By Macy MurrenVoices Editor

S A D D m e m b e r s p r o m o t e d the empty dinner table project on prom night, r e m i n d i n g teens to stay safe and not drink and drive.

The display was intended to emphasize the dangers of impaired d r i v i n g along with prevention of losing loved ones due to drinking.

Two tables were set up at 212 Boiling Point and Tailgators right next to the door. The students placed napkins and fork covers with a message about drinking and driving. “Prison food doesn’t taste this good” was the message.

“I think the tables sent out a message that was necessary for teens to see,” sophomore Lexis Sherron said. “Just a glance at

Volume 53 Number 8 Brandon Valley High School - Brandon, SD 57005 Friday, April 24, 2015

The ‘Grease’ sells out/page 3

By Becca GothA&E Editor

Rising scholars instructor Matt Christensen’s literature students skyped with author Yann Martel.

Martel, author of Life of Pi and Beatrice and Virgil, took time out of his book-editing schedule to skype with the students for over three hours.

“The Skype sessions with Martel mean the world to me,” Christensen said. “I’m just grateful. Grateful that he’ll help us. Grateful that students sacrifice their time to attend. I’m proud of our students’ willingness to seek intellectual growth.”

The students studied and interpreted Martel’s novel Life of Pi. When they finished reading the novel, each class period’s students came up with three questions to ask Martel. Volunteers from the class periods asked the questions. Those who volunteered got to speak face to face with Martel.

“I thought that it was a fantastic experience,” senior Summer Rogers said. “Yann Martel is

humorous, intelligent and a delight to listen to.”

Senior Evan Wieser asked

Author Yann Martel skypes with students

Photo by Becca Goth

English instuctor Matt Chrisensen sits face-to-screen with author Yann Martel. Christensen has organized two Skype sessions with Martel for students to ask questions about his novels and his life as an author. Christensen said the Skype session was a success.

if Martel still had a hunger for writing after creating Life of Pi.

“There’s something incredibly

pleasurable about being creative,” Martel said. “And whether it’s writing a novel or gardening or

cooking or whatever, it is a great pleasure to create something out of nothing.”

Martel offered insight about the process of writing novels and about Life of Pi. He told students about the long editing processes, the revisions and the deadlines.

Senior Becca Goth asked if writing Life of Pi changed Martel in any way.

“Well, it changed my view on religion,” Martel said. “I thought religion was for, you know, people with no education.”

Prior to writing Life of Pi, Martel had no interest in religion whatsoever.

“There’s still a lot of people who do stupid things in the name of religion, right now ISIS in the Middle East, of course, but there are even American Evangelists that murder doctors for performing abortions or use Jesus as an excuse for judicious capitalism,” he said. “But, it did change my opinion. Religion is a vast and complicated thing. You can’t simplify it. It’s fascinating.”

Students see traditional and contemporary art

By Umaima KochNews Editor

Since the autumn of 2014, visiting Minneapolis’s many art galleries had been but a tentative plan and a dream for resident art enthusiasts; a dream that soon became a reality.

“What stuck with me most was just how wonderful the students were,” art instructor Chad Nelson said. “It was obvious how interested they were. The trip was a huge success.”

Using Celebrate My Drive money and funds raised through a Pizza Ranch fundraiser, a group of some 40-odd people woke before the sun had risen on the morning of March 28 to catch a bus on a four-hour-long drive up to the Twin Cities, for a day full of art, fun and friends.

“It was very exciting to know that a pretty expensive trip was going to cost us nothing thanks to Celebrate My Drive,” senior Nicole Petersen said.

First stop, the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, a museum housing collections of ceramics

and pottery, of architecture and clothing and furniture and art from China, Africa, Japan, Europe, the Americas, the Middle East.

“The best part was seeing how far art has come,” senior Brielle Hogue said. “The art institute had historical art as well as modern art. Overall, it was an amazing experience.”

Students explored contempo-rary art forms at the Walker Art Center and had a moment of re-prieve in the Sculpture Garden, home of the renowned sculpture Spoonbridge and Cherry.

