In addition to honoring the top scholars, the Rotary Club presented Service Above Self awards to one student from each school, selected by their teachers and administrators as representing the Rotary Motto of Service Above Self.

The three honorees were Emily Schommer from Cathedral High School, daughter of Denny and Sue Schommer; Lydia Meyer from Minnesota Valley Lutheran High School, daughter of John and Heidi Meyer, and Kylee Nosbush of New Ulm High School, daughter of Anthony and Amanda Nosbush.

Carisa Buegler, an alumnus of New Ulm High School, and currently the Director of Operations at the New Ulm Medical Center was the speaker. She congratulated the students on their accomplishments, but the spelled out the problems and troubles facing the world, from inequalities for women, to poverty, to the inequalities for minorities, to the refugees around the world being put out of their homes by war, famine and drought.

“What are you going to do about it?” Buegler asked the students.

Staff photo by Kevin Sweeney The top 15% of the New Ulm High School graduating class are pictured above, front row, from left: Marcarious Amoah, Jenna Ebert, Paige Frederick, Isaac Gieseke, Anne Howard: 2nd row: Logan Kletscher, Anna Lee, Jacob Martinka, Melanie Merkel, Riley Joseph Merkel; 3rd row: Madison Miller, Kylee Nosbush, Makiah Otto, Dawson Schaefer; back row: Emily Sowers, Miranda Suess, Amber Sullivan, Marissa Todesco and Natalie Yackley. Not pictured: Natalie Hacker, Makenna Lang and Graham Wilkins.

She cited several examples of young people who did act, who did something that seemed small but that had big impacts, and urged the students to find their passions in life, to get mad about things they find unfair, and to find the inspiration to do something about it.

The top 15% of the graduating classes at the three high schools are:

Cathedral

Sam Blomberg, son of Margaret & John Blomberg

Clare Fischer, daughter of Phil and Mary Fischer

Staff photo by Kevin Sweeney The top 15% of the Minnesota Valley Lutheran High School graduating class are pictured above, front row, from left: Olivia Christensen, Josh Giefer, Josiah Guenther, Samuel Halvorson, Emma Grace Kramer; 2nd row: Morgan Paulsen, Abigail Riederer, Anna Schwartz, Mark Spengler, Donovan Witte, and Rylee Woller. Not pictured: Montian Natrakul.

Kayla Goblirsch, daughter of Dean & Stacy Goblirsch

Emily Guggisberg, daughter of Tony & Marie Guggisberg

Emily Schommer, daughter of Denny & Sue Schommer

MVL

Olivia Christensen, daughter of Jared & Katie Christensen

Staff photo by Kevin Sweeney The top 15% of the Cathedral High School graduating class are pictured above, from left: Sam Blomberg, Clare Fischer, Kayla Goblirsch, Emily Guggisberg, and Emily Schommer.

Josh Giefer, son of John & Renee Giefer

Josiah Guenther, son of Rob & Becky Guenther

Samuel Halvorson, son of Eric & Barbara Halvorson

Emma Grace Kramer, daughter of Peter & Linda Kramer

Montian Natrakul, son of Montian & Mara Natrakul

Morgan Paulsen, daughter of Timothy & Tonya Paulsen

Abigail Riederer, daughter of Jon & Anita Riederer

Anna Schwartz, daughter of Lance & Jennifer Schwartz

Mark Spengler, son of Allen Triebenbach & Kremena Spengler

Donovan Witte, daughter of Daniel and Deborah Witte

Rylee Woller, daughter of Eric & Denice Woller

NUHS

Marcarious Amoah, son of Robert & Cynthia Amoah

Jenna Ebert, daughter of Chad & Sara Ebert

Paige Frederick, daughter of Brent & DeAnn Frederick

Isaac Gieseke, son of Tim & Jenny Gieseke

Natalie Hacker, daughter of Travis Hacker & Whitney Schaefer

Anne Howard, daughter of Greg & Lori Howard

Logan Kletscher, son of Jason & Ronda Kletscher

Makenna Lang, daughter of Patrick & Melanie Lang

Anna Lee, daughter of Steven & Jennifer Lee

Jacob Martinka, son of Tom Martinka & Candie Larson

Melanie Merkel, daughter of Gary Merkel & Jeanette Merkel

Riley Joseph Merkel, son of Stacy & Joseph Merkel

Madison Miller, daughter of Brian & Kristal Miller

Kylee Nosbush, daughter of Anthony & Amanda Nosbush

Makiah Otto, daughter of Jeff & Alisa Anderson

Dawson Schaefer, son of Amber McMullen & Jason Schaefer

Emily Sowers, daughter of David & Nicole Sowers

Miranda Suess, daughter of Mark & Rachel Suess

Amber Sullivan, daughter of Sue Sullivan & Scott Sullivan

Marissa Todesco, daughter of Laurie Todesco

Graham Wilkins, son of Joanne Svendsen & Simon Wilkins

Natalie Yackley, daughter of Jason & Tammy Yackley