2024 Kansas FFA State Champion Holton HS Parliamentary Procedure Team

The Nemaha County STEP Foundation graciously accepted a check from Ag Partners
representatives in the amount of $5,000 for the upcoming Match Day. Co-Bank and Ag Partners
are teaming up to make this generous donation happen. Thank you to both for continuing to
make Nemaha County a great place to live, work and give.
Pictured Left to Right: Caitlin Holthaus; Crista McClintock; Lacey Dalinghaus; Tory Jost, STEP
Executive Director; Leon Haverkamp, STEP Secretary; and Eric Osterhaus, VP of Energy

A job well done by our HES 4th graders who have been diligently working on their legacy project! Their leaf was purchased using the funds won by Miss Miller for the HES artroom last year from the Popsicle #StickWithArt contest. Students all came up with design ideas that themed the school and popsicles. Common theme ideas were then combined into one. One side showcases a Red Hawk waving with a bus in the background and backpack in the foreground. The other side depict some of them most loved brand of popsicles by students. The base has students names on the sides. The front “Home of the Jr Hawks” and the back “#StickwithArt” the base top houses the project they created as 3rd graders which won the contest, popsicles and art supplies. We are proud of their amazing craftsmanship, dedication to the project, and helping to create a beautiful piece of artwork for the community to enjoy for years to come! We think it’s pretty cool they are the third leaf that will be added to the town’s Fall In Love With Hiawatha community project. We bet the class of 2032 will see senior photos in the future with their leaf! The leaf will be on display at the Hiawatha Community Foundation’s Giveback Move Forward this weekend and we encourage you to check it out. It will then go for a clear coat of car paint, plaque, and eventually make it’s home back In front of the Elementary School! Well done Jr Hawks!

Hiawatha Public Schools Outstanding Senior Business Student: Ethan Henry

Winner of the Ruth Cox Scholarship: Emma Entrikin

Winner of the DeKalb Senior Ag Accomplishment Award: Mavrik Shafer

Winner of the Sarah E. Crow Scholarship: Kacer Knudson

Yesterday was a perfect day for the Nemaha Central 8th Grade Boat Races!

Hiawatha Public School Senior Artist of the Year: Zoey Hedrick!

The American Citizenship Award is given to seniors who participate in both their school and their community, maintain a positive attitude, are appreciative of civic responsibility, show strength of character and integrity, and promote citizenship. This year's recipients are Hayden Brown, Amarya Edie, Abby Elffner, Aden Geisendorf, Ethan Henry, Eli Hoschouer, Kacer Knudson, Mavrik Shafer, Mariah Shafer & Payton Teel.

Barbara K. Vitt has been a wonderful teacher/counselor example, serving Nemaha County for
decades. Mrs. Vitt observed that in all of her teaching/counseling jobs she felt as if she were
working in a little piece of paradise.  The students with whom she worked were considerate,
hard-working, and respectful.  Her colleagues, the administrators, and the school boards were
wonderful. Best of all, the parents of her students valued education, expected their children’s
best efforts, and supported the school and the teachers.  If she had it to do over again, she would
not hesitate.
Her dedication and commitment to teaching is exemplary. Thanks to a very generous anonymous
donor, three $1,500 Barbara K. Vitt Scholarships will be available to Nemaha County students
annually. The 2024 scholarship recipients are Ryan Uphaus, Kaitlyn Bennett, and Anna
Hermesch all of Nemaha Central High School.
Ryan Uphaus is the son of Jim and Kelli Uphaus and plans to attend Kansas State University
majoring in chemical engineering. Kaitlyn Bennett is the daughter of Paul and DeAnn Bennett
and plans to attend Kansas State University majoring in health science/medicine. Anna
Hermesch is the daughter of Darrin and Leah Hermesch and plans to attend Kansas State
University majoring in pre-nursing.

The B & B Legacy Scholarships awarded four $1,000 scholarships through the
Nemaha County STEP Foundation this year to graduating seniors who previously
attended B & B School.
The Legacy Scholarships are a result of a challenge presented to the St. Benedict
and Baileyville communities and alumni by August Bergman, M.D., during the 2006
graduation ceremony. Thus, began the fundraising to match Dr. Bergman’s seed money
of $25,000. During the fundraising, another graduate Albert Wietharn offered an
additional $25,000 if the communities would match his gift.
Both challenges were met, and the $100,000 was exceeded. The B & B Legacy
Scholarships became a reality due to the dedication and generosity of the alumni and
communities of St. Benedict and Baileyville.
The final recipients of the B&B Legacy Scholarship are all from Nemaha Central
High School.
Sawyer Deters, son of Matt and Rachael Deters, plans to attend Concordia
University Nebraska and major in exercise science.
Hailey Nordhus, daughter of Kevin and Jenny Nordhus, plans to attend Kansas
Wesleyan University and major in nursing.
Emma Stallbaumer, daughter of Jeff and Laurie Stallbaumer, plans to attend
Washburn University and major in science.
The Nemaha County STEP Foundation is proud to announce one recipient of the
Leroy “Roy” Heiman Memorial Scholarship. The Heiman family partnered with STEP to
honor Roy. Katie Tangeman, daughter of Daniel and Kristin Tangeman, plans to attend
Northwest Missouri State University in the medical field.
The Nemaha County STEP Foundation is honored to be able to assist in awarding
these scholarships to these students. STEP strives to assist in helping caring citizens
develop ways to help others and leave a lasting legacy.

In 2005, Pat and Patty Schmelzle and family established the Kathy L. Schmelzle
Academic Scholarship with the Nemaha County STEP Foundation in memory of their
daughter. The Kathy L. Schmelzle Academic Scholarship for $750 is awarded to a
graduating senior from Nemaha Central High School who plans to enter a degree
program with a major in teacher education.
The 2024 recipient of this scholarship is Mya Ganstrom daughter of Jimmy and
Laci Ganstrom. Ganstrom gained a passion for being in a classroom after having
experiences with children and seeing how rewarding it was. She plans on majoring in
Elementary Education at Emporia State University. Her long-range educational goal is to
eventually receive her master’s degree in education.

It was a great afternoon learning about the history of Nemaha County!

This week students at NCEMS celebrated Tex’s 3rd birthday with a ‘pawty’ during library time.

Nemaha County STEP Foundation Centralia Community Church Scholarship Fund was established to support and encourage the Christian community in Centralia, Kansas. The 2024 scholarship recipient receiving $500 is Maveryk Becker of Centralia High School.
Maveryk is the son of Royce and Monica Becker and plans to attend Baker University
majoring in education.

Here is our SHS Senior Spotlight of the day. Our two seniors today are Joshua and Jackson. Joshua's fun fact is that he has a 100% touchdown rate when lined up as a running back. His favorite sport at SHS was football and he really liked GPC. Joshua plans to attend Washburn University in the fall to major in Kinesiology and play football and throw track. Jackson's fun fact is that he likes traveling and he wants to travel the world. His favorite activity in Sabetha was egg-o-rama with Kay Club. Jackson plans to move to Kansas City after graduation and enter the workforce.