Senior Shawna Coyle admires a sculpture at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. About 40 people visited the Institute of Arts, the Walker Art Center and the Sculpture Garden. The day ended with a reprieve at the Mall of America.

Photo by Jacob Boomsma

Photo courtesy of Jo Murren

SADD members have two tables on prom night empasizing dangers of impaired driving. The members hoped the tables would remind students not to drink and drive on prom night.

SADD promotes empty table

“I was able to see a lot of artists that I’ve only dreamed of seeing before,” Petersen said. “It was really cool to see contemporary art too. I learned that there are truly no limits to what is considered art.”

For senior Jessica Higgins, the Walker Art Center changed her thinking of how art can be perceived, urging her to go beyond the bounds of traditional art and think “outside the circle.”

“I liked to see the variety of all the different pieces,” junior Emily Reif said. She liked being able to see all of the details of art work up close and in real life.

At the Art Club meeting following the trip, members presented and spoke about their favorite pieces they saw during the trip.

“I hope they (the students) found something that inspired them,” Nelson said. “I hope they found something that chal-lenged their idea of what art is and what art can be.”

the tables could have reminded someone to stay safe.”

The tables stated facts such as 66 South Dakota teens have been killed in alcohol-related vehicle crashes and 887 have been injured.

SADD students, Carroll Institute and the SD Office of Highway Safety sponsored the empty table project.

Brandon Valley Echo Friday, April 24, 2015

Classique Magnifique exciting, well prepared

What did you think about the Wisdom Retreat?

Echo editors encourage readers to submit letters to the editor, which must be signed. They may be rejected or edited for grammar, condensation, good taste and/or libel. They should be addressed to the Echo editors or dropped off in the publications room, 120.

‘Grease’Mock crash Prom food

The Echo is published monthly by the publications students of the Brandon Valley High School, 301 S. Splitrock, Brandon, S.D. 57005. Telephone number is 582-3211. It is a state and national award-winning publication affiliated with the South Dakota High School Press Association and the National Scholastic Press Association. News Editor..........................................................................Umaima KochVoices Editor ......................................................................... Macy MurrenA&E Editor ...............................................................................Becca GothSports Editors ..........................................Dylan Bludorn and Haley HoekeUpdate Editor .................................................................... Eli SuchowackyPhoto Editor........................................................................Jacob BoomsmaAd Manager ..............................................................................Becca GothCirculation Manager............................................................Kristen PaulsenStaff Writers........................................Samantha Peterson, Amy Vardsveen, Shelby Simpson.Adviser ........................................................................Debra RothenbergerBrandon Valley Echo is a public forum. The editorial content of the Echo expresses the views of the newspaper and not necessarily of the administration, faculty or school board of the Brandon Valley School District. Bylined editorial content is the writer’s opinion and not necessarily of the staff, adviser or school administration. Signed letters to the editor are encouraged, but they may be rejected or edited for grammar, condensation, good taste and/or libel.

Lunch menu needs more vegetarian entree options

Thumbs up to all the work put into the SADD mock crash.

Unfortunately, the weather did not cooperate for the mock crash video to occur. The SADD

members planned to recreate a video of a crash shown to students last Thursday.

Thumbs up to the theater department for its performance

of the musical Grease. The performance of Grease was the first musical ever performed by only high school students

and all four shows sold out.

Thumbs up to instructor Naome Poppe’s advanced foods class

for providing the food for prom. Some of the foods they made mini cheesecakes, mini cupcakes, caramels,

cannoli bites, appetizers, various dips, cheese crisp, Parmesan wonton crackers and pita bread.

“It was a very good day to learn more about people we didn’t know very well.”

-SeniorDenton Bose

“It gave me an insight on what others are going through.”

-SeniorSydney Blair

“It was a good way to start the goodbye process.”

-SeniorDrew Reinschmidt

“It was a lot of fun and we all got closer.”

-SeniorRobert Berndt

“It was an eye-opening experience to see what others are going through.”

-SeniorReid Grode

“I think seniors should experience more things like that.”

