Milbank Student Council Members Earn State Awards

Two Milbank High School Student Council members were honored during the 29th Annual State Convention of the South Dakota Student Council Association (SDSCA) April 3-5 in Sioux Falls.
Senior Hannah Rick was awarded an All-State plaque and senior Brianna Schreurs received the Dale D. Hawley Leadership Award. During the banquet, the Milbank Student Council also received a South Dakota Outstanding Student Council award.

Convention activities included an annual business meeting of the SDSCA, an election of state officers for 2016-2017, and the election of officers for each of the association’s seven regions. Tanner Gauer was elected as the Northern Lakes Regional Parliamentarian and Albert Pavlinac was named Milbank’s representative to the Northern Lakes Region.

Included in the Northern Lakes Region are schools from: Aberdeen, Agency Village, Britton, Castlewood, Clark, Clear Lake, Doland, Estelline, Florence, Frederick, Groton, Hayti, Hitchcock, Henry, Langford, Milbank, Mellette, Redfield, Revillo, Rosholt, Summit, Sisseton, Warner, Watertown, Waubay, Waverly-South Shore, Webster, Willow Lake, and Wilmot.
The convention featured a state-wide community service project, which made and dispersed over 70 fleece blankets in communities throughout the state. The blankets will be given to women/children shelters, hospitals, and nursing homes.

Attendees to the convention cited an emotional and inspirational experience when each of the student councils presented their funds raised from the SDSCA statewide spring Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) project. CMN epitomizes the Kids Helping Other Kids philosophy of the council. Milbank presented a check for $1,500. The total raised this year at the high school level was $33,205.

The state convention included 968 students and advisors from 73 high schools across the state. “It is so exciting to see this event grow bigger and bigger every year,” stated Gary Linn, SDSCA executive director. “It’s also exciting to know student leaders are excited about becoming stronger leaders in their schools, communities and their adult lives. This is a rewarding feeling for those of us who work with these students on a daily basis. It is a great way for students, advisors, and councils to network and learn what other schools are doing.”

Representing MHS at the convention, were (back row, left to right): Tanner Gauer, Jake Sandvig, Connor Lightfield, Albert Pavlinac, and Sophia Seffrood. Front row: Brianna Schreurs, Hannah Rick, Mackayla Schuelke, Elisabeth Schwenn, Molly Rick, and Paige Johnson. The group was accompanied by advisors Kathy Sussex and Nancy Paulson.