Villisca graduates share smiles during commencement ceremony

VILLISCA — Valedictorian Casey Branan ended his commencement address with a simple question that sounded more like a challenge for his fellow graduates.

“Are we ready,” he asked.

Branan was one of 30 students receiving diplomas at Sunday’s ceremony in Villisca. He said while there will always be great memories associated with their high school experience, even greater ones await.

“We will move on to bigger and better things,” Branan said. “Life is always changing. It is never the same.”

Student Council President Marshall Dolch gave the opening remarks, using the opportunity to thank everyone for their support, while reminding classmates of the importance of their experiences.

“Time is how we have become who we are. We have all experienced ups and downs. We have good days and bad,” he said. “Dream big and dream often, and always take time to enjoy the good things in life.”

In addition to Dolch, Branan, and salutatorian Sawyer Emery Johannes, seniors Nicholas Eblen, Danielle Ives, Timothy Myers, Aleck Pafford, Conner Currin, and Leah Robinson provided amusing anecdotes about their classmates.

Following the presentation of the class video, the following students received diplomas from Board President Jason Poston:

Alexandria Elizabeth Acosta, Kelsey Victoria Auten, Courtney Renee Auxier, Jordan Howard Behrens, Casey Drei Branan, Conner Annel Currin, Marshall Kenneth Dolch, Nicholas and James Raymond Eblen;
Jonathon Edward Fletcher, Adam Ray Gladman, Drew Dale Goodrich, Lindsey Elizabeth Gregory, Austin Bradley Greig, Danielle Victoria Ives, Sawyer Emery Johannes and Katelyn Lois Kernen;

Vincent R. King, Danielle Jean Klocke, Mackensie Rae Mauderly, Cecil Earl McCuenMauderly, Cecil Earl McCuen III, Heidi Diane Moyer, Katherin Joe Murren, Timothy Dean Myers, Jr., Aleck Edwin Pafford, Elizabeth Ann Rinner, Leah Breann Robinson, Christopher David Schaaf, Brandy Allison Lyn Sickels, Trisha Ashley Nicole Thompson, and Nicholas Allan Wiechman.

Senior Scholarships

The following scholarships were awarded at Wednesday night’s award ceremony. Please note due to spacial constraints, the word “scholarship” was edited from each listing.

Montgomery County Soil & Water Conservation District, $400, to Chris Schaaf;

Villisca Interchurch Technical, $500, Courtney Auxier, Adam Gladman, Aust-in Greig, Katelyn Kernen, Aleck Pafford, Timmy Myers;

Jane Farmer Memorial, $250, to Mackensie Mauderly;

KMA Sportscaster, $300, to Timmy Myers;

Dr. Dick Bergren Trust Fund, to Marshall Dolch ($1,000) & Ashley Thompson ($3,000);

Montgomery Co. Pheasants Forever, $250, Marshall Dolch;

John F. Hossle/FFA, $300, to Marshall Dolch;

Montgomery County 4-H County Council, $200, to Marshall Dolch & DJ Klocke;

Rachel Lyle Memorial, $500, to MacKensie Mauderly;

Good Samaritan Society in memory of Bob & Joyce Brown, $150, to Ashley Thompson & Danielle Ives;

Mills-Montgomery County Cattlemen's Association, $500, to Marshall Dolch;

Montgomery County Farm Bureau, $500, to Marshall Dolch;

Tom & Janice Focht, $500, to Danielle Klocke;

ETS Early Bird, $250, to Ashley Thompson;

Iroquois Lodge No. 590 Masonic, $200, to Conner Currin;

Marvin Smith Family, $250, to Sawyer Johannes & Conner Currin;

Craig Smith Memorial, $250, to Timmy Myers & Courtney Auxier;

LaDonna Focht Memorial, $250, to Conner Currin;

Villisca FFA Alumni, $250, to Marshall Dolch;

Southwest Iowa REC, $500, to Ashley Thompson;