-SeniorSarah McKellar

Prom was exciting and well prepared.Classique Magnifique was the prom theme, along with

the colors black, gold and cream. The prom committee included juniors Tiati Thelen,

Alli Holm, Jessa Ziegeldorf, Kayla Tibke, Elizabeth Schumacher, Emma Roach, Lauren Nustad, Makayla Peterson, Madison Mogck and Adriana Pardee.

Prom, held at the El Riad Shrine Mosque for many years, was decorated making it look incredible by having chairs, tables, a dance floor, decorations, photo booths, a DJ. This took many weeks of planning for a theme and to know what kind of desserts everyone was going to want.

Instructor Naome Poppe’s advanced foods class spent weeks of looking at what kinds of desserts they were going to make. It ranged from cheesecakes to mini cannoli bites. They started making the food on Tuesday and the last day was Friday.

Instructor Carolyn Ebright, the prom committee adviser, had the first meeting in January. She and the juniors came up with the idea and voted on it. They wanted to feel like they were a part of the Great Gatsby.

The parents put on a pancake feed, which they had never done before. It was at the Brandon Fire Station right after the dance ended, which was at midnight, and it ran until 1:30 a.m. It was a great opportunity for the juniors and seniors to eat together and save money.

By Jacob BoomsmaPhoto Editor

With a growing number of students considering or actively practicing vegetarianism, the lunch departments of the high school and middle school need to consider assimilating more meat-free entrees into the menus of the schools.

The high school cooks do a good job of providing a wide variety of entrees for students, but almost all of these are inconsistent with the diets of vegetarian students. Nutrition director Gay Anderson said that while the district is not required to provide non-meat options, the kitchen staff have made an effort to usually have one available.

Cheese pizza is commonly served as a vegetarian alternative to the other entrees, but is not often switched out with other options. Throughout the year I have gone many weeks eating the same cheese pizza every day. Lunch becomes monotonous and boring.

On occasion, other meatless entrees such as Italian dunkers are served, but these days are spread apart. It is also not uncommon to have days where vegetarian entrees are not even present. Whether the cooks simply run out or they did not make cheese pizza that day, vegetarian students must salvage a lunch out of the salad bar, which usually features fruits and vegetables low in calories and

protein, or from the “extra” items which can individually cost almost as much as a meal themselves and are often unhealthy.

Trying to find enough to eat on these days is not a pleasant experience because it makes us feel neglected and ignored, especially those who legitimately cannot eat meat due to medical reasons.

Anderson said although the cooks are aware of vegetarian students, they have not heard enough feedback from them in the past to pursue this issue further. She encourages students to visit or email her at Gay.Anderson@k12.sd.us if they have cost-effective ideas for a wider variety of vegetarian lunch options.

Brandon Valley High School Friday, April 24, 2015

(605) 331-6600 || usiouxfalls.edu

Friday, April 24

Schedule your personal visit at usiouxfalls.edu/admissions.

UPCOMING CAMPUS PREVIEW DAY

99%of graduates report that USF helped them achieve theircareer goals.

@AugustanaSD

Congratulations to members of the Augustana Class of 2019!

Thank you for choosing to Go Viking!Still undecided about your future plans?

Apply today at augie.edu/apply.

Make plans to visit Augustana this summer! augie.edu/visit

2014-15 Lynxonian yearbooks

must be paid for by next Thursday, April 30, in

order to have one’s name stamped on the cover.

Go to BVHS homepage and scroll

down to the jostensyearbooks.com

icon and pay directly.

No extra books will be ordered for fall purchase.

‘Grease’ ends in success

Photos by Samantha Peterson

Danny (senior Chandler McGrath) and Sandy (junior Jessica Sadler) (above) lean in for a kiss before the finale of the show. Rizzo (senior Summer Rogers) (top right) mocks Sandy while singing the song “Look at Me, I’m Sandra Dee.” Pink Ladies and a Burger Palace boy (bottom right) enjoy a good time at the park with their friends.

‘Wild’ inspires,touches readers

By Becca GothA&E Editor

Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed proves to be an inspiring and touching autobiography.

Strayed wrote Wild as a memoir of her self-seeking journey to overcome her grief of the loss of her mother and her marriage.

