Waseca inducts 23 into Honor Society

The Waseca chapter of the Minnesota Honor Society (MHS) inducted 23 new members the evening of Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025 in the high school performing arts center. 

 

Waseca principal Justin Johnston welcomed a couple hundred friends, family, and parents to the ceremony, which began at 6 p.m. MHS senior members Layla Keith and Sadie Schimming addressed the assembly regarding leadership, integrity and service.

 

“When I think of leadership, I don’t picture a specific person or position—I see a community full of people,” Keith said. “Every time I accepted a new leadership role throughout high school—whether that was something big like Student Council President, or something minor like volunteering—I realized something important: your title doesn’t make you a leader; your commitment and effort do. 

 

“Anyone can sign up, but not everyone can follow through,” Keith concluded.

 

Schimming spoke about service and what it means to a community. 

 

“Judy Blume once said, ‘“Our fingerprints don’t fade from the lives we touch,”’ Schimming began. “We go through life touching other people’s lives in ways we don’t always realize. The things we say, the help we give, the moments we show up for someone else–they don’t just disappear. They leave a mark. Community service is one of the most powerful ways to leave that kind of mark.”

 

High school teacher John Hanson was then introduced as the keynote speaker by Ella Bulfer; 

 

Hanson was selected by current Honor Society members. He said he was directing his speech to the current and new members of  the group. 

 

Following Hanson’s comments, students Paige Dufault, Pearl Moore, Mia Mitchell, Andres Vasquez-Neigebauer and Corrick Medina lit candles representing the ideals of Minnesota Honor Society. They included the spirit of the torch, scholarship, service, leadership, and character. 

 

William Mansfield, Ava Bruhn and Ellery Waldron introduced the new inductees, who received pins and certificates acknowledging their membership from students Kaiya Stagman and Chloe Roemhildt. The night closed with all the members reciting the MHS Pledge, followed by closing remarks from Waseca school counselor Paul Marlin. 

Inducted on Wednesday evening were Brooklyn R. Anderson, daughter of Lori and Michael Anderson; Madelynn L. Benzick, daughter of Nick and Kellie Benzick and Nicki and Cory Stencel; Noelle C. Drake, daughter of Christopher and Laura Drake; Brody S. Dufault, son of Jared and Stacy Dufault; Zoey M. Dunn, daughter of Kimberly Dunn; Chelsia J. Eneboe, daughter of Jen and Eric Cox, Jon Eneboe; Isabella A. Garza, daughter of Anthony and Anastasia Garza; Jacob G. Harguth, son of Adam and Anne Harguth; Lauren L. Holmseth, daughter of John & Kirsten Holmseth; Colby R. Hoof, son of Dana Hoof; Henry J. Huttemier, son of Kristi Hyink-Huttemier and John Huttemier; Jacey N. Jensen, daughter of Brandon and Anna Jensen and Brittany Cowdin and Luke Burmeister; Abigail C. Lapides, daughter of Kristen and Anthony Lapides; Amilya J. Lynch, daughter of Jason and Sara Lynch; Cash M. Lynch, son of Joshua and Megan Lynch; Nolan S. McQuery, son of Mike and Amy McQuery; Belle L. Miller, daughter of Jon and Amy Miller; Kaylie A. Morrissey, daughter of Mike and Laurie Morrissey; Violet M. Rohwer, daughter of Anne Gerber and Charlie Rohwer; Otto D. Schoenrock, son of Marcia and Steve Schoenrock; Savanna J. Vagts, daughter of Mark and Mandy Vagts; Katelyn K. Weber, daughter of Kevin and Melissa Weber; Owen P. Wieseler, son of Tania and Patrick Wieseler.

 

Waseca seniors inducted in 2024 are Slade O. Barnett, son of Scott Barnett and Stephanie Greenslade; Natalie G. Berndt, daughter of Heather Bulver and Ralph Berndt; Maximus E. B. Bodenweiser, son of Elizabeth and the late Donald Bodenweiser; Ava M. Bruhn, daughter of Meghan Campbell and the late Ryan Bruhn; Ella R. Bulfer, daughter of Philip and Amber Bulfer; 

 

Alexis M. Claybaugh, daughter of Scott and Becca Frederick; Paige M. Dufault, daughter of Jared and Stacy Dufault; Hannah M. R. Heusinkveld, daughter of Eric and Stacy Heusinkveld; 

 

Sophia H. Hillsman, daughter of Sean and Jennifer Hillsman; Haley M. Kahnke, daughter of Nick Kahnke and Natasha Grunzke; Layla M. Keith, daughter of Muriah Miller Keith and Joe Keith; Alyssa J. Kilmer, daughter of Scott and Jolene Kilmer; Allen J. Kopetzki, son of Craig and  Tracy Kopetzki; Madilyn C. Larrabee, daughter of Dana and Jamie Larrabee; Jolee N. Larson, daughter of Mike and Tammi Larson; Vivian D. Mader, daughter of Andrew and Molly Mader; William J. P. Mansfield, son of John and Edita Mansfield; Dakotah L. Marik, daughter of Matthew Marik, Jackie Janovsky, and Larry  LaDonna Marik; Corrick J. Medina, son of Justin and Chantel Medina; Mia Y. Mitchell, daughter of Chris and Bamboo Mitchell; Pearl A. Moore, daughter of Stacy Ewert and Chad Moore; Remy A. Murphy, daughter of Shawn and Tammy Murphy; Catherine S. Olson, daughter of Christopher Olson and Mary Jo Stangler; Chloe L. Roemhildt, daughter of Bill and Stephanie Roemhildt; Madison L. Roessler, daughter of Pete Roessler and 

Amy Dillon-Roessler; Sadie R. Schimming, daughter of Chris and Rebecca Schimming; Kaiya L. Stagman, daughter of Jill Stagman; Andres F. Vásquez-Neigebauer, son of Katie and David Vásquez; Ellery A. Waldron, daughter of Chris Waldron and Kara Waldron; Avery A. Wetzel, son of Ashley and Rachael Wetzel; Caleb J. Wulf, son of Rick and Jill Wulf.