×

Rotary Club announces 2020 Service Above Self honorees

Kendra Lyimo, Cathedral High School

NEW ULM — The New Ulm Rotary Club’s 53rd annual Scholarship Banquet, honoring the academic top 15 percent of graduating seniors at New Ulm High School, Cathedral High School, and Minnesota Valley Lutheran High School, had to be canceled this year due to the COVID-19 shelter at home restrictions.

Instead, the Rotary Club is recognizing those honor students by listing them in The Journal’s 2020 Graduation Section in this issue of The Journal.

The Rotary Club also honors one senior from each school with its Service Above Self award. This award recognizes the senior selected by school staff as best exemplifying the Rotary motto of “Service Above Self.”

They are Kendra Lyimo from Cathedral, Kincaid Diersen from MVL, and Kaye Rysdahl from New Ulm High School.

Each recipient receives a $500 scholarship award from Rotary.

Kincaid Diersen, MVL High School

The students are listed below with a description of their accomplishments from their high school principals:

Cathedral High School

Kendra Lyimo

“I am proud to announce the Cathedral High School recipient of the Service Above Self Award is Kendra Lyimo, daughter of Innocent and Karen Lyimo.

“Kendra is the epitome of Service Above Self. Throughout Kendra’s high school life, she has been an energetic and effective leader who readily volunteered for some of the more challenging and time-consuming tasks. She has been a major part of the Student Council, the National Honor Society, Knowledge Bowl team and working on the yearbook. Kendra has helped with the Religious Education program, served in Religious Youth groups, and participated in two mission trips to help people in need. She lives her religious faith daily, and is a kind and humble young woman.

Kaye Rysdahl, New Ulm High School

“Kendra serves her classmates and school daily. She notices when things need to be done in the moment as well as plan what will need to be done in the future. In her gentle way, she reminds classmates about tasks, permission slips and assignments. In the classroom Kendra sits back and lets others get their ideas out in a conversation before sharing her thoughtful and insightful ideas. When given an assignment that allows her to use her creativity and imagination, she puts in abundant time and effort to create something that makes others think when they look at the finished product.

“Kendra also serves the greater community. She has helped at the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity Vacation Bible School serving as a group leader to answer questions, give direction and have fun with kids while encouraging them to learn. Kendra was a volunteer member in the summer youth program called Blast Caritas. With Blast Caritas she helped clean the Way of the Cross, worked at Sharing and Caring Hand in Minneapolis by serving the low-income and homeless families, as well as spending hours with the kids served by the shelter. Kendra has been involved in a women’s mission trip which goes out each summer to help people in need. One summer the group went to St Paul to remodel the convent for the Handmaids of the Heart of Jesus and volunteered at the Little Sisters of the Poor playing bingo with the elderly residents. The next summer she traveled to Belcourt, ND and volunteered throughout the Turtle Mountain reservation serving various families, cleaning a bed-ridden woman’s home, building props for their Vacation Bible School and putting on a talent show at a nearby assisted living home. Last summer was spent in Chicago volunteering at St. Mary’s of Providence home for women with mental disabilities.

“Kendra serves her family as well. She is always looking out for her younger siblings, often remarking that they can grow up in a respectful society. Her family and classmates have all seen Kendra serve and gently teach by her kindness, her awareness, and her willingness to be the change she would like to see in the world.”

Congratulations, Kendra on this well-deserved recognition!”

Paul Hazuka

CHS Principal

Minnesota Valley Lutheran

Kincaid Diersen

“Minnesota Valley Lutheran High School is proud to select Kincaid Diersen for this year’s Service Above Self award. Kincaid is the son of Greg and Kelly Diersen of New Ulm. Kincaid is the Student Body President at MVL and has also been involved in Knowledge Bowl, National Honor Society, Jazz Ensemble, Chargaliers, Math Team, Drama, Speech and Cross Country. Kincaid will be attending Martin Luther College in the fall.

“To say that Kincaid Diersen was actively involved in student life at MVL would probably be an understatement. He shared with his teachers that he ‘wanted to be involved in every activity that was non-athletic, but also wanted to support our MVL athletes.’ Kincaid lived that desire by participating in our swing choir, the Chargaliers, Drama, Student Council and Student Council president, Jazz Ensemble, Math Team, Knowledge Bowl and Speech.

“It wasn’t just the involvement in those activities that Kincaid desired. He also wanted to serve and to lead. His teachers described him as having a heart for service, an awesome student leader, and a Christian role model for our own students and future MVL Chargers. In terms of leadership, he didn’t just talk the walk, but rather he walked the walk. He was always willing to help his peers and our teachers in our school’s activities.

“Congratulations, Kincaid, on this well-deserved award and God’s blessings to you in the future!

Tim Plath

MVL Principal

New Ulm High School

Kaye Rysdahl

“New Ulm High School is proud to announce Kaye Rysdahl as the Service Above Self recipient for 2020.

“Kaye Rysdahl is the daughter of Dr. Scott and Gigi Rysdahl.

“Kaye is an outstanding student who ranks near the top of her class. She is on the National Honor Society and participates in soccer. She is a quiet leader and through her leadership and examples she is an inspiration to others. Her willingness to help others is second to none. This is exemplified through her career choice. Kaye intends to go into counseling or social work where she can help others when they are in need of her support.

“From my personal experience with Kaye, as the high school principal, I can tell you I have not met a more kind and caring person. If you were to look up the word ‘service’ in the dictionary, Kaye’s picture would be next to it.”

Mark Bergmann

NUHS Principal

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper?
   

Starting at $4.38/week.

Subscribe Today