November Issue 2025

PG. 34 America’s treasure LILY OSMUNDSON NOVEMBER ISSUE 2025

MARKETING & VIDEO 8 SPORTS PRODUCTION CLASS Julia Hedrick

HINTON: MOLDING BRIDGES

9 THROUGH POTTERY Ellie Quinn

OF BRAVERY 10 INSTINCT Dena Tarrell FOR TAKEOFF 12 CLEARED Berkeley Newell COUNCIL OF 14 THE TOMORROW Ingrid Ready

THE PREPARATION FOR

16 PERFORMANCE Alice Geraets

OVER WORRIER 17 WARRIOR Ellie Boehrns POSSIBILITIES 18 RECREATING Bethany Jespersen

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HB 1040 AND THE NEW COST OF CREDIT Vivian Kiesow-Knudsen

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ICE: FROM HIGHWAYS TO HALLWAYS Naomi Jespersen & Chris Tao

cover photo by eloise Geraets

BEYOND THE BIN: ENVIRONMENTAL INGENUITY CLUB Isabel Gillespie

TURKEY TO HOME 20 FROM Nadia Schneider

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BEHIND THE LENS: THE PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR CAPTURING THE SPIRIT OF LHS Sam Barnett

| artwork by charli Fickbohm & Naomi JesperseN

TAKES 23 HOT Kinsley Ernster IS WHY WE CLASH 24 THIS Alonso Ramirez & Quinton Hollan WALL 25 GRATITUDE Ava Thompson TREAT YOURSELF

26 Lucy Hennies & Trey Raph

Paper Editors-In-Chief: Eloise Geraets, Naomi Jespersen, Vivian Kiesow-Knudsen, Ellie Quinn Online Editors-In-Chief: Nadia Schneider, Chris Tao News Editors: Sam Barnett, Logan Sanborn Feature Editors: Kinsley Ernster, Berkeley Newell Entertainment Editors: Ellie Boehrns, Dena Tarrell Sports Editors: John Quello, Jacob Wessels Perspectives Editors: Will Hansen, Bethany Jespersen Photography Editor: Mason Dean Social Media Coordinators: Lucy Hennies, Bethel Woche

TO THE TOP 29 DANCING Brielle Kolling

TREASURE 34 AMERICA’S Lily Osmundson

ALUMNI MAKING NOISE 30 LHS AT SDSU

POLITICAL PROBLEM 36 THE Mason Dean

Staff Writers: Alice Geraets, Isabel Gillespie, Julia Hedrick, Hazel Hughes, Lily Osmundson, Soranje Phenias, Ruby Hennies, Quinton Hollan, Alonso Ramirez, Trey Raph, Ingrid Ready, Will Van Schepen, Khloe Dillman, Brielle Kolling, Ava Thompson

LHS COACH 31 PSYCHOLOGY: PERSPECTIVES

SMALL GESTURE 38 ONE Eloise Geraets

Adviser: Dr. Katie Kroeze

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Hazel Hughes

John Quello

THE INTEGRITY GAP: THE DEPTH OF THE LHS CHEATING EPIDEMIC Jacob Wessels & Will Hansen

An opportunity for highschoolers to jump-start on college credit just got a little more expensive.

In the state of South Dakota, roughly 30% of high school juniors and seniors will enroll in a dual-credit course at some point in their high school career.

Last year, this accounted for 5,739 participants statewide. However, under changes made during South Dakota’s most recent legislative session, the state has reduced its contribution to a subsidized rate for high schoolers — shifting a higher percentage of the cost onto students and families.

Dual-credit courses give high school juniors and seniors the opportunity to earn college credit while simultaneously working toward their high school graduation requirements. Along with offering them the ability to experience college-level coursework, the program can also help to reduce the time and cost of completing a post-secondary degree.

“It’s an opportunity for students to really go in-depth on certain programs,” said Dianna Miller, a lobbyist for the Large School Group. “They have a jump-start on credits for when they decide to further their education.”

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In terms of cost, students pay just a fraction of the standard price.

Undergraduate tuition is set at approximately $266.60 per credit hour across South Dakota Universities. Dualcredit courses are offered at a lowered rate of $156.90, as set by the South Dakota Board of Regents. Prior to the 2025 legislative session, the State of South Dakota split this remaining cost with students, covering an additional two-thirds of the already subsidized rate. Altogether, participating high schoolers paid $48.33 per credit hour.

