Achievements and Honors
Awards are listed below for Large Group and Individual All-State, Thespian Festival, the Iowa High School Musical Theatre Awards, Best Thespian Awards, and Poetry Out Loud
Large Group and Individual Events - All State Recognition
2023 All-State Large Group
Ensemble Acting: Grant Anderson, Ryder Bates, Hannah Hildebrand, Camden Holland, and Skye Rhoten
Ensemble Acting: Aleigha Ausman, Abbey Beal, Sam Miller, and Josephine McDonald
2023 All-State Individual Events
*Aleigha Ausman: Acting
*Abbey Beal: Prose
*Sami Clark: Storytelling
*Alex DeMuth: After Dinner Speaking
*Braelyn Ensor: Solo Musical Theatre
*Luci Hopkins: Acting
*Ryan Sales: Prose
*Aurelia Zylstra: Storytelling
2022 All-State Large Group
*Group Improvisation: Emily Carlo, Maggie Leach, Josephine McDonald, Bethany Schreur
*Radio Broadcasting: Gavin Beckey, Lance Erickson, Zadok Gustavson, Zane McSheehy
Readers Theatre: Sam Beukelman, Jacob Byers, John De Bruin, Alloree Else, Addi Hartwick, Willa Kelpe, Lily Lovell, Kolton Messer, Taryn Peffers, Skye Rhoten, Ryan Sales, Wyatt Van Dyke
2022 All-State Individual Events
*Grant Anderson: Solo Musical Theatre
*Aleigha Ausman: Acting
*Luci Hopkins: Storytelling
*Maggie Leach: Prose
*Maggie Leach: After Dinner
*Zane McSheehy: Radio News Announcing
*Ryan Sales: Prose
2021 All-State Large Group
Readers Theatre: Sam Beukelman, Jacob Byers, John De Bruin, Cameron Johnson, Willa Kelpe, Lily Lovell, Taryn Peffers, Skye Rhoten, Ibby Schlerman, Ella Van Zee
2021 All-State Individual Events
Connor Gauley: After Dinner Speaking
Will Rasmussen: Spontaneous Speaking
Addison Hartwick: Original Oratory
Ryan Sales: Prose (9th)
Maggie Leach: After Dinner Speaking
Maggie Leach: Prose
2020 All-State Large Group
Musical Theatre: Abbi Adrian, Emily Rozendaal, Hanna Kendall, Hannah Tschetter, Tierney Copeland
Musical Theatre: Colby VanGorp, Connor Gauley, Grayson Parisee, Maggie Leach, Mason Diaz Bandera, Meridith Rowe, Travis Mitchell, Will Rasmussen
Group Improvisation: Will Rasmussen, Titus Hopkins, Connor Folkers, John DeBruin, Travis Mitchell
Readers Theatre: Ashley Uitermarkt, Cameron Johnson, Emily Rozendaal, Grace Emmert, Hanna Kendall, Ibby Schlerman, Joe Beukelman, John DeBruin, Liam Peffers, Sam Beukelman, Willa Kelpe, Wyatt Kelpe
2020 All-State Individual Events
Hanna Kendall: Prose
Maggie Leach: After Dinner Speaking
Sarah Linde: Original Oratory
Josephine McDonald: Poetry (9th)
Liam Peffers: Lit Program
Meridith Rowe: Musical Theatre
Elaine Schippers: Poetry
Ella VanZee: Storytelling
2019 All-State Large Group
Musical Theatre: Ezra Blasi, Frances DeArmond, Connor Gauley, Hanna Kendall, Travis Mitchell, William Rasmussen, Lydia Taylor, Hannah Tschetter
Television News: Levi Dugger, Gavin Klein, Troy Miller, Jacob Schemm, Matthew Thompson, Gavin Tierney
2019 All-State Individual Events
*Connor Gauley: After Dinner Speaking
*Maggie Leach: Prose (9th)
*Meridith Rowe: Musical Theatre (9th)
2018 All-State Large Group
Ensemble Acting: Brenna Hildebrand, Grace Larson, Julie Start, Ethan Vance, Brady VanWaardhuizen
