May 1—PIERRE — The top 1% of the state’s graduating seniors in the class of 2025 were recognized on Monday, April 28 at South Dakota’s annual Academic Excellence Recognition luncheon.
Gov. Larry Rhoden and the Associated School Boards of South Dakota honored students who were identified as the top 1% of their senior class, from the state’s public, private and tribal schools.
Students designated as their high school’s honorees received a certificate signed by Rhoden, Secretary of State Monae Johnson, and ASBSD President Garret Bischoff, a commemorative South Dakota pin and the opportunity to meet and have their photo taken with the governor.
“Congratulations to all the students here,” Rhoden told the seniors. “You’ve put in years of effort and your hard work and perseverance are an inspiration to all of us. You’re the best and the brightest. You’re the next generation of leaders in our state.”
ASBSD President Garret Bischoff, of Huron, echoed the governor’s sentiment on the students being the next leaders of the state.
“South Dakota needs talented and skilled people like yourselves to share your creative ideas and solutions to continue to push our great state forward,” Bischoff said. “You have strived to reach your academic heights and we’re thankful for the opportunity to recognize your achievement.”
A list of Mitchell-area honorees is listed below. If a high school is not listed, an honoree was not submitted by the school.
Andes Central: Emery Bultje
Armour: Riley Spaans
Avon: Lila Vanderlei
Bon Homme: Landon Schmidt
Bridgewater-Emery: Candice Stahl
Burke: Avery Zeisler
Canistota: Brady Scott
Chamberlain: Aadyn Hosek
Colome: Westlie Cahoy
Corsica-Stickney: Saylor Lefers
Dakota Christian: Kalee Dykshorn
Ethan: William Kreth
Freeman: Claire Hofer
Gregory: Cole Serr
Hanson: Cadence Jarding
Howard: Briella Wettlaufer
Kimball: Madi Von Eye
Lower Brule: Martina Desphy
Lyman: Morgan Hoffman
Marion: Dominic Sperling
Marty Indian: Jordan Zephier
McCook Central: Madison Lauck
Menno: Addisyn Friesen
Mitchell: Lauren Hofer, Brady Trefz, Rachel Ziegeldorf
Mitchell Christian: Jason Baas
Montrose: Makarie Wiebersick
Mount Vernon: Reagan Rus
Parkston: Mya Wickersham
Plankinton: Abigail Davis
Platte-Geddes: Sydney Neuman
Sanborn Central: Caleb Kneen
Scotland: Trinity Bietz
Tripp-Delmont: Jamie Bacon
Wagner: Presley Slaba
Wessington Springs: Branden Flowers
White Lake: Ryden Becker
Winner: August Bartels
Woonsocket: Emilie Lindgren