However, legislation was introduced at the beginning of this year that would reduce the state’s contribution to a 50-50 split. This increased the cost to $78.48 per credit hour. In total, this price increase will save the state approximately $1.2 million annually.

This bill (House Bill 1040) represents just one focus of a broader push by the state to reduce spending.

“The budget was in a deficit situation, and we had to look at all the departments,” said South Dakota Secretary of Education Joseph Graves. “We were trying to find a way to not impact the schools negatively and still save the

design by ViVian Kiesow-Knudsen

artworK by Charli FiCKbohm

money that the state needs to save.”

According to Graves, all state departments were asked to offer up cuts — the Department of Education among them. Along with the dual-credit program, it extended cuts to both the State Library and a state mentoring program.

“Certainly, we could have protected any one particular program and taken it out of another one, but we were trying to protect the school budgets because that’s what impacts the students the most,” said Graves.

In any case, this wave of cuts sparked opposition after South Dakota ended its fiscal year with a $63 million surplus. While a majority (two-thirds) of this money came from unanticipated unclaimed property revenue, the rest was a result of this reduced spending within state departments. Opponents to the cuts argued that they were overly aggressive and neglected necessary state programs.

Graves said that this conservative spending model — in line with South Dakota’s constitutional requirement for a structurally balanced budget — is what keeps the state out of debt.

House Bill 1040 (HB 1040) specifically addressed the dual-credit cost split and

artworK used with permission by CanVa

by ViVian Kiesow-Knudsen, editor-in-ChieF

was introduced on Jan. 14. It was at this point that the Sioux Falls School District became aware of the proposed increase.

The bill then passed through the House and Senate, where it was initially rejected by the Senate Education Committee on a 4-3 vote. It was later revived, passed through the Senate, and eventually signed

by Governor Larry Rhoden on March 19.

During this process, the bill was subject to significant criticism as some groups were concerned with the program’s accessibility following the price increase.

According to Graves, the dual-credit program — widely considered to be very successful — was actually chosen as a focus because of its popularity and reputation.

“We knew that people would pursue it even if there was a difference in the [split],” Graves said.

Graves added that, while there was significant opposition from legislators to cutting back on such a beloved

program, the cuts were a difficult but necessary decision in terms of budget.

Representing the interests of large South Dakota public school districts, Miller was among the group in opposition to HB 1040.

“I think this is an area that the state could have looked elsewhere,” said Miller. “The Constitution requires we balance our budget. I don’t think using this program to try to do that was a good idea. When you increase the cost, that might prohibit some kids from participating because their parents can’t afford to pay the additional amount.”

Miller and her fellow lobbyists plan to monitor over the coming year and may attempt to reintroduce it during the next legislative session. She said she considers the 50-50 split a “loss” and encourages students and families to address the matter with their legislators.

“I think that we have to wait and see

what happens with the program,” said Miller. “I don’t want to make a statement that we won’t lose the momentum. I’m thrilled that we have a lot of participation in dual-credit. That’s fantastic. Why wouldn’t we want to try to continue to have that momentum and increase it?”

With the cost increase, students in need of financial assistance should visit with their counselor.

“The Sioux Falls School District, along with community partners, provides and will continue to provide financial support to students who qualify for assistance with dual-credit costs,” said SFSD High School Curriculum Coordinator Kristin Grinager.

“If we’re going to make an investment in South Dakota, the best place to make an investment is in the young people coming up that will soon be governing this state,” said Miller.

“That’s a big investment for me.”

NEWS

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by Naomi JesperseN & Chris Tao, ediTors-iN-Chief

Following his inauguration at the beginning of 2025, President Donald J. Trump signed numerous executive orders directed towards immigration enforcement. Within 50 days of the Trump Administration in office, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) made more than 32,000 arrests, exceeding the total arrests that took place in half of the previous year, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

In conjunction with these national trends, South Dakota launched its own statewide initiative directing human and financial resources towards immigration enforcement. Piloted by Governor Larry Rhoden in the summer of 2025, Operation Prairie Thunder is a dual initiative designed to address both crime and illegal immigration.

Within Sioux Falls, the operation’s primary focus is “to interdict drugs, investigate gang activity, hold parole absconders accountable and deter lawlessness,” according to News.SD.Gov. The secondary focus of Operation Prairie Thunder is statewide immigration enforcement made possible by two separate 287(g) agreements between state and federal law enforcement.

