South O'Brien High School Academic Awards & Achievements
Eric Koehlmoos won the 3rd place Bronze medal in the Energy category at the World Environmental Science Fair in Houston. Eric competed against over 500 science students from 68 countries from around the world and the U.S.
Peyton Brasser and Alicyn Rehder placed in the top 20 at the 7th Grade Math Bee in Sioux Center Wednesday, May 8.
South O’Brien was represented by four students at the Iowa State History Day competition in Des Moines April 29. Eric Koehlmoos (Paper), Merle Thomas (foreign exchange student-website), Karle Negus (website), and Eric Jones (exhibit) competed against around 15-20 people in their category. These 15-20 people were the top students in the category from regional competitions in Iowa. Thousands compete in Iowa and only a small number of students go on to the National Competition at the University of Maryland.
Karle Negus was selected to go to the national competition! Merle Thomas won a special award for the top Cold War project.
Writing Contest Winners
Congratulations to Ross Johannsen and Olivia Sickelka for placing in the State Creative Writing Contest! Olivia's short story got 2nd place for 10th grade and Ross's got 3rd place for 9th grade.
State Science Fair April 4 & 5, 2013 in Ames
Name Gr Place Award Gift Koehlmoos, Eric 10 Iowa Energy Center $2,500 scholarship Koehlmoos, Eric 10 2nd Division 1 FFA Agriscience "Power Systems" Category Medallion Koehlmoos, Eric 10 2nd SSTFI Energy Category Medallion and $50 Lily Friedrichsen 9 Iowa Biotechnology Association $2,000 scholarship Lily Friedrichsen 9 2nd Division 1 FFA Agriscience "Animal Science" Category Medallion Lily Friedrichsen 9 2nd SSTFI Animal Science Category Medallion and $50 Bethany DeBoer 9 3rd Division 1 FFA Agriscience "Plants" Category Medallion Ben Aberson 9 3rd SSTFI Environmental Science Category Medallion and $25 Ben Aberson 9 *2nd Place overall Freshmen Project Karlene Negus 11 1st Division 1 FFA Agriscience "Foods Technology" Plaque and trip to FFA National Agriscience Fair in Indianapolis, IN during fall of 2013 Dawson Weathers 7 6th Middle School Division Biological Section Certificate & $10
Medallion & $25 (for 6th place om 7th grade Biological division)Korrie Einck 9 2nd FFA Agriscience Natural Resources Category Medallion and possible trip to FFA National Agriscience fair in Indianapolis, IN during fall of 2013 Korrie Einck 9 Iowa Energy Center $1,000 scholarship Andrew Cullison 9 3rd SSTFI Animal Science Category Medallion and $25 Courtney Vander Pol 9 HM SSTFI Animal Science Category Honorable Mention Certificate Brian Haden 9 1st Division 1 FFA Agriscience Animal Systems Category Plaque and trip to FFA National Convention as an agriscience finalist in Indianapolis , IN, fall of 2013 Brian Haden 9 Grand Champion Brian Haden 9 1st SSTFI Animal Science Category Champion Rosette and $100 Kellie Einck 11 2nd Division 1 FFA Agriscience "Natural Resources" Category Medallion and possible trip to FFA National Agriscience fair in Indianapolis, IN during fall of 2013 Kellie Einck 11 1st SSTFI Energy Category Champion Rosette and $100 Kellie Einck 11 Iowa Energy Center $5,000
Thirty South O’Brien sophomores and five junior high students competed in regional history day at Sioux City on March 14. The following were selected to compete at state history day in April:
Karle Negus-Individual Website
Merle Thomas-Individual Website
Eric Jones-Individual Exhibit
Eric Koehlmoos-Paper
At the state level, they will compete for a chance to be a state champion and represent Iowa at the national history day competition in Maryland.
