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< Middle/High School Academics District Calendar Guidance Office Media Center New Enrollment < Back September 2017 Artist of the Month Cole Scofield Cole Scofield, son of Pam and Tony Scofield has been named Royalton High School's Artist of the Month for September. Scofield, earned the honor by taking one of his favorite hobbies, and turning it into his original design project in his Art Techniques class. "Going into this class, I never thought that I would ever be in the top five, and for sure, not an Artist of the Month." said Scofield. "There are so many talented artists in this school. When Halverson described the assignment and talked about choosing a subject that means something to you, I knew what I wanted to do, almost immediately. I love the way Halverson teaches and how laid back he is. It makes the class environment alive and enjoyable. I haven't been in an art class since the eighth grade, and I thought that I would be somewhere in the middle of the class as far as my abilities were concerned. But when he talked about choosing someone or something that you love, like drawing a picture of his wife or his mother holding one of his kids, I understood what to do. My idea came from one of my favorite hobbies which is drag racing. I drag race at BIR, (Brainerd International Raceway). 2017 was my second year racing there with my '71 Chevelle. Memorial weekend and the fourth of July weekend, I took second in my bracket. I am dedicating this design project to my dad. He's been with me since the beginning, from picking out out the car to standing in the winner's circle with me." "Design is based on applying the elements and principles in a step by step process, regardless of the medium used by the artist." stated Royalton High School Art Instructor Carl Halverson. "The goal is to help every student find his or her own strength and then succeed to the best of their ability. I believe every teacher has this goal in mind regardless of the subject matter being delivered. In this case, Cole chose metal as his primary choice of medium. His passion for racing his Chevelle SS, became a personal statement from his very first sketch. The process continued, as he designed and fabricated each letter from metal and carefully placed them on the riveted, rusted steel base. And now for the most important piece of the design. He finished it off by dedicating the project to his father. Dedicated to the man responsible for not only introducing his son to an incredible journey in his life, but also there every step of the way as they shared incredible, invaluable life lessons along the road. You can't show a movie clip or just pick up that kind of learning experience from a book in any classroom. Be it paint, pencil, wood, or metal; it's not the material that determines the value of the piece when it becomes something personal."

< Middle/High School Academics District Calendar Guidance Office Media Center New Enrollment January 2025 Student of the Month Wyatt Gerads In every school, there are students who stand out for their dedication, leadership, and passion. Wyatt has demonstrated these qualities throughout his high school career, embodying the values of hard work, perseverance, and kindness. Wyatt believes having a supportive family has played a crucial role in his journey. As Wyatt put it, “My family has always been there to encourage me in all decisions and guide me when needed. They have instilled in me the importance of working hard and never giving up, lessons that have shaped my character and ambitions.” Among the many subjects Wyatt has explored in high school, small engines stood out as a favorite class. “I really enjoyed learning how an engine worked and got to work with my hands. If I were to suggest this class, I would say you should have an open mind and room in your brain.” Explained Wyatt. When asked about his favorite teachers, it was impossible for Wyatt to choose just one. When pressed he came up with Mr. Skwira and Mrs. Noerenberg. “Both have been available throughout my high school career to bounce ideas off of or just being an awesome person and teacher. They have also inspired me to be just as kind and forgiving as they have been.” Extracurricular activities have played a significant role in shaping Wyatt’s high school experience. Participation in basketball, YES Club, track, FFA, and Trap has kept him engaged and active. Serving as Chairman of YES Club, he has taken the initiative to teach younger students about the environment, plant a native prairie, and organize a Christmas light recycling program. Outside of school, Wyatt has been deeply involved in Boy Scouts and volunteering with the Royalton Lions Club. Earning the prestigious rank of Eagle Scout. Wyatt described his experience in these activities this way, “I learned essential life skills such as trustworthiness, loyalty, and kindness and with the Lions Club I further enhanced my teamwork, problem-solving, and communication abilities.” Among the many cherished high school moments, one that stands out for Wyatt is winning the dodgeball game during the Homecoming Olympics. “The excitement of victory and the collective celebration with classmates created was an unforgettable experience.” When reflecting on the best activity he’s participated in, Boy Scouts takes the top spot. “Because of the group of people and leaders who made scouts truly a fun experience. Another reason I particularly enjoy scouts is because of our 7-day hiking trip to Philmont Scout Ranch.” After high school, Wyatt plans to enroll in the Machine Tool program at either Alexandria Technical College or North Dakota State College of Science. Looking ahead ten years, his vision includes owning a home, being married, and achieving financial stability with little to no debt. His ultimate goal is to be debt-free by 40 and to live life to the fullest. When asked about a piece of advice to share with others, his response was simple yet powerful: “Work hard and go into everything with the attitude that whatever happens, have fun doing it. If you’re not enjoying what you’re doing, why are you doing it? There is no secret to success—you just need to work for it and be kind along the way.” Wyatt’s journey through high school has been filled with growth, leadership, and memorable experiences. With his strong work ethic and positive outlook, there is no doubt he will achieve great things in his future.