Musical Theatre: Mason Diaz Bandera, Grayson Parisee, Colby VanGorp
*Musical Theatre: Caroline Henry, Natalie Henry, Bailee Meyer, Maggie Renaud, Andie Sunderman, Lydia Taylor, Juliana VanGorp
Readers Theatre: Annaleigh Babcock, Chris Call, Zoe Card, Grace Cottington, Cameron Johnson, Hanna Kendall, Liam Peffers, Emily Rozendaal, Elaine Schippers
*Television News: Austin Adrian, Levi Dugger, Caroline Henry, Gavin Klein, Kaleb Lyons, Troy Miller, Jacob Schemm, Matthew Thompson, Gavin Tierney, Nick Vroom
2018 All-State Individual Events
Hanna Kendall: Prose
Ethan Vance: Improvisation
Ethan Vance: Literary Program
Isaac Zeimetz: Acting
2017 All-State Large Group
Musical Theatre: Hannah Emmert, Jarod Martens, Tate Petty, Michael Schildroth, Sam Sharp, Lydia Taylor, Juliana Van Gorp
Television News: Levi Dugger, Gavin Klein, Troy Miller, Tate Petty, Luke Schemm, Jacob Schemm, Sam Sharp
*Group Improvisation: Grace Larson, Julie Start, Ethan Vance, Isaac Zeimetz
Readers Theatre (9th): Zoe Card, Chris Call, Grace Cottington, Cameron Johnson, Hanna Kendall, Olivia Marstall, Liam Peffers, Emily Rozendaal, Elaine Schippers, Colton VanZanten
2017 All-State Individual Events
*Lauren Ashworth: Storytelling
*Hannah Cutler: Literary Program
2016 All-State Large Group
Musical Theatre – Jake Grundey, Caroline Henry, Natalie Henry, Bailee Meyer, Michael Schildroth, Lexi VanHaaften
*Group Mime – Jey Ches, Shounam Ches, Yongyee Yang
2016 All-State Individual Events
*Micah Criscuolo: Improv
*Mandolin Holmes: Literary Program
*Isaac Zeimetz: Improv
2015 All-State Large Group
Musical Theatre: Cameron Blom, Shanae DeHaan-Burch, Micah Hammann, Matthew Sutija, Julie VanEe, Jon VanWyk
*Readers Theatre: Kody Beller, Colin Jones, Devin McCain, Eleanor Witt
2015 All-State Individual Events
*Colin Jones: Prose
*Davis VandeSteeg: Poetry
2014 All-State Large Group
Group Improvisation: Nathan Clayberg, Greg Frommelt, Jack Parisee, Aaron VanMaanen
Musical Theatre: Claire Anderson, Nathan Clayberg, Greg Frommelt, Tom Palmer, Aaron VanMaanen
*Readers Theatre: Kody Beller, Colin Jones, Devin McCain, Eleanor Witt
2014 All-State Individual Events
*Sydney Swanson: Literary Program
*Aaron VanMaanen: Expository Address
2013 All-State Large Group:
*Group Improvisation: Evan Jones, Mitch Shepperd, Bailey Tripp, Micah Zeimetz
Group Improvisation (9th): Micah Criscuolo, Alex Finn, Joe Gaiser, Craig Miller, Elyse Parisee
Musical Theatre: Nathan Clayberg, Matthew Klein, Jack Parisee, Sam Palmer, Mitch Shepperd, Aaron VanMaanen
Readers Theatre: Kody Beller, Devin McCain, Colin Jones, Eleanor Witt
2013 All-State Individual Events
Mitch Shepperd: Radio News
*Mitch Shepperd: Review
*Benjamin Tiskevics: Storytelling
*Bailey Tripp: Storytelling
*Micah Zeimetz: Improvisation
2012 All-State Large Group
Group Improvisation: Kelly Anderson, Marielle Gaiser, Sydney Swanson
Group Improvisation: Evan Jones, Mitch Shepperd, Bailey Tripp, Micah Zeimetz
Readers Theatre (9th): Kody Beller, Devin McCain, Colin Jones, Eleanor Witt
