Stars of Achievement
by Kelly Reisig
The Scottsbluff Public Schools District has star students, teachers and staff.
| District Recognition | School Awards | Teacher & Staff Honors |
| Student Activity Achievements | Student Academic Achievements |
DistrictRecognition
- Scottsbluff Public Schools was recognized by NASB [Nebraska Association of School Boards] as one of the top performing school districts in the All Lines Interlocal Cooperative Aggregate Pool [ALICAP] pool this year. This award is in recognition for providing a safe environment for employees and students in Scottsbluff Public Schools.
- Scottsbluff Public Schools was one of only two school districts in the state of Nebraska that has been asked to join a delegation to China. UNL chose two superintendents from the state of Nebraska to join the delegation to China. Each superintendent was then directed to choose two principals to attend as well. Those attending from the Scottsbluff School District include Superintendent Dr. Gary Reynolds, Lake Alice and Lake Minatare Principal Karen Johnson and Senior High Assistant Principal Matt Huck.
- State writing assessment results were released by the Nebraska Department of Education during a press conference in Lincoln on August 21st. The results showed an overall improvement in the Scottsbluff Public Schools District for the 2007-2008 school year. Scottsbluff students in the 4th, 8th, and 11th grades participated in the statewide writing assessments in February. Upon completion, student papers were then sent to the Omaha scoring site where educators across the state scored the papers using the Nebraska Statewide Assessment Rubric. The percentage of students proficient in writing increased from the previous year in all three grade levels. The percentages of proficiency are as follows:
|
Grade Level |
% of Proficiency 2006-2007 School Year |
% of Proficiency 2007-2008 School Year |
% of Improvement |
| 4th Grade |
83.05% |
89.23% |
6.18% |
| 8th Grade |
87.94% |
89.53% |
1.59% |
| 11th Grade |
92.47% |
96.20% |
3.73% |
- Blue Ribbon School of Excellence: U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings named 320 schools as 2008 No Child Left Behind-Blue Ribbon Schools. One of the elementary schools is Lincoln Heights Elementary. The No Child Left Behind-Blue Ribbon Schools award distinguishes and honors schools for helping students achieve at very high levels and for making significant progress in closing the achievement gap.
- Officials of National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) announced the names of approximately 16,000 Semifinalists in the 54th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. The semi-finalists were chosen from a nationwide group of 1.5 million juniors in over 21,000 high schools. Four of those semi-finalists were from Scottsbluff Public Schools: Joseph J. Kozal, Molly E. Meister, Sandra M. Shedd and Morgan D. Weitzel.
- The 19th annual Math Day was held at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The event is divided into two sections: the PROBE exams and the Team Math Bowl. Over 1,400 students from all across Nebraska participated in the event. Two students from Scottsbluff Senior High placed in the top 50. Joe Kozal was 23rd (73 points) and Sara Frederick was 30th (71 points). Frederick and Kozal completed in the 98th percentile. Sara Frederick placed 2nd in the state amongst individual female competitors on the PROBE I.
- The students of Scottsbluff Public Schools go even beyond the state level to compete and succeed. This student took top honors in a National Competition. Chelsie McKenzie of the Scottsbluff FFA Chapter was named the national winner during the National FFA Convention that was held in Indianapolis in October. Chelsie took the national level award in the category of Agricultural Services - Entrepreneurship/Placement Proficiency. The proficiency awards recognize outstanding student achievement in agribusiness gained through establishment of a new business, working for an existing company or otherwise gaining hands-on career experience.
- Roosevelt Elementary 4th and 5th graders placed second in the math trivia contest held at Monument Mall.
- The Greater Nebraska DECA Conference was held at in Scottsbluff at the Monument Mall and Midwest Theater. Over two hundred and fifty students from Scottsbluff, Hatings, NE and Casper, Gillette, and Cheyenne, WY competed. Scottsbluff DECA winners in each competition area include:
• Accounting Applications 2nd Place – Brett Klein
• Apparel & Accessories 1st Place – Sarah Peters
• Apparel & Accessories 2nd Place – Kaci Ritterbush
• Apparel & Accessories 3rd Place – Ivette Ortiz
• Automotive Services 2nd Place – Derick Vach
• Food Marketing 2nd Place – Alyssa Meier
• Marketing Management 3rd Place (Tie) – Paul Snyder & Ian Parsley
• Marketing Management 2nd Place – Dominic Escamilla
• Restaurant and Food Service Management 1st Place – EJ Bjorling
• Retail Merchandising 1st Place – Molly Meister
• Retail Merchandising 2nd Place – Dexter Ott
• Retail Merchandising 3rd Place – Amy Svitak
• Hotel and Lodging Management 2nd Place – Catelyn Cantril
• Business Services Marketing 2nd Place – Seth Wallace
• Sports and Entertainment Marketing 3rd Place – Justin Vogel
- Four students were named National Merit Finalists. Over 1.5 million students apply for the National Merit Scholarship Program. Only 1% are given the Finalist distinction. The four National Merit Finalists include: Joseph Kozal, Molly Meister, Sandra Shedd and Morgan Weitzel.
- The Bluffs Middle School
Math Counts team of Tyler Mickey, Allison Stricker, Michael Hadden,
and Brendan Swanson won the regional competition. The four
person team had a perfect score on the team round of the
competition. Math Counts is a national math competition designed to
excite and challenge middle school students.
In the individual competition, Bluffs Middle School earned 7 of the top 9 places. Tyler Mickey placed first, Allison Stricker placed second, Michael Hadden placed third, Randy Wentz placed fourth, Andrew Bartow placed sixth, Brendan Swanson placed seventh, Sam Scheer placed ninth, and Daniel Schaub placed twentieth.
