CLHS awards diplomas to small, but mighty Class of ‘17

(Above) Graduates Mordecai Nsabaah and Josiah Bartlett pose for a photo before the CLHS commencement ceremony begins.-Reporter photo by Chris Barragy.

The Clear Lake High School Class of 2017 was honored with Pomp and Circumstance Sunday.  Sixty-six members of the class were presented with diplomas.

Student speakers Grant Dieken and Nick Eggers reminded their classmates that they made their way through the school system with a reputation.

“It feels like just last week we were sitting in our freshman classes and the teachers were standing in front of their rooms telling us about how we had a reputation,” said Dieken. “At the time of our freshman year that reputation wasn’t anything like the achievements we are known for today.  We have done some amazing things…  We have completely disproved our freshman reputation and created a new legacy for ourselves.  A legacy of small, but mighty, of quality over quantity.”

Eggers agreed, saying “With the help of parents, teachers, coaches and mentors of all kinds, the same young people that were once the source of all the problems began to change and mature transforming into a future Navy Seal, an enlisted member of the U.S. Army, an engineering student, collegiate baseball players, and a state champion wrestler, to name a few… We’ll keep the memories and growth we made as a group of young people, the class of 2017.”

And while Dieken and Eggers said the time went by fast, Jacob Peterson wasn’t so sure.  He told the class 15,000 hours is the average amount of time a student spends in high school by the time they graduate.  “Fifteen thousand,” he repeated.  “Although at some points, I swear it felt longer.”

Peterson said it took him 15,000 hours to realize that high school is not just about learning reading, writing and arithmetic.  “High school is about letting you find out who you are.  It’s about learning what you like, what you are good at, and who you want to be.  It’s about letting you make your own mistakes and

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build your own relationships.  High school is about giving you the necessary time to learn about yourself.”

The following individual scholarships and awards were presented:

Shane Ahmedi: NIACC Foundation Scholarship (Area 2).

Ryan Atkinson: Dr. Tom and Janis Joslyn Educational Fund Scholarship, Thurtle Family Scholarship.

Kiersten Baalson – Founder’s Scholarship (Luther College), Legacy Scholarship (Luther College), Weston Noble Music Scholarship (Luther College), American Citizenship Award (Iowa Bar Association), Esther Woodford Ashland Service Scholarship, Clear Lake Evening Lions Scholarship, E. Wayne Cooley Award, Globe Gazette STAR Class of 2017 (music), Blake Lobdell Memorial Scholarship, Gary Meehlhause Memorial Scholarship, Dr. Steven A. Moeller Memorial Scholarship, Surf Ballroom & Museum Scholarship, Theodore L. Young Scholarship.

McKenna Backhaus: Iowa Scholars Award (University of Iowa), Iowa Heritage Award (U of I), Iowa First Year Engineering Scholarship (U of I), Cummings Family Scholarship, Blake Lobdell Memorial Scholarship, Distinguished Female Athlete (U.S. Marine Corps.), Nancy Whaley Memorial Scholarship (The Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa).

Josiah Bartlett: Academic Recognition Award (Iowa State University), Cardinal Leadership Scholar Award (ISU), Academic All-State Student (Des Moines Register), Clear Lake Bank & Trust/Ray Hewitt Foundation Scholarship, American Citizenship Award (Iowa Bar Association), Blake Lobdell Memorial Scholarship, Sgt. Blaine Mishak Memorial Scholarship, Thurtle Family Scholarship, CLHS Class of 1967 50th Reunion Commemorative Scholarship, Robert F and Maude H Furleigh Scholarship, Harding Masonic Lodge Scholarship.

Selena Borrill – Hawkeye Achievement Award (University of Iowa), Advantage Iowa Award (U of I), Clear Lake Evening Lions Scholarship, Clear Lake Lions Club Scholarship (formerly Noon Lions), Clear Lake Rotary Club Scholarship, Thomas E. and Janice A. Nelson Scholarship (The Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa), Thurtle Family Scholarship.

Isaac Byrne: Music Department Scholarship (University of Northern Iowa), Shaun Cesar Memorial Scholarship

Kyle Calaguas: Academic Scholarship (University of Arizona), Oluf T. Hansen Memorial Scholarship, Distinguished Male Athlete (U.S. Marine Corps.), Cade Pleggenkuhle Memorial Scholarship.

Madalynn Cash: VFW Grant.

Dylan Clapper: Globe Gazette STAR Class of 2017 (technical).

Noah Copney: NIACC Link Scholarship, President’s Scholarship (NIACC), Krogh Scholarship (NIACC), “Semper Fidelis” Music Award (U.S. Marine Corps.)

Parker Crispin: Cummings Family Scholarship, CLHS Class of 1967 50th Reunion Commemorative Scholarship.

Nate DiCamillo: Serving in the Armed Forces (U.S. Army)

Grant Dieken: Thurtle Family Scholarship, CENT Credit Union Scholarship (Mason City office).

Nick Eggers: Academic Recognition Award (Iowa State University), Cardinal Leadership Scholar Award (ISU), James I. Ahrens Scholarship, Clear Lake Evening Lions Scholarship, Clear Lake Lions Club Scholarship (formerly Noon Lions), Cummings Family Scholarship,

Braydon Emerson: Oluf T. Hansen Memorial Scholarship, Thurtle Family Scholarship.