The first collaboration, between the South Dakota Department of Corrections (DOC) and ICE is categorized as the 287(g) Jail Enforcement Model, which gives DOC employees the power to interrogate, detain and transport illegal immigrants who are already in custody.

The second collaboration, considered the 287(g) Task Force Model agreement, was made between the South Dakota Highway Patrol and ICE. Under this partnership, the Highway Patrol can question and process any persons suspected of being in the U.S. illegally during routine activities like traffic stops.

“Under the 287(g) program, a limited number of troopers receive training to handle situations where they may encounter individuals suspected of being in the country illegally during the normal course of their duties,” said the South Dakota Department of Public Safety, which declined to be interviewed.

Since the ratification of these phoTo by Naomi JesperseN & Chris Tao

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agreements — and the subsequent launch of Operation Prairie Thunder — there has been increased discussion about immigration enforcement and operations within Sioux Falls. Although the Sioux Falls Police Department (SFPD) is participating in the first aim of Operation Prairie Thunder — centered around decreasing gang activity and drug crimes — it is not involved in the signing of any 287(g) agreements with ICE. “[The] Sioux Falls Police Department has no immigration authority,” said Sioux Falls Police Chief Jon Thum.

In terms of law enforcement, each city, state and federal agency operates within its own “lane.”

The South Dakota Highway Patrol generally addresses traffic and accidents, county sheriff ’s

throughout the city, particularly in Hispanic and immigrant communities.

“We've been very, very scared.

We usually don’t go out, especially since I work in a public space, and I interact with a lot of Hispanics,” said one LHS student. “It's been really slow, and [many Hispanics] really don't want to go out and do their normal activities.”

For this student, South Dakota’s increased emphasis on immigration enforcement has also sparked conversations about the future.

“If I go back to [redacted], I … don't have a house. I don't have anywhere to go,” said the student.

“Some conversations with my mom will be like, ‘Well, if we get deported, we need to go to your grandma's house. We need to see if somebody can help us out.’”

departments oversee rural patrols and metro police departments are multifaceted, dealing with everything from crime intervention to speed enforcement.

“We're happy to have [federal law enforcement] occupy their lane. We can't handle any more lanes, nor do we want any more lanes,” said Thum. “Our primary goal and purpose is to serve and protect and promote quality of life for the people of Sioux Falls.”

When referring to the people of Sioux Falls, Thum means all people, regardless of their immigration status.

“If you were a victim of a crime, we don't care what your immigration status is. That's not our job. It's not our purview,” said Thum. “We simply don't ask [for immigration status], and we have no authority within that hemisphere.”

Despite the SFPD’s uninvolvement in immigration enforcement, fear is still prevalent

Although arrest and deportation can not be carried out by the SFPD, the 287(g) Task Force Model Agreement gives the Highway Patrol “the power and authority to interrogate any alien or person believed to be an alien as to his right to be or remain in the United States.” Furthermore, the agreement grants “the power and authority to arrest without a warrant any alien” if the Highway Patrol officer believes the individual is in the U.S. illegally. Already, these powers have been used throughout the state in cities such as Madison, where the Highway Patrol assisted in detaining eight men in a worksite enforcement initiative in May. “There was a raid in Madison back in May, and I met with those guys when they were detained here in Minnehaha County Jail because I wanted to know firsthand what happened and what was going on,” said Taneeza Islam, a community activist, attorney and Executive Director of South Dakota Voices

arTwork used wiTh permissioN by CaNva

|

desigN by Naomi JesperseN & Chris Tao

for Peace. “The narrative of the administration, both on a federal level and on a state level, that they’re picking up [only] violent criminals is false … and it's provable by the people who have been detained so far.”

This mixed messaging from all levels of government about the aims and actions of ICE in South Dakota contributes to the fear present throughout Sioux Falls communities.

“It's really important to understand what the community hears. It doesn't matter what is fact or fiction because if they're scared [and] believe something's happening, that's what's going to dictate how they move around Sioux Falls, and there's obviously a lot of fear,” said Islam.

For Islam, combatting that fear through open communication with Hispanic communities is a major goal, yet she believes the heart of the immigration issue is much deeper than legislation or dialogue.

