Six area high school seniors have been named to the MarshallCountyJournal’s25th annual All-Area Academic Team.
Students from Britton-Hecla and Langford Area were selected for the squad, which recognizes student-citizens from the county schools.
“Our goal is to honor our outstanding students who not only excel in the classroom but who are also good citizens of their communities,” said Journal publisher Doug Card. “Area athletes are frequently named to All-Area, All-Conference, and All-State teams, and we’re pleased to bestow a similar type of recognition for academic achievement on area students.”
Members of this year’s All-Area Academic Team include Gage Storley, Erika Symens, McKaelynZuehlke,andAlyssa James of Britton-Hecla, and Montana Marlow and Laney Widener of Langford Area.
B-H Honorees
Storley is the son of Shane and Vonda Storley of Britton and compiled a 4.087 GPA. His school activities have included basketball, football and track as well as the all-school play. In the community, he is involved in the JAWS youth group. His honors include earning All-Conference in football, being the football and basketball team captains and being names basketball All-Star nominee. The highlight of his high school career was the all-school play his sophomore year. In the future, he plans to attend South Dakota State University and earn a nursing degree. 10 years down the road, he hopes to be traveling the country as a nurse.
Symens has accumulated a 4.111 GPA and is the daughter of Warren and Stephanie Symens of Amherst. Her school activities have included student council, all school play, yearbook editor, being a teacher’s aide and senior/kindergarten buddy and all-state chorus. She also has been on the track team. In the community, Symens has been very active in 4-H activities including as an officer in her club and the county 4-H Junior Leaders. She was also in 4-H shooting sports and youth group. Over the years, Symens has earned several honors in 4H, including BB gun championships and local grand championships in various projects. She was the DAR Representative and Academic Excellence honoree for her school as well as the Danforth Leadership Award winner in 4-H. The highlight of her high school career was getting the Academic Excellence Honor. Her future plans include obtaining a degree in chemistry with a specialization in biochemistry from South Dakota School Of Mines and Technology. Down the road, Symens hopes to use that degree as a research and development or formulation chemist and work with cosmetics and skin care.
McKaelyn Zuehlke is the daughter of Kurt Zuehlke and Nicole Stiegelmeier, both of Britton, with a 4.098 GPA. She has participated in basketball, volleyball, and track. She is also in choir, yearbook and a student council member. She was on the junior prom and sophomore homecoming committees. Her community involvement includes volunteering at the food pantry, mentoring and refereeing youth sports, helping with church activities at First Lutheran Church and working as a coordinator for the #PassItOn For Trevor Foundation. She was a four-year Honor Roll student, a member of the National Honor Society, named team captain for various sports, won the American Legion Auxiliary essay contest and also the homecoming queen. Her favorite school memory was going on the music trip to Nashville. This fall, she plans to attend South Dakota State University for ag business and hopes to learn about the financial side of agriculture. In 10 years, she hopes to be raising a family in the area and pursuing a career helping local farmers. James, the daughter of Carrie and Brian James of Britton, sports a 4.0 GPA. She has been active in basketball, volleyball, golf, and student council. Community activities include dance, swim team and youth group. James has been on the A Honor Roll, 1st Runner-Up for Snow Queen in 2019, her class’s secretary and treasurer plus a co-captain and letter winner in multiple sports. She was an All-Star Basketball Candidate. She was the Hugh O’Brien Youth Leadership Award recipient. The highlight of her high school career was being named the Touchstone Energy Scholar of the Week. Her future plans involve attending NDSU and majoring in either Biology or Nursing. In ten years, she hopes to be working in a hospital and building a wedding venue on the side, plus traveling when she can.
LA Honorees
Marlow has earned a 3.746 GPA and is the daughter of Travis and Gina Marlow of Britton. Her high school activities have included volleyball, basketball, cheerleading, band, choir, and yearbook staff. Honors have included Academic Excellence and Highest Honor awards as well as the Principal’s Award. Her highlight during her high school career was getting to go to Pierre for the Academic Excellence Award ceremony and meeting governor Kristi Noem. Her future plans include attending South Dakota State University for nursing. As she looks down the road, she would like to travel around the world after college and then work in a hospital though she is not sure where.
Widener has accumulated at 3.714 GPA and is the daughter of Elida Widener and Todd Widener, both of Langford. She has stayed busy with school activities over the years, including as yearbook editor and all-state choir member. She has also participated in oral interpretation, honor band and the school play in addition to being a volleyball statistician. Her community activities include being a vacation Bible school teacher and a delegate for Girls State. She has been on the honor roll all four years. She said the highlight of her high school career was being involved in the school play her senior year, where she played the lead role as Maria from “West Side Story” and got to act alongside all of her best friends. This fall, she plans to attend Northern State University. She hopes to major in English education and perhaps minor in special education. In 10 years, she hopes to be back in Langford teaching or at a school nearby so she can be close to family and continue to stay close to the place that has been her home since she was three years old.
