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Hempstead and Dubuque Senior Qualify for Girls State Wrestling

High school students from Hempstead and Dubuque Senior recently qualified to compete at the 2025 IGHSAU Girls Wrestling State Championship.

Congratulations to the following students:

Girls State Qualifiers

Hempstead High School

125 Weight Class

  • Hailey Wiskus

135 Weight Class

  • Bella Miller

145 Weight Class

  • Ayla Osterkamp

155 Weight Class

  • Morgan Bills

Dubuque Senior High School

120 Weight Class

  • Zyla Wright

155 Weight Class

  • Hayleigh Forster

Dubuque Senior Students Have Successful Showing at Iowa Thespian Excellence Awards

The Dubuque Senior Theatre Department had a successful showing at the 2024/2025 International Thespian Excellence Awards (or Thespys® for short).

The national qualifier event was held at the Iowa Thespian Festival on Friday, November 14 at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, IA. The International Thespian Excellence Awards program is designed to provide feedback for Thespians on theatrical performances and technical presentations. Students are adjudicated by theatre educators and professionals on rubrics that reflect national standards in theatre education.

Dubuque Senior brought home nine Superior ratings in the competition in a variety of performance events. In addition, students earned eight overall Excellent and one overall Good rating for their performances.

Students that earned overall Superior ratings qualified for the national event held at the University of Indiana in June, 2025, as part of the International Thespian Festival. The following students earned Superior ratings and have qualified:

SUPERIOR RATINGS – QUALIFIED FOR NATIONALS

Solo Musical Theatre

  • Kelsey Ahlers | “Losing My Mind”
  • Riley Beck | “Out There”
  • Ami Bellings | “With You”
  • Liam Dostal | “Giants in the Sky”
  • Avery Kane | “Not a Day Goes By”
  • Bella VandenBerge | “I Can’t Say No”

Duet Musical Theatre

  • Riley Beck + Ami Bellings | “Love is My Legs”

Group Acting

  • Riley Beck + Chase Kreimeyer + Jameson Norton | “The Complete Word”

Group Musical Theatre

  • Kelsey Ahlers + Riley Beck + Ami Bellings + Julien Derks + Peyton Dixon + Liam Dostal + Avery Kane + Chase Kreimeyer + Jameson Norton + Bella VandenBerge | “When You’re An Addams”

The following performances were also selected by adjudicators as the best in their performance centers for the competition:

FIRST PLACE

Solo Musical Theatre

  • Ami Bellings | “With You”

Group Acting

  • Riley Beck + Chase Kreimeyer + Jameson Norton | “The Complete Word”

Group Musical Theatre

  • Kelsey Ahlers + Riley Beck + Ami Bellings + Julien Derks + Peyton Dixon + Liam Dostal + Avery Kane + Chase Kreimeyer + Jameson Norton + Bella VandenBerge | “When You’re An Addams”

SECOND PLACE

Solo Musical Theatre

  • Riley Beck | “Out There”
  • Avery Kane | “Not a Day Goes By”

Lighting Design

  • Wyatt Branscomb | “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels”

Duet Musical Theatre

  • Riley Beck + Ami Bellings | “Love is My Legs”

THIRD PLACE

Solo Musical Theatre

  • Liam Dostal | “Giants in the Sky”

The following students earned an overall Excellent or Good Rating for their performance:

EXCELLENT RATING

Solo Musical Theatre

  • Cheyenne Brown | “Don’t Rain On My Parade”
  • Olivia Gennings | “She Used To Be Mine”
  • Reid Postma | “Where is the Life”

Solo Musical Dance

  • Ella Meyer | “I Want to Be a Rockette”

Lighting Design

  • Wyatt Branscomb | “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels”

Duet Musical Theatre

  • Seattle Bontemps + Morgan Weiland | “The End of the Line”
  • Olivia Gennings + Blair Kapp | “Suddenly Seymour”

Group Musical Theatre

  • Seattle Bontemps + Kate Putnam + Morgan Weiland | “Mama I’m a Big Girl Now”

GOOD RATING

Solo Musical Theatre

  • Ella Meyer | “She Used to Be Mine”

Furthermore, Dubuque Senior High School’s production of Lauren Gunderson’s The Revolutionists has been selected to perform at the 2025 International Thespian Festival. The selection is based on adjudication from theatre professionals from across the country. The performance of The Revolutionists at the 2024 Iowa Thespian Festival in November was reviewed by the national adjudicators and was selected to be one of just eight main stage performances at the International Thespian Festival.

