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

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

< Guidance Office United states military opportunities Service Academy Programs Each of the Academies open their application process in the spring of applicants' junior year. For a student to gain acceptance to a Service Academy, they must apply and meet the requirements of that specific school, in addition to earning a nomination from their congressman. Students are encouraged to apply as early as they can, so they have more time to improve their qualifications and fully complete the process. Once a student has applied at a Service Academy, they may apply to seek a nomination from their congressman. Most begin accepting requests for nomination in April of applicants' junior year. For more information stop in the CRC. Resources United States Army Army ROTC United States Navy Navy ROTC United States Air Force United States Marines United States Military Academy - West Point United States Air Force Academy - Colorado Springs United States Naval Academy - Annapolis United States Coast Guard Academy United States Merchant Marine Academy

< Hall of Fame Matt Palmer Class of 1984 Inducted May 2010 Matt Palmer graduated from RHS in 1984. Palmer was a two-time state wrestling champion for Royalton and was a leader on three conference championship teams in the early 1980’s. He was named the team’s MVP two times during his high school career. Palmer finished his high school career with 121 wins and still holds three school wrestling records. Palmer attended North Dakota State University where he starred in wrestling as a two-time Division II All-American and was the National Runner-up in his weight class during his junior year. NDSU lost only three duals while Palmer was a member of the team. Matt graduated with a teaching degree from NDSU and has continued to share his love of wrestling as the head wrestling coach at Monticello High School for the past 16 years.

< Hall of Fame Mary Rose Distinguished Educator (1963-87) Inducted May 2012 Mary Rose was a beloved teacher in the Royalton School District for many years. Mary attended high school in Mitchell, SD and then became a student at Dakota Wesleyan University from 1945-1949. It was there that Mary met her husband, Don, who was also a teacher and coach. In 1963, the Rose’s were hired in Royalton, with Mary being hired as an English teacher. For over 20 years, Mary was highly involved in the school district teaching English, physical education, directing school plays, accompanying the band and choirs at competition, cheerleading, scorekeeping, and a wide variety of other activities in the school. Mary would be credited with beginning and developing the elementary music program in Royalton. Mary retired from Royalton in 1987 and then spent a lot of time volunteering in the school and community. Mary even volunteered at an elementary school in San Juan, Texas when she and her husband would go south for the winter months. Mary and her late husband, Don, lived on a farm south of Royalton with their children David, Dan, Dana, and Julie.

< Hall of Fame Tim Prom Class of 1987 Inducted May 2017 Tim Prom was the fifth child in a family of ten brothers and sisters. The Don and Mary Prom family lived west of Bowlus on a family farm and instilled the values of hard work, commitment, and being a team player. These attributes helped mold Tim to be the educational leader that he is today. Tim Prom graduated from Royalton High School in 1987 where he took an active role participating in a multitude of activities that school had to offer. He honed his athletic skills and excelled in football, basketball, track & field, and baseball. Tim earned nine varsity letters and seven All-Conference awards. Tim was involved in the arts through Band, Jazz Band, Choir, Drama Club, and participated in the school plays. He was also a class officer in Student Council, in the Letterman's Club, and the Homecoming King. Following graduation from Royalton High School, Tim attended Brainerd Community College, now Central Lakes College, where he continued his involvement in a positive school culture. He played football as quarterback from 1987-1989, was captain of the team, participated in RC Cola Bowl game, and played basketball. Additionally, he was Secretary of the Student Senate and was the Homecoming King. In 1989, Tim chose to attend St. Cloud State where he obtained his Bachelor's Degree in Education. During this time, he shifted his contributions from athlete to coach of Royalton's freshman basketball and high school track & field teams. Tim spent the first 14 years of his career as a teacher of 4th, 5th, and 6th grade students, starting out in Fairmont, MN. However, he spent the majority of his teaching career at Buffalo Middle School with 6th graders. He was awarded the Leadership in Educational Excellence Award (LEEA) in 2006. Beyond the classroom, he offered his coaching abilities to all levels of middle and high school athletics in football, basketball, and track. Some of his discus and shot put throwers advanced to the state tournament. A personal highlight for Tim was the opportunity to coach all three of his daughters from 3rd to 8th grade in basketball and softball. Tim advanced his own education by achieving his Master's in Education Degree in 2001 and his Administrative Degree in 2005, both from St. Mary's University. He served as the Assistant Principal of Pinewood Elementary School in Monticello, MN for the 2006-2007 school year. He moved to the Annandale district to be the Head Middle School Principal in 2007, and has been there ever since. In administrative role, Tim has implemented a number of building wide programs geared toward closing the achievement gaps to help students of AMS become more successful. He initiated and helped write a grant to obtain district-wide technology in 2008, outfitting all classrooms in the district with SMART boards, projectors and other technology. This, and many other efforts were honored by awarding him the 2009 Outstanding Service Award. Most recently, Tim was selected as the Central Division Principal of the year in May 2015 by the Central Minnesota Association of Secondary School Principals. This award lead to him receiving the statewide Secondary Principal of the year award, which he humbly accepted in January 2016. He is the first to give credit to the team of teachers, administrators, and students he works with as well as his family for their continued support. His colleges value his personal approach to leadership. He encourages his staff to continue to develop their teaching skills, take risks by trying new teaching methods, work together, and to make decisions based on the best interest of students. His open-door policy sets the tone for a positive school culture. In March of 2017, Tim accepted the position of Superintendent of Annandale Schools and will begin this role in July 2017. Tim and his wife Becky reside in St. Augusta and they have three daughters, Alexis, Abby and Grace.

