MHS Music Students Receive End-of-Season Awards

The Milbank High School Music Department named Joe Schulte as the 2024 recipient of the John Phillips Sousa Award. Conner Wiik earned the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award. The two awards are considered the most prestigious high school music honors. The John Phillips Sousa Award was first presented in 1954, and it continues to recognize a student who demonstrates musicianship, leadership, dependability, and loyalty. The Louis Armstrong Jazz Award is presented annually to a student whose participation in a jazz band continues Mr. Armstrong’s desire for the true jazz sound. The inaugural award was presented in 1974, three years after Armstrong died.

Spirit of Marching Award (Voted on by classmates.)
Top freshmen-Sam Shelstad and Zayda Townsend
Top sophomore-Anna Neugebauer
Top junior-Veronica Fonder
Top senior-Shaylee Schuchard

Outstanding Choir Member (Voted on by classmates)
Outstanding Freshman-Jack ter Denge
Outstanding Sophomore-Anna Neugebauer
Outstanding Junior-Graham Lightfield

50th Annual South Dakota Honor Choir: The event will take place July 28-August 2 at the University of Sioux Falls. Ashlynn Batchelor, Graham Lightfield, Bryan Meyer, Anna Neugebauer, Camryn Sovell, and Garrett Weber have been selected to participate.

Choral Director’s Award: James Batchelor

Band Director’s Award: Sophia Whitlow

National School Choral Award– Stella Wendland and Nicholas Fonder

Justin Maass Memorial Award – In recognition of outstanding effort and motivating enthusiasm for choral singing with strong musicianship as a Milbank High School Chorus Member – Nadia Thue

Arion Award – the oldest national award for outstanding achievement by high school musicians – Hope Karels

Hope Karels, Joe Schulte, and Rachel Schulte were recognized for their participation in the 2024 South Dakota All-State Band in Pierre. The Schulte twins were also honored for performing with the 2023 South Dakota All-State Orchestra in Rapid City.

Region 3 Large Group Contest Results: MHS Band (3 Superiors): MHS Choir (3 Superiors)

North Area Honor Band: Alex DeLaRosa, Kalli Grong, Hope Karels, Katie Kruger, Ruth Luis Gomez, Brooke Mumbauer, Krista Nies, Carlos Olivares Zuniga, Yanderyn Olivares Zuniga, Joseph Schulte, Rachel Schulte, Sam Shelstad, Camryn Sovell, Shane Spiering, Gemma Street, Jack terDenge, Isabella Vogel, Charles Whitesitt, Sophia Whitlow, and Connor Wiik.

Four- Year Choir Pins: James Batchelor, Raul Berrones, Nicholas Fonder, Aubrey Fraasch, Jayden Johnson, Hope Karels, Victoria Nelson, Amelia Pederson, Rylee Schell, Shaylee Schuchard, Joseph Schulte, Rachel Schulte, Daniel Shelstad, Cailey Sime, Nadia Thue, Avery VanOverbeke, Isabella Vogel, Olivia Wendland, Stella Wendland, and Hailey Zinter.

Four- Year Band Pins: James Batchelor, Sunne DeBoer, Nicholas Fonder, Aubrey Fraasch, Jairek Frazee, Jose Hernandez Ramierz, Kaitlyn Huber, Hope Karels, Maggie Kruger, Ivy Lewno, Brooke Mumbauer, Victoria Nelson, Landon Novy, Amelia Pederson, Abby Pillatzki, Aiden Quintanilla, Rylee Schell, Shaylee Schuchard, Joseph Schulte, Rachel Schulte, Daniel Shelstad, Cailey Sime, Jacynda Street, Lydia Street, Nadia Thue, Avery VanOverbeke, Isabella Vogel, Olivia Wendland, Sophia Whitlow, Connor Wiik, and Jaclyn Wiik.

All-State Chorus Pins: James Batchelor, Nicholas Fonder, Veronica Fonder, Bryan Meyer, Hope Karels, Sam Shelstad, Nadia Thue, and Stella Wendland.

Major Letter Awards:

Seniors: Raul Berrones (choir), Jairek Frazee (band), Aiden Quintanilla (band), Rylee Schell (band/choir), Jacynda Street (band), Jaclyn Wiik (band), and Hailey Zinter (choir).

Juniors: Siera Wenzl (choir).

Sophomores: Braylen Bowsher (choir), Jonathan DeBoer (band), Carter Folk (choir), Jack Howard (choir), Nycole Korstjens (band/choir), Paige Korstjens (choir), Hunter Reede (choir), Keira Steffen (choir), Elyssa Tomac (choir), Marnie VanLith (band/choir), and Garrett Weber (choir).