The following South O’Brien students placed in the Northwest Iowa Reading Council’s Annual Creative Writing and Poetry Contests:
Creative Writing Winners
Grade 9:
1st - Ross Johannsen (Mr. White)
2nd – Matt Rohwer (Mr. White)
Grade 10:
1st – Olivia Sickelka (Mr. White)
2nd – Tayla Coady (Mr. White)
3rd – Shelby Case (Mr. White)
Grade 12:
2nd – Kaitlyn Aberson (Mrs. Faust)
3rd – Rebecca Thiel (Mrs. Faust)Poetry Contest Winners
Grade 5:
2nd – Jillian Heemstra (Mrs. Brasser)
Grade 6:
3rd – Nicole Feltman (Mrs. Brasser)
Grade 10:
1st – Shelby Case (Mr. White)
Grade 12:
1st - Kody Nelson (Mrs. Faust)
2nd – Rebecca Thiel (Mrs. Faust)All 1st place winners will are now entered into the state writing contest sponsored by the Iowa Reading Council.
Academic Letterwinners will be recognized Thursday, March 7 at 10 am in the East Gym.
March 2013 Academic Letterwinners SENIORS JUNIORS SOPHOMORES Aberson, Kaitlyn Callahan, Michael Coady, Tayla Battaglioli, John Einck, Kellie Feltman, Jessie Burmakow, Megan Hintz, Mikayla Fulk, Mitchel Cooper, Stefan Kelleher, Brytton Heemstra, Jenna Cullison, Emily Langland, Karissa Hicks, Wyatt De Vos, Matt Lundgren, Allie Jones, Eric Fiddelke, Hunter Matthews, Sierra Kenney, Alyssa Friedrichsen, Will Muilenburg, Cali Klinker, Gunnar Hain, Dillon Paulsen, Taylor Koehlmoos, Eric Hoger, Luke Puhrmann, Bret Liebsack, Miranda Huckaby, Colten Rahbusch, Halee Negus, Karle Kelleher, Bryce Rohlfsen, Kendra Nelson, Patrick McCauley, Bobby Rohrs, Austin Ochoa, Phoenix Nelson, Kody Struve, Rachel Petrich, Naomi Patterson, Daniel Sweeney, Emma Schiefen, Brody Riedemann, Emily Wagner, Libby Schwebach, Duncan Schwebach, Ethan Weber, Molly Sickelka, Olivia Thiel, Rebecca Weber, Denny Sickelka, Wyatt Weaver, Andrew Wester, Leta Struve, Brett Weber, Sam Tesch, Cordell Wester, Sara Wester, Daniel
Results from the Western Iowa Regional Science Fair, held at NCC, March 2, 2013
South O'Brien won the Regional Science Fair. Runner-up teams were Sheldon, Algona, and Denison.
Place Grade Name Award Prize 1st 11 Einck, Kellie 1st Place High School Oral Seminar $25 1st 11 Einck, Kellie 1st Place High School Biological Division Trophy 11 Einck, Kellie ASM Materials Education Foundation Medal 11 Einck, Kellie United State Air Force Award Gift Pack 11 Einck, Kellie United State Army Award Gift Pack 11 Einck, Kellie New York Genius International Olympiad Trip 2nd 10 Koehlmoos, Eric 2nd Place High School Oral Seminar $15 2nd 10 Koehlmoos, Eric 2th Place High School Biological Division Trophy 10 Koehlmoos, Eric United State Air Force Award Gift Pack 10 Koehlmoos, Eric United State Army Award Gift Pack 10 Koehlmoos, Eric U.S. Metric Association Medal 10 Koehlmoos, Eric Yale Science and Engineering Award Medal 10 Koehlmoos, Eric ISWEEEP World Finals, Houston, Texas Trip 9 Aberson, Ben United State Marine Corps and Navy $50 4th 9 Aberson, Ben 4th Place High School Biological Division Medal 2nd 10 Arrick, Derrian 2nd Place High School Physical Division Trophy 3rd 9 Chindlund, Victoria 3rd Place High School Physical Division Trophy 3rd 9 Einck, Korrie 3rd Place High School Oral Seminar $10 3rd 9 Einck, Korrie 3rd Place High School Biological Division Medal 9 Einck, Korrie Association for Women Geoscientists Medal 9 Einck, Korrie United State Army Award Gift Pack 9 Einck, Korrie New York Genius International Olympiad Trip 9 Florke, Morgan United State Public Health Service Award Medal 9 Friedrichsen, Lily United State Marine Corps and Navy $50 5th 9 Friedrichsen, Lily 5th Place High School Biological Division Medal 9 Johannsen, Ross American Pyschological Assoc. Award Medal 4th 9 Millan, Rubi 4th Place High School Physical Division Medal 5th 9 Werkmeister, Drew 5th Place High School Physical Division Medal 9 VanderPol, Courtney United States Air Force Award Gift Pack 3rd 7 Brasser, Peyton 3rd Place Jr Hi Oral Seminar $10 3rd 7 Brasser, Peyton 3rd Place Jr Hi Biological Division Medal 7 Brasser, Peyton United State Marine Corps and Navy Gift Pack 7 Brasser, Peyton WISEF Showboard Award Certificate 7 Brasser, Peyton Broadcom Masters Nomination Certificate 4th 7 Weathers, Dawson 4th Place Jr Hi Biological Division Medal 7 Weathers, Dawson Broadcom Masters Nomination Certificate
