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Student Achievements

Dubuque Senior High School Speech Team Earns Top Honor

You might say it has been another banner year for the Dubuque Senior High School speech team.

On Saturday, February 17th the Dubuque Senior Speech Team performed at the 2024 Iowa High School Speech Association Large Group All-State Festival at Iowa State University. The team of 84 Senior High students proudly represented and entertained audiences in performances ranging from Ensemble Acting to Musical Theatre. The Senior High Speech Team proudly closed the ceremony by claiming the Critic’s Choice Banner for outstanding performance of the day in the Category of One Act Play.

The Revolutionists claimed the Critic’s Choice Banner in the category of One Act Play. It is a moving story of art, feminism and changing the world through four very real women who lived boldly in France during the French Revolution’s Reign of Terror. It was written by Lauren Gunderson. The performance featured students Ami Bellings, Peter Boenish, Wyatt Branscomb, Peyton Dixon, Anna Garrett-Douillet, Avery Kane, and Isabella VandenBerge. It was directed by Mr. Aaron Dean. Critic was Connor Wang, Sound Designer and Video Engineer from Broadway’s How to Dance in Ohio.

Dubuque Senior banner winners for One Act Play

Dubuque Senior All-State Banner for One Act Play

Dubuque Senior was also awarded the E. Wayne Cooley Large Group Sweepstakes Trophy. The trophy is awarded to the school receiving the most All-State Nominations to the IHSSA Large Group Festival making Dubuque Senior the 2024 Large Group State Champions.

Iowa High School Speech Association Information:

  • The Critic’s Choice Award is given by a theatre professional to the top performance of the day in each category.

  • This is the fourth One Act Play Banner for Dubuque Senior, one of the original IHSSA categories from the first festival back in 1981. It was last awarded to Senior in 2016.

  • The award is a traveling championship banner which Dubuque Senior will return to the All-State Festival next year

  • This marks the 37th banner win in in IHSSA history for Dubuque Senior High School and the 18th in the last 12 years.

  • This is Dubuque Senior’s eighth Large Groups Sweepstakes State Championship. (1984, 2001, 2013, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2023, 2024)

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

Hempstead and Dubuque Senior Qualify for Girls State Wrestling

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

Congratulations to the following students:

State Qualifiers

Hempstead High School

130 Weight Class

  • Ayla Osterkamp

140 Weight Class

  • Annabel Blanchard

155 Weight Class

  • Paige Howieson

235 Weight Class

  • Katelyn Brokus

Dubuque Senior High School

130 Weight Class

  • Alyssa Seippel

135 Weight Class

  • Karise Benson

140 Weight Class

  • Jolee Strohmeyer

Dubuque Senior High School Attends Iowa Youth Symposium at State Capitol

Outstanding Delegates from Dubuque Senior High School’s Model United Nations club attended the Iowa Youth Symposium at the State Capitol in Des Moines, a dynamic event bringing together young leaders from high schools around Iowa to discuss pressing global issues. There were 208 participants from 16 different Iowa high schools. Students discussed, debated, and collaborated by assuming the role of United States diplomats within the United Nations. The annual Model UN conference commemorates International United Nations Day and the anniversary of the ratification of the UN Charter on October 24, 1945.

This year’s conference featured five committees in which students debated the US position within the UN on reparations, recognition of the International Court of Justice, the growing dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico, ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and bans on social media. During committee sessions, students learned about the procedures for engaging in diplomacy and the importance of international cooperation. Participants showcased their critical thinking and negotiation abilities.

The conference featured distinguished speakers, including the Honorary United Nations Day Chair, Jackson Geadelmann who delivered the keynote address. Geadelmann is a current University of Iowa College of Law student and Iowa United Nations Association board member. In his remarks, Geadelmann highlighted the importance of the United Nations to facilitate international cooperation, and especially the need for young people to be involved in building consensus and solving global issues.

During the pre-plenary session, 75 outstanding regional delegates had the opportunity to discuss their position papers and policy proposals with local experts. From Dubuque Senior High School’s Model United Nations club, Owen May, Donovan Dremmel, Olivia Brimeyer, Fred Raymond, Charlie Branscomb, Wyatt Branscomb, Allie Cook, Maura Lawler, Will Wernimont, and Ben Schaefer were selected as outstanding regional delegates to represent Dubuque.

