SMCHS Students, Staff Recognized at Year-End Leadership Awards Ceremony
St. Mary Catholic High School (SMCHS) recognized the accomplishments, achievements and contributions of a myriad of SMCHS students and staff during the annual leadership day awards ceremony in mid-May. Academic, athletics, service, fine arts, leadership, and other categories were highlighted at the event.
Class of 2021
Senior Leadership Award – Ava Staehler
Senior Strive Award – Lauren Meyer
Community Blood Center Gallon Grad Designation
Gavin Bergstrom, Alessandra Betchner, Kaela Groppel, Lauren Meyer, Fatima Muniz, Maria Schultz, Ava Staehler, Pierce Steffen, Maisie Teska
Key Club Service Award
Kara Allen, Olivia Bahn, Natalie Chakar, Kaela Groppel, Emma Jares, Drew Korth, Lauren Meyer, Fatima Muniz, Grace Pirillo, Brianna Schultz, Ava Staehler, Elise Wierzbicki
Principal’s Award
Grace Pirillo
Zach Leonardi
Exemplary Zephyrs Designation
Kara Allen, Olivia Bahn, Alessandra Betchner, Richard Blaney, Kylie Corbett, Quincy Fields, Kelsi Gennrich, Kaela Groppel, Elizabeth Holschuh, Emma Jares, Haley Jensen, Kaley Keddell, Drew Korth, Serena Kroon, Lauren Meyer, Fatima Muniz, Samuel Pingel, Daphne Piotrowski, Grace Pirillo, Connor Powers, Laura Seidl, Hannah Sherwood, Miriam Shofner, Ava Staehler, John Staner, Sophie Taubel, Maisie Teska, Keagan Weis, Elise Wierzbicki
Volunteer Service Award
Olivia Bahn, Natalie Chakar, Kaela Groppel, Emma Jares, Haley Jensen, Drew Korth, Henry Ladish, Lauren Meyer, Fatima Muniz, Julia Nackers, Olivia Pable, Daphne Piotrowski, Hannah Sherwood, Ava Staehler, Sophie Taubel, Maisie Teska, Keagan Weis, Elise Wierzbicki
Christian Living Award – Samuel Pingel
National Honor Society – New Inductees
Thomas Hogerty, Willem Snyder, Maisie Teska
National Honor Society – Members
Kara Allen, Olivia Bahn, Alessandra Betchner, Natalie Chakar, Kylie Corbett, Kelsi Gennrich, Kaela Groppel, Thomas Hogerty, Emma Jares, Haley Jensen, Drew Korth, Henry Ladish, Lauren Meyer, Fatima Muniz, Julia Nackers, Samuel Pingel, Daphne Piotrowski, Grace Pirillo, Connor Powers, Maria Schultz, Laura Seidl, Willem Snyder, Ava Staehler, John Staner, Maisie Teska, Elise Wierzbicki, Cole Young
Academic Letter Awards
Aidan Anderson, Gavin Bergstrom, Wyatt Bittner, Quincy Fields, Kaley Keddell, Serena Kroon, Zachary Leonardi, Tessa Long, Olivia Pable, Luke Peters, Michael Reimer, Pierce Steffen, Sophie Taubel, Michael Weninger
Academic Medal Awards
Joseph Hopwood, Kaley Keddell, Miriam Shofner, Maisie Teska
Academic Plaque Recipients
Kara Allen, Olivia Bahn, Alessandra Betchner, Natalie Chakar, Kylie Corbett, Kelsi Gennrich, Kaela Groppel, Elizabeth Holschuh, Emma Jares, Drew Korth, Henry Ladish, Lauren Meyer, Fatima Muniz, Julia Nackers, Samuel Pingel, Maria Schultz, Laura Seidl, Ava Staehler, John Staner, Keagan Weis, Elise Wierzbicki, Cole Young
Drama Leadership Award
Lauren Meyer
Keagan Weis
Drama Growth Award
Kelsi Gennrich
Charlie Staner
Drama Director’s Award
Alessandra Betchner
Samuel Pingel
Meier Emerging Artist Award – Kaela Groppel
Outstanding Artist Award
Drew Korth
Connor Powers
Dedicated Artist Award
Kylie Corbett
Elizabeth Holschuh
Band Award – John Philip Sousa Award – Olivia Bahn
Band Award – Louis Armstrong Award – Maisie Teska
Band Director’s Award – Samuel Pingel
Choir Award – St. Mary Singers Award – Kelsi Gennrich
National Choral Award – Alessandra Betchner
Forensic Awards
Speaker of the Year, Degree of Distinction, Year Bar, Tassel at Graduation, Gold at State – Lauren Meyer
German Award – Congress Bundestag Youth Exchange Scholarship – Maisie Teska
