Tea Area School District honors outstanding students at 2026 Jr. K-12 Graduation Awards Ceremony: Jolene Kayser named Teacher of the Year

The Tea Area School District celebrated the accomplishments of the Class of 2026 during its annual JK-12 Graduation Celebration held Monday, May 11, in the Tea Area High School gymnasium.

The event recognized graduating seniors for academic achievement, leadership, fine arts, athletics and community involvement. In addition to numerous local scholarships, district officials announced that the graduating class had accepted more than $803,000 in scholarships for their freshman year of college, an amount that could exceed $2.9 million over four years.

The district’s Teacher of the Year award was announced during the ceremony, celebrating an educator who has made an exceptional impact on students and the school community. Named this year’s Teacher of the Year was Jolene Kayser. Teacher of the year nominees included Tamera Adkins, Nick Berg, Brook Boots, Sarah Brown, Heidi Devlin, Abby Gullickson, Jesse Hansen, Mallorie Heidinger, Jessica Henderson, Logan Stockman, Ally Wegleitner, Amber Hermanson, John Schmidt, Elyssa Houtsma, Allie Johnson, Tory Johnson, Angela Kamps, Samantha Kinder, Dana Kleinjan, Jeanne Krebs, Drew Weber, and Stephanie Wranek. Teacher of the year finalists were Loren Bauder, Jolene Kayser, Rachel Risse, and Brenda Whitehead. 

The Regents Scholar recipients were announced to open the program, honoring students who completed a rigorous course load that included four years each of mathematics and science, along with two years of world language or Career and Technical Education courses. Recipients also maintained at least a 3.0 GPA with no grade lower than a C. 

Those students included: Connor Ackerman, Jenna Gowin, Olivia Olawsky, Leah Ackmann, Colton Graham, Ava Opland, Jaycie Babb, June Hitzemann, Kiley Pendergast, Kennedy Bechard, Sage Hoffmann, Cody Petersen, Isaac Benally, Jonathon Howe, Gracelynn Preheim, Preslie Benning, Olivia Johnson, Abigail Reemtsma, Anna Binde, Makena Jutting, Brooklyn Reiners, Caden Bohnenberger, Ashlyn Karpinen, Gavin Reiners, Makenzie Bridell, Cason Kelling, Henrik Rimmer, Kimberlee Brockberg, Jaden Knodel, Melanie Roemen, Carter Brown, Brenner Konrad, Brooklyn Schaunaman-Schaaf, Rylan Burch, Gracie Kramer, Andrew Schmidt, Ella Cambier, Zoe Kreidler, Morgan Sehr, Carter Christiansen, Hayva Larson, Savannah Stahnke, Ellie Clayberg, Daschle Lowery, Kairis Thomas, Anaya Connors, Arden McGraw, McKenzie Thompson, Chase DeBoer, Victoria McIntyre, Abby Thoreson, Meredith Decker, Piper Mckinney, Ty Van Voorst, Jacob DeYoung, Aubrey Mehlbrech, Jocelyn Van Westen, Katelyn Flannery, Brody Miller, Emma Watson, Natalie Gass, Leyton Moran, Zachary Webb, Kylie Gossen, Cole Northrup, and Kayden Williamson.

Students receiving the President’s Outstanding Academic Excellence Award were also recognized. This distinction is awarded to students who earned a minimum 3.667 GPA and scored 24 or higher on the ACT. 

These students included:  Connor Ackerman, Arden McGraw, Jaycie Babb, Victoria McIntyre, Kennedy Bechard, Aubrey Mehlbrech, Carter Brown, Brody Miller, Ella Cambier, Cole Northrup, Carter Christensen, Olivia Olawsky, Ellie Clayberg, Ava Opland, Anaya Connors, Kiley Pendergast, Meredith Decker, Gracelynn Preheim, Jacob DeYoung, Brooklyn Reiners, Katelyn Flannery, Gavin Reiners, Natalie Gass, Henrik Rimmer, June Hitzemann, Melanie Roemen, Makena Jutting, Morgan Sehr, Ashlyn Karpinen, Savannah Stahnke, Jaden Knodel, Abby Thorseon, Zoe Kreidler, Ty Van Voorst, Hayva Larson, Zach Webb, Daschle Lowery, and Kayden Williamson

Forty-six members of the graduating class were inducted into the National Honor Society and received gold medals to wear during commencement. Students receiving this have maintained a cumulative GPA. Of 3.5 or better and excel in scholarship, leadership, service and character. 