Strayed’s mother developed cancer during the last few months before her college graduation. She passed shortly after the cancer was found and this sent Strayed’s

life spiraling downward. She developed addictions to heroin and promiscuity, dropping out of college and then divorcing her husband.

The writing techniques Strayed uses move the reader nearly to tears. She opens up her deepest thoughts and her secrets to the reader and it creates a sort of reader-writer relationship.

Strayed compares the loss of her mother to the loss of herself. In order to find herself again, she sets out on a 2,650-mile journey

hiking up the West Coast. Strayed, a complete hiking

novice, encounters multiple roadblocks during her hike. She runs out of food and water, loses her boots and encounters bears and rattlesnakes more often than not.

Through her journey, she lets go of the anger she has towards her mother for dying, the grudge she has towards her sister and brother for deserting her and their mother during her death, and the resentment for her husband she held because of his

relentless efforts to heal her. She also recovers from her various addictions and finds herself again.

The autobiography deserves a five-star rating for its inspiring and moving words.

Strayed and her memoir encourage readers to let go of anger and addictions and to live with excitement of the future instead of regret for the past. She also lends credit to the good that a thoughtful walk in the woods can do for a person’s psyche.

By Umaima KochNews Editor

April 12, the final performance of Grease, proved to be an emotional afternoon for many cast and crew members.

“Grease was a fantastic last show,” senior student director Marina Gillespie said. “Overall, it was just incredibly fun—the songs, the tech work, all of it! And getting to work with my peers that are so talented and have such a huge turnout from the community made it all the more special.”

The show sold out before its opening night performance.

“I think that the best part was to see the look on the cast’s faces at the end of the first performance with the public,” director Kevin Brick said. “Everybody’s standing and it’s—it’s amazing. I’m just thrilled that it was as big a success as it was.”

For many, it was the ultimate performance. The production consisted of 31 seniors, all of whom were recognized that Sunday afternoon for their time, work and effort in the show.

“You have to say goodbye, you have to let them go,” Brick said, “and let the younger kids come in and fill their shoes.”

Brick describes the loss of seniors as an occupational hazard.

This year, it was obvious with the tech crew, having lost several good senior technicians.

Next year’s musical will be Brick’s second favorite: The Music Man.

“It’s probably one of the most

significant American musicals ever written,” he said, “and it’s an absolute joy to be involved with, and I want our kids to be able to have that kind of an experience with this piece.”

Brandon Valley Echo Friday, April 24, 2015

‘ I was proud of the girls. They continued to battle through the entire round and did not quit.

–Head coach Todd Geerdes

’

Presler to retire from coaching

Photo by Macy Murren

Head Coach Kraig Presler, along with assistant coach Derek Outland and manager Maggie McGee, watch senior Wyatt Winter in his finals match at the State A Wrestling Tournament at the Denny Sanford Premier Center. Presler is retiring from coaching wrestling.

Photo by Sam Peterson

Junior Jamie Johnson tees off against Brookings and Yankton. She finished the 18-hole course with a score of 113.

Girls golfers to play Mitchell

Track teams compete in Pierre

By Dylan BludornSports Editor

After over 40 years of being involved in the sport of wrestling, head coach Kraig Presler will step down as coach for the 2016 season to spend time with his four children.

“Probably the biggest reason why I’m retiring is it really eats at me when I miss my own children’s activities,” Presler said. “ I got to go to just two of my daughter Sarah’s basketball games this year, also I’m thinking my son Adam will make the team at Concordia College next year and it would be awful hard for me to not be at his events.”

After his wrestling career ended, he knew, with the help of his teammate and friend John Reagan that he wanted to continue his love for the sport and become a coach.

“John was probably one of the bigger reason why I wanted to go into education,” Presler said, “and I knew if I wanted to go into education, I wanted to coach.”

Before coaching at Brandon Valley, Presler was the head wrestling coach and a math professor at Augustana College.

“At the college level you work at fine-tuning techniques that have already been developed more than you do at the high school level,”

he said. “At times I think there is more joy at the high school level because you typically see improvement faster.”