“The real issue is not what's legal and what's illegal. [We need to ask], ‘what are the economic drivers that are bringing people into our country in an unlawful way and why are we not creating lawful ways for them to do that?’” said Islam.

As for the City of Sioux Falls and the SFPD, both continually clarify that they have no immigration jurisdiction, and their actions in Operation Prairie Thunder are not related to the immigration enforcement aspect. “[Operation Prairie Thunder] was not well-rolled out,” said Sioux Falls Mayor Paul TenHaken. “[It] was not communicated well when it was launched. When people keep asking me questions, I keep sending it to the state, saying, ‘this is not my deal.’ They need to clarify all these things.”

For the LHS student, the Highway Patrol’s immigration powers, as well as South Dakota’s unclear messaging, are not only anxiety-inducing, they are troubling.

“I feel like they're generalizing that all immigrants are criminals, which is not true,” said the student.

“We're hard-working people, and we're just here to get a better opportunity that we didn't have in our home countries.”

NEWS

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by Julia Hedrick

Have you ever wondered who is behind the sports live streams or the eye-catching graphics at LHS? While most students at LHS scroll through their course options, they might think they know all the usual suspects: AP Chem, yoga, journalism, maybe even a cooking class or two.

But hidden quietly in the school’s curriculum is an unknown gem: Sports Broadcasting, Marketing and Video Production class.

This class offers realworld job preparation, offering a wide variety in the broadcasting department.

“Our Sports Broadcasting, Marketing and Video Production class is different from other classes at LHS. In the class, we cover everything that goes into producing a game day and live sports event. We handle the live streams for home games, do playby-play and color commentary, run cameras, play music during games and create graphics and animations for the video board,” said Charnelle Wooledge.

Taught by Wooledge, Sports Broadcasting, Marketing and Video Production class is a class where students learn real-world experience in sports media, game day, and video production, all while having fun. In the class, students are responsible for creating game day graphics,

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live-streaming sporting events, and more. Students in the class can expect an average amount of work, mostly hands-on tasks. Some of the assignments include pregame and postgame stories and writeups, as well as creating animations and graphics for video boards.

Additionally, I assist with compiling and playing music playlists during games.

“My students create many of the social media graphics that fans see before game day, and we come up with our own crowd engagement ideas like ‘Make Some Noise’ or ‘Let’s Go Patriots!’ They are excited when they get to see their work displayed,” said Wooledge.

There is currently one period of Sports Broadcasting, Marketing and Video Production class, with 12 students enrolled. It is offered as a full-year class as well as a semester,

available to all grade levels.

“I took the class because it looked interesting and I thought it was going to be a cool class,” said sophomore Kalen Karlen. “The class is chill, and you get to learn a lot of new stuff.”

“One of the coolest things about sports broadcasting is that everything we do is live. Students have to think fast and work as a team. It’s also exciting to hear your voice on the livestream or see your graphic on the video board in front of a crowd and on the message boards at school,” said Wooledge.

If someone loves sports or working behind the camera, Sports Broadcasting, Marketing and Video Production class might be the perfect class for them. It is the perfect chance to learn real-world skills, be a part of your school’s media team while bringing creative ideas to life.

If you are interested in taking the class or want to learn more, reach out to Wooledge or your counselor to see how you can get involved. You can follow the class by following their Facebook under “Patriot Broadcasting” or on Instagram @sf_patslive.

pHoto used witH permission by cHarnelle wooledge design by Julia Hedrick

by ElliE Quinn, Editor-in-ChiEf

Clay. Starting as a sketch, it is molded into ceramic pieces representing everyday life and aesthetic amusement.

LHS visual arts teacher Travis Hinton takes his passion beyond the classroom and into his personal life.

What evolved from an overcrowded workspace in undergraduate school at USD has turned into a personal business selling his artwork to spaces across the United States.

While Hinton has not yet sold his work beyond national borders, his work has touched patrons globally.

“I have only shipped within the United States. One of the galleries that represents my work told me that they shipped one of my pieces to Paris, France. I do know that I have my artwork in other countries. The ones that come to mind are Qatar, Japan and recently Portugal,” said Hinton.

Being a working artist takes effort.

One of the hardest aspects of the business is the marketing and selfpromotion required to build up a

community of buyers. Marketing his work is a tedious task but is required to reach the success Hinton has achieved thus far.