Students participated in roundtable discussions with Dr. Negus Imhotep (chair of the Des Moines Civil & Human Rights Commission), Professor John C. Reitz (Professor Emeritus of the University of Iowa College of Law), Alicia Vastos (Water Program Director for the Iowa Energy Council), Dr. Debra DeLaet (Drake University Political Science Professor), and Dr. Sharonda Woodford (Visiting Assistant Professor of Political Science at Drake University).

Two outstanding delegates were identified in each of the five committees (economic, political, science, social, and technology) for their exemplary leadership, contributions, and ability to build consensus. Ben Schaefer of Dubuque Senior High School was selected as one of two outstanding delegates in the Science Committee and one of 10 students overall.

Dubuque Senior High School’s Model United Nations club provides a setting for young people to learn about the work of United Nations diplomats while engaging in productive discussions with students from around the state. Kristin Weiland serves as the club advisor at Dubuque Senior. Owen May, second year participate in Model UN, said “Model United Nations can help expand your worldview through friendly debate with others…”. Allie Cook started this year as a senior and said “Model United Nations is an enriching experience to learn hands on about the internal workings of international politics. I am so glad I joined because of my newfound knowledge on the subject and the camaraderie that is built within the club.”

For more information about Model United Nations and the Iowa Youth Symposium, please visit Iowa Youth Symposium.

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 2023 IGHSAU Girls Swimming and Diving State Championship.

Congratulations to the following students:

State Qualifiers

Hempstead High School

50-Yard Freestyle

  • Kenzie Tomkins
  • Rebecca Roling

Para 50-Yard Freestyle

  • Ally Darter

100-Yard Freestyle

  • Kenzie Tomkins

100-Yard Breaststroke

  • Maisey Duehr

Para 100-Yard Breaststroke 

  • Ally Darter

500-Yard Freestyle

  • Kate Duehr

200-Yard Medley Relay

  • Nora Davis | Callie Dolphin | Emma Oberhoffer | Kenzie Tomkins

200-Yard Freestyle Relay

  • Nora Davis | Callie Dolphin | Maisey Duehr | Rebecca Roling

400-Yard Freestyle Relay

  • Nora Davis | Kate Duehr | Rebecca Roling | Kenzie Tomkins

Dubuque Senior High School

50-Yard Freestyle

  • Annie Gilligan

100-Yard Backstroke

  • Annie Gilligan
  • Kaitlyn Vantiger

100-Yard Freestyle

  • Molly Gilligan

100-Yard Butterfly

  • Evie Hall
  • Savanna Koch

200-Yard Medley Relay

  • Annie Gilligan | Molly Gilligan | Savanna Koch | Kaitlyn Vantiger

200-Yard Freestyle Relay

  • Molly Gilligan | Evie Hall | Savanna Koch | Kaitlyn Vantiger

400-Yard Freestyle Relay

  • Annie Gilligan | Molly Gilligan | Savanna Koch | Kaitlyn Vantiger

Washington Middle School Students Compete in International Geography Bee

Washington Middle School students competed in the International Geography Bee’s Online Regional Online Competition on Sunday, May 7th with students from across the country. Participants competed by their grade level in a series of buzzer-style question rounds to earn points to qualify for the finals.

Three students qualified as finalists in the Regional Bee and four students qualified for the National Bee as a result of their final score being in the top percentage of their regional bee’s participants. Three of the four students accepted their invitation to the 2023 Middle School National Championships and will be competing in Arlington, Virginia from June 1-3.

Congratulations to the following students on these achievements:

Regional Bee Participants

6th Grade

  • Anita Powers
  • Preesha Rock

7th Grade

  • Khloey Birch
  • Ian Breitsprecker
  • Jackson Burke
  • Zach Chesterman
  • Foster Del Toro
  • Lauren Krasnodemski
  • Landon Marting
  • Blake Meyer
  • Dominic Mills
  • Ethan Montes
  • Mallory Schaefer
  • Bentley Scholtes
  • Audrey Schuster
  • Lucas Smith

8th Grade

  • Grant Arling
  • Harper Canon
  • Nolan Farber
  • Jayme Miller
  • Izzy Pregler
  • Sitanshu Rock
  • Ian Sindt
  • Aaron Scheirer