Presler became the interim head coach during the 1989-

1990 season. During his time at Augustana, Presler coached four North Central Conference Championships and 24 All-Americans. He also coached one National Champion.

“In my years as a competitor and as a coach I have had the opportunity to compete against seven different Olympic athletes, and I’ve had the chance to coach against Dan Gable, who is

probably the most famous wrestler in America, and I’ve coached against Mike Denny, who has just left a great legacy,” he said.

Since becoming the head wrestling coach at Brandon Valley in 2010, he has coached two champions, both of them coming in the last two seasons. In his last season he coached the team to a ninth place finish.

“He has always been there and gave me and helped me fix the mistakes I make during matches,” senior Wyatt Winter said. “The thing I’m going to miss most is all the good stories he would tell us before we would weigh-in.”

One thing Presler looks forward to seeing every year is the new faces that enter the room on day one. He loves connecting and seeing those same kids’ improvements over the years. That along with the everyday grind is what Presler thinks he will miss most.

“I think I’m going to miss the everyday getting to know the guys, the fun things, the hard things and the different things we go through as a group,” Presler said. “I honestly don’t know how I’ll feel because it’s been over 40 years now that I’ve had a practice to go to, so it’s going to be a big change.”

By Samantha PetersonStaff Writer

Girls golfers compete at the Mitchell Invite today.

“My teammates and I have improved our putting skills,” Senior Kaila Kuehn said. “We just need to play the best we can and continue to practice our short game, chipping and putting because that is the fastest way to improve our overall scores in golf.”

The goal for the Mitchell Invite is a score of 380 or better.

“Four girls have already played on the Mitchell course,” coach Todd Geerdes said. “I think that will be an advantage over our experience this past week at Hillcrest.”

The girls played in the Yankton Invite at Hillcrest Country Club last Friday. They placed 10th out of 14 teams.

“I was proud of the girls,” Geerdes said. “They continued to battle through the entire round and didn’t quit.”

Kuehn shot a 97; junior Jamie Johnson, 113; junior Lauren Blue, 123; freshman Liz Duncan, 98; freshman Hannah Deville, 107 and freshman Ashlea Wolfe, 135.

“Hillcrest Country Club is a very challenging course,” Geerdes said. “I think the length of the course, the roughs and the number of trees and hazards were a little intimidating to our girls.”

The girls need to continue to work on their short game play and to improve on course management, Geerdes said.

By Haley HoekeSports Editor

Girls and boys track teams compete today at 1 p.m. in Pierre at the Pierre Legion Relays.

“This is going to be a great meet,” senior Sammie Peterson said. “We have a strong team, and I believe we will finish with high points. We have to work hard together, and just achieve the goals we have set.”

The girls and boys teams headed

to Yankton to compete against Yankton, Sioux Falls O’Gorman, Washington and Sioux City Heelans Tuesday.

Eighth grader Krista Bickley placed first in the 100-meter dash; sophomore Anna Boomsma, third; junior Tanya Tingle, fourth; and junior Cortney Bickley, fifth.

Krista Bickley also placed first in the 200-meter dash with a time of 25.50 seconds.

Eighth grader Ashley Wells

placed first in the 400-meter dash with a time of 1:04.30.

Sophomore Haylee Waterfall placed first in the 800-meter run with sophomore Sarah Presler following right behind to place second.

Freshman Courtney Klatt placed first in the 1600-meter run with eighth grader Lauren Wells placing second.

Boomsma placed fourth in the 100-meter hurdles, and junior

Becca Koehn came in fifth. Junior Arika Jacobson placed

second in the 300-meter hurdles.The girls placed first in the

pole vault, high jump, 4x400-meter relays and the 4x100-meter relays.

Senior Mitchell Selken placed first in the 800-meter run with Jacob Hegland coming in third and Jakob Hanna in fourth.

Senior Cody Dutson placed fourth in the 1600-meter run with

a time of 5:01.80.The boys placed third in the

4x100 meter relays, second in the 4x200 meter relays and third in the 4x400 meter relays.

Junior Cole Christensen placed first in pole vault with a height of 13 feet.