“I would rather be creating.

When I am in my studio, my focus is on solving and constructing my artwork. When I am exhibiting my artwork, the focus shifts to answering questions that come from patrons,” said Hinton.

Though there are more challenges beyond creating and selling, pricing the art is one more hurdle Hinton makes the most of.

“The artist and the art market assert the value of their work,” said Hinton.

The final step of the process, making the sale, is one that is reassuring for Hinton and his talents.

His goal of selling his artwork has been reached confidently many times over the years.

“I have sold individual pieces, groupings of pieces and complete dinnerware sets. [All] have had comparable price tags. I don’t share specific prices, but it was in the thousands and definitely a moment that affirmed the value others see in my work,” said Hinton.

Like any other activity outside of school or work, Hinton finds a necessary balance between working at LHS and with his pottery, which can be difficult at times. But operating in the studio takes many different forms depending on the day and availability in Hinton’s schedule.

“Balancing family, teaching and being an artist takes work. I try

dEsign by ElliE Quinn | photos usEd with pErmission by travis hinton | artwork by ElliE Quinn

to work in the studio as much as possible. That could look like physically working on a piece of artwork, sketching out ideas or researching raw materials that I use,” said Hinton.

Researching materials and knowing every detail about the mediums he uses is something Hinton has been interested in since his first experience with clay. Most of the materials he uses can be locally sourced.

“When I first touched clay, I knew that I wanted to know all I could about the material,” said Hinton. “I work with a local distributor here in Sioux Falls; they have most of what I need. I also use some native clay materials.”

As he expresses different periods of ceramics and with dual purposes in mind, Hinton’s friends and family encourage his artistry.

“I draw inspiration from classic or traditional functional ceramic forms.

I like the duality of my work being used in everyday life and appreciated aesthetically,” said Hinton.

FEATURES

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by Dena Tarrell

Planes, bombs and pounding footsteps were common sounds for the 3.1 million American soldiers stationed in Vietnam.

Of those soldiers, 58,279 of them did not make it home. That would be the last sounds they heard. But one small town South Dakota boy ensured that was not the case for the soldiers around him.

Michael J. Fitzmaurice was born on March 9, 1950, in Jamestown, ND, where his parents were on a trip. After he was born, his parents took him home to South Dakota. He then spent the entirety of his childhood in Cavour, SD. Shortly after he graduated high school, he enlisted in the military, where he served from 1969-1972. After enlisting, he was later deployed to Vietnam to fight in the Vietnam War. The Vietnam War began in 1954, during the Cold War era. Communism was becoming more popular in Western Asia and eventually spread towards Vietnam. North Vietnam was pushing for communism in the country, but South Vietnam was opposed. The U.S. allied with South Vietnam to help in the fight against communism.

On March 23, 1972, shortly after his 21st birthday, Fitzmaurice came face-

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to-face with North Vietnam soldiers, one of the main enemies in the war. In the heart of battle, death and tragedy were all around him, yet he remained determined and steadfast. When he and the other soldiers in his squadron were in their bunker, the opposing enemies launched three grenades towards them. Fitzmaurice successfully threw the first two grenades out of the bunker, but the third was not as easy. Without a moment of hesitation, he jumped on top of the grenade, smothering the explosion and saving the lives of those around him. He sustained severe injuries, such as shrapnel wounds, an injured eye and burst eardrums, yet he continued on, refusing medical attention. At the time, he was wearing a flak vest, which was the reason he was able to survive.

“When it’s all happening you… just do, you don’t think about it,” said Fitzmaurice.

After Fitzmaurice was discharged from the war, he was taken to Fitzsimons Army Medical Center in Colorado, where his wounds were finally treated. When he recovered, he returned to South Dakota and began working

Michael J. Fitzmaurice (third from left, front row) poses for a picture with President Nixon as his family stands beside him, showing their support.

Fitzmaurice sits at the 2017 Medal of Honor convention in Pueblo, CO.

Design by Dena Tarrell | phoTos useD wiTh permission by michael J. FiTzmaurice | arTwork useD wiTh permission by canva

in a packing house in Huron, SD. Two years after he was discharged, he got a phone call. He had been chosen to receive the Medal of Honor and Purple Heart for his heroic actions during the war. When he returned home, he shared the news with his parents and wife. To receive his medals, he traveled to Washington, D.C. with his family, where there was a ceremony for the five recipients at the time.