Lois Dotson Rusk Scholarship, $200, to Sawyer Johannes, Mackensie Mauderly, & Leah Robinson;

OBGyn Specialties, $200, to Aleck Pafford;

Robert A. Rusk Memorial, $200,to Chris Schaaf;

James Alan Rusk Memorial, $200, to Casey Branan;

Villisca Education Assoc-iation, $250, to Conner Currin;

American Red Cross, $357 each, to Conner Currin, Marshall Dolch, Sawyer Johannes, Katelyn Kernen, Leah Robinson, Chris Schaaf, & Ashley Thompson;

Villisca National Honor Society, $50-150,  to Conner Currin Marshall

Dolch, Sawyer Johannes, Katelyn Kernen, Leah Robinson, Chris Schaaf, & Ashley Thompson;

Meredith Communications, $1,000, to Marshall Dolch;

Altrusa International of Red Oak, $200, to Katelyn Kernen; $100 (Nellie Nelson), to Ashley Thompson;

Montgomery County Memorial Hospital Employee Sponsored, $500, to Ashley Thompson;

Frank Jacobs Memorial Ag-ricultural, $500, Chris Schaaf;

Tom and Susie Enarson Villisca Pride, $500, Timmy Myers;

Gordon Jones Memorial, $300, to Casey Branan;

Sunbest-Papetti Farm, $1,000, to Chris Schaaf;

Villisca Student Council, $100, to Marshall Dolch & Ashley Thompson;

Reno Smith FFA Chapter, $150, to Marshall Dolch, Aleck Pafford, Leah Robinson;

PEO, $100, Conner Currin;

Spencer Family FFA, $200, to Marshall Dolch;

Villisca Lions Cub, $500, to Marshall Dolch;

Don & Sherryl Williams Memorial, $1,000, Conner Currin;

Oscar Schroeder Memorial, $500, to Casey Branan;

Frederick & Lois Bryson Memorial, $300, Leah Robinson;

Villisca Chamber of Comm-erce, $300, Sawyer Johannes;

Austin B. Turner III Memorial, $500, Chris Schaaf;

Villisca Farmers' Telephone Company, $1,000, to Casey Branan, Conner Currin, & Sawyer Johannes;

Herman & Elizabeth Christie Memorial, $500, to Adam Gladman & Ashley Thompson;

Y-Teen, $250, to Conner Currin, Katelyn Kernen, DJ Klocke, Leah Robinson, & Ashley Thompson;

Senior Achievement Award from the Iowa State Dance/Drill Team, $1,000, to Sawyer Johannes;

Don and Donna Patton Memorial, $500, to Ashley Thompson;

Wilma Nelson Memorial, $200, to Conner Currin;

Red Oak Express/Jim Logan, $250, to Marshall Dolch;

All Iowa Opportunity, $7,534, to Conner Currin & Ashley Thompson;

American Legion Brick Fund, $300, to Aleck Pafford;

American Legion Post #251, $300, Adam Gladman;

Reifel-Ellwood, $400, to Marshall Dolch;

Rose Ann Auxiliary, $200, to Ashley Thompson;

Rita Kasha Memorial, $200, to Sawyer Johannes;

Iowa West Foundation, $1,000, to Ashley Thompson;

Great Western Bank, $200, to Casey Branan;

Grand View University, up to $40,000 to Marshall Dolch; Grand View University Men's Basketball, up to $18,000, Marshall Dolch;

Best Buy @ 15, $1,000.00, to Ashley Thompson;

Northwest Missouri State University Freshman Merit Award, $500, presented by Heather Weiss to DJ Klocke.

Northwest Missouri State University $1,500, to Mackenzie Mauderly.
Northwest Missouri State University Out-of-State Award, $2,361, Mackenzie Mauderly.

Iowa Western Community College Admissions Found-ation, $1000, to Nick Eblen.

Central College Community Service Award, $500, to Conner Currin.
Central College Presidential, $11,000, to Conner Currin.
Sam Walton Community, $3,000, to Ashley Thompson.