These seniors included: Leah Ackmann, Piper McKinney, Jaycie Babb, Aubrey Mehlbrech, Preslie Benning, Brody Miller, Anna Binde, Leyton Moran, Carter Brown, Cole Northrup, Ella Cambier, Olivia Olawsky, Carter Christensen, Ava Opland, Ellie Clayberg, Kiley Pendergast, Anaya Connors, Cody Petersen, Meredith Decker, Braelyn Petrik, Jacob DeYoung, Gracelynn Preheim, Katelyn Flannery, Brooklyn Reiners, Natalie Gass, Gavin Reiners, Sage Hoffman, Melanie Roemen, Makenna Jutting, Andrew Schmidt, Ashlyn Karpinen, Morgan Sehr, Jaden Knodel, Tatym Slykhuis, Brenner Konrad, Savannah Stahnke, Zoe Kreidler, Kairis Thomas, Hayva Larson, Mckenzie Thompson, Daschle Lowery, Abby Thorseon, Arden McGraw, Jocelyn Van Westen, Victoria McIntyre, and Kayden Williamson.

Students involved in band and choir who met academic and leadership standards were awarded pink Tri-M Music Honor Society cords. To earn the Tri-M cord, the student needs to have a 3.0 GPA or better, be active in band and/or chorus, show good character and set an example of excellence in performing and promoting music in our school and community. Those earning those cords included: Jaycie Babb. Daschle Lowery, Melanie Roemen, Anna Binde, Arden McGraw, Andrew Schmidt, Kimberlee Brockberg, Victoria McIntyre, Morgan Sehr, Meredith Decker, Aubrey Mehlbrech, Tatym Slykhuis, Natalie Gass, Paityn Morrison, Savannah Stahnke, Sage Hoffman, Olivia Olawsky, Kairis Thomas, Jonathon Howe, Ava Opland, McKenzie Thompson, Ashlyn Karpinen, Kiley Pendergast, Abby Thoreson, Jaden Knodel, Gracelynn Preheim, Jocelyn Van Westen, Brenner Konrad, Gavin Reiners, Emma Watson, Gracer Kramer, Henrik Rimmers.

Graduates earning a cumulative GPA between 3.5 and 3.999 received honors cords, while students with a 4.0 GPA or higher were presented Summa Cum Laude cords. 

Honor cords were given to: Connor Ackerman, June Hitzemann, Abigail Reemtsma, Leah Ackmann, Sage Hoffman, Brooklyn Reiners, Kennedy Bechard, Jonathon Howe, Henrik Rimmer, Juv Banza, Olivia Johnson, Melanie Roemen, Ashlyn Barcklay, Samantha Johnson, Isaiah Rollman, Preslie Benning, Makena Jutting, Brooklyn Schaunaman-Schaaf, Anna Binde, Cajmonai King, Andrew Schmidt, Makenzie Bridell, Jaden Knodel, Cale Slack, Carter Brown, Brenner Konrad, Tatym Slykhuis, Ella Cambier, Gracie Kramer, Kayla Sommerfeld, Ellie Clayberg, Zoe Kreidler, Savannah Stahnke, Anaya Connors, Hayva Larson, Brady Tapia, Ethan Degeest, Victoria McIntyre, Kairis Thomas, Katelyn Flannery, Piper McKinney, McKenzie Thompson, Natalie Gass, Brody Miller, Abby Thoreson, Kylie Gossen, Leyton Moran, Ty Van Voorst, Jenna Gowin, Cole Northrup, Jocelyn Van Westen, Kasen Groeneveld, Coralynn Oliva, Emma Watson, Lanie Henry, Cody Petersen, Zachary Webb,  and Braelyn Petrik. 