Staff directory Search by Building 1 2 3 4 5 1 ... 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 ... 9 Social Studies Teacher Jeremy Albright Middle/High School Email Special Education Teacher Benjamin Barnack Middle/High School Email Social Studies Teacher Brad Baumann Middle/High School Email Website > Preschool Teacher Amanda Billig Early Childhood Center Email Paraprofessional Carrie Boucher Middle/High School Email Paraprofessional Casey Broda Elementary School Email Paraprofessional Becky Bzdok Early Childhood Center Email Assistant Principal/Activities Director Kaitlyn Arnzen Middle/High School Email Paraprofessional Sharon Baron Early Childhood Center Email 3rd Grade Teacher Jennifer Beaman Elementary School Email Website > Lead Cook Heather Bollig Middle/High School Email 2nd Grade Teacher Kathy Brenny Elementary School Email Website > Paraprofessional Tammy-Lynn Buck Elementary Email Elementary Long-term substitute Shelly Chambers Elementary Email Driver, Transportation Chelsea Aschenbrenner District Email Guidance Office Secretary Robyn Bartkowicz Middle/High School Email Driver. Transportation Randall Bean Distruct Email Math Teacher Jacquelyn Borash Middle/High School Email Finance Specialist Linda Brezinka District Email Driver, Transportation Garry Bultinck District Email Band Director Chris Coppicus Middle/High School Email Website > 1 2 3 4 5 1 ... 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 ... 9

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

< Middle/High School Academics District Calendar Guidance Office Media Center New Enrollment March 2025 Student of the Month Marisa Solland A dedicated, compassionate, and hardworking student, Marisa exemplifies the values of leadership, service, and academic excellence both inside and outside the classroom. Marisa credits her family as the foundation of her strong character and values. Through their guidance, she has grown in her faith, gained confidence in herself, and learned the importance of hard work, respect, and community service. Some of her favorite moments with her family include attending church events, going out to eat, and enjoying movie nights. Their encouragement has helped her maintain strong grades and pursue her college goals with determination. In the classroom, Culinary Prep with Mrs. Liddane stands out as Marisa’s favorite class. She especially enjoyed helping prepare the Veterans Day breakfast—an event that has become a cherished tradition at Royalton. She recommends the class to others because of the valuable life skills it teaches, such as cooking and preparing meals independently. When asked about her favorite teacher, Marisa names Mrs. Ramstad, whose dedication to students and thoughtful teaching style left a lasting impression. Mrs. Ramstad’s willingness to provide extra support and make time for every student has inspired Marisa to emulate that kind of care and commitment in her future career as an educator. Marisa is actively involved in FFA and concert choir. Through FFA, which she joined in eighth grade, she’s developed leadership, teamwork, and perseverance while participating in events, contests, and projects that promote agricultural education. As a member of the concert choir since ninth grade, Marisa has grown musically and socially while spreading joy through performances and competitions. Beyond school, Marisa continues her service-oriented spirit in the community. She volunteers at the Benton County Fair FFA Barnyard, Platte River Days FFA Petting Zoo, and at her church, helping with breakfasts, Mass, and fundraisers. She also assists at the Royalton American Legion Fish Fry and sings as a first soprano in the Youth Chorale of Central Minnesota's Con Brio group. These experiences have helped Marisa grow in responsibility, communication, adaptability, and self-confidence. One of her most memorable high school moments was teaming up with her friend Nevaeh during Survivor Week. Together, they used teamwork and quick thinking to win a challenging memory game for their grade—an achievement that Marisa remembers as a highlight of collaboration and spirit. Her favorite activity? Volunteering at the Benton County Fair FFA Barnyard. Between caring for animals and connecting with visitors, Marisa found joy in learning, teaching, and handling the unexpected—all while having fun in a wonderfully chaotic environment. Looking ahead, Marisa has been accepted to St. Cloud Technical and Community College to pursue an A.A. degree in Elementary Education, with plans to transfer to St. Cloud State University for her B.S. and a minor in Special Education. Her passion for teaching stems from her own educational journey: after surviving cancer during kindergarten through second grade, her elementary teachers at Pleasantview helped her catch up and thrive—a legacy she hopes to pass on to her future students. In ten years, Marisa sees herself teaching in central Minnesota, carrying forward the values and support she received as a child. Her long-term goal is to help every student believe in their potential and succeed, no matter their circumstances. Her advice to high school freshmen is clear and heartfelt: “Don’t wait to get involved—join groups when you feel the spark. Work hard for your grades; they won’t be handed to you. And always remember: your teachers want to see you succeed. Don’t be afraid to ask for help and grow.”