In the individual head to head oral competition, Bluffs Middle School earned the top 5 places. 1st Tyler Mickey, 2nd Randy Wentz, 3rd Allison Stricker, 4th Michael Hadden, 5th Andrew Bartow. - The Scottsbluff Senior High Eviornmental Team won the Regional Envirothon and will travel to state for the next round of competition. This year’s Regional Winner was comprised of team members Creighton Booth, Nikki Derr, Hayley Clark, Leodegario Sierra and Tyler Soper. Ms. Heather Haberman, Biology and Environmental Science teacher, was their sponsoring instructor.
- The Nebraska State Bandmasters Association has selected the 2009 Eighth Grade All-State Band. Kenneth Shedd (French Horn), son of Dr. Mike & Dr. Gina Shedd, Allison Stricker (2nd Alternate -Clarinet), daughter of Randy & Martha Stricker, Tyler Mickey (2nd Alternate - Trumpet), son of Kris & Tammy Mickey, and Charles Belford (1st Alternate - Baritone), son of Andrew & Christine Belford were selected by taped audition to be members of the most prestigious and selective middle school honor band in the state of Nebraska. (Only five students were selected from schools west of Lexington, NE.). The Bluffs Middle School band director is Mr. Michael Koch.
- Each year, over 2000 of the best high school musicians in the state audition for the Nebraska All-State Band, Chorus, Jazz Band and Orchestra which are sponsored by the Nebraska Music Educators Association. Selection as a member of one of these groups is one of the highest musical honors attainable in Nebraska. Mr. Kelley Meyer, Choral Affairs Chairperson for the Nebraska Music Educators Association, is pleased to announce the following participants to be among the 450 students selected to be a part of the 2008 All-State Choir.
SOPRANO I
Jessica D. Schluter
Lizz J. Turnbo
Rachel K. Jantzi (Alternate)
SOPRANO II
Breanna K. Elley
Rachel A. Harvey
ALTO I
Kayla S Petersen
Sandra M. Shedd
Meghan N. Pritchard (Alternate)
ALTO II
Amy B. Svitak
Jayme D. Haugen (Alternate)
TENOR I
Samuel J. Harvey
Zachary T Durbin (Alternate)
Jacob L. Post (Alternate)
TENOR II
Thommas C. Briggs
Matthew Nikon
BASS I
Joseph J. Kozal
Jackson R. Pahlke
BASS II
Cameron S. Cardwell
- The Scottsbluff Senior High Cross Country team led by Coach Tanya Vaughn claimed the 2007 State Championship. In addition to the team championship individual awards include:
o Placing 20th in the state, Yadira Bernadac.
o Placing 4th in the state, Allie Brisco.
o Placing 43rd in the state, Hattie Guzman.
o Placing 45th in the state, Emily Knudson.
o Placing 15th in the state, Kayla Sherwood.
o Placing in 1st Place in the state of Nebraska, Aubree Worden.
- The Scottsbluff Girls Golf Team led by Coach Mike Klein was awarded the Class B State Trophy. Individual awards include:
o Shala Sinner, who placed 29th individually at the state level.
o Drew Isham, who placed 17th individually at the state level.
o Emily Pilkington, who placed 8th individually at the state level.
o Alex Schluter, who placed 5th individually at the state level.
o Kaylee Koeppen, who placed 4th individually at the state level.
- Under the leadership of Mr. Brad Ronne, the Scottsbluff High School Choral Group took home 1st place at the Old West Choir Fest. The Senior High Chorolaires group has claimed the top prize 25 out of 26 times since the competition started in 1981.
- The Bluffs Middle School Band, led by Director Mike Koch, received an EXCELLENT rating during the Scottsbluff Old West Weekend Parade Competition.
- The Scottsbluff High School Band, led by Director Frank Ibero, received a SUPERIOR rating at the Sidney Oktoberfest Parade competition.
- The Scottsbluff High School Band, led by Director Frank Ibero, received a SUPERIOR rating at the Sidney Oktoberfest Field competition
- The Scottsbluff High School Band, led by Director Frank Ibero, received a SUPERIOR rating at the Scottsbluff Old West Weekend Parade Competition.
- The Scottsbluff High School Band, led by Director Frank Ibero, received a SUPERIOR rating at the Scottsbluff Old West Weekend Field Competition.
- The Scottsbluff High School Drill Team received Best Auxiliary Unit of the day at the Sidney Oktoberfest Competition in Sidney. The Drill Team is led by Mrs. Angie Hinze.
- Four students from
Scottsbluff Senior High were selected for the University of
Nebraska Omaha High School Honor Orchestra: Maricia Guzman
and Baleria Velazquez, juniors at Scottsbluff Senior High School,
play violin. Baleria participated in the 2007 UNO Honors
Orchestra.
Christopher Johnson, cellist, is a junior at Scottsbluff Senior High School. He as played in the SBPS Orchestra Program since beginning as a 4th grader. He also participated in the 2007 UNO Honors Orchestra, where as a freshman, was seated 2nd chair, competing with other cellists from Nebraska and surrounding states.
Brittany Halte, viola player, is a senior at Scottsbluff Senior High School. She has played in the SBPS Orchestra Program since beginning as a 4th grader. She also was accepted to the UNO Honors Orchestra in 2007. - Bluffs Middle School
collected 46 Superior Ratings and 18 Excellent Ratings at The
Western Nebraska Middle Level Band Concert.
- The Nebraska Department of Education and the Nebraska International Languages Association recently recognized Pat Sulu, Scottsbluff Public Schools World Language Instructor, for her outstanding contributions to world language education in Nebraska. The STAR Award is given to world language educators who have exceeded professional expectations above and beyond the classroom. This years marks the third year in a row that Mrs. Sulu has been given this award.