Regional Bee Finalists

6th Grade

  • Preesha Rock | 4th place (tied) out of 40 participants

7th Grade

  • Zach Chesterman | 3rd place out of 53 participants

8th Grade

  • Nolan Farber | 3rd place out of 20 participants

National Bee Qualifiers

6th Grade

  • Preesha Rock | Declined invitation to the National Bee

7th Grade

  • Zach Chesterman | Accepted invitation to the National Bee

8th Grade

  • Nolan Farber | Accepted invitation to the National Bee
  • Ian Sindt | Accepted invitation to the National Bee 

 

Dubuque Senior and Hempstead Students Qualify for 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 18 – May 20th.

Congratulations to the following student qualifiers in the Class 4A categories:

Dubuque Senior High School

GIRLS

High Jump

  • Cambel Drapeau

1500M Run 

  • Leah Klapatauskas

3000M Run

  • Emma Chesterman
  • Leah Klapatauskas

4x800M Relay

  • Emily Gorton, Claire Hoyer, Neveah Kessler, and Leah Klapatauskas

Alternates

  • Kaitlyn Miller
  • Julia Kilgore

BOYS

Shot Put

  • Cohen Pfohl

100M Dash

  • Nick Lambe
  • Deyon Moore

110M Hurdles 

  • Nate Obbink

400M Hurdles 

  • Nate Obbink

Shuttle Hurdle Relay

  • Nate Obbink, Tyler McDonald, Ethan Rader, and Dylan Thul

4x100M Relay

  • Jaden Arnold, Benjamin Francis, Nick Lambe, and Deyon Moore

4x200M Relay

  • Jaden Arnold, Benjamin Francis, Nick Lambe, and Deyon Moore

800M Sprint Medley Relay

  • Jaden Arnold, Benjamin Francis, Nick Lambe, and Deyon Moore

4x400M Relay

  • Jaden Arnold
  • Charles Crow
  • Dustin Foht
  • Benjamin Francis

Alternates

  • Marshawn Dukes
  • Isaac Gooch
  • Zack Heiar
  • Montrel Jones
  • Landon Kelly
  • Jackson Kieffer
  • Daylin Moore

Hempstead High School

GIRLS

Discus

  • Gabbi Frederick

Shot Put Wheelchair

  • Ally Darter

100M, 200M, and 400M Wheelchair

  • Ally Darter

400M Dash

  • Camdyn Kay

800M Run

  • Keelee Leitzen
  • Brooke O’Brien

1500M Run

  • Sophia Dallal
  • Keelee Letizen

3000M Run

  • Evie Henneberry

4x400M Relay

  • Isabel Brauhn, Camdyn Kay, Mylee Lange, and Maddie Leeser
    • Alternates: Piper Birkenholz, Sophia Dallal, Brooke O’Brien, and Mallory Tomkins

4x800M Relay

  • Sophia Dallal, Camdyn Kay, Keelee Leitzen, and Brooke O’Brien
    • Alternates: Isabel Brauhn, Julia Gehl, Evie Henneberry, and Mylee Lange

Distance Medley Relay

  • Keelee Leitzen, Brooke O’Brien, Ayla Osterkamp, and Mallory Tomkins
    • AlternatesAkeelah Anderson, Evie Henneberry, Camdyn Kay, and Jillian Renne 

Sprint Medley Relay

  • Akeelah Anderson, Brooke O’Brien, Ayla Osterkamp, and Mallory Tomkins
    • AlternatesIsabel Brauhn, Camdyn Kay, Maddie Leeser, and Jillian Renne

BOYS

High Jump

  • Will Pitz

1600M Run

  • Caleb Kass
  • John Maloney

3200M Run

  • Caleb Kass
  • John Maloney

4x400M Relay

  • Charlie Driscoll, Will Pitz, Devin Spahn, and Joe Vize
    • AlternatesMatt Hanselman, Zack Johnson, Avery Keehner, and Jordan Plummer 

4x800M Relay 

  • Charlie Driscoll, Micah Fern, Zack Johnson, and Joe Vize
    • AlternatesBrandon Kass, Caleb Kass, Matt Hanselman, and Owen Leitzen 

Carver Elementary Robotics Team Earns Recognition in International Competition

Twenty-eight fifth graders from Carver Elementary School, calling themselves the Carver Robotics Club, participated in this year’s International Wonder League Robotics Competition in The Pioneer Cup division (nine to twelve-year-olds).

