H-M-S High School students honored for academic excellence

Athletics aren't the only thing Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn High students take seriously.

Seven juniors and seniors were honored on March 21 during the War Eagle Conference Academic Banquet. This distinction is reserved for the Top 5 percent of students in the junior and senior classes.

Also acknowledged for academic excellence at the event were H-M-S sophomores Gracie Knobloch and Eliza Tewes and freshmen Natalie Daggett and Payton Diehm. The banquet was held in Hull at Trinity Christian High School. Included below are each H-M-S student's profiles.

Senior Kooper Ebel, of Hartley, is the son of Korey and Jonna Ebel. He has been involved in football, basketball, baseball, track, National Honor Society, band and FCA.

Ebel's academic honors include National Honor Society, Spanish National Honor Society, being in the Top 5 percent of his class, and being named all-academic in football, basketball, track and baseball.

He plans to attend Iowa State University next fall, where he has a full ride scholarship to play football and major in education.

Senior Elise Haack, of Sanborn, is the daughter of Ryan and Erica Haack. She has been involved in volleyball, basketball, golf, band, National Honor Society, Spanish National Honor Society and FCA.

Haack's academic honors include valedictorian, secretary of National Honor Society, Spanish National Honor Society, Governor's Academic Award, volleyball academic all-conference and Best of Class.

Haack plans to attend the University of Iowa and enroll in their six-year pharmacy program.

Senior Abby Kunzman, of Hartley, is the daughter of Chad and Jill Kunzman. She has been involved in volleyball, softball, student council, golf, band and jazz band at H-M-S.

Kunzman's academic honors include National Honor Society vice president, all-conference academic and A-honor roll.

She plans to attend the University of Iowa to major in pre-medicine and then apply to medical school to specialize in dermatology.

Junior Delany Murphy, of Sanborn, is the daughter of Naomi and Jeff Walters. She has been involved in cheerleading, Dance Attack, softball, tumbling and National Honor Society.

Murphy's academic honors include honor roll, Top 5 percent of her class and all-academic team for football cheerleading.

Murphy plans to attend nursing school and then further her education to become a nurse practitioner.

Junior Adam Schierholz, of Hartley, is the son of Andy and Erica Schierholz. He has been involved in football, track and National Honor Society at H-M-S.

Schierholz's academic honors include all-academic team for football, National Honor Society and Top 5 percent of his class.

Schierholz's plans after high school are undecided.

Junior Kinsey Schirmer, of Sanborn, is the daughter of Scott and Rachel Schirmer. She has been involved in volleyball, basketball cheerleading, softball, golf, dance, tumbling, choir, National Honor Society, youth group, Girls League, student council and flag corps in high school.

Her academic honors include being on the honor roll and in the Top 5 percent of her class.

Schirmer's future plans are to attend the University of South Dakota to study pre-med and later attend medical school to become an OB/GYN.

Junior George Vargas, of Melvin, is the son of Jose and Angelica Vargas. He has been involved in cross country, track, basketball, FFA, National Honor Society and quiz bowl at H-M-S.

His academic honors include a 4.0 GPA, Top 5 percent of his class, National Honor Society and A-honor roll.

Vargas plans to attend a four-year college majoring in pre-law and attend law school.