CRITIC’S CHOICE AWARD (IHSSA All-State Festival) & SUPERIOR RATING (Iowa Thespian Festival)

One Act Play

  • Ami Bellings + Peyton Dixon + Avery Kane + Bella VandenBerge | “The Revolutionists”

Dubuque Senior’s production of The Revolutionists featured four remarkable actresses as historical characters at the height of the Reign of Terror in France. The cast includes seniors Ami Bellings (Charlotte Corday) and Bella VandenBerge (Olympe du Gouges), and juniors Peyton Dixon (Marianne Angelles) and Avery Kane (Marie Antoinette). Adjudicators noted the Dubuque Senior actresses for their performances which were “captivating to watch” and for their “emotional depth.”

The production also featured music performed by Anna Garrett-Douillet on the harp. Adjudicators commented on Anna’s powerful performance and musical talent.

The ensemble of The Revolutionists included Kelsey Ahlers, Seattle Bontemps, Joslyn Brown, Olivia Gennings, Norah Homb, Iris Lammer-Heindel, Camilla Moeller, Jameson Norton, Josie Norton, Madeline Oney, and Izzibelle Pregler, as well as a special appearance by Grace Weber. The creative team included Aaron Dean (Director), Katie Galliart (Music Director), and Megan Schumacher (Scenic Art). The design team included more than twenty Dubuque Senior students working on costumes, lights, sound, props, and more. Adjudicators commended the student designers for the strong supporting role the technical elements played in the production.

Dubuque Senior’s performance at the International Thespian Festival will be June 25, 2025 at the University of Indiana in Bloomington, Indiana. More than 3,000 students from across the country and abroad will gather for a week of main stage and studio performances, workshops with theatre professionals, and national competitions.

Congratulations to all our students on their achievements!

Preschool Header

Free Four-Year-Old Preschool Enrollment Opens December 9

Enrollment for FREE four-year-old preschool in the Dubuque Community School District for the 2025-2026 school year will begin on Monday, Dec. 9.

This includes all 12 Dubuque public elementary schools as well as the district’s Seedlings Preschool Center on Chavenelle Road offering preschool through the Statewide Voluntary Preschool Program. (Note: Seedlings Preschool Center has optional, fee-based wraparound care available at the adjacent Dubuque Community Y Childcare.)

Parents and guardians may enroll students ONLINE beginning at NOON on Monday, December 9, at www.dbqschools.org/preschool.

All district elementary schools and the district’s main office will have computers and staff assistance available beginning December 9 for families needing internet access to complete preschool enrollment.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Free four-year-old preschool is open to students residing in Iowa who are four by September 15. Proof of age (preferably a birth certificate) and proof of residency are required to enroll a student and may be uploaded during the enrollment application process or provided in hard copy to the district enrollment office at 2300 Chaney Road.

Your student’s enrollment application will not be considered complete until these documents have been received.

For the enrollment process, families should have the student’s main household and health information readily available.

PRESCHOOL SITE OPTIONS

Space may be limited in some facilities and enrollment applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Enrollment for preschool is not based on geography and all sites are open to Iowa residents. Applications will be time-stamped and families will be able to select up to three locations and time slots in order of preference.

Applications completed by January 10 (including submission of proof of age and proof of residency) will be considered in the first round of placement notifications beginning on January 15.

In addition to spots in Dubuque’s public schools, a variety of community preschool partners also offer free four-year-old preschool.

QUESTIONS?

For additional enrollment questions, individuals should contact the district enrollment office at enrollment@dbqschools.org.

For questions about preschool programming, contact the district early childhood office at earlychildhood@dbqschools.org.

The Statewide Voluntary Preschool Program for Four-Year-Old Children is funded by the State of Iowa and facilitated locally by the Dubuque Community School District.

Hempstead and Dubuque Senior Qualify for Girls State Swimming and Diving

High school students from Hempstead and Dubuque Senior recently qualified to compete at the 2024 IGHSAU Girls Swimming and Diving State Championship.