Last Tuesday, the track teams ran at the home meet. It was the teams’ first outdoor meet of the season in South Dakota.

Brandon Valley Echo Friday, April 24, 2015

Photo by Kristen Paulsen

Junior Sydnie Buchheim hits the ball. The girls won 10-7 in the first game against Watertown and 10-5 in the second game.

Photo by Haley Hoeke

Junior Ethan Horner pitches for the baseball team against the O’Gorman Knights. The boys lost 6-3 in the home non-conference game, going into extra innings.

Boys tennis team to play Luverne

Softball plays ESD in Yankton

Baseball to face Sioux Falls O’Gorman today

Photo by Macy Murren

Sophomore Mason Blue eyes the tennis ball to return it to his Vermillion Tanager opponent. Blue won the match 2-1. The boys will compete against Luverne Monday.

By Jacob BoomsmaPhoto Editor

Boys tennis players will play against Luverne Monday.

“I feel that the season is going well and the process of developing a strong team is coming together,” senior Bill Trevillyan said. “Our team is one of the loudest and most together teams in the state. We are highly supportive of each other and cheer each other one.”

The boys lost to Washington Monday, 9-0.

“An area our whole team has been improving on is our ability to finish,” Trevillyan said.

Roughly halfway through

their season, the boys have won matches against Brookings, 8-1; Aberdeen Roncalli, 6-1; and the Vermillion Tanagers, 9-0.

“We would like to place in the top two at ESD and the top 10 at state,” Trevillyan said. “But the main goal is to have fun.”

Last Friday, Trevillyan and junior Joel Kocer scored wins against Rapid City Stevens in singles. Kocer, freshman Nathan Mutschleknaus, sophomore Jack Talcott and sophomore Braden Roegiers won in doubles.

Against Watertown on the same day, Trevillyan won in singles, and Mutschelknaus and Talcott, in doubles.

By Kristen PaulsenCirculation Manager

Lady Lynx softball team plays at the Eastern South Dakota League in Yankton Saturday.

“I think we can win our game in Yankton on Saturday with ease.” senior Katie Erickson said. “If we come out ready to play and score right away.”

Monday the girls played against the SD Flash.

“If we do make an error, our teammates are there to pick us up and move on instead of dwelling on an error,” coach Suzanne Carroll said.

Carroll is impressed with sophomore Kaylee Mork so far.

“She has been our starting center fielder who covers a lot of ground and goes all out to prevent the other team from advancing on the bases,” Carroll

said. In the game against the Brookings

Outlaws, Mork went 4-4 at bat and hit a home run.

“Kayla Tibke and Emily Harris have been doing a great job placing the ball. Both girls are lefty hitters and short game player.” Carroll said. “We usually use them to advance runners, but they have done a tremendous job getting themselves a base hit.”

“We are having a good season so far. We have had five home runs,” Wethor said, “and we have beaten a team that has won 20 consecutive state titles.”

This year has been a building year since the team lost so many seniors from last year, senior Emily Harris said.

By Haley HoekeSports Editor

Baseball team will face Sioux Falls O’Gorman for the second time this season today with a double-header.

Earlier this month the Lynx lost to the Knights 6-3 in the home non-conference game going into extra innings.

“On offense, we need to be able to put the ball in play in clutch situations,” senior Austin Trevino said. “We left a lot of guys on base and we couldn’t capitalize.”

The 5-6 Lynx faced Harrisburg Tuesday with a loss of 6-3 in eight innings.

“On defense, we need to be better mentally and make the

routine plays,” Trevino said. “We had some lapses on defense, and it cost us in the end.”

The Lynx took advantage of Sioux Falls Roosevelt’s struggles

on the mound March 31, which helped the Lynx win 7-1 at Legion Park in Valley Springs. Sophomore Mitchell Hoover started for the Lynx pitching, while, Senior Levi McKercher closed for the team.

In Hoover’s five innings of pitching, he gave up a single hit, allowed no earned runs, walked one of Roosevelt’s players and struck out three.

Making their annual trip to Rapid City, the Lynx played four games and won two.