2013 South O'Brien Science Fair Results
Place Name Project Title 1 Haden, Brian Eficacy of corn stalk nutrition wth the addition of Calcium Hydroxide 2 Einck, Korrie Biomess to Biogas 3 Lundquist, Carly The effects of narcotics on Daphnia 4 Vander Pol, Courtney The effects of caffeine on Drosophila reproduction 5 Aberson, Ben The effects of salinity concentration on Artemia cysts 6 Friedrichsen, Lily The effects of gravel and gelatin on egg shell density 7 Rohwer, Joseph The rodincoil--a novel concept 8 Rehder, Courtney What substrate extracts stravberry DNA the best 9 Struve, Damon Staphlococcus Epidermidis genetic mutation to hand sanitizers 10 DeBoer, Bethany What is in your corn? Brett Lange Honorable Mention Alyssia Dougherty Honorable Mention Kyle Paulsen Honorable Mention Garrett Wagner Honorable Mention Courtney Rehder Outstanding Showboard Award Roder Research Award of $325 Brian Haden These students will compete in the Western Iowa Regional Science and Engineering Fair in Sheldon March 2 at NWICC.
Kellie Einck won the award described below!
Kellie Einck has been chosen a finalist for the Women of Innovation Award on Excellence in Science Research. Kellie is one of five Iowa girls chosen. The winner gets a $2500 scholarship and other prizes. Kellie will also get to meet some of the top women in business and innovation in Iowa at the awards ceremony in Des Moines on Nov 15.
KLLT - Lite 104.9 named Mrs. Janet Miller their 2012 Teacher of the Year! Mrs. Miller teaches first grade at the South O'Brien Elementary in Primghar.
The Sutherland Masonic Lodge named Mrs. Jane Muller their 2012 Teacher of the year. Mrs. Muller teaches Family and Consumer Science at South O'Brien High School in Paullina.
Erin Brasser competed for her third time (2009, 2010, 2012) at the INTEL International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Pittsburgh, PA, May 14-18. Erin, entered in the Animal Science category, presented her research project entitled, “trans-Resveratrol: Nature’s New Fountain of Youth—A longevity study of its effect on Ascaris Suum -Year 7”. Brasser qualified for final judging after preliminary judging Wed May 16 at the Pittsburgh Convention Center. 1580 students from 78 countries presented their research. Erin represented western Iowa as the WISEF (Western Iowa Science and Engineering Fair champion representative).
NWAEA Conference Art Show, May 3
Best of Show Overall – Scout Villegas (Silent Death)
Best in Painting Category – Scout Villegas (Silent Death)
Best in Ceramics Category – Cody Wright (Macaroni Bowl)
Student’s Choice Award – Scout Villegas (Assassins Creed)
Honorable Mention in Ceramics Category – Kelvan Lansink (Flipper)
Mason Hogle, Lennie Johnson, Sam Nelson, Cody Tjossem, and Drew Werkmeister for placied 2nd at the NWAEA 7th Grade Math Bee. Sam Nelson, Cody Tjossem and Drew Werkmeister received medals for placing in the individual top 20 scores.
Results of 2012 State Science and Technology Fair
The South O’Brien science fair team earned state of Iowa runner-up to Central Lee High School and just missed winning the state championship Clay Groff Memorial trophy by a 595-594 score. Central Lee has won the state title the last seven years. One more place or, one higher place, would have given South O’Brien the state championship. 82 schools competed in this event at Iowa State University March 30 and 31. Big and small schools share the same classification at this event.