Congratulations to the following students:

State Qualifiers

Hempstead High School

100-Yard Breaststroke

  • Maisey Duehr

200-Yard Freestyle Relay

  •  Maisey Duehr | Maggie Kelzer | Rebecca Roling | Taylor Tigges

200-Yard Medley Relay

  •  Maisey Duehr | Adalyn Mairet | Rebecca Roling | Taylor Tigges

400-Yard Freestyle Relay

  • Maisey Duehr | Maggie Kelzer | Rebecca Roling | Taylor Tigges

500-Yard Freestyle

  • Taylor Tigges

Para 50-Yard Freestyle

  • Ally Darter

Para 100-Yard Breaststroke 

  • Ally Darter

Alternates 

  • Mallory Blum
  • Morgan Mason

Dubuque Senior High School

100-Yard Backstroke

  • Annie Gilligan

200-Yard Freestyle

  • Annie Gilligan

500-Yard Freestyle

  • Lily Steines

200-Yard Freestyle Relay

  • Kaley Beimborn | Annie Gilligan | Ellie Hoffman | Lily Steines

400-Yard Freestyle Relay

  • Kaley Beimborn | Annie Gilligan | Ellie Hoffman | Lily Steines

1-Meter Diving 

  • Payton Ryan

Alternates 

  • Adi Finnin
  • Ana Konrardy

Dubuque Senior and Hempstead Students Qualify for State Cross Country

Students from both Dubuque Senior and Hempstead High Schools competed in the Iowa High School State Cross Country qualifying meet to determine their eligibility to compete at the State Championship at Kennedy Park in Fort Dodge on Friday, November 1st.

Congratulations to the following Class 4A student qualifiers:

Dubuque Senior High School

GIRLS

Team Qualifiers

  • Emily Gorton | Grade 12
  • Claire Hoyer | Grade 12
  • Briel Bechen | Grade 11
  • Emma Chesterman | Grade 11
  • Nevaeh Kessler | Grade 11
  • Stella Weber | Grade 11
  • Lise Hoyer | Grade 10

Alternates

  • Lilly Anderson | Grade 12
  • Audrey Kilgore | Grade 12
  • Braeley Wullweber | Grade 11
  • Millie Eikamp | Grade 10
  • Josie Beard | Grade 9
  • Skylar Carpenter | Grade 9
  • Mallory Schaefer | Grade 9

BOYS

Individual Qualifiers 

  • Jacob Haug | Grade 12
  • Danny Rothert | Grade 12

Hempstead High School

GIRLS

Team Qualifiers 

  • Evie Henneberry | Grade 12
  • Mylee Lange | Grade 12
  • Gracie Driscoll | Grade 10
  • Maggie Henneberry | Grade 10
  • Natalie Leitzen | Grade 10
  • Paige Pitz | Grade 10
  • Chelsea Heiberger | Grade 9

Alternates

  • Maria Hart | Grade 11
  • Eva Stevenson | Grade 11

BOYS

Individual Qualifiers

  • Micah Fern | Grade 11

Dubuque Senior and Hempstead Students at State Track and Field

Students from both Dubuque Senior and Hempstead High Schools competed in the Iowa High School State Track and Field Championship at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, IA from May 16 – May 18th.

Congratulations to the following students on these honors:

4A State Medalists

HEMPSTEAD HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS

Distance Medley – 1st Place

  • Akeelah Anderson, Mallory Tomkins, Alya Osterkamp, Keelee Leitzen

800M Run

  • Keelee Leitzen – 1st Place
  • Julia Gehl – 4th Place

3000M Run

  • Julia Gehl – 2nd Place

1500M Run

  • Julia Gehl – 2nd Place
  • Keelee Leitzen – 4th Place

DUBUQUE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS

High Jump

  • Cambel Drapeau – 7th Place

HEMPSTEAD HIGH SCHOOL BOYS

4x800M Relay – 5th Place

  • Micah Fern, Zack Johnson, Owen Leitzen, Charlie Driscoll

3200M Run

  • John Maloney – 8th Place

DUBUQUE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL BOYS

4x100M Relay – 7th Place

  • John FitzPatrick, Mekyael Hall, Jaden Arnold, Nicholas Lambe

4x400M Relay – 7th Place

  • John FitzPatrick, Zachary Heiar, Garrett Schumacher, Jaden Arnold

400M Dash

  • Jaden Arnold – 6th Place

100M Dash

  • Nick Lambe – 8th Place

Girls Para Medalists

200M Wheelchair

  • Ally Darter – 1st Place

400M Wheelchair

  • Ally Darter – 1st Place

800M Wheelchair

  • Ally Darter – 1st Place

Shot Put Wheelchair

  • Ally Darter – 1st Place

4A State Qualifiers

HEMPSTEAD HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS

400M Dash

  • Isabel Brauhn
  • Ayla Osterkamp

400M Hurdles

  • Mya Curry

4x100M Shuttle Hurdle Relay

  • Mya Curry, Rebecca Roling, Savannah Bailey, Sydney Feldhacker

4x100M Relay

  • Akeelah Anderson, Savannah Bailey, Jillian Renne, Kassidy Buchenau

4x200M Relay

  • Akeelah Anderson, Kassidy Buchenau, Jillian Renne, Mallory Tomkins

4x400M Relay

  • Mallory Tomkins, Piper Birkenholz, Mya Curry, Ayla Osterkamp

4x800M Relay

  • Mylee Lange, Paige Pitz, Julia Gehl, Keelee Leitzen

800M Sprint Medley

  • Akeelah Anderson, Mallory Tomkins, Ayla Osterkamp, Kassidy Buchenau

Alternates

  • Natalie Leitzen
  • Eva Stevenson
  • Paige Howeison
  • Madalyn Morrison
  • Kaylee Carley

DUBUQUE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS

800M Run 

  • Nevaeh Kessler

1500M Run 

  • Leah Klapatauskas

3000M Run

  • Leah Klapatauskas

4x800M Relay

  • Emma Chesterman, Neveah Kessler, Emily Gorton, Leah Klapatauskas

Distance Medley Relay

  • Olivia Brimeyer, Khloe Sweet, Sophie Link, Emma Chesterman

Alternates

  • Claire Hoyer

HEMPSTEAD HIGH SCHOOL BOYS

200M Dash

  • Landon McKay

800M Run

  • Charlie Driscoll
  • Zack Johnson

1600M Run

  • John Maloney
  • Micah Fern

400M Hurdles

  • Owen Leitzen

4x400M Relay

  • Avery Keehner, Matt Hanselman, Thomas Brashaw, Owen Leitzen

800M Sprint Medley

  • Brendon Zhen, James Eichhorn, Landon McKay, Thomas Brashaw

Distance Medley

  • Landon McKay, Avery Keehner, Matt Hanselman, Micah Fern

Alternates

  • Kyle Duehr
  • Jashawn McCarter

DUBUQUE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL BOYS

Shot Put

  • Thomas Lynn

400M Dash

  • Charlie Crow

4x200M Relay

  • John FitzPatrick, Andrew Theisen, Garrett Schumacher, Nicholas Lambe

800M Sprint Medley

  • John FitzPatrick, Mekyael Hall, Nicholas Lambe, Jaden Arnold

Distance Medley

  • Mahdi Al-Atabi, Noah Roling, Zachary Heiar, Calvin Lueken

Alternates

  • Josh Schwab
  • Sam Kook
  • Marshawn Dukes
  • Dylan Thul
  • Kael Stickley
  • Mekhi Marsh
  • Jacob Haug
  • Daylin Moore

 

 

Three High School Students Named Candidates and One Named Semifinalist in U.S. Presidential Scholars Program

Two Hempstead High School students and one Dubuque Senior High School student have been named among more than 5,000 candidates in the 2024 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program. The candidates were selected from nearly 3.6 million students expected to graduate from U.S. high schools in the year 2024. Graduating seniors Hannah Davisdon (Hempstead), Charlie Driscoll (Hempstead) and Caitlyn Kono (Dubuque Senior) were recognized with the honor.

Inclusion in the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program is one of the highest honors bestowed upon graduating high school seniors. Scholars are selected on the basis of superior academic and artistic achievements, leadership qualities, strong character and involvement in community and school activities.

A distinguished panel of educators reviewed these submissions and the semifinalists were narrowed down from a field of 91 selected candidates from Iowa. Caitlyn Kono was named as one of seven Iowa semifinalists and one of over 600 across the United States.

The Commission on Presidential Scholars, a group of up to 32 eminent citizens, appointed by the President, will select the finalists, and the U.S. Department of Education will announce the Scholars in May. All scholars are honored for their accomplishments during the online National Recognition Program. U.S Presidential Scholars are awarded the U.S. Presidential Scholars medallion each June.