Athletics Award – Most Improved Award
Trace Lein, Luke Peters, Ava Staehler, Michael Weninger
Athletics Award – Impact Award
Qunicy Fields
Ava Staehler
Athletics Award – Athletic Integrity Award
Kaela Groppel
Luke Peters
Athletics Award – Zephyrs Competitor Award
Thomas Hogerty
Ava Staehler
Athletics Award – Zephyrs Competitor Award
Ethan Collins
Ava Staehler
Athletics Award – Zephyrs Strength and Conditioning Award
Connor Powers
Sophie Taubel
Athletics Award – Team Strength and Conditioning Award
Football Team
Girls Soccer Team
Big East Scholar Athletes
Olivia Bahn, Natalie Chakar, Kaela Groppel Thomas Hogerty, Emma Jares, Haley Jensen, Drew Korth, Henry Ladish, Lauren Meyer, Fatima Muniz, Julia Nackers, Samuel Pingel, Daphne Piotrowski, Grace Pirillo, Connor Powers, Maria Schultz, Willem Snyder, Ava Staehler, John Staner, Michael Weninger, Elise Wierzbicki, Cole Young
WIAA Scholar Athlete Nomniees
Thomas Hogerty
Ava Staehler
Athletic Director’s Award – Males
Ethan Collins, Luke Peters, Pierce Steffen
Athletic Director’s Award – Females
Kaela Groppel, Maria Schultz, Ava Staehler
Dibelius/Johnson Outstanding Male Athlete of the Year – Thomas Hogerty
Zelinski/Friedrichs Outstanding Female Athlete of the Year – Ava Staehler
Scholarships
Olivia Bahn | Lawrence University Lawrentian Award |
Olivia Bahn | Lawrence University Light, More Light Scholarship |
Olivia Bahn | Lawrence University Main Hall Green Award |
Olivia Bahn | Leonard P. Marie F. Kellett Zephyrs Scholarship |
Alessandra Betchner | David Hussey Memorial Zephyrs Scholarship |
Alessandra Betchner | Greenville Lioness Scholarship |
Alessandra Betchner | J Russell & Margaret Ward Zephyrs Scholarship |
Alessandra Betchner | Viterbo University Presidential Scholarship |
Alessandra Betchner | Viterbo Community Fellows Scholarship |
Kylie Corbett | St. Mary Catholic High School Valedictorian |
Edith Dominowski | Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development Youth Apprentice Certification |
Kelsi Gennrich | Carthage Theatre Scholar |
Kelsi Gennrich | Kimberly-Clark Bright Futures Scholarship |
Kelsi Gennrich | Kramaczyk-Hephner-Leherer Zephyrs Scholarship |
Kaela Groppel | Bachman Memorial Zephyrs Scholarship |
Kaela Groppel | C. Paul Evans PLCA Scholarship |
Kaela Groppel | Hartl STEM Scholarship |
Kaela Groppel | Kohl Student Excellence Scholarship |
Kaela Groppel | St. Mary Catholic High School Valedictorian |
Kaela Groppel | ThedaCare Regional Medical Center – Neenah Volunteer Auxiliary Scholarship |
Thomas Hogerty | Children’s Cancer Family Foundation Big Heart Award |
Thomas Hogerty | Leukemia Lymphoma Society Student of the Year Scholarship |
Elizabeth Holschuh | St. Mary Catholic High School Salutatorian |
Emma Jares | Francis Sawyer Hefti Scholarship |
Emma Jares | Oshkosh Area Community Foundation GAMS Endowment Scholarship |
Emma Jares | Sagar.V. Krupa & Nancy Wickeham Krupa Science & Education Zephyrs Scholarship |
Haley Jensen | Brandon Willems Memorial Scholarship |
Haley Jensen | WI Technical Excellence Scholarship |
Drew Korth | Menasha Rotary Club Service Above Self Scholarship |
Serena Kroon | Baker College of Muskegon Dean’s Scholarship |
Henry Ladish | J Russell & Margaret Ward Zephyrs Scholarship |
Zachary Leonardi | Western Michigan University Bronco Recognition Scholarship |
Mitchell Lukasik | Ripon College Endowed Scholarship |
Mitchell Lukasik | Ripon College Local Commitment Award |
Lauren Meyer | Brandon Willems Memorial Scholarship |
Lauren Meyer | Neenah Rotary Foundation Dan Johnson Zephyrs Scholarship |