2012 All-State Individual Events
Kelly Anderson: Poetry
*Marielle Gaiser: Literary Program
Alex Ropes: Spontaneous Speaking
*Jessica Salpor: Spontaneous Speaking
*Micah Zeimetz: After Dinner Speaking
2011 All-State Large Group
*Group Improvisation (9th): Nathan Clayberg, Greg Frommelt, Jack Parisee, Aaron VanMaanen
2011 All-State Individual Events
*Jake Anderson: Review
Jake Anderson: Spontaneous Speaking
*Kelly Anderson: Poetry
Marielle Gaiser: Poetry
*Evan Jones: Review
Eric Moore: Storytelling
*Jessica Salpor: Spontaneous Speaking
2010 All-State Individual Events
Andrew Sagers: Spontaneous Speaking
*All State Performers
Thespian Festival Awards
2023 - National Performer in Musical Theatre - Grant Anderson
2023 - National Performer in Acting - Aleigha Ausman
2023 - National Performer in Acting - Luci Hopkins
2022 - National Performer in Monologue - Maggie Leach
2018 - 2nd Place in Duet Acting - Hanna Kendall and Colby VanGorp
2018 - 2nd Place in Short Film - Elaine Schippers
2018 - All-State Cabaret Performers - Colby Van Gorp and Hanna Kendall
2017 - National Performer in Solo Musical Theatre - Caroline Henry
2017 - National Performers in Duet Musical Theatre - Caroline Henry and Natalie Henry
2017 - National Performer in Theatre Marketing - Brenna Hildebrand
2016 - National Performer in Costume Design - Mandolin Holmes
2015 - National Performers in Group Acting - Craig Miller, Paige Miller, Micah Criscuolo, Mallory Wheeler, Mandolin Holmes, Tate Petty
2015 - National Performer in Solo Musical Theatre - Natalie Henry
2014 - 1st Place for Costume Design - Victoria Karnes
2014 - National Performer for Theatre Marketing - Davis VandeSteeg
Iowa High School Musical Theatre Awards
2023 - Little Shop of Horrors
Production Award: Outstanding Overall Technical & Creative Achievement
Production Award: Outstanding Student Orchestra
Outstanding Featured Ensemble - The Urchins
Outstanding Performance in a Principal Role - Jacob Rietveld as "Seymour"
Outstanding Achievement in a Behind-the-Scenes Role - Ryder Bates for Sound Design and Board Operation
Special Recognition for Performance in a Principal Role - Kolton Messer as "Audrey 2 Voice"
2021 - The Addams Family
Production Awards Distinguished Scene – “When You’re An Addams” Student Awards
Outstanding Performance in a Principal Role – Hannah Tschetter as “Morticia Addams”
Outstanding Sound Design/Sound Board Operation – Ryder Bates
Special Recognition for Performance in a Principal Role – Braelyn Ensor as "Wednesday Addams"
Special Recognition for Performance in a Principal Role – Travis Mitchell as “Gomez Addams”
Special Recognition for Light Board Operation – Jacob Byers
Best Thespian Awards
2023 - Aleigha Ausman
2022 - Maggie Leach
2021 - Connor Gauley
2020 - Hanna Kendall
2019 - Luigi Lopez
2018 - Isaac Zeimetz
2017 - Ryan Van Maanen
2016 - Craig Miller
2015 - Matthew Weihe
2014 - Aaron Van Maanen
2013 - Micah Zeimetz
Poetry Out Loud
2023 - Josephine McDonald
2022 - Josephine McDonald
2021 - Josephine McDonald
2019 - Elaine Schippers - 2nd place