Wonder League is a growing, worldwide network of elementary coding clubs using Wonder Workshop’s all-inclusive program to inspire an early love of coding, computer science, hands-on learning, and STEM education.

Carver students met before school one day a week from October through March, under the guidance of coaches Staci Walsh and Donna Schmitt. As part of the competition, students were asked to complete five missions that involved challenges of escalating difficulties which included navigating Dash the robot on an outer space themed mat while keeping a journal of the engineering design process.

Carver had 13 teams represented in the first round of the competition. Seven of these teams advanced to participate in the Invitational Round. This round required students to design a safe travel pod and use their coding skills to program Dash to navigate through the solar system. Teams were also asked to create a 2-minute highlight video explaining the Final Mission solution. From the Invitational Round, four runner-up teams and a grand champion were selected from all the international participating teams.

Congratulations to the following students on these honors:

Pioneer Cup Runner-Up (Top 5 Internationally)

Carver Team TBC
  • Charlie Ramos
  • Ben Valentine
Image of Charlie Ramos and Ben Valentine

Pioneer Cup Runner-Up Team

Pioneer Cup Invitational Round Competitors

Team 2

  • Will Kelley
  • Ian Wagner

Team 3

  • Neal Patel
  • Owen Wagener

Team 4

  • Beckett Kraus
  • Winston Richardson 

Team 5

  • Landon Brimeyer
  • Max VanderPloeg 

Team 9

  • Alyssa Blum
  • Charlotte Kelley

Team 12

  • Aliyah Blum
  • Lauren Hunold
  • Aubrey Scardino
Image of Donna Schmitt and the Carver Elementary students that competed in the invitational round of the wonder league competition

Coach Donna Schmitt and the Pioneer Cup Invitational Round competitors from Carver Elementary

Pioneer Cup First Round Competitors

Team 6

  • Levi James
  • Jordan Noel

Team 7 

  • Angel Parra
  • Justus Riley

Team 8

  • Jackson Bartley
  • Bryce Hentges
  • Layne Massingham

Team 10

  • Jocelyn Ervolino
  • Jordyn Martin

Team 11

  • Tanner Brimeyer
  • Alaina Sutter

Team 13

  • Wesley Bobis
  • Owen Williams

Dubuque Senior and Hempstead Students Qualify for Prestigious Drake Relays

Students from both Dubuque Senior and Hempstead High Schools will compete in the Drake Relays at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, IA from April 26 – April 29th. Known as America’s Athletic Classic, this event is considered one of the top track and field events in the United States.

Congratulations to the following student qualifiers:

Dubuque Senior High School

Girls 1500M Run

  • Leah Klapatauskas

Boys Shot Put

  • Cohen Pfohl

Boys Team 4x100M Run

  • Jaden Arnold
  • Ben Francis
  • Nick Lambe
  • Deyon Moore

Alternates

  • Marshawn Dukes
  • Noah Roling

Hempstead High School

Co-ed 400M Wheelchair

  • Ally Darter

Girls 800M Run

  • Keelee Leitzen

Girls 1500M Run

  • Keelee Leitzen

Boys 1600M Run

  • John Maloney

Boys 3200M Run

  • John Maloney

Girls Team 4x100M Relay

  • Akeelah Anderson
  • Ayla Osterkamp
  • Jillian Renne
  • Mallory Tomkins

Girls Team 4x400M Relay

  • Camdyn Kay
  • Keele Leitzen
  • Brooke O’Brien
  • Ayla Osterkamp

Girls Team 4x800M Relay

  • Evie Henneberry
  • Camdyn Kay
  • Keelee Leitzen
  • Brooke O’Brien

Girls Team 800M Sprint Medley Relay

  • Akeelah Anderson
  • Brooke O’Brien
  • Ayla Osterkamp
  • Mallory Tomkins

Alternates

  • Isabel Brauhn
  • Maddie Digman
  • Julia Gehl
  • Zach Johnson
  • Maddie Leeser
  • Aubrey Schlichte