South O’Brien students earned 38 awards, 4 trips, and over $6,200 in cash and scholarship money. Each award has a team point value which you can see on the award spreadsheet, which is linked above.
Spalding Catholic hosted the annual War Eagle Conference Academic Awards Banquet March 20. The WEC recognized the top 5% of the students from each HS grade. The juniors and seniors are invited to and recognized at the banquet. The juniors included Kaitlyn Aberson, Megan Burmakow, and Emily Riedemann. The seniors honored were Erin Brasser, Shaan Desai, and Breana Van Beek.
The freshmen recognized were Wyatt Sickelka, Karlene Negus and Eric Koehlmoos. The sophomores were Molly Weber, Emmali Sweeney and Austin Rohrs.
Junior Rebecca Thiel earned 2nd place in the 2012 State Reading Association Poetry Contest with her poem “Sense of Her.”
Fifteen students from South O’Brien participated in the regional History Day competition in Sioux City March 12. Austin Rohrs (paper) and Halee Rahbusch (individual documentary) qualified for the state History Day competition April 30 in Des Moines.
Academic Awards Recipients, Th, March 8, 2012
SENIORS JUNIORS SOPHOMORES Brasser, Erin Aberson, Kaitlyn Callahan, Michael Desai, Shaan Battaglioli, John Detrick, Jacque Draper, Tyler Burmakow, Megan Edwards, Mitchel Ebel, Cole Cooper, Stefan Einck, Kellie Hoger, Dylan De Vos, Matt Hintz, Mikayla Magnussen, Eric Fiddelke, Hunter Langland, Karissa Magnussen, Evan Friedrichsen, Will Matthews, Sierra Negus, Heath Hain, Dillon Muilenburg, Cali Paulsen, Adam Hoger, Luke Paulsen, Taylor Roberts, Zane Huckaby, Colten Puhrmann, Bret Smith, Jaynee McCauley, Bobby Rahbusch, Halee Sweeney, Austin Nelson, Kody Rohlfsen, Kendra Van Beek, Breana Patterson, Daniel Rohrs, Austin Wise, Austin Riedemann, Emily Struve, Rachel Zubrod, Patricia Schwebach, Ethan Sweeney, Emma Song, Hankyeol Wagner, Elizabeth Thiel, Rebecca Weber, Molly Weber, Sam Weber, Dennis Wester, Sara Wester, Leta
Regional Science Fair results from Saturday, March 1, 2012
The South O'Brien HS science fair team easily outpaced the other competition and won the Western Iowa Regional Science Fair by scoring 289 points. Second place Algona had 191 points. Our freshmen contingent was absolutely outstanding.
Name of Award Award Winner Grade School Score Points American Psychological Association Certificate Kayla Weishuhn ASM Materials Education Foundation Certificate and Medallion Dylan Riedemann Association For Women Geoscientists Certificate Tayla Coady Broadcom Masters Nomination Certificate/Competition Korrie Einck Intel Excellence in Computer Science Award Certificate and $200 Erin Brasser Mu Alpha Theta Certificate Erin Brasser National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Award Certificate and Medallion Gunnar Klinker RICOH Sustainable Development Award Certificate Eric Koehlmoos U. S. Metric Association Certificate Karlene Negus U. S. Navy and Marine Corps Certificate and $50 Kellie Einck U. S. Navy and Marine Corps Certificate and $50 Marcus Faust U. S. Navy and Marine Corps Certificate Korrie Einck U.S. Air Force Certificate+Bookbag+Computer Hardware Eric Koehlmoos U.S. Air Force Certificate+Bookbag+Computer Hardware Erin Brasser United States Army Certificate + Awards Chase Fuhrman United States Army Certificate + Awards Kellie Einck United States Army Certificate + Awards Erin Brasser WISEF Display Board Winner--Team Certificate Peyton Brasser WISEF Display Board Winner--Team Certificate Dawson Weathers WISEF Display Board Winner Certificate Korrie Einck Seminar Speech Awards Seminar Speeches: Middle School Team 1st Place Peyton Brasser Seminar Speeches: Middle School Team 1st Place Dawson Weathers Seminar Speeches: High School Biological 1st Place Erin Brasser Seminar Speeches: High School Biological 2nd Place Kellie Einck Individual and Team Projects Individual High School Biological Projects 1st Place (Trophy) Erin Brasser Individual High School Biological