Playing Rapid City Stevens March 27, the Lynx won 7-5 and lost the second game 4-14.

The next day the Lynx played Rapid City Central. They won 5-1 and lost the second game 0-2.

‘On offense, we need to be able to put the ball in play in clutch situations.

–Senior Austin Trevino’

Brandon Valley Echo Friday, April 24, 2015

Publications receive superior awards

Did you know...?

Bands earn superiors

n Senior Athletic Banquet is Monday at 6:30 p.m.n Board of Education meeting is Monday at 6:30 p.m.n Senior Meghan Beldin and senior Jake Garner are April’s CTE Academy spotlights.n April/May students of the month are freshmen Grace Malsam, Kyle Heidbrink; sophomores Matt Eigenberg, Sydney Trout; juniors Kaily Davis, Jaidon Birath; seniors Riley Bennett, Kevin Huizenga and Alli Fatone. n Senior Mollie Drexler received third and fifth place at the Health Occupations Students of America competition.n District teacher recognition/retirement dinner is May 5 at 6 p.m.n Orchestra Concert is May 7 at 6:30 p.m.

By Macy MurrenVoices Editor

National Honor Society inducted 43 new members Monday.

“I think National Honor Society is a cool and fun way to be recognized for being a leader in our society,” junior Grace Bender said.

The senior inductees were Makenzie Marso and Jacob Boomsma.

Junior inductees were Bender, Kelsey Koupal, Allison Poncelet, Dawson Kremlacek, Carley Poppenga, Cortney Bickley, Emily Larson, Dana Schroeder, Jaidon Birath, Noah Laycock, Elizabeth Schumacher, Elizabeth Schroeder, Emma

Bose, Samuel Mathis, Mikael Smith, Ethan Brown, Jacob Meyer, Mitchell Spainhower, Laycee Cain, Andrea Mikkelsen, Tiati Thelen, Alana Callahan, Madison Mogck, Nicole Thomes, Tyler Gries, Logan Mullet, Taylor Thorson, Jacob Hegland, Hanna Mutschelknaus, Rachel Waldner, Allison Holm, Kaitlyn Nelson, Ginger Wardlow, Andrew Homes, Elise Oren, Sommer West, Kirsten Knutson, Hannah Paauw, Katie Wright, Joel Kocer, Kasara Pollema and Jessa Ziegeldorf.

“National Honor Society is a national organization which recognizes outstanding character, scholarship, leadership and volunteerism,” adviser Lisa Fuccello said.

Candlelighters were seniors Kaity Dybdahl, Katie Erickson, Bethany Headrick and Greg Lundberg.

The advisers are instructors Kent Anderson, Allen Hogie and Fuccello.

The inductees applied for the NHS membership by filling out an application. The applications were scored based on the applicant’s leadership, service, honors/awards and school/community activities. Students needed a 3.4 GPA to be eligible.

“I think one must work hard inside and outside of school to be inducted into NHS,” Bender said. “I think all the work done we put into being inducted is really rewarding.”

NHS inducts 43 new members

Christensen raises money for food pantry

Senior Clayton Ebright plays Super Mario Bros during the Food Bank Game Tank event. Participants raised $83 and donated it to the Brandon Food Pantry.

Photo by Samantha Peterson

By Samantha PetersonStaff Writer

English instructor Matthew Christensen’s Food Bank Game Tank for the Brandon Food Pantry raised $83 with eight people attending.

“The most valuable player was junior Jason Vis,” Christensen said.

Vis provided pizza, candy and soda for the gamers.

“I try to build relationships with students I normally would not meet while raising money for the Brandon Food Pantry,” Christensen said.

Both Echo and Lynxonian received a superior at the South Dakota State Press Convention, and eight journalists received awards.

Seniors Eli Suchowacky received an excellent in photography; Haley Hoeke, superior in photography; Umaima Koch, superior in sports photography, excellent in photography, superior in sports writing, excellent in editorial; Macy Murren, excellent in photography; Dylan Bludorn, excellent in sports writing; Becca Goth, superior in photography and writing; Jacob Boomsma, superior in photography; and Kristen Paulsen, superior in general newswriting.