Summa Cum Laude Cords were given to: Jaycie Babb, Aubrey Mehlbrech, Caden Bohnenberger, Olivia Olawsky, Carter Christensen, Ava Opland, Meredith Decker, Kiley Pendergast, Jacob DeYoung, Gracelynn Preheim, Ashlyn Karpinen, Gavin Reiners, Daschle Lowery, Morgan Sehr, Arden McGraw, and Kayden Williamson.

Nine members of the Class of 2026 were recognized for their commitment to serve in the United States military. Those honored were Isaac Benally, Jacob DeYoung, Alyssa Jongeling, Brisia Saavedra, Andrew Schmidt, Ashton Smit, Ghuntheer Tellado Guevara, Zach Webb and Kaydence Soulek.

Arden McGraw was recognized as a National Merit Scholar, a distinction awarded to fewer than one percent of the more than 1.3 million students nationwide who enter the competition through the PSAT.

Five students were announced as recipients of the highly competitive Build Dakota Scholarship, a full-ride scholarship covering tuition, fees, books, equipment and other expenses at South Dakota technical colleges. Recipients were Brady Tapia, Kayla Sommerfeld, Ciera Otten, Trey Severin and Miles Mitchell.

Among the many scholarship recipients recognized during the ceremony were:

• Tea Area Community Foundation Scholarships: Arden McGraw and Kairis Thomas

• Justin Lake College Scholarship: Arden McGraw

• Reliabank Scholarships: Meredith Decker, Sage Hoffman, Brenner Konrad, Daschle Lowery and Gracelynn Preheim

• American Bank & Trust Scholarship: Anna Binde

• Southeastern Electric Cooperative Scholarship: Meredith Decker

• Ethan David Chapman Scholarship: Tatym Slykhuis

• Tea Lions Club Bossman-Klinghagen Memorial Scholarships: Brenner Konrad and Daschle Lowery

• Tea American Legion Scholarships: Ava Opland and Carter Christensen

• Music Boosters Scholarships: Arden McGraw and Meredith Decker

• Tea Area High School Teachers Scholarships: Arden McGraw and Brenner Konrad

Activities Director Craig Clayberg recognized the female student-athletes as part of National Girls and Women in Sports Day: Leah Ackmann, Piper McKinney, Jaycie Babb, Aubrey Mehlbrech, Preslie Benning, Rease Moe, Anna Binde, Olivia Olawsky, Ellie Clayberg, Ava Opland, Anaya Connors, Gabby Overwise, Meredith Decker, Kiley Pendergast, Natalie Gass, Brooklyn Reiners, Heidi Hofer, Brisia Saavedra, Sage Hoffman, Morgan Sehr, Olivia Johnson, Tatym Slykhuis, Gracie Kramer, Avalon Thompson, Zoe Kreidler, McKenzie Thompson, Hayva Larson, and Emma Watson. 

Outstanding Senior Fine Arts Awards were presented to Kairis Thomas and Arden McGraw, while Outstanding Senior Athlete Awards went to Jaycie Babb and Chase DeBoer. The criteria for these awards includes Involvement in at least three activities for fine arts, thee sports in athletics, GPA, Good Citizen, Community leader and Nominated and voted on by activity leaders and coaches. 

The Tea Titans Youth Wrestling Club awarded scholarships to Chase DeBoer, Ashton Smit, Jaeden Waltner and Tyler Woodring.

Sports Boosters Scholarships were awarded to 16 students for their achievements in athletics, academics and community involvement.  Students receiving the honor included: Anna Binde, Carter Christensen, Sage Hoffman, Jaycie Babb, Ellie Clayberg, Olivia Olawsky, Daschle Lowery, Carter Brown, Caden Bohnenberger, Brenner Konrad, Jack Campbell, Raleigh Powell, Morgan Sehr, Ava Opland, Aubrey Mehlbrech, and Meredith Decker. 

Superintendent Dr. Warzecha also recognized retiring staff members Wayne Larson, Twyla Lippert, Amy Lynch and Dave Sieler for their years of service to the district.

The event concluded with students and attendees joining together to sing the Titan Song, led by elementary music teacher Mrs. Krebs and members of the elementary student councils.