< Middle/High School Academics District Calendar Guidance Office Media Center New Enrollment February 2021 Student of the Month Jenna Kull Royalton High School is proud to announce that Jenna Kull was selected as Student of the Month for February. Jenna is the daughter of Lynn and Lyn and younger sister of Kendra. When it comes to family Jenna says the support she gets from them has been extremely important, “family has always been supportive of me. Ever since I remember, they have been with me encouraging me to do my best. I love going on trips with my family, big or small. Ever since I was little we would take family camping trips each year. I would look forward to these trips each year as each one brought time to grow closer and a new adventure. At Royalton High School, Jenna is involved in volleyball, Tech Club and the Minnesota Honor Society. Outside of school she participates in the Loyal Royals 4-H Club, Faith Lutheran Church youth group and is a St. Gabriel’s Hospital Junior Volunteer. Jenna believes her involvement in all these various activities has had a major impact on her, “I have gained good teamwork skills and strong friendships from volleyball. In Tech club I gain knowledge of new technologies and learned how to use them. While in Minnesota Honor Society I gain friendships while helping out our community. I enjoy being part of 4-H because it constantly provides great learning opportunities. Being involved in church youth group gives the opportunity to learn about God while connecting with friends. When volunteering at St. Gabriel’s Hospital my main job is to refill patients’ water and supplies while interacting with them. I have gained a lot from this and it even helped me decide my career.” When it comes to her classes Jenna says her favorite class was her Intro to Agriculture. For Jenna, it was a great experience that she enjoyed while learning, “This class stood out to me because we would always get involved with hands-on activities. I would recommend this class to others because it is really fun and you learn a lot from it.” As for a favorite teacher in high school, Jenna says Mr. Skwira really comes to mind, “One of my favorite teachers is Mr. Skwira. Mr. Skwira is always in a good mood and excited to teach. He is also fully invested in making sure his students have fun while learning to succeed in life.” Jenna’s favorite memory in high school was going to state for FFA, as Jenna put it “An event that stands out to me is going to state for FFA. The trip to the state FFA convention was a fun adventure and a good opportunity to bond with fellow FFA members.” Next year Jenna plans to attend North Dakota State University to major in Medical Laboratory Science. For Jenna, Medical Laboratory Science is a perfect fit, “I believe I have found my dream job. This career is perfect for me because laboratory science is always evolving and changing. Therefore, I will constantly be faced with new challenges to tackle.” Jenna’s advice to high school freshmen is short but sweet “get as involved in high school activities as you can and have lots of fun during the time that you have because it goes by fast.”