Freshmen: Isabella Flores (band), Tuesday Gastineau (choir), Izabella Glomstad (choir), Parker Grabow (choir), Taylor Hallquist (choir), Jenna Korstjens (band/choir), Preston Laskowske (band/choir), Rebecca Lavallee (choir), Alexis Meyer (band/choir), Macy Mueller (band/choir), Franklin Pederson (band/choir), Tanen Schmieg (band), Kayla Schweer (band), Sam Shelstad (band/choir), Ava Sichmeller (band/choir), Liam Street (band), Jack terDenge (band/choir), and Cody Wiik (band).

Major Bar Awards:

Seniors: James Batchelor (band/choir), Sunne DeBoer (band), Nicholas Fonder (band/choir), Aubrey Fraasch (band/choir), Jose Hernandez Ramierz (band), Jayden Johnson (choir), Hope Karels (band/choir), Maggie Kruger (band), Ivy Lewno (band), Brooke Mumbauer (band), Victoria Nelson (choir), Landon Novy (band), Amelia Pederson (band/choir), Abby Pillatzki (band), Shaylee Schuchard (choir), Joseph Schulte (band/choir), Rachel Schulte (band/choir), Daniel Shelstad (band/choir), Cailey Sime (band/choir), Lydia Street (band), Nadia Thue (band/choir), Avery VanOverbeke (band/choir), Isabella Vogel (band/choir), Olivia Wendland (band/choir), Stella Wendland (choir), Sophia Whitlow (band), and Connor Wiik (band).

Juniors: Alex DeLaRosa (band), Veronica Fonder (band/choir), Joe French (band), Katie Kruger (band), Graham Lightfield (choir), Ruth Luis Gomez (band), Bryan Meyer (band/choir), Carlos Olivares Zuniga (band), Josie Riveland (choir), Ella Sandvig (choir), Shane Spiering (band), Gemma Street (band/choir), Charles Whitesitt (band), and Howie Zemlicka (band/choir).

Sophomores: Ashlynn Batchelor (band/choir), Kalli Grong (band/choir), Evy Liebe (band/choir), Allie Meyer (choir), Anna Neugebauer (band/choir), Krista Nies (band), Yanderyn Olivares Zuniga (band/choir), and Camryn Sovell (band/choir).

Perfect attendance at Pep Band events: Jonathan DeBoer, Parker Grabow, Alexis Meyer, Krista Nies, Carlos Olivares Zuniga, Yanderyn Olivares Zuniga, Abby Pillatzki, Kayla Schweer, Daniel Shelstad, Cailey Sime, Charles Whitesitt, Sophia Whitlow, and Connor Wiik.

Band Officer pins: President-Joseph Schulte; Vice President-Lydia Street; Secretaries-Isabella Vogel, Hope Karels, Ivy Lewno, and Avery VanOverbeke.

Drum Major pins: Katie Kruger, Ivy Lewno, Abby Pillatzki, and Lydia Street.

Color Guard pins: Ashlynn Batchelor, Aubrey Fraasch, Hope Karels, Evy Liebe, Ruth Luis Gomez, Victoria Nelson, Claire Snaza, Cailey Sime, Gemma Street, and Olivia Wendland.

Band Section Leader pins: Sunne DeBoer, Aubrey Fraasch, Hope Karels, Katie Kruger, Ivy Lewno, Brooke Mumbauer, Amelia Pederson, Joseph Schulte, Rachel Schulte, Daniel Shelstad, Shane Spiering, Gemma Street, Lydia Street, Nadia Thue, Avery VanOverbeke, Isabella Vogel, Charles Whitesitt, Sophia Whitlow, and Connor Wiik.

Chorus Section Leader Pins: Soprano: Ashlynn Batchelor, Veronica Fonder, Rachel Schulte, Nadia Thue; Alto: Hope Karels, Ella Sandvig, Olivia Wendland, and Stella Wendland; Tenor: Nicholas Fonder, Amelia Pederson; Bass: James Batchelor, Graham Lightfield, and Joseph Schulte.

Jazz Band Member pins: Ashlynn Batchelor, James Batchelor, Alex DeLaRosa, Sunne DeBoer, Aubrey Fraasch, Joe French, Rashawn Gertsema-Collins, Jose Hernandez Ramierz, Hope Karels, Jenna Korstjens, Nycole Korstjens, Katie Kruger, Maggie Kruger, Preston Laskowske, Ivy Lewno, Evy Liebe, Mario Meraz, Bryan Meyer, Macy Mueller, Anna Neugebauer, Krista Nies, Landon Novy, Carlos Olivares Zuniga, Yanderyn Olivares Zuniga, Amelia Pederson, Franklin Pederson, Abby Pillatzki, Aiden Quintanilla, Tanen Schmieg, Joseph Schulte, Daniel Shelstad, Sam Shelstad, Cailey Sime, Camryn Sovell, Shane Spiering, Gemma Street, Liam Street, Lydia Street, Jack ter Denge, Marnie VanLith, Avery VanOverbeke, Charles Whitesitt, Cody Wiik, Connor Wiik, Harley Zemlicka, and Howie Zemlicka.

Miriam Schwenn is the vocal music director for the Milbank School District. Susan Karels serves as the band director.

Submitted Photo