At the ceremony there were eyewitnesses to corroborate his and the other recipients’ actions. Fitzmaurice met and shook hands with President Richard Nixon, who chose Fitzmaurice as a Medal of Honor recipient. While in D.C. Fitzmaurice had a personal escort and photographer everywhere he went. He wined and dined with the president and many other high-standing figures. The hotel he stayed at was upscale, and his room was a suite. It is safe to say that only the best was provided for these war heroes. “[Receiving the medal] was pretty exciting for a little boy from South Dakota,” said Fitzmaurice.

Since receiving the Medal of Honor, Fitzmaurice has traveled all over the country, meeting numerous presidents such as George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. He also regularly meets with other Medal of Honor recipients. Every year, there is a national convention where they can be surrounded by people who have

Fitzmaurice (second from right, back row) and four other Medal of Honor recipeints stand together for a photo after recieving their awards.

similar experiences, providing comfort and solace. This year’s convention was held in Chattanooga, TN. Nothing could have prepared Fitzmaurice for the events that would occur during his time in the Army. No training could ever compare to what he would have to do. Yet, he acted on instinct and managed to save the lives of the soldiers in his squadron. It was not only him that saved lives, though.

Fitzmaurice worked with the other soldiers, and together they fought against the common enemy. His brave actions put him above and beyond the rest, but he does not want to take all the credit. He does not want the medal to only be for him; he wants to share it with everyone else who fought.

Joining the Army is the first brave action soldiers take. Defending others is the next.

Some get the recognition they deserve, and some do not, but all are heroes in history.

FEATURES

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T

Alahna Noble in the copilot seat of a 1980 Piper Archer II. The Piper Archer II, along with the Piper Saratoga, are the two planes she flies.

The view of the South Dakota landscape from above, as captured by Noble during a flight.

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wo to five percent of the general population are terrified of being above the ground in any capacity.

For LHS junior Alahna Noble, however, flying through the skies is a part of her life, albeit a slightly abnormal aspect.

“It’s so cool to just get a perspective that nobody else really can see on a daily basis,” said Noble.

Having the opportunity to copilot planes is not exactly a typical experience for the average 16-year-old. However, growing up surrounded by planes and aviation, mainly because of her father, who is a former military and currently commercial pilot, it was never very out-of-the-ordinary for Noble.

“I remember him coming home [from work] and I’d be like, ‘So where did you go? What did you do?’” said Noble.

“And I was always so interested in how fast the jets went.”

Despite constant exposure to the world of aviation, Noble never considered flying planes as something she wanted to do until about a year ago, when she flew in a plane with her dad and one of his friends, who has a hangar near the Sioux Falls Regional Airport. Noble went into the flight expecting to be relegated to the backseat while the two men flew when she was met with an interesting proposition.

“They were like, ‘Hey, you want to hop in the front seat and start?’ And I was like, ‘Sure,’” said Noble. “It was very random, very spontaneous, but I was like, ‘Oh. I could see myself doing this.’ I’ve always had just kind of a… need for speed. So, it was kind of fun to be like, ‘Oh my gosh, I’m in actual control of something that isn’t just a car.’”

Her excitement certainly did not stop her there. Following her first flight, Noble began pursuing her private pilot solo license, which will allow her to take the plane up without an instructor in the copilot’s seat. The licensing process is tedious and time-consuming, as it requires a minimum of 40 hours of flight time and a 70% or higher on a 60-question knowledge test. For Noble, balancing school, her numerous other activities and flying is what causes the average six month learning program to take a bit longer.

“I haven’t started a lot of the study work for it. I’m just building up some ground base hours and getting comfortable with the gadgets and all the areas and tools and everything that are in the planes,” said Noble. “I was planning on sitting down and buckling in with it [when I turned 16], but time design by berkeley newell | artwork used with permission by Canva

photos used with permission by alahna noble

by berkeley newell

kind of flew by and I [got caught up in other stuff].”

For Noble, however, the actual act of flight is more exhilarating and fulfilling than the tedious piloting study work.

“I’m just kind of doing it as a hobby right now. I definitely am transferring more towards aviation job wise, [for that] field of work, because I definitely know that with that there are many opportunities for me. I’ve never really sat down and thought about what I really want to do… [but] the aviation aspect as a whole has definitely opened up and it’s like, ‘Oh, wow.