“I’m really glad I got a superior for my football photography,” Koch said. “My photography has improved this year and I put a lot of time and effort into it.”

Adviser Deb Rothenberger received an outstanding service award for her 36 years of advising publications.

Boomsma said Rothenberger is very deserving of the many awards she has received because she puts so much time and effort into her journalism students.

Two choirs receive superiors

Photo by Becca Goth

At prom are juniors Kirstyn Polasky, Kaeli Anderson, seniors Tony Meyerink, Matt Jensen and junior Kirsten Knutson.

By Eli SuchowackyUpdate Editor

Chamber Choir and Concert Choir received superior ratings and Lynx Choir received an excellent rating at the Region 2 Large Group Contest last Wednesday.

On a scale of 105 points in which 93 points were needed for a superior rating, Chamber Choir earned 96 points; Concert Choir, 94; and Lynx Choir, 88.

Junior Isaiah Dietz, a first-year member of Chamber Choir and Concert Choir, was happy with their performances.

“It was a good first experience for me,” he said. “I think we did really well and I’m excited for the spring concert.”

Choirs will perform next in concert May 4 at 7:30 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center. Music will include the songs sung at the contest as well as other songs the choirs plan to perform on their trip to Florida June 2-8.

Every three years, the choirs take a summer trip to perform in other parts of

the country. This year’s trip takes them to central Florida where they will perform at Ron Jon Surf Shop in Cocoa Beach, the Downtown Disney area of Walt Disney World near Orlando and a Sunday morning church service in Cocoa Beach.

Normally, choir director Terry Gullickson alternates trip destinations between Florida and Washington, D.C. However, the choirs will return to Florida this year despite that being the destination of their trip in 2012.

Gullickson noted a variety of factors that caused him to change his mind.

“There was a groundswell of support from seniors who wanted to go back to Florida,” he said, “and from some sophomores who had been to D.C. on an eighth grade trip and wanted to go somewhere else.”

Gullickson notes some roadblocks that could prevent these trips from happening in the future.

“More and more with student trips, it’s either really tough for some parents to come up with the money or some students

travel a lot already so the idea of the trip doesn’t sound exciting to them,” he said. “And students are busier year round these days, so sacrificing six days of their summer vacation on a school trip is hard to do for some of them.”

However, no matter the destination, Gullickson sees valuable life experience in these trips.

“For most of the trips I take, the students are on their own for most of the day as soon as we get off the bus,” he said. “So to be in an unfamiliar location without their parents and to have to find their way around by asking questions, that’s something a lot of these kids might be doing for the first time.”

He also said trips provide educational value.

“There are two things a person can do with their money that you really can’t put in your hands but are very valuable,” he said. “One of those is education and the other is travel; sometimes they’re tied together.”

About 350 attend prom

Symphonic Band, Black Band and Red Band all earned superior ratings at the Region 2 Large Group Contest last Wednesday.

“The students did a really good job,” band director Jesse Miller said. “They performed at a high level at the contest.”

Bands will next perform at the 51st Annual Turkey Supper Saturday at 4:30 p.m. in the high school commons.

Marching bands from both the high school and the middle school will perform at the Loyalty Day Parade May 3 at 2 p.m.

All-State Jazz Band Concert will be May 9 in Rapid City. Members include seniors Chelsey Schmeling and Greg Lundberg, who both earned lead player positions.

Bands will perform their last concert May 14 at 7:30 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center.

By Shelby SimpsonStaff Writer

About 350 students attended prom at the El Riad Shrine Mosque last Saturday.

“I thought prom was a really fun experience,” junior Natalie Osheim said. “It was fun to dress up and spend quality time with my senior friends.”

Instructor Naomi Poppe’s advanced food students made sweet and savory hors d’oeuvres.

The committee consisting of junior girls incorporated the Great Gatsby theme. They loved the idea of having the masquerade

masks and it was a must to have the photo booths with props.

“We loved how the students enjoyed

the evening with fun dancing, great food and all around a good time,” prom adviser Carolyn Ebright said.