Lauren Meyer | Francis Sawyer Hefti Scholarship |
Lauren Meyer | Neenah-Menasha Kiwanis Club Scholarship |
Lauren Meyer | St. Mary Catholic High School Valedictorian |
Lauren Meyer | Winnebago County Board Scholarship |
Fatima Muniz | Casa Hispana Scholarship |
Fatima Muniz | Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizen Award |
Fatima Muniz | St. Mary Catholic High School Valedictorian |
Fatima Muniz | University of Wisconsin Oshkosh CAPP Honors College Scholarship |
Julia Nackers | Canyon Christian Schools Consortium Scholarship |
Julia Nackers | Capital Credit Union Scholarship |
Julia Nackers | J Russell & Margaret Ward Zephyrs Scholarship |
Julia Nackers | Grand Canyon University Priority Registration Reward Scholarship |
Julia Nackers | Grand Canyon University Provost Scholarship |
Olivia Pable | Brandon Willems Memorial Scholarship |
Olivia Pable | J Russell & Margaret Ward Zephyrs Scholarship |
Luke Peters | University of Wisconsin Oshkosh CAPP Scholarship |
Samuel Pingel | J Russell & Margaret Ward Zephyrs Scholarship |
Samuel Pingel | University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point Presidential Gold Scholarship |
Grace Pirillo | Francis Brehm Memorial Zephyrs Scholarship |
Grace Pirillo | Menasha Athletic Association (MAC) Scholarship |
Grace Pirillo | University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Pagelow Family Scholarship |
Connor Powers | Concordia University Nebraska Dean’s Scholarship |
Connor Powers | Concordia University Nebraska Soccer Scholarship |
Maria Schultz | Hartl Family Foundation Scholarship |
Maria Schultz | United States Army ROTC Scholarship |
Miriam Shofner | University of Wisconsin Oshkosh CAPP Scholarship |
Ava Staehler | Brandon Willems Memorial Scholarship |
Ava Staehler | Community Blood Center Scholarship |
Ava Staehler | J Russell & Margaret Ward Zephyrs Scholarship |
Ava Staehler | Maureen McAvoy Memorial Zephyrs Scholarship |
Ava Staehler | Neenah Rotary Foundation Scholarship |
Ava Staehler | Oshkosh Area Community Foundation Ellen Duex Memorial Scholarship |
Ava Staehler | St. Mary Catholic High School Valedictorian |
Ava Staehler | Wisconsin Academic Excellence Scholarship |
John Staner | Iowa State University Adventure Scholarship |
John Staner | Iowa State University Legacy Scholarship |
John Staner | J Russell & Margaret Ward Zephyrs Scholarship |
Sophie Taubel | University of Wisconsin Oshkosh CAPP Excellence Award |
Sophie Taubel | University of Wisconsin Oshkosh CAPP NEWSPA Scholarship |
Sophie Taubel | University of Wisconsin Oshkosh CAPP Scholarship |
Sophie Taubel | J Russell & Margaret Ward Zephyrs Scholarship |
Sophie Taubel | Neenah Rotary Foundation Jack C. Casper “Service Above Self” Scholarship |
Maisie Teska | Clarence & Elnor Loehning Zephyrs Scholarship |
Maisie Teska | J Russell & Margaret Ward Zephyrs Scholarship |
Maisie Teska | Oneida Higher Education Scholarship |
Maisie Teska | St. Norbert College Scholarship |
Maisie Teska | St. Norbert College Music Scholarship |
Keagan Weis | University of Wisconsin-River Falls Falcons Fly Higher Scholarship Award |
Keagan Weis | University of Wisconsin-River Falls Falcons Soar Award |
Keagan Weis | Francis Brehm Memorial Zephyrs Scholarship |
Keagan Weis | SECURA All-College Scholarship |
Keagan Weis | University of Wisconsin-River Falls Theatre Arts New Student Scholarship |
Cole Young | Iowa State University Journey Award |
Read more about the Class of 2021, their May 26th SMCHS graduation, and their immediate plans here.