Projects 2nd Place Kellie Einck Individual High School Biological Projects 3rd Place Eric Koehlmoos Individual High School Biological Projects 4th Place Wyatt Sickelka Individual High School Biological Projects 5th Place Patrick Nelson Individual High School Physical Projects 2nd Place Brennan Sampson Individual High School Physical Projects 3rd Place Brody Schiefen Individual High School Physical Projects 4th Place Jordan Wohlert Individual Projects: Middle School Biological 1st Place (Trophy) Korrie Einck Tam Projects: Middle School Team (6th through 8th grade together) 3rd Place Team (Medals) Peyton Brasser Tam Projects: Middle School Team (6th through 8th grade together) 3rd Place Team (Medals) Dawson Weathers National and International Competition Awards Genius Olympiad Trip to SUNY Oswego, NY June 24-29 Eric Koehlmoos Genius Olympiad Trip to SUNY Oswego, NY June 24-29 Wyat Sickelka ISWEEEP AWARD Trip to Houston, Texas May 2-7 Kellie Einck World Science and Engineering Fair Award Trip to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania May 13-18 Erin Brasser
South O'Brien Science Fair Results, February 27, 2012
Name Place Koehlmoos, Eric 1 Fulk, Mitchel 2 Riedemann, Dylan 3 Sickelka, Wyatt 4 Klinker, Gunnar 5 Nelson, Patrick 6 Faust, Marcus 7 Wieshuhn, Kayla 8 Petrich, Naomi 9 Liebsack, Miranda 10 Wester, Daniel 11 Negus, Karlene 12 Sampson, Brennan 13 Richter, Dalton 14 Struve, Brett 15 Honorable Mention
Chindlund, Caleb Coady, Tayla Daniels, Kelsey Dunnick, Jourdaisha Fuhrman, Chase Goosen, Brice Heemstra, Jenna Irwin, Victor Jalas, Andrew Jones, Eric Kenney, Alyssa Louscher, Landon Roos, Jared Sickelka, Olivia
The Individual Events speechers had excellent performances on Sat, Feb 25. Nine of the twelve South O'Brien entries earned I ratings and will advance to State competition on March 10. Aaron Waples in solo musical theatre; Karissa Langland in Individual Improv and poetry; Sara Wester in prose; Hanna Song in Storytelling and prose; Mara Rohwer and Daniel Wester in Literary Progam; and Alivia Johnson in poetry.
The following South O’Brien Students are winners in the Northwest Iowa Reading Council’s Poetry Contest. Shelby Case and Rebecca Thiel are now entered into the state contest.
Grade 6 - 2nd place Madalyn Sampson, “Camping” (Mrs. Brasser)
Grade 7 - 2nd place Tristan Verdoorn,“Only Me” (Mr. White)
Grade 9 - 1st place Shelby Case,“Pay My Debts” (Mrs. Faust)
Grade 11 - 1st place Rebecca Thiel “A Sense of Her” (Mrs. Faust)
The Iowa HS Speech Association recognized the South O’Brien performance of “Note to Self” with an All-State Nomination. Schools who receive an All-State nomination are considered OUTSTANDING in their category and are invited to the All-State Festival in Ames which was held Feb 18. Only twelve Readers Theatre groups performed at the All-State Festival. Other All-State nominations received special recognition at the closing ceremony and each participant received an All-State medal. SOHS was one of the non-performing groups. Members of the group: Breana Van Beek, Alivia Johnson, Hanna Song, Bobby McCauley, Aaron Waples, Daniel Patterson, Mikayla Campbell, Sara Wester, Shelby Elrod, Mara Rohwer, Dillon Hain, Kellie Einck, Kendra Rohlfsen, Daniel Wester, and Wyatt Hicks
The following students have been selected to represent South O’Brien at the regional History Day competition on March 12 in Sioux City:
Jacque Detrick/Sierra Matthews
Group Exhibit
Kellie Einck
Ind. Exhibit
Libby Wagner
Ind. Exhibit
Austin Rohrs
Paper
Halee Rahbusch
Ind. Documentary
Leta Wester
Ind. Exhibit
Emma Sweeney
Ind. Exhibit
Kendra Rohlfsen
Ind. Exhibit
Patrick Wubben
Ind. Website
Cali Muilenburg
Ind. Website
Molly Weber/Rachel Struve
Group Documentary
8 junior high TAG students compete at the Northwest Iowa MATHCOUNTS competition on Feb 7. In the individual rounds, Ben Aberson ranked 3rd and Drew Werkmeister ranked 4th. They will both advance to the state competition in Des Moines March 23.
