Enjoy high school because, while it seems like the worst four years of your life, one day you’ll look back and miss it.”

< Middle/High School Academics District Calendar Guidance Office Media Center New Enrollment January 2023 Student of the Month Sara Daleiden When it comes to family Sara believes her family has played a huge role in who she is, “My parents are my biggest role models because they taught me important values and support me in everything that I do. They have been with me for the many ups and downs I have had whether that be for school, sports, or life in general. My favorite things to do with them are horse camping, riding horses on the trails behind our house, four wheeling, and biking. Also, I feel like my two older siblings made an impact on me because they have shown me the ins and outs of life.” At Royalton High School, Sara is involved in many activities that have also helped shape her into the person that she has become, “at school including cross country, track and field, honor society, student council, YES club, FFA and FCA. Last year I was also a part of the Spanish club and prom committee. My favorite activity was cross country because my teammates were more like a family than just friends. Everyday there was always something someone would do to make it a great day. Running is also one of my favorite hobbies because it is a sport where you easily see improvement with practice. However, I feel like the student council has made the biggest impact since it helped me be a part of the school and community more. I really enjoy helping plan things for the school because when I was in middle school, I looked forward to those activities. The YES club helped me gain more information on environmental issues and improve our school which most high school students should be educated on. I joined FFA last year because I love chickens and my best friends wanted me to do it. I was happy to join, but it definitely was not my thing. In FCA, I get to socialize with other student-athletes who want to be more involved with their faith just like me. All these activities were a great experience and have helped shape me into the person I am today.” As for a favorite teacher in high school, Sara says there have been numerous teachers that come to mind, “Many teachers have had an impact on me throughout the years, but three of them really made school/school activities fun and those teachers are Mr. Hagman, Mr. Schaa, and Ms. Burgman. Mr. Hagman was my 5th grade long term sub in elementary school for most of the year. He was an excellent teacher and made 5th grade memorable. I thought it was so cool that he was my teacher and my brother's basketball coach! I would see him throughout the school in the following years, and he was always friendly and would say hi. Also, Mr. Schaa is a very fun teacher to have when you learn his sense of humor. His ‘dad jokes’ are one of the best things in his class because no one truly knows how to react to them, so there is an awkward laugh afterwards. He is an extremely smart teacher and is always pushing me to do my best. Sadly, Ms. Bergman left Royalton this school year, but she was always supportive with everything. She was my math and homeroom teacher, so I would see her more frequently than I would other teachers. She would help students whenever she could and help them to do their best. I know this is my last year here, but I wish Ms. Bergman was still here.” Sara’s favorite memory came this year with Ava Schoenrock “Ava and I were dissecting a frog because Ms. Gerads had extra from her 10th grade class. We were trying to take bugs out of the stomach and as we were peeling the stomach open, Ms. Gerads came up to observe just as our hands slipped. The stomach contents flew all over us! Luckily Ava and I had goggles and gowns on, but Ms. Gerads did not. The good part was that we did get the stomach open and there were lots of bugs inside.” As for next year and in the future Sara has these plans in mind “Next year I will be attending Winona State university and majoring in anesthesiology along with running track and cross country. Since I travel and help my stepdad with his veterinary business, I knew that I wanted to be in the medical field. At first, I contemplated being a surgeon or pediatric doctor, but I have had my heart set on being a nurse anesthetist for a few years now and in 10 years, I hope to have graduated from college and be working at a strategic hospital in southern Minnesota. I would eventually like to have 3-4 dogs and be living in a nice house in the country or shortly out of town. A trip to the Netherlands to see Anouk, Royalton’s exchange student, is also on the agenda.” Sara’s advice to high school freshmen was this “Take care of your physical and mental well-being. You're going to be exposed to so many new things, places, people and experiences that it'll be very easy to overstress yourself. Make sure to look after your health by going to bed early or at least before midnight. Also, join many clubs because not only do you make new friends, but it also looks better on college applications!”