< Middle/High School Academics District Calendar Guidance Office Media Center New Enrollment December 2023 Student of the Month Hannah Krueger Hannah is the daughter of Isaac and Amy. Hannah gives her family a lot of credit for where she is today, “My family is a huge part of my success as a student. Whether it be my mom and dad always pushing me to be the best person or my sister giving me advice on my academics and life. I was raised in a family who has always celebrated the little things. In the past, some things we have celebrated are positive semester-end grades, doing well on a test, no missing assignments, and extra effort on class work. I believe that celebrating these accomplishments helped motivate me with my studies by getting my work done and being okay with putting forward a great effort but not always getting the results that I wanted. These skills have helped me grow and succeed in other parts of my life such as sports and work. Though I have had success in many aspects, I have also experienced times when things didn't turn out the way I had hoped or I didn’t achieve what I was striving for. My family has helped me realize that it is okay as long as I tried my best. In our free time our family is always at the gym. We spend almost every Tuesday, Thursday, and sometimes Fridays in the gym. As a competitive family there is nothing we would rather be doing.” At Royalton High School, Hannah is involved in activities such as: volleyball, basketball, and golf. Hannah believes all these activities have been beneficial for her with each offering her different skills. “I am involved in a variety of sports, mainly volleyball, basketball, and golf. I enjoy being a part of a chosen family that is formed with each sport. The drive to do well for your teammates and coaches during games or practice is something that is not found anywhere else. I believe that everyone should try a sport in their lifetime due to the number of skills such as responsibility, leadership, and teamwork you practice while playing. These are life lessons that have helped me get through adversity in my school work and personal life and are skills that I will take into my adult life. Outside of school Hannah spends a lot of her time teaching others. “Outside of school I am a volleyball coach for our JO program as well as teaching 1st grade religion. I look forward to both of these activities due to the fact I am growing in my learning as well as teaching the younger generation. The amount of joy in the younger generation when they have something click in their brain is one of the reasons why I love to do it. By participating in these activities, I am able to learn how to think on the fly as well as learning more responsibility. These are life skills that I will use throughout my life similar to the skills that sports have taught me.” When it comes to her classes Hannah says her favorite class has been her art class. “My favorite class throughout high school is my art independent that I am currently in. I am able to work at my own pace and produce art projects that mean something to me. There are many classes that have the work laid out for you on the first day of class. In my independent I am able to walk into the class and do something different every day. Another reason I like this class is I share this independent with many friends. Every day is like a social hour with friends while producing art. Most of my time so far has been spent making clay projects on the wheel, however, in the future I will be working on creating paintings. I am super excited to display my work in the upcoming school art show in May alongside my friends!” As for a favorite teacher Hannah looked at not just one but a few that have impacted her academic career, “I am very blessed to have lived in Royalton my whole life for the fact that I am able to see the teachers that shaped me at a young age frequently. In elementary school my favorite teacher was Mrs. Carlson who taught fourth grade. Walking into her class she made each and every one of her students feel special. I was able to work at a pace that helped me learn that best. She also was the type of teacher who made her lessons fun. Instead of packets of paper based off of a PowerPoint, she made things interactive for us. I believe that is what made her class my favorite. Moving onto middle school was a big change for me. We started to have different teachers for different subjects as well