< Middle/High School Academics District Calendar Guidance Office Media Center New Enrollment < Back April 2020 Artist of the Month Jenna Anderson Royalton High School's April Artist of the Month is Senior, Jenna Anderson. She is the daughter of Jaime and Jesse Anderson. Never did she think that Art would one day not only be a favorite class of hers, but also be the direction that she would be heading as far as her post secondary plans went. It all started her freshman year in a high school art class called Art Techniques. "In 9th grade, everything changed for me," said Anderson. "After I took an intro to art class and was surrounded by a class full of students, I found out that not only did I love to create art, but that painting and drawing just came easy for me. Throughout high school, I tried to take as many art classes as I could, and in 10th grade, I was in an Art Tech class. In this class, we would try to create many different kinds of art, each unit lasting about one to two weeks. Mr. Halverson would take us through "step by step" drawing or painting units so that everybody got to learn the basics. I always seemed to be the one of the first done with each step and my friends would comment that my work was some of the best in the class. After a weekly Design unit, Halverson moved us to the computer graphics unit. This is where everything really changed for me. Unlike others who struggled with the technology unit of the class, when I got into graphic design using photoshop, every project seemed so easy and was so much fun. We did graphic layouts of business cards, designed and created logos, fake advertisements, and multi-layered photography projects. When we finished this unit, Halverson said, "Do you people realize that what you just completed was very similar to a few of the first six weeks of projects at St. Cloud Technical College's Graphic Design program?" That's when it really hit me. I finally knew what I wanted to do after graduation." "Jenna seemed almost bored with the pace of the class when we had to wait for others to catch up to her," said RHS Visual Arts Instructor Carl Halverson. "It wasn't more than a couple of days later, I was asking her to become a staff aide. I think this happens in every area of learning. You've got the top, and you've got the bottom skill set in a class. You've got the math "Wiz" who finishes all of the next day's assignment in the last five minutes of the class, while those who don't "get it" struggle to finish , the first or second problem on the page. Most of the time, no matter what medium that we may explore in the art room, I can usually borrow those top of the class, "gifted students" abilities to help those who are struggling without them feeling "dumb". That quality is what separates the really good kids in my opinion. Can they help others through a lesson, and make a new friend at the same time?" "My senior year, Mr. Halverson kind of pushed me into being part of the yearbook staff," added Anderson. "This was a very stressful time for me. I was working on about six or seven different projects at the same time with deadlines for each one. Every time that i finished one page design, he would give me another totally different assignment. But I learned so much, and I feel like I am ready and confident as I head to Bemidji State University, where I will major in Graphic Design. I am excited to do something that i love, and I wouldn't have probably ever found it without Halverson forcing me to try something new." "When Jenna mentioned that she might be interested in Graphic Design, I figured that she might as well get a taste of the "rigor" and competition that will be in her college classroom, as well as on the basketball court." said Halverson. "I pretty much used my "Grandpa Ivor's Teaching Method." I taught her to swim by "Trowin' her 'outta 'da Boat!" But I did have a life vest under her desk. I totally expect that Jenna will be able to swim all the way to the top of her class."

< Middle/High School Academics District Calendar Guidance Office Media Center New Enrollment May 2021 Student of the Month Amanda Waletski Royalton High School is proud to announce that Amanda Waletski was selected as Student of the Month for May. Amanda is the daughter of Dave and Judy and sister of Allyson. Amanda’s family has been her biggest support system and has helped her grow and learn, “My family has taught me to work hard and appreciate the small things. I love spending days on the boat with my mom, dad, sister, and cousins during the summer. My family is always there to encourage me whether it is a sporting event, school work, or even the little things that come up day to day.” Outside of school Amanda works at Jordie’s Trail Side Café in Bowlus, she enjoys water skiing, snowmobiling, walking and playing with her dogs; Maggie and Lucy and also volunteers at her church. At Royalton High School Amanda participated in volleyball, basketball, Student Council, Minnesota Honors Society and keeps stats for the softball team. Looking at all of her activities, Amanda says volleyball and basketball have been the most impactful, “ Basketball and volleyball have allowed me to meet new people that have become close friends. Sports have also taught me skills such as time management, commitment and teamwork.” “I’ve really enjoyed my time teaching and coaching Amanda these past 4 years. She is such a joyful person and helpful person, no matter the situation Amanda was going to lighten the mood or do whatever she could to help. I would also say she’s one of the toughest people I know, during her Freshman year, she missed the second half of the basketball season because of a leg injury, but she still stayed involved and worked her way back to playing again the following year. Then during one of our summer tournaments, she broke her jaw, but that didn’t deter her, she came back and played just as hard. Then this past season in basketball, while Amanda isn’t the biggest person, she wasn’t afraid of taking on girls that were much bigger and she would always go 100%. It was great to have her on our team and as one of our captains. I’m really excited to see what’s instore for her in the years to come!.”- Head Girls Basketball Coach and Social Studies Teacher Brad Baumann. Looking at her academics Amanda believes her English teacher Ms. Menden has played a large role, “My favorite teacher is Ms. Menden. She cares about us as students but also as individuals. Her classes have taught me many valuable lessons I will use in my future. Ms. Menden always has a positive attitude and encourages me to always work hard to do my best.” Amanda’s favorite high school memory came during this past basketball season, “My favorite memory from high school is when our basketball team upset Holdingford in the playoffs this year. My team worked really hard and I was proud to be a part of it.” Next year Amanda plans to attend North Dakota State University while she is not a 100% sure what she wants to major in, one possibility is drafting or construction management. In 10 years, Amanda would like to be living somewhere near the Royalton/Bowlus area so she’s close to family. She’s hoping to have a steady job in her career field, she would like to foster dogs and also do some traveling around the world. Amanda’s advice to high school freshmen is short but sweet “become involved in your school and attend events and sporting games because high school goes faster than you think.!”