The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program was established in 1964 by Executive Order of the President to recognize some of our nation’s most distinguished graduating seniors for their accomplishments in many areas: academic success, leadership, and service to school and community. It was expanded in 1979 to recognize students demonstrating exceptional scholarship and talent in the visual, creative, and performing arts. In 2015, the program was expanded once again to recognize students who demonstrate ability and accomplishment in career and technical fields.

Annually, up to 161 U.S. Presidential Scholars are chosen from among that year’s senior class, representing excellence in education and the promise of greatness in America’s youth. For more than 59 years, this unique federal program has honored over 8,000 U.S. Presidential Scholars, who have demonstrated leadership, scholarship, and contribution to school and community. The work of the Commission on Presidential Scholars reaffirms, on behalf of the President, the Nation’s commitment to education.

 

Dubuque Senior and Hempstead High Schools at State Bowling

High school students from Hempstead and Dubuque Senior recently returned from an impressive showing at the 2024 Bowling 3A State Championship.

Congratulations to the following students on these honors:

3A State Girls Championship

DUBUQUE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL – 4th Place

Individual 3A Girls State Qualifiers

DUBUQUE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Zoie Bettcher
Alison Hedrick
Mackenzie Lang
Clara Pregler

HEMPSTEAD HIGH SCHOOL
Chloe Hansen

Individual 3A Boys State Qualifiers

DUBUQUE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Zach Wlochal

HEMPSTEAD HIGH SCHOOL
Alec Bowman

Hempstead and Dubuque Senior at Boys State Swimming

High school students from Hempstead and Dubuque Senior recently returned from an impressive showing at the 2024 IHSAA Boys State Swimming Championship.

Congratulations to the following students on these honors:

State Finishers

HEMPSTEAD HIGH SCHOOL

200-Yard Freestyle Relay – 2nd Place

  • Brandon Decker
  • Owen Leitzen
  • Kyle Powers
  • Logan Westhoff

100-Yard Freestyle 

  • Kyle Powers – 10th Place
  • Owen Leitzen – 12th Place

DUBUQUE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

200-Yard Medley Relay – 9th Place

  • Walter Freund
  • William Fry
  • Zack Heiar
  • Jarrett Herber

100-Yard Breaststroke – 11th Place

  • Zack Heiar

100-Yard Butterfly – 12th Place

  • Zack Heiar

State Qualifiers

HEMPSTEAD HIGH SCHOOL

50-Yard Freestyle

  • Brandon Decker
  • Mason Lemm
  • Kyle Powers

100-Yard Backstroke

  • Jake Dolphin

100-Yard Breaststroke

  • Brandon Decker

100-Yard Butterfly

  • Mason Lemm
  • Logan Westhoff

100-Yard Freestyle

  • Owen Leitzen
  • Kyle Powers

200-Yard Freestyle

  • Michael Rhett Gilbertson
  • Owen Leitzen
  • Logan Westhoff

200-Yard Freestyle Relay

  • Brandon Decker
  • Michael Rhett Gilbertson
  • Owen Leitzen
  • Kyle Powers

200-Yard Individual Medley

  • Jake Dolphin
  • Zach Wenger

200-Yard Medley Relay

  • Brandon Decker
  • Jake Dolphin
  • Henry Gilbertson
  • Mason Lemm

400-Yard Freestyle Relay

  • Henry Gilbertson
  • Michael Rhett Gilbertson
  • Owen Leitzen
  • Kyle Powers

500-Yard Freestyle

  • Dustin Coyle
  • Michael Rhett Gilbertson
  • Zach Wenger

DUBUQUE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

50-Yard Freestyle

  • Jarrett Herber

100-Yard Backstroke

  • William Fry

100-Yard Breaststroke

  • Zack Heiar

100-Yard Butterfly

  • William Fry
  • Zack Heiar
  • Jarrett Herber

200-Yard Freestyle Relay

  • Duncan Freund
  • Walter Freund
  • Zack Heiar
  • Cole Marshall

200-Yard Medley Relay

  • Duncan Freund
  • Walter Freund
  • William Fry
  • Jarrett Herber

400-Yard Freestyle Relay

  • Duncan Freund
  • William Fry
  • Zack Heiar
  • Jarrett Herber