as opening lockers with a combination. The transition also brought a different building with all new teachers. I quickly realized that Mrs. Schreifels was the teacher that I was going to rely on when I needed help. She was there to talk if a student needed help and was more than happy to come in early or stay a little late if I needed help on anything. She truly wants all of her students to succeed not only in the classroom but life as well. After middle school the transition to high school was super simple. My junior year I took composition with Mrs. Menden and she quickly became my favorite teacher I had ever had. Taking her class meant I was about to get swamped with homework, however, I came into class with a smile on my face because just being in her class made me happy. Having her as a teacher made the workload more bearable. When I started her class the first day of junior year, I was a terrible writer. Today, because of the effort and time she dedicated to teaching me, I am able to write papers and produce speeches at the college level. This was no easy feat for her so, I am grateful that I had the opportunity to take her class.” Hannah’s favorite memory happened this past fall during volleyball, “My favorite high school memory was during this year's volleyball season when I hit my goal of reaching 1,000 career digs. This moment was super special to me because of all the hard work I have put into getting better and allowing myself to strive for a goal that not many players accomplish. What made it feel even more special was the amount of support I had from my coaches, teammates, classmates, friends, family, and community. It would not have been the same without the support of everyone behind me. From the beginning when I established my goal my family, friends, and coaches have helped me push myself even when I was tired and wanted to give up on my dream.” As for the single best activity Hannah has been involved with in high school, was during her freshman basketball season, “The best activity I was involved in was my freshman year playoff basketball game against Holdingford. This had the potential to be my last basketball game I would play with my older sister, Aubrey, we were the number 13 seed while Holdingford was the number 4 seed. Everyone thought this game was a definite loss for us due to the seedings and that they had beat us twice in regular season pretty handedly. Our team decided that was not the narrative we wanted so we took them into overtime and beat them by 4. The sheer excitement from our team, coaches, and the crowd was amazing. The cherry on top was the fact that they were our biggest rivals since moving into the CMC conference. This day and all the excitement will be with me for the rest of my life.” For next year, Hannah is heading to the University of North Dakota, “After high school I plan to attend the University of North Dakota Grand Forks to pursue a degree in criminal justice then, further my education and attend law school to become an attorney. With my law degree I plan to be an estate or family attorney with my own practice serving the central Minnesota area. I choose this field of study because I have always been interested in the criminal justice system as well as the part lawyers or attorneys play in the system. Another part of the job that drew me to this is the fact that I get to interact with people along with helping them with their legal needs.” When asked where she wants to be in 10 years, Hannah had this to say. “In 10 years, I see myself graduating with a Bachelors and Juris Doctor degree from the University of North Dakota. After graduating, I plan to own my own law firm or work in a firm that will lead me to accomplish my goal of owning one. By this point, I hope to be married and start a family when my spouse and I are financially able to do so. These goals are important to me because I am a very family-oriented person and strive to be the best at what I do.” Hannah’s advice to high school freshmen is this, “Be as active in as many extracurricular offerings as possible. Whether it be a part of the drama club, managing a sports team, or playing a sport I believe every student should be involved. This is where you will meet a lot of your friends for the next four years. In addition to being involved I would tell younger kids to enjoy it while you can. It is such a cliché but you never know what you have until it's gone and it goes by so fast.”

