WSHS inducts 58 students into National Honor Society

The life of a superintendent is a busy one, but Brad Berzinski knows where he stands when compared to dozens of National Honor Society students. 

“I’m amazed you can do it all,” said Berzinski, the Superintendent of Winona Area Public Schools. 

On Wednesday night, 58 Winona Senior High School students — 38 from the Class of 2025 and 18 from the Class of 2026 — were inducted into the NHS, each and every one with a Google calendar that could go toe-for-toe with the leader of the district. 

That’s because in addition to maintaining excellent grades in the classroom — NHS students generally need a 3.66 GPA or better — the students honored Wednesday night are involved in multiple extracurricular activities. Some have jobs. All of them are committed to hours and hours of volunteer work, both in the high school and within WAPS and also in the greater Winona community. 

The NHS adviser, Sarah Dixen, acknowledged that it takes a lot of work to organize all the various volunteer activities, but she is amazed that these NHS students continue to show up, whether that means a 7:15 a.m. shift at an elementary school playground, a tutoring session for a 9th grader struggling with biology, or helping out a local organization in town. 

Mayor Scott Sherman, who was the guest speaker for the ceremony, remarked at the students’ leadership skills, and he encouraged them to use those skills whenever possible. 

Speeches were also delivered by student board members on the four NHS pillars: 

• Keeli Meyer, scholarship
• Clay Cottrell, service
• Vice President Anna Gilmer, leadership
• President Sawyer Lepsch, character

Other board members include Jillian Macon, who introduced Sherman, and Brady Benedict, who had the difficult task of lighting the candles on a sometimes breezy but otherwise beautiful evening. 

Returning inductees from the Class of 2025 include: Alaina Bell, Brady Benedict, Tanner Benson, Mya Brand, Adriana Brenengen, Clay Cottrell, Alicia Dionysius, Alexia Ebertowski, Makayla Finnegan, Anna Gilmer, Chey Goettelman, Evelyn Gondola, Asta Griggs, Malia Indra, Ruby Kiesel, Velaina Kiesel, Boden Larsen, Jacob Larsen, Lenora Leger, Sawyer Lepsch, Jillian Macon, Keeli Meyer, Eric Pampuch, Hope Quinn, Makenna Schroeder, Joshua Sheridan, Myron St George, Lauren Steinfeldt, Brianna Styba, Morgan Tye.

New inductees in the Class of 2025 include: Sophia Ehlo, Aliya Gricius, Adelyn Knudson, Emma Mandelkow, Caleb Meyer, Jacob Sheridan, Makayla Tesmer, Benjamin Wisniewski. 

New inductees in the Class of 2026 include: Emily Benke, Elizabeth Graner, Riley Grinsteinner, Andrew Heltemes, Lucas Heltemes, Piper Jones, Adelaide Krase, Claire Lynch, Calla Pike, Kiley Pollock, Carson Prodzinski, Lucy Sanders, Eleanor Schantzen, Pippa Serleth, Elina Skranka, Rachel Spartz, Salome Tolvaisas, Avani Roka.