< Middle/High School Academics District Calendar Guidance Office Media Center New Enrollment November 2024 Student of the Month Lane Olson Lane is the son of Brian and Greta. Family has been a cornerstone in shaping Lane’s perspective. “My family has influenced me to stay focused on the future. Schooling opens many opportunities for possible careers, and what I do today further benefits my future. I enjoy quality time at home over the holidays with my family when everybody makes the trip home. As my older siblings pursue their careers, I learn to grasp their advice. By taking hold and exploring different suggestions, I have developed a greater idea for my future.” Among the many classes taken, biology stands out as Lane’s favorite. "My favorite class so far was biology class. The forward thinking along with hands-on activity such as dissections and mannequin assemblies always made for memorable classes. Because of the memorable classes, the learning material stuck with me. Learning about body anatomy and physiology continues to lead my daily life. I believe students looking for a class to further pursue learning from tenth grade biology should take advantage of the higher-level course as a junior or senior.” Teachers often leave a profound impact, and Ms. Menden, an English teacher at Royalton High School, has done just that according to Lane. “My favorite teacher is Ms. Menden. Every morning before school, she greets me as she makes her way to her classroom. English with Ms. Menden always challenges students’ reading and writing skills. Through her classes, I learned the importance of brainstorming and prewriting for an essay. She also makes time for the students before, during, and after school. As a senior, essays and recommendation letters for colleges need to possess top level skills. I can always count on her to both assist in editing my essays and writing a letter of recommendation. Thank you for all you do!” Lane’s school life is filled with numerous enriching activities, “Cross Country, I enjoy running with friends and enjoying the weather. I learned a lot about dedication to others from coach Marschel. Wrestling, my favorite sport, teaches me lessons every day. Dedication, accountability, responsibility, and determination are a few great values I learned from wrestling. Track, Track acts as a great wrap-up sport for the school year. As a distance runner, I work out and run with friends every day. The lower pace days provide for a conversation time. The support of all teammates and families drives many athletes to achieve better results. YES! Club, as a member of the YES! Club, I learn about the importance of conserving our environment, especially our resources. FCA, Fellowship of Christian Athletes provides another morning in the week for me to connect with God. Every Friday morning, a group of students and advisors gather to read the Bible while enjoying donuts and hanging out. MHS, Minnesota Honors Society provides me with incentive to get out in the community and represent Royalton students by volunteering. Royal Ambassador Program, which a mentorship program that allows me to meet and help our younger students at RHS.” Outside of school Lane stays very busy, “Throughout the spring, summer, and fall I run my own lawn mowing contracts. The mowing provides me thinking time while also teaching me the challenges of keeping the lines straight. I also work as a warehouse associate in the summer. I learned the importance of a good work environment, whether the atmosphere or team member traits, greatly influences the success of a company and the workers. As a three-sport athlete, I developed a sense of importance for working out. By working out before school every day, I learn countless life lessons related to dedication, goals, and modesty. During my free time in the morning, evening, and weekends, I enjoy cooking. Many mornings, I cook breakfast for my sister, cousin, and anyone else that shows up after working out. Mom usually has food ready at home after sports practices, but I still find some excuse to cook my own food and improve my skills. The weekends provide me time to cook large meals. Not only do I improve my cooking skills, but I learn to multitask effectively. I also prepare all of my lunches for the week on Sunday afternoons.” When Lane was asked what high school memory stands out above all others, he had this to say, “I enjoyed the band cruise last spring. We flew into Florida and cruised through Royal Caribbean to Nassau, Bahamas. I like to describe the cruise as a miniature utopia, where life refuses to throw problems my way. Hanging out with friends, enjoying the warm weather, and experiencing the activities on the cruise produced a strong memory I will never forget. The 2021-2022 wrestling season stands out above all other events in my high school career. With the team only losing two matches all year, one against the second ranked team and the other in the state championship, the second-place finish.” Although undecided on a college, Lane is set on pursuing a degree in biology, driven by a fascination with bodily systems. In 10 years, Lane hopes to be working as a physician’s assistant or doctor, using his knowledge to make a difference in others' lives. Lane’s advice to underclassmen? “Live your own life. Ignore peer pressure. Pursue personal success while helping others along the way.” As Lane prepares to embark on the next chapter, his journey is a testament to hard work, ambition, and the support of a strong community.

< 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 October 2023 Student of the Month Nick Leibold Nicholas is the son of Jason and Tammie Leibold. Nicholas says his family has been a huge influence on his life, “My family has been a huge influence on me. My parents have encouraged me to be true to myself. They have raised me with a strong faith, good work ethic, and they have always told me that whatever I start I have to finish. I enjoy going pheasant hunting with my family, snowmobiling in Idaho, and working side by side with my family working on my dad’s tree business.” Outside of school Nicholas is very active with his church. He attends every Youth Group activity and has been on multiple mission trips to places as close as Wisconsin and as far away as Jamaica. When asked to elaborate about his mission trips, Nicholas responded with this, “While on these mission trips, I have helped the community through working to restore an old community center, cleaning up the local parks, as well as just being a friend at an adult day care center. I enjoyed the mission trips we took to an all-boys home in Jamaica as a family. While in Jamaica, we worked on many things from building the boys' new bunk beds, repairing windows and screens, as well as painting a water tower. The best part was bonding with the boys and teaching them skills my dad taught me.” When asked what his favorite class in school has been, Nicholas responded with Landscaping, “My favorite class was Landscaping. It was a hands-on class that got your hands dirty. It taught me things that I will need to know outside of school and in the real world. I would most definitely suggest this class to other kids because it teaches you things that you don't learn in your standard classes.” As for a teacher that has left an impact on him, Nicholas’ response was Mr. Koenig. “One of the most influential teachers that I have had would have to be Mr. Koenig, who was my 9th, 10th and 11th grade English teacher. What I liked most about Mr. Koenig, was that he would really take time out of the class period to work with you one on one until you fully understood what we were working on for that day. He would also take time to get to know each and every kid in the class. Mr. Koenig is not only my English teacher, he is also my Student Council Adviser and he is also one of my FCA advisers (Fellowship of Christian Athletes).” While attending Royalton, Nicholas has been involved in a number of different activities such as: FCA, Student Council, YES Club, Cross Country, Wrestling and Baseball. This is what Nicholas has to say about his involvement with all his activities, “I really like all of these activities, but I would have to say my most favorite would be wrestling, because the team aspect of wrestling is great. I also like the discipline part of the sport because it challenges you to always get better than the day before.” Nicholas’ favorite memory of high school has been when the Royalton Wrestling Team made it to the Class A State Championship match his sophomore year. “We ended up second in the State as a team, but the experience of being in the State Championship as a team was the best feeling ever. Just to know that your team is one of the best in the state is beyond crazy.” After high school Nicholas plans to work full time for his dad’s business “Jays Tree Care & Firewood.” His long term goal is to take over the business with my older brothers and continue building what my dad established. When asked if Nicholas had any advice for incoming freshmen this is what he had to say, “High school is going to go by extremely fast, so my advice for incoming freshmen is to enjoy the moment while it lasts and do not wish it away.”