By Laura Steuben, Exeter-Milligan Instructor
Representatives from Farmers & Merchants Bank and Generations Bank took time out of their schedules to come and teach EM Elementary students about money. The topic of their presentation was about the importance of saving money and also spending it wisely.
Students were able to participate in activities after the presentation.
Pictured is Jameson Trauger from Generations Bank in Exeter presenting to the elementary students.
The threat of rain lifted just in time for Exeter-Milligan elementary classes to hold their annual Field Day on Friday afternoon at the Exeter track. Kindergarten through fifth graders had the opportunity to try out a myriad of track events including high jump, long jump, a variety of hurdles and of course plenty of running. Parents, grandparents and friends came to watch as the elementary students raced, hopped and jumped through potato sack races, and skipped down the track. Exeter-Milligan Athletic Director Mrs. Darcy White supervised the event with help from the elementary teachers and many of the high school students.
Exeter-Milligan held their annual honors night on Tuesday, May 9 in the Exeter gym.
Student Council President Olivea Swanson welcomed the crowd before school guidance counselor Denice Kovanda initiated the National Honor Society induction. Current NHS members presented the tenants of the society and all current and new members recited the NHS pledge.
New members include sophomores Mikey Bartu, Kmila Benitez, Jayden Capek, Liberty Johnson, Kierra Papik, Aidan Vavra and Joleen Vossler.
The evening continued as the teachers gave out awards and recognition from their department events. Mrs. Mary Kay Pribyl began by introducing the students who participated in UNL Math Day and Harvard Math Day before Miss Phyllis Severson talked about the junior high Thayer Central math competition and she also recognized the students participating in Actions Day.
Mrs. Brandi Perez identified the journalism students and talked about their efforts on both the school newsletter and the yearbook. The students were also able to participate in a Nebraska Press Association workshop.
Mrs. Lisa Kanode recounted her students’ experience at the Hastings Mural Contest and then honored the art students along with the volunteers at Family Art Night and those whose artwork was displayed at the Capitol art show this year. She presented the most improved artist award to Emma Meyer and the Artist of the Year to Kmila Benitez.
Mr. Jordan Marr talked about the successes of the junior high and the high school quiz bowl teams. He also talked about the new fifth grade team that was formed this year. There were 14 junior high members competing and 15 high school members. The high school “A” and “B” team ended up competing against each other in the ESU quiz bowl. The “A” team just squeaked out a win.
Mr. Mark Perez recognized the choir members and the participants in the junior/senior high band. He presented the Directors award to Cohen Harre, the eighth grader with the most band points and the John Phillip Sousa Award outstanding senior was given to Jozie Kanode. Morgan White received the National School Choral Award.
Mrs. Kara Myers and Kovanda recognized the students who participated in one act this year. It has been three years since the district participated in one act.
Next up were Myers and Mr. Brian Murphy who coached the speech team this year. They opened their time at the podium with some duet acting which reviewed some highlights of the season. Speech participants Troy Kallhoff and Morgan White qualified for State Speech this year.
Mrs. MaryLou Vossler introduced the Family Career and Community Leaders of America participants and officers. She briefly reviewed the service projects the group has participated in this year which included a 5K run walk in July in which $1150 was donated to the Fillmore County Relay for Life along with the members working at the Rialto theatre.
Vossler also recognized Joleen Vossler with the gold medal she received at both district and state level for project on pedal safety. She introduced the chapter officers for next year and also Kierra Papik who serves as a district officer.
Superintendent Paul Sheffield presented Vossler with a plaque from the Exeter-Milligan Booster club thanking her for her years of service to the district.
Kovanda along with Principal Laura Kroll presented some of the special awards including the Legion citizen of the year award to Jayden Capek with Olivea Swanson receiving the Legion Auxiliary citizen of the year award and Troy Kallhoff was given the all school citizenship award.
High GPA awards were given to sixth grader Brynnlye Johnson, seventh grader Deacon Erdkamp, eighth grader Cheyenne Krupicka, ninth grader Brett Kallhoff, tenth grader Jayden Capek, eleventh grader Troy Kallhoff, and twelfth grader Jozie Kanode.
To end the evening the seniors were presented their very generous scholarship packages. Student Council Vice President Morgan White thanked the attendees and closed the program.
Boys-
Marcus Krupicka - 1st place Shotput, 2nd place Pole Vault
Tyler Due - 1st place Pole Vault
Carver Kanode - 3rd place Pole Vault
4 x 400 relay - 5th place Carver Kanode, Tyler Due, Avery Nichols, Troy Kallhoff
Girls
Savana Krupicka - 2nd place Triple Jump, 3rd place 400M
Jozie Kanode - 2nd place Pole Vault
Kaydence Hasse - 5th place 100M
Selah Petersen - 4th 200M
1 – Exeter-Milligan head girls basketball coach Jackson Krejci recently announced that he would be leaving the district after 17 years. He has also coached junior high basketball, high school football and junior high track. Krejci has taken a position at the new Standing Bear High School in Lincoln to be closer to his family.
2 – Exeter-Milligan three sport athletes pictured front row from the left: Kierra Papik, Lily Jeffries, Savana Krupicka, Draven Payne, Tyler Due, Jozie Kanode and Jayden Capek. Back row from the left: Andrew Vavra, Jonah Geiger, Marcus Krupicka, Aidan Vavra, Carter Milton, Brett Kallhoff, Mikey Bartu, Kiley Oldehoeft, and Olivea Swanson.