Congratulations Creative Writing Contest Winners
The following South O'Brien students placed in the Northwest Iowa Reading Council Creative Writing Contest. Placing first qualifies that student to enter the state contest.
Grade 12: 1st Breana VanBeek, 2nd Bryan Goettsch, 3rd Eric Magnussen.
Grade 9: 1st Marcus Faust, 2nd Wyatt Hicks
Grade 8: 1st Ty Hoey, 3rd Lily Friedrichsen
Grade 7: 3rd Isaiah Lopez
Grade 6: 3rd Jonathan Riedemann
Three South O’Brien groups earned I ratings at District Large Group Speech competition Jan 21 at Milford and earned the right to compete at the State contest on Feb 4.
Readers Theatre “Note to Self”: Mikayla Campbell, Kellie Einck, Shelby Elrod, Dillon Hain, Wyatt Hicks, Alivia Johnson, Bobby McCauley, Daniel Patterson, Kendra Rohlfsen, Mara Rohwer, Hanna Song, Breana Van Beek, Aaron Waples, Daniel Wester, and Sara Wester.
Ensemble Acting “Keeping Score”: Daisha Dunnick, Jenna Heemstra, Naomi Petrich, and Kayla Weishuhn.
Group Improv: Daniel Wester, and Wyatt Hicks.
II ratings were earned by Group Improv: Mara Rohwer, Rebecca Thiel; and Ensemble Acting “Chair Wars”: Shelby Case, Karissa Langland.
Junior Bobby McCauley was selected for the INS Superior Student Award for December 2011. He won a $250 savings bond. A commercial will run on over 100 Iowa radio stations during the week of Dec 19-25 with information about his service to the school and community. We are fortunate to have students like Bobby who are willing to give their time and energy to worthwhile projects!
South O'Brien receives a bronze medal in the 2009 U.S.News & World Report second annual list of America's Best High Schools.
America's Best High Schools recognizes three categories of distinction: gold, silver, and bronze. Analysis is based on:
- Standardized test performance
- Proficiency rates of all students, including the least advantaged
- Challenging college-ready curriculum
The bronze medal recognizes high schools that met the first two criteria of the America's Best High Schools methodology. These schools have demonstrated commendable performance on state tests, but did not perform well enough on the college readiness index to merit identification as a top-performing high school.
This national award is based on the principles that a great high school must serve all its students well,
not just those who are bound for college and it must be able to produce measurable academic outcomes to show that the school is successfully educating its student body across a wide range of performance indicators.U.S.News and World Report analyzed over 21,069 public high schools using data from the 2006-2007 school year. The top 100 schools received gold medals, the next 504 top-performing schools received silver, and the next
1,321 schools were awarded bronze medals.A complete list of America's Best High Schools, as well as details about the analysis and the methodology used in the ranking, is available at www.usnews.com/highschools or www.schoolmatters.com.
Academic Letter Winners
To qualify for an academic letter, a student must meet the following criteria:
- Maintain a 3.5 or higher grade point average for two consecutive semesters.
- All grades must be a C or higher.
- The student must have taken a full class load (college classes included) which are graded on the regular grading scale (college classes are not included in the GPA.)
- Transfer students may earn a letter after the end of their first semester in this school if they had a 3.5 or higher GPA in the other school the preceding semester and maintain at least that average here.
Honor Roll
The honor roll is divided into two parts: high honors and honors.
High Honors: A student must maintain at least a 3.75 GPA, must be taking a full class load on the regular grading scale and have no D, F, or Incomplete grades.
Honors: A student must maintain at least a 3.25 GPA, must be taking a full class load on the regular grading scale and have no D, F, or Incomplete grades.