< 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 March 2023 Student of the Month James Vannurden James is the son of Phil and Jill. James says his family has been a huge part of his life, “My family has been really influential in my life, they have pushed me very hard in everything. My parents have always made sure to push me to getting good grades and being active in sports and activities.” Whether it is in school or outside of school, James is involved in a variety of activities, “I am in Youth Group for my church. We do a lot of activities. I do enjoy being involved with my church; it feels very rewarding to do things to help my community. I’m in Football, Track, and YES Club. I have always loved football since I was very little, I would play it every day. Football has help me through life because of all of the memories and friends I’ve gained. I first joined track when I was in 7th grade. I joined track because I thought I was very fast in 7th grade; The first meet was very humbling for me. I moved around a lot in track, until I found out i was good at jumping. Track has been fun over the years because of the friendships I made. Im also in YES Club. I have done a ton of activities in YES club like building a retaining wall for the school, and doing fun activities with our group like snow tubing at Power Ridge. Overall YES Club has been a good experience for me.” When it comes to his classes James says his favorite class was welding and his favorite teacher is Mr. Robert Skwira. “My favorite class I have taken in high school is Welding. What I liked about Welding so much is that I got taught a whole new skill, Welding was one of the only classes that I couldn't wait to go to. It stood out because at first, I was a little bit scared of trying it but once I got comfortable, it was awesome. I would suggest it to other students because it’s a good skill to have with you, and not many know how to do it. My favorite teacher would have to be Mr. Skwira because of all the knowledge about the trades that I have learned. Skwira is a teacher that has always been very nice to me and really expected a lot out of me. I like how he teaches because he let me try to figure it out on my own, and if I was struggling, he would jump in.” James' favorite memory from school took place this fall, “My favorite high school memory is homecoming. Homecoming is such a fun time because of all the activities we did including the Olympics and dress up days. What made it the best memory was at the end of the day I played football with all of my buddies versus the Paynesville bulldogs. It was a brutal game, but it all made it worth it when we pulled ahead and won the game. After that everyone was pumped up and it was a good time.” James then said the best event he was part of was during his junior football season, “The best game I was involved in is my junior year of football, where in the second round of the playoffs. We played against the Paynesville Bulldogs, and we were going back and forth at each other. The nerves were hitting because there was a full crowd and we had to stay in the game, but when the clock struck zero, we managed to pull out the win. At the end it was so rewarding because even though my body felt like garbage, I was so excited we won.” After graduating and where he sees himself in the future James had this to say, “Next year I will be jumping right into working doing construction, I chose construction because I like to work with my hands and I like to moving around all of the time. The best thing that I like about construction is going through building and looking at the progress made on the building. In the next 10 years I plan to work hard and make some money, I hope to buy my own house and start to develop a family. It is important to me because I would like to have something to push me to work hard.” James’ advice to high school freshmen is, “One thing I would advise is to get your required classes done earlier so you can have fun classes that you will like when you’re an upperclassman and make sure to have fun.”