I could do this,’” said Noble.

There are so many intriguing aspects of being up in the atmosphere, but nothing is more awe-inspiring than the bird’s eye view. “[My favorite part is] right after we kind of lift up from the runway, because I like… the climbing altitude. I like seeing ground level and everything get smaller and smaller,” said Noble. “Honestly, I really like just being up and being able to see Sioux Falls.”

Flying a plane also comes with many challenges, in part because it is so different from operating any other vehicle. From the steering to the many additional tasks pilots have to complete while in flight, Noble had many new components and tasks to get used to when she began flying.

“It’s not like driving; it’s something that has way more components, which is honestly something I didn’t really think about or figure out until I was actually in the driver’s seat or a copilot seat,” said Noble. “[The weirdest thing is that] when you’re taxiing right before you get off the runway, you steer [the rudders] with your feet… there’s times where I reach for [the yoke (steering wheel)] and I’m trying to turn and it doesn’t work because that’s for the wings. It’s almost like walking; it’s really weird.”

Despite the difficulties and learning curves, flying and the experiences that Noble has had have given her a new perspective on life and learning.

“It’s not honestly even just the destination for me. It’s the process of getting there, too, [and] just the whole journey from start to end. And honestly for me, there is no definite end because I’m always kind of moving along. So, it’s just the journey, and you kind of see where [that] takes you,” said Noble.

Flying planes is certainly not an everyday activity for the average person, and some people may even see it as terrifying or dangerous, but by taking chances and pursuing what one loves, one can never go wrong. “[My advice is] just take the opportunities,” said Noble.

“You never know where you’re gonna end up. I mean, life’s a journey and flying’s a journey from even takeoff to landing. So, just kind of enjoy it and take the opportunities that you can… because you never know; you might end up loving it. And it opens up so many more doors than you think it will.”

FEATURES

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by IngrId ready

What do you think it takes to be a leader? Do you think leaders are born or can they be developed through experience and teachings?

The Lincoln Leaders Council was developed this year by David Maxwell, the athletic director at LHS. The council consists of small groups of students chosen by their coaches or directors from 37 different LHS activities. These activities consist of athletics, music, fine arts and some other extracurriculars. There will be eight meetings held in the 2025-26 school year.

During these meetings they will talk about many different topics, such as how a person wants people to see them and what they are doing to be perceived that way, the qualities it takes to be a good leader and many other concepts.

Maxwell made this council in order to create a safe space where different sports and extracurriculars would allow student voice within the activities department at LHS. It was made as an opportunity for students to provide input on different ideas, or to talk about what they think should be happening at LHS. “[I wanted to] provide the space for a group for me to be able to go to if I have ideas on something that I’d like to bounce the ideas off of our student body. I don’t ever want it to feel like the activities office is just making decisions without considering the students in all that we’re doing,” said Maxwell.

This is also an opportunity for Maxwell to talk about district level issues and get feedback from the students about how it affects them, then go back to the district and tell them what the ideas students created.

“I 100% believe that you can develop leaders. And this is an opportunity for us to help develop leaders in our school and talk about different leadership qualities and traits,” said Maxwell.

Many people have the fundamental idea of how someone is just born a leader, but Maxwell thinks that leaders can be developed; that is why he made this council.

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Being a leader by example can be developed, and Maxwell believes that the four C’s, commitment, confidence, composure and character, are the qualities someone should have in order to be a leader. There are also two more qualities that go into being a vocal leader which are being an encourager and being an enforcer.

“I think as far as traits of being a leader, I think you have to be a great communicator with people. I think you have to be consistent. And when I say consistent, meaning the people in your program or, quite frankly, how you show up every day in your life.

They have to know what they’re going to get from you on a daily basis,” said Maxwell.

To Maxwell, being consistent means showing up with the same attitude every day.

Someone cannot show up one day and be positive and an encourager, then show up the next day with an attitude and be snarky with their teammates.

Lincoln Leaders Council allows for Maxwell to get more student interaction and sit down to talk to students about concerns they have, so he can try and help with those issues.

“Some people may respond to [you being] extremely direct and maybe raising your voice and some of those things, and that’s how you get the best out of people, and others might need you to put your arm around them and tell them and communicate with them in a different way,” said Maxwell.

