WSHS students earn more than $700K in scholarships

Dozens of awards. Hundreds of thousands in scholarship dollars. A million possibilities for their future. 

The Class of 2026 has a lot to be proud of, and Wednesday’s Academic Achievement Recognition Program was a testament to the hours of hard work they have put into their high school career. More than $700,000 in scholarship money was awarded, including several scholarships awarded personally by those who select the winners and oversee the funds. 

The program also recognized the 56 graduating seniors who will leave with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or better, the 19 students receiving recognition from the Minnesota Department of Education for World Language Proficiency,  the 12 students who comprise the AVID Class of 2026, and the five students planning to serve in the armed forces.

The Organizational & Memorial Awards included: 

• Mark Steffes Memorial Scholarship: Autumn Wadewitz
• “Super Gav” Memorial Scholarship: Jolie Hill
• Pete Weess Science Scholarship: Bella Reeck
• Dave Mertes Athletic Scholarship: Chase Meadows, Piper Jones
• Brianna Grace Vitek Memorial Scholarship: Miriam Jackson and Anna Bricco
• Morrie Miller Scholarship: Madelynn Strobush
• Tim Speltz Light the Lamp Scholarship: Autumn Wadewitz, Kiley Pollock
• WEA Gretchen Derbyshire Scholarship: Morgan Bendor
• WEA Janet Luttmers Educational Scholarship: Kiley Pollock
• Tom Blacklock Memorial Scholarship: Alliana Brown
• Altra Foundation Community Service Scholarship: Riley Grinsteinner
• Elks Most Valuable Student Winona Elks Lodge #327 Scholarship: Salome Tolvaisas & Rodney Knutson
• Pick Your Path Scholarship: Lani Schul
• MiEnergy Cooperative Scholarship: Ava Henderson
• Bluff Country Hidden Heroes Scholarship: Kiley Pollock, Chase Meadows
• Gayle Goetzman Washington Kosciusko Scholarship: Morgan Bedor
• Class of 1974 WSHS Spirit Memorial Scholarship: Else Graner & Rodney Knutson
• Logan Monk Scholarship: Chase Meadows, Piper Jones
• Winona Lodge #18 Senior Scholarships: Salome Tolvaisas, Autumn Wadewitz, Kiley Pollock
• Winona Firefighters Local 575 Scholarship: Chase Meadows
• Joe Slavin Memorial Scholarship: Ava Henderson
• Earl Graves Memorial Scholarship: Nina Wagner, Kiley Pollock
• Trendah Acres Scholarship: Tabitha Mulkey
• P.E.O. Susan Cooper Scholarship: Salome Tolvaisas
• Donna Helble P.E.O. Scholarship Fund: Adelaide Krase
• P.E.O. Sue Spaete Scholarship Fund: Ava Henderson, Kiley Pollock
• P.E.O. Mary Kosek Scholarship: Bella Reeck
• P.E.O. Chapter CS Scholarship: Riley Grinsteinner
• Miller Mentoring It Takes Two Scholarship: Lilliana LeGere, Riley Grinsteinner
• Sharon K. Suchla Memorial Scholarship: Alexis McElmury, Riley Grinsteinner
• The Rhodes Family Scholarship: Aubrie Musta
• Sophia Allena Moe College Scholarship: Bella Reeck, Kiley Pollock
• Henry, Edith and Christine Hanson Memorial Scholarship (U of Minnesota Campus): Nina Wagner & Eleanor Schantzen
• Youth Scholarship Alliance/Community & Merit Scholarship: Salome Tolvaisas
• Erik Floan Memorial Scholarship: Kiley Pollock
• World Fair Scholarship: Jocelyn Villarreal Chavez
• Xcel Energy Scholarship: Rachel Spartz
• The Craig and Patricia Jilk Scholarship: Cinnamon Carpenter, Connor Ellinghuysen, Lani Schul, Korbin Frie
• Rollingstone Scholarship Fund: Miranda Thill
• Harvard Book Award: Teagan Berzinski
• Yale Book Award: Kenzie Bryant
• Miss Goodview Days Pageant: Jolie Hill
• Rollingstone Jaycees Scholarship: Miranda Thill
• Rollingstone Youth Sports Scholarship: Adyson Speltz
• Red Cross & Mayo Scholarships: Kiley Pollock
• Jake and Hal Edstrom Music Scholarship: Miriam Jackson
• Triple A Award: Kiley Pollock, Andrew Heltemes
• Fly Like an Eagle AVID Scholarship: Alliana Brown, Ashley Brommerich

The post-secondary institution awards earned by students include: 

• Rodney Knutson (Gustavus Adolphus): Dean’s Scholarship
• Kenley Jacobs (Carroll): Merit Scholarship
• Autumn Wadewitz (Viterbo): Viterbo GO Scholarship, Athletic Scholarship
• Connor Ellinghysen (Winona State): President’s Honor Scholarship
• Salome Tolvaisas (St. Thomas): GHR Fellows Scholarship
• Nina Wagner (Minnesota-Duluth): Ascent Scholar
• Ava Henderson (Augustana): Presidential Scholarship, Augustana Award, World Travel Award
• Korbin Frie (Winona State): Warrior Way Scholarship
• Claire Lynch (MSU-Mankato): Maverick Scholarship, Presidential Scholarship
• Riley Grinsteinner (UW-Stout): Inspiring Innovation Scholarship
• Abby Stratton (Bemidji State): Betti Lagather Sherman and Ken (Babe) Sherman Scholarship
• Adelyn Graham (UW-River Falls): Falcons Soar Scholarship

AVID Cords: Morgan Bedor, Emilee Bolduan, Ashley Brommerich, Alliana Brown, Parker Fassbender, Avery Foss, Jolie Hill, Dayneiri Kimani, Devin Shields, Teagan Storm, Landon Timm, Zayah Wobig

MDE World Language Proficiency: Berenice Aguilar Silva, Alyster Fox, Madilyn Gibbs, Adelyn Graham, Anilise Helgeson, Andrew Heltemes, Lucas Heltemes, Ava Henderson, Jolie Hill, Kiara Irias Talavera, Kenley Jacobs, Piper Jones, Tabitha Mulkey, Panfilo Olivo Gongora, Calla Pike, Elina Skranka, Jocelyn Villarreal Chavez, Lily Walters

Students Entering the Armed Forces: Justin Woyczik, Tristen Hareldson, Cohen Gebhardt, Destiny Bowen, Noah Becker (not pictured)

Haake Poetry Prize Winners: 1st Places - Ashiiyah Alexandar, Will Kihanya; 2nd Places - Alanys Lemke, Marguerite Lunderhausen, Madilyn Gibbs