Class of 2022
Junior Leadership Award – Billy Walsh
Junior Strive Award – Camille Dinka
National Honor Society – New Inductees
Taylor Foord, Lilly Griffith, Greta Norville
National Honor Society – Members
Noelle Anderson, Rose Bayer, Maria Benz, Ava Bergstrom, Noah Bublitz, Ellie DeWitt, Camille Dinka, Taylor Gustafson, Agiimaa Kerwin, Madeline London, Julia Marti, Kaden Miller, Isaac Pifer, Anna Porter, Kaitlyn Powers, Megan Roloff, Peyton Schroeder, Holly Trebatoski, Anna Vanden Acker, Sylvia Walentowski, William Walsh, Nicholas Zimmer
Academic Letter Awards
Nyla Albrecht, Taylor Foord, Lilly Griffith, Brecken Harrmann, Mackenzie Hayes, Shaela London, Ashton McGlone, Greta Norville, Paul Nutini, Jaydin Vosters
Academic Medal Awards
Noelle Anderson, Rose Bayer, Maria Benz, Ava Bergstrom, Noah Bublitz, Ellie DeWitt, Camille Dinka, Taylor Foord, Lilly Griffith, Taylor Gustafson, Agiimaa Kerwin, Shaela London, Madeline London, Julia Marti, Kaden Miller, Greta Norville, Daniel Ozark, Isaac Pifer, Anna Porter, Kaitlyn Powers, Megan Roloff, Peyton Schroeder, Holly Trebatoski, Clara Vande Hey, Anna Vanden Acker, Sylvia Walentowski, William Walsh, Nicholas Zimmer
Forensic Awards – Coaches’ Award – Sylvia Walentowski
Junior Forensic Awards
Forensic Awards – Coaches’ Award – Sylvia Walentowski
Degree of Excellence, Degree of Distinction, Year Bar, Tassel Upon Graduation, Gold at State – Noelle Anderson
Degree of Distinction, Year Bar, Tassel Upon Graduation, Gold at State – Myles VandenWyngaard
Degree of Distinction, Year Bar, Gold at State – Sylvia Walentowski
Degree of Honor, Degree of Excellence, Year Bar, Gold at State – Frank Whiting
National German Exam Results
Gold Award – Billy Walsh
Class of 2023
Sophomore Leadership Award – Julia Kubicki
Sophomore Strive Award – Maggie Krautkramer
National Honor Society – New Inductees
Lauren Altfillisch, Dane Anderson, Maria Argueta, Lainey Becker, Nicholas Berg, Olivia Bergstrom, Brianna Beyer, Shruti Chakrapani, Lauren Detterman, Sam Foord, Catherine Genke, Jason Kroll, Julia Kubicki, Mari Ladish, Grace Meyer, Teagan Miller, Sophia Moore, Janessa Puls, Vanessa Thiede, Adela Thiel, Evan Unruh, Chloe Vogel, Peyton Weis
Academic Letter Awards
Lauren Altfillisch, Dane Anderson, Maria Argueta, Lainey Becker, Nicholas Berg, Olivia Bergstrom, Brianna Beyer, Shruti Chakrapani, Lauren Detterman, Sam Foord, Catherine Genke, Laura Krausert, Margaret Krautkramer, Julia Kubicki, Mari Ladish, Sophia Lehner, Grace Meyer, Teagan Miller, Sophia Moore, Janessa Puls, Vanessa Thiede, Adela Thiel, Evan Unruh, Chloe Vogel, Catherine Zepp
Bronze Congressional Award – Shruti Chakrapani
2021 Carson Scholars Award – Shruti Chakrapani
Wisconsin Leadership Seminar – Lauren Detterman
National German Exam Results
Gold Award – Maggie Krautkramer
Sophomore Forensic Awards
Degree of Honor, Degree of Excellence, Year Bar, Silver at State – Lainey Becker
Degree of Honor, Year Bar, Bronze at State – Matthew Betchner
Degree of Honor, Year Bar, Silver at State – Catherine Genke
Degree of Honor, Year Bar, Silver at State – Mari Ladish
Class of 2024
Freshman Leadership Award – Ian Albino
Freshman Strive Award – Ben Schoeni
National German Exam Results
Gold Award – Daniel DuVernay
Silver Awards – Addison Dinka, Haley Gustafson, Alexander Walsh
German Award – Congress Bundestag Youth Exchange Scholarship – Addison Dinka
Forensics Awards – Most Improved – Daniel DuVernay
Faculty Awards
2021 Faculty Leadership Award – Mrs. Pamela Barnhill, Band
2020 Faculty Leadership Award* – Mrs. Ashley Korn, Physical Education
(*Given this year due to not being able to announce it at the end of the 2019-20 school year.)