Someone needs to know how to be a leader when their teammates are doing something wrong or need help with an issue. Some people may be more sensitive than others, so that person has to know how their teammates will respond to how they will confront them about the issue.

The Lincoln Leaders Council was created to help students become leaders and improve leadership skills. It shows the qualities that are important and hopefully will change the leadership culture of LHS in the future.

“No matter what we did today, that doesn’t matter anymore when we show up tomorrow.

Tomorrow, we have to continue to improve and continue to get better,” said Maxwell.

desIgn by IngrId ready | artwork used wIth permIssIon by Canva | photo by IngrId ready

by Alice GerAets

M

usic students all around South Dakota have a chance to audition into a select group known as All-State. This year, the All-State orchestra and choir concert were held on Nov. 1 at the PREMIER Center.

There is an immense amount of preparation that goes into the audition alone.

Orchestra students begin their preparation for their audition in the spring of the previous year with a binder of music. When they are auditioning, the judge may pick any passage from this binder, and they must know how to play it proficiently, students also must prepare a solo piece.

Once the student completes their playing audition, they take a terms test that is 100 questions.

All-State orchestra takes a lot of preparation. One of the LHS faculty members who helps with all that is Kimberly Bogart, the orchestra teacher.

“These guys are really going above and beyond when you choose to audition because it is a big commitment,” said Bogart.

This is Bogart’s first year with the LHS orchestra, but that is not stopping her from helping the students be as prepared for their audition as they can. During the summer, Bogart held prep sessions for students to come and get extra help with their music. To audition for All-State, students must put in hours of practice. One orchestra student in particular has been a part of AllState three years in a row and will be auditioning again this year: Giyun Seo. He is a senior at LHS who has been playing the violin for 10 years. He prepares for his

audition by running through the music and focusing on harder parts that he most likely will be asked to play.

“I listen to music to get a sense of style, speed, rhythm and just to know how everything is supposed to sound,” said Seo. Choir students start their preparation at the beginning of the school year. Kathy Ferguson and Mike Bossman are the choir teachers here at LHS. Every year, Ferguson will choose a song they will sing in their audition.

Students will also have to sing the Patriotic, “My Country ‘Tis of Thee” or “America the Beautiful,” in addition to the combined piece. This year the piece that Ferguson chose was “America the Beautiful” arranged by Darmon Meader. For choir students to be able to audition, they must be in Concert choir, which is the choir with the highest-level singers at LHS and is an auditioned choir.

This year, there were an equal number of altos and sopranos who auditioned, while the tenors and basses were fewer. The students that chose to audition sang in a quartet of soprano, alto, tenor and base; these groups are randomly chosen to ensure everything is fair.

“They have to literally know what they are doing because they have to be able to sing it with any person in the choir,” said Ferguson.

Molly Leuning, an LHS senior, is a Concert Choir student who has been in All-State for one year and will be returning again for her second year. Leuning practices not only the music, but also how she will look while she is singing.

All-State Orchestra and Choir gather in the Denny Sanford Convention Center for the 2024 performance.

“I practice in front of a mirror just to know what I look like when I am auditioning,” said Leuning.

She also takes voice lessons, so she will work with her voice teacher who gives her critiques on what she can do to make her even better. Leuning enjoys All-State because it gives her a chance to connect with other kids all around the state.

All-State takes a lot of preparation that can go unnoticed.

Although not everyone makes it into this group of musicians, they still choose to put in the work to get better because they want to. All-State is an amazing opportunity for students all around the state to come together and do something they all love and to appreciate all the hard work they put in.

desiGn by Alice GerAets | photo used with permission by KAthy FerGuson | ArtworK used with permission by cAnvA

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by ElliE boEhrns

In Hinduism, yoga is a discipline to purify the body, mind and spirit.

While being a Hindu practice, many western cultures have taken part of the physical aspect and have classes or clubs based around it at schools, including LHS. Yoga club at LHS takes place every other Friday at 3:30 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. in room E117, or in the JROTC room during the winter months. The club is run

by LHS sophomores Sasha McAdaragh, Cecilia (Ceci) Peters, Ophelia RidoutNorris and Ellie Tinguely and is advised by Physical Education and Health Teacher, Kaaren Huber. They help lead meditation, as well as partner yoga, where two or more people support and work together in poses and yoga flows. Yoga flows are followed in a continuous stream that helps with breathing synchronization.