Jessica Faber: Academic Scholarship (Wartburg College), Army Reserve National Scholar/Athlete Award (female), Cummings Family Scholarship, Globe Gazette STAR Class of 2017 (social science), Governor’s Scholar Recognition Award.

Aliyah Fouts: Dr. Tom and Janis Joslyn Educational Fund Scholarship.

Carson Frahm: Clear Lake Lions Club Scholarship (formerly Noon Lions), Cummings Family Scholarship, Oluf T. Hansen Memorial Scholarship, CLHS Class of 1967 50th Reunion Commemorative Scholarship.

Breanna Furst: Competition Cheer Scholarship (Iowa Central), Criminal Justice Scholarship (Iowa Central).

Noah Heggen: Worth County Development Authority Scholarship.

Tanner Huey: Athletic Scholarship (Simpson College), Sukup Manufacturing Scholarship.

Emilie Jandebeur: Old Gold Scholarship (University of Iowa), Iowa Heritage Award (U of I), Globe Gazette STAR Class of 2017 (science), KIMT Scholastic All-Star, Blake Lobdell Memorial Scholarship, Progress Club Scholarship.

Evan Krause: Blue Award (Buena Vista University), Legacy Award (BVU).

Torian Lee: NIACC Grant Scholarship, Clear Lake Community School Foundation & Alumni Association Scholarship.

Ryan Leisure: Athletic Scholarship (Iowa State University), Army Reserve National Scholar/Athlete Award (male), Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce Scholarship, Clear Lake Lioness Club Service Scholarship, Cummings Family Scholarship, Mitch Melhus Memorial Scholarship, Thomas E. and Janice A. Nelson Scholarship (The Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa), Thurtle Family Scholarship.

Shelbey Maskarina: Clear Lake Arts Center Scholarship, Clear Lake Rotary Club Scholarship, Globe Gazette STAR Class of 2017 (arts).

Cody Matz: Cummings Family Scholarship.

Angel Medellin: Serving in the Armed Forces (U.S. Navy).

Alanna Monson: Hawkeye Achievement Award (University of Iowa), Cummings Family Scholarship, Don Dockhorn Memorial Scholarship, Thurtle Family Scholarship.

Trevor Neve: Serving in the Armed Forces (U.S. Marine Corp).

Michaela Niles: Hawkeye Achievement Award (University of Iowa), Thomas E. & Janice A. Nelson Scholarship (The Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa), Nancy Whaley Memorial Scholarship (CFNEI), Julia A. Young Scholarship.

Jacob Peterson: Hawkeye Achievement Award (University of Iowa), Clear Lake Bank & Trust/Ray Hewitt Foundation Scholarship, Clear Lake Community School Foundation & Alumni Association Scholarship, Globe Gazette STAR Class of 2017 (language), Blake Lobdell Memorial Scholarship.

Austin Pitkin: Hussey & Company LLC Scholarship, Clear Lake Community School Foundation & Alumni Association Scholarship, Clear Lake Lions Club Scholarship (formerly Noon Lions), Wempen Family Scholarship, CLHS Class of 1967 50th Reunion Commemorative Scholarship,

Sophia Schultz: Hawkeye Achievement Award (University of Iowa), Alliant Energy Scholarship, Thurtle Family Scholarship, Ronald B and Dorothy Harreman Williams Memorial Scholarship.

Emily Snelling: Athletic Scholarship (University of Northern Iowa), Globe Gazette STAR Class of 2017 (female athlete), Cade Pleggenkuhle Memorial Scholarship.

Thomas Storbeck: Academic and Athletic Scholarship (Concordia University, St. Paul), Clear Lake Lions Club Scholarship (formerly Noon Lions), Globe Gazette STAR Class of 2017 (male athlete), William and Viola Nicholas Memorial Scholarship, CLHS Class of 1967 50th Reunion Commemorative Scholarship.

Emily VanderPloeg: Fine Arts Scholarship (Waldorf University), Clear Lake Education Association Future Teacher Scholarship, Cummings Family Scholarship, Lynelle Hunsaker Memorial Scholarship.

David Vohs: Julia A. Young Scholarship.

Ryan Wandro: Tom and Janis Joslyn Educational Fund Scholarship.

Jacob Wessels: Serving in the Armed Forces (U.S. Air Force).

Kyle Willms: President’s Award for Competitive Excellence (Iowa State University), Cardinal Leadership Scholar Award (ISU), Culvers Foundation Scholarship, Clear Lake Bank & Trust/Ray Hewitt Foundation Scholarship, Clear Lake Lions Club Scholarship (formerly Noon Lions), Clear Lake Rotary Club Scholarship, Cummings Family Scholarship, Kyle DeVries Memorial Scholarship, Globe Gazette STAR Class of 2017 (math), KIMT Scholastic All-Star, Blake Lobdell Memorial Scholarship, Thomas E. and Janice A. Nelson Scholarship (Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa), Bernie Saggau Award, Timothy J. Tjaden Memorial Scholarship, Theodore L. Young Scholarship.

Aleksandra Witt – Iowa Scholars Award (University of Iowa), Iowa Heritage Award (U of I), Clear Lake Lions Club Scholarship (formerly Noon Lions), PEO Chapters EA, LE, and NW Scholarship, Scholastic Excellence Award (U.S. Marine Corps).

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