< Middle/High School Academics District Calendar Guidance Office Media Center New Enrollment October 2019 Student of the Month Matthew Kasella Royalton High School announces Matthew Kasella has been named the October Student of the Month. Matthew is the son of Rob and Amy Kasella and the youngest brother of Jake, Megan, Katelyn, Krista and Jason. Matthew is grateful for his parents because “they gave me a strong work ethic.” The understanding of how to work stems from his experiences at Kasella Concrete. However, whether hunting or going to the lake, Matthew’s family also knows how to have fun together. Coming from a large family has greatly affected Matthew’s personality; through their times together his family helped him “be the extroverted, loud speaking, energetic person I am today.” He expends his energies in a variety of activities. Matthew’s extracurriculars include YES/Tech Club, wrestling, and football; “Friday Night Lights” gives him the best memories of his high school career because of “the sweat we put into each football play.” As for school, Matthew states that his favorite teachers are Mr. Thielges and Mr. Halverson. Mr. Thielges first sparked his interest in engineering, and in his class, “I enjoy figuring out difficult problems and finding out why things work the way they do.” He enjoys Mr. Halverson because he genuinely cares about each student, “I like that we can joke around yet really learn from him.” Carl Halverson, Royalton High School art teacher, says, “Matthew is a bright young man with a promising future ahead of him. What separates him from so many sharp students is that he pays attention to others around him. It doesn't matter what grade they are in, nor what group they are associated with. Earning a Student of the Month honor should encompass so much more than just earning good grades. Matthew Kasella definitely has done just that through his efforts to better our school in so many different ways.” Jeff Schoenrock, math teacher, states, “Matthew asks the why questions in order to fully understand how and why the math works. He works very hard in the classroom and is goal driven. Matthew works hard in the classroom, on the field and on the mat. He is a positive role model, not afraid to reach out and do what is right.” This young man’s positivity is also noted by Monica Flakus, high school career counselor, “Matthew is a joyful, caring, and responsible student. What I find so refreshing with Matthew is the fact that he doesn't consider helping others to be a big deal - that is just who he is. But, it is a BIG DEAL! He does all of these things naturally; he enjoys doing it and he takes his responsibilities seriously.” After graduation, Matthew plans to attend North Dakota State University in Fargo, ND, and major in Civil Engineering. He hopes that in ten years he will have a solid job in engineering and have plenty of time for hunting and fishing trips. His advice for high school freshmen is to “spend your time doing the things you enjoy with the people that will be there for you.”

< Middle/High School Academics District Calendar Guidance Office Media Center New Enrollment September 2018 Student of the Month Jenna Carlson Jenna Carlson, daughter of Shelly and Dail Carlson, has been named the September Student of the Month at Royalton High School (RHS). Jenna has three siblings; Brianna and Zach who graduated from RHS, and Connor who is an 8th grader at Royalton. Jenna’s favorite class is Sociology and Psychology, which is an ITV class taught by Frank Weber. She also mentioned Spanish teacher Lindsey Gruber as one of her favorite teachers. “Jenna is a role model to her peers and underclassmen. She puts her best effort into everything she does, whether it be an assignment, a test, a practice, or a game. She is respectful to everyone, no matter who they are, and makes our school more positive place,” Gruber said. Social studies teacher and head girls basketball coach Brad Baumann said, "I believe Jenna is a truly exceptional student and individual. Jenna always has a smile on her face and is the type of person that will go out of her way to help anyway she can, whether it's in the classroom, in extracurriculars or outside of school. She is a great leader and works hard at everything she does, and doesn't settle for anything other than her best. I think we're extremely fortunate here at Royalton to have Jenna as one of our students and one of our student leaders. Her character and work ethic is a great example for younger students and as a parent myself I would love to see my child follow in her footsteps." Carlson is very involved in activities at school including volleyball, basketball, softball, National Honors Society, Student Council, Tech Club, YES club, Spanish Club, WE Day, and Knowledge Bowl. A favorite school memory for Jenna was all of homecoming week this year. Especially getting tackled by the preschool and kindergarten girls when royalty visited them at lunch, and also driving the golf cart around the field at the football game. Carlson plans to double major in Biology and Spanish with a focus on pre medicine. Then continue on to PA school. Jenna’s advice to freshmen is, “Challenge yourself, get involved, enjoy the little things, and SMILE! It makes a difference!”

< Middle/High School Academics District Calendar Guidance Office Media Center New Enrollment January 2024 Student of the Month Adonijah Ripple Adonijah believes his family has helped him learn to work hard, “My family has taught me to work hard in every area of my life. They let me choose what I dedicate my time to, so long as I do it to the best of my ability. They support me in these things by showing up to events, or helping me when they can. In addition to emotional support, I’m forever grateful that they’ve given me financial support in my education, and just plain old fun.” When it comes to activities outside of school Adonijah said this, “Outside of school I’m involved in our church’s worship team, playing guitar. I enjoy doing this both because I get to play guitar with other skilled people, but also because I get to develop relationships with other people while also sharing my faith. This has also given me opportunities like the worship team I got to be a part of through Minnesota AIM (Ambassadors in Mission). That trip in particular was one of the most important and memorable experiences I’ve ever had.” In school Adonijah has a few activities that he’s been really involved, “I mainly participate in our CTE club, Business Professionals of America (BPA). BPA gave me an excuse to both buy and wear a suit, at least it started that way. But, as my life started to point more towards business related activities, it became vital to my business education. It also gave me an opportunity to develop my leadership skills.” When Adonijah looks at what his favorite class has been during his high school career, he says art would be his pick, “Though I’m not super great at it, every art class I’ve taken has been among my favorite classes. Creating things of value (whether it be personal or for others) is one of the most important aspects of my life, and art class has given me a way to do that. Right now, ceramics is my favorite in particular, clay is an easy medium to work with because you can shape it into exactly what you see in your mind. Art would benefit others by giving them an outlet for creativity and expression, and an opportunity to do what they want, solving problems on their own.” As for his favorite teachers at Royalton, it’s not an easy pick for Adonijah, “This is a difficult question to answer because all of my teachers have shaped both my educational experience and my life. Mr. Silbernick was one of my favorite teachers because he approached teaching with such passion and genuine interest in his students. Though it was frustrating, he encouraged my class to solve problems on their own, with all of their effort, so that they might learn even more in the process. Whenever I get the opportunity to help someone understand something, this is the exact same approach I take because of how important it was for me in math. Other teachers like Mr. Koenig and Mrs. Tordsen both helped me foster my creativity, but were also sincere and dedicated to teaching me.” Adonijah’s favorite memories of high school have come during Royal Hour, “My favorite memory of high school is getting to hang out with my friends in the band practice rooms during Royal Hour (Study Hall). Especially before half of my friends graduated, this was the best place to get zero work done and have conversations about nothing in particular, and that was the best part, it was just enjoying each other's company and sharing in lots of laughs.” As for Adonijah’s favorite activity at high school, it came in BPA, “Getting to go to the national competition for BPA was one of my favorite events in high school. Once I had finally sorted out the funding for the trip to California, we got to hang out in the sun while the rest of my peers were still dealing with the cold in Minnesota. The actual competition part was horrific. I had a headache the whole way through the accounting test I did from staring at the screen so hard. Getting to stand on the podium for 3rd place in a national competition was surreal though. In my mind it took a while to register my accomplishment, because I only saw it as winning one competition, and I didn’t see all of the other people that didn’t even qualify.” When asked what his post high school plans were, Adonijah says he plans to head south to the great state of Iowa, “After high school I plan to move to Iowa with my dad and start a career in real estate. The main thing I want to do is get into real estate investing. After getting to meet one of the Quad Cities real estate moguls, he inspired me to pursue a life in real estate. I plan to also get licensed and become an agent. In addition, I plan to scale and eventually sell my pressure washing business.” In ten years, this is where Adonijah sees himself, “In 10 years, I want to create my own personal economy. By personal economy I mean I want to be bringing real value to the people I’ve surrounded myself with, both by providing them with jobs, but also opportunities to do the very same things that I’m doing. It is also vitally important to me that I build generational wealth for those that come after me.” Lastly Adonijah’s advice to freshman was, “I want to give freshmen the same advice my parents gave me, whatever you choose to do, do it with everything you have. Respect your elders, but also your peers. Studying to remember things is great, but truly learning things is the most important thing. The one thing people can’t take away from you is your education, you’ll still have it even if you hit rock bottom. Finally, take high school seriously, but not too seriously, remember that you're still a kid and will be an adult for the rest of your life.”

< Hall of Fame Jeff "Olsen" Oelrich Class of 1988 Inducted May 2011 Jeff Oelrich is a 1988 graduate of Royalton High School. At RHS, Jeff was involved in yearbook, Student Council, Jazz Band, Spanish Club, Knowledge Bowl, was the President of the National Honor Society and was the class salutatorian. Jeff attended St. Cloud State University and became involved in mass communications and radio broadcasting. Jeff began deejaying at KCLD, BOB 100FM, WLOL, and hosted the KOOL 108 Morning Show as Jeff Olsen. He was also involved in television where he did anchor work in Alexandria, Rochester, and with KARE 11. Jeff wears many hats at KARE 11 including reporting for the Sunrise Morning Show and is used as an anchor and host for various TV and news broadcasts. Jeff met his wife Julianna while working in Rochester and together they have 4 children. Jeff has been honored by the Minnesota Broadcasters Association, The United Way, Habitat for Humanity, Salvation Army, and the MS Society. Jeff was named the Twin Cities Radio Personality of the Year in 2005.

< 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.”