4 – Former Exeter/Exeter-Milligan head track coach Lonnie Shafer was the guest speaker at the final Exeter-Milligan athletic banquet.
5 – Receiving special recognition at the Exeter-Milligan athletic banquet pictured front row from the left: Kiley Oldehoeft, Savana Krupicka, Emma Meyer, Jozie Kanode and Jasmine Turrubiates. Back row from the left are: Brett Kallhoff, Marcus Krupicka and Troy Kallhoff.
The Exeter gym was the site of the final Exeter-Milligan Athletic Banquet on Monday night. Exeter-Milligan Superintendent Paul Sheffield opened the evening noting that “Twenty-one years ago two schools chartered a new path. . .if you look around this gym I think it went pretty well. They created not just a family but a culture. A culture that said it wasn’t enough to go to state, you needed to win.”
The evening, sponsored by the Exeter-Milligan Booster Club, started with a catered Windsor Loin meal. During the meal a slideshow of highlights throughout the years played. State championship teams were featured and all of the state trophies were displayed on the stage for the evening.
Each of the coaches had the opportunity to share about the season and introduce their players. FC/EM-F Softball Coach Aaron Lauby started and noted how his Timberpantdogs (their combination of the mascots, Timberwolves, Fillmore Central Panthers and Friend Bulldogs) are a “good barometer of how good it can be for all of our students.”
Brandi Perez spoke about the cheer squad and introduced both this year’s cheerleaders and next fall’s squad which includes Malorie Staskal, Lily Jeffries, Kaydence Haase, Alivia Luzum, Selah Petersen, Sydney Engert and Cheyenne Krupicka.
Head Bobcat Football coach Kory Kahlandt talked of the continued cooperation with Friend and quipped that “our true success won’t be known for 10 or 20 years until these young men become husbands and fathers.”
Girls golf coach Matt Nichols and head volleyball coach Madalynn Fousek also shared about their teams success during the season.
Brian Murphy spoke about the junior high football team and introduced the Exeter-Milligan players before Athletic Director Darcy White gave an update on junior high girls volleyball and track with Sara Pella taking the podium to talk about junior high girls basketball.
Jackson Krejci talked about the highlights of the junior high basketball and track seasons. He has coached and taught at Exeter-Milligan for the last 17 years and also was a graduate of the district. After introducing his players and the highlights of their seasons he noted that he had taken a position in Lincoln to be able to spend more time with his young family. The audience gave him a standing ovation as he left the podium.
High school boys basketball coach Travis Kotas gave a brief presentation on the season and introduced the players. He noted that he was on the first Exeter-Milligan boys basketball team as a senior 20 years ago and coached the last Exeter-Milligan team.
Boys golf coach Matt Nicholas commented on the current season standings and the meets they have remaining before high school track coach Brian Murphy announced the Walt Barkmeier track awards for the 2021-2022 season. Recipients of the awards were Savana Krupicka and Tyler Due.
Murphy thanked the booster club and many others for the assistance with the track team and reviewed how the team is progressing this season. He also introduced the guest speaker for the evening, former Exeter/Exeter-Milligan track coach Lonnie Shafer.
Shafer recalled many fond memories of his 32 years coaching track at Exeter-Milligan (he coached an additional nine years before coming to Exeter). He regaled the crowd with stories of track escapades, many of which included the parents of current Exeter-Milligan students.
He quoted the Exeter history book which gave the information on the consolidation that took place between Exeter and Milligan and commented that he hoped the transition with Exeter-Milligan and Friend followed the trend started over twenty years ago.
Coach Shafer also reiterated his track coach speech –which used the first letter of the words track coach and explained what that should mean. A teacher leader, a recruiter, adaptable, a communicator and knowledgeable. For coach he noted that they should be able to celebrate, be optimistic and apply the golden role, have ability and be charitable and kind while also being humble and modest.
Many would agree that this summed up the characteristics Shafer displayed when he coached them.
Sheffield thanked Shafer and then recognized the three sport athletes which included freshman Jonah Geiger, Brett Kallhoff and Kylie Oldehoeft. Sophomores identified were Mikey Bartu, Jayden Capek, Lily Jeffries, Carter Milton, Kierra Papik and Aidan Vavra. Juniors noted were Tyler Due, Savana Krupicka, Draven Payne and Andrew Vavra and the three seniors who participated in sports all three seasons were Jozie Kanode, Marcus Krupicka and Olivea Swanson.
Special medals were the final part of the evening. Emma Meyer was presented the Leonard Kassik softball player of the year. Jozie Kanode earned the Bill Fitzgerald volleyball trophy.
The outstanding football player of the year was given to Marcus Krupicka and he also was named the Gary Ruhl male basketball player of the year. Jasmine Turrubiates received the Gary Ruhl female basketball player of the year. The Bill Fitzgerald rookies of the year award were given to Kiley Oldehoeft and Brett Kallhoff.
Female team player of the year was Jozie Kanode and Troy Kallhoff was the male team player of the year. Savanah Krupicka received the female athlete of the year and her brother Marcus Krupicka was presented the male athlete of the year.