< Middle/High School Academics District Calendar Guidance Office Media Center New Enrollment February 2024 Student of the Month Brooke Wenner Brooke is the daughter of Robert and Carol. Brooke’s family has helped her grow and learn, “The two biggest lessons I have learned from my family is to strive to always be kind to people and to never give up on my dreams and ambitions. I enjoy going on family road trips up to Duluth, hanging out by the fire during the summer, or simply just talking about life in the living room with my family. My dad, my mom, and my sister Breanna are all huge role models in my life who are all super hard working and compassionate for others. They encourage me to make as many relationship bonds as I can, be ambitious about my goals, and make sure I try to put a smile on people's faces. They encourage me to do amazing things but the most important thing of all is that they encourage me to be myself and love myself.” At Royalton High School Brooke participates in many activities, “The first activities I joined were volleyball and softball and speech. These sports have offered many friendships and connections that I will cherish for the rest of my life. I have met some of the most amazing people whether they are students at Royalton or students from other schools. I gained a sense of teamwork, management skills, and a lot of patience as a result of being in these sports. Other activities I have joined have been YES club, the Royal Ambassador program, drama/theater, student council, and Minnesota Honor Society. My involvement in these areas has made me develop so many new skills and given me life lessons that I will cherish forever.” Looking at her classes Brooke says her favorite class has been Independent Art, “My favorite class is my art independent. I love this class because it’s a way where I can show my creative abilities, and I don’t have to follow a guideline as to how to create my art. An art dependent gives you the freedom to create any art you want so I really got to use both my problem-solving skills, but also my imagination. I love that I got to use this class as an opportunity to be able to tap into my almost silly and childlike self. Another reason why I love this class so much is because of the people in it. I absolutely adore my teacher, Mrs. Tordsen. She is such a ball of light and just being in her class makes me ten times happier. I also love my friends of course and during this class I can talk with them, and have a stress-free hour to hang out with them.” When asked about some her favorite teachers at RHS, Brooke had this to say, “All of my teachers greatly impacted me in their own unique ways, so it’s hard to decide but if I had to narrow it down, I would have to say that Ms. Meek and Mr. Koenig are teachers who have made a huge impact in my time during high school. Ms. Meek is such a special person to me because not only has she been my teacher, but she has also been my coach, and she has honestly felt like another cool aunt! Ms. Meek is the type of person you always wish to have in high school. She is there whenever you need help in school, advice in a sport, or even if you need a person to cry to. I will miss my random pop-ins into her room to bother her about life and her contagious laugh. She inspires me to stand up for what I believe in and encourages me to be the strong woman I am. Mr. Koenig has also been a huge role model in my life. He is a special person to me because I know I can always count on him if I ever need to talk. His goofy personality makes it so fun to be around and I know I can easily joke with him. Through having him as a teacher and student council advisor I have seen that he is truly such a kindhearted person who would be willing to do anything for his students. All of my teachers have played a role in shaping who I am today, so they all hold a special place in my heart. Brooke’s favorite high school memory was her trip to New York, “The high school memory that stands out above all the others is when the drama and choir groups took a trip to New York. This trip had many ups and downs however I still think about this trip almost every day. I loved that I got to share my first experience in New York with some of my best friends. My favorite parts of the trip were when we went to Coney Island and swam at the beach and looked for sea glass. I also loved when we watched the Broadway shows, The Lion King and Hamilton. However, my favorite part of the trip was when we would debrief about our day. No matter the ups and downs of the trip, I will always remember this vacation. Outside of school Brooke’s activities include, “The main activity I participate in outside of school would be working with kids at MAP. I work at a program called MAP over at Royalton Elementary school. During the summer and school year the children get to hang out together, continue learning new things, and go on awesome field trips where they can flourish and really connect to one another. This is where they can truly be children and escape from whatever may be bothering them elsewhere. I started working at MAP because I love to see the joy in children, and I want to be the role model for them and so they know I will always be there for them. This job has taught me to have more patience for others, try my best to make others happy, and to be in the present moment. Along with her favorite high school memory Brooke also had another experience that she will cherish. “My favorite school event was when we took a trip to Craguns for our student council retreat. This was one of the best trips because there were so many activities we got to do. We participated in ice breaker activities with people from other schools, we got to listen to motivational speakers talking about leadership, and have some pretty awesome food. However, my absolute favorite part was when we were able to go to the pool to swim and sing karaoke and then have a big dance party at night.” As to what she plans to do next year and where she sees herself in 10 years, Brooke had this to say, “I will be attending the University of North Dakota this upcoming fall. I will be majoring in business and working toward receiving my bachelors. After I finish with college, I will be working to start my own business as well as advancing in the marketing field. I’m still debating on exactly what I’m going to invest into for a business, however figuring that out will come with time. The question of where I will be in 10 years is a harder one for me to answer because I’m a very easy going, go with the flow kind of girl. I’ve thought about what life would be like however I’m not super strict with how my life has to go. I only hope to have a sustainable job in order for me to support my family, and to be able to have the freedom of working on different hobbies. I believe hobbies are very important for happiness so this would be something I would need.” Brooke’s advice to high school freshmen is this “Make sure you stay true to yourself. Don’t change anything for anyone if you’re not comfortable with it. If you feel overwhelmed or like you need a change then please do it. Do it for yourself because at the end of the day this is your experience and you have the ability to shape who you are as you grow into adulthood. Make these next four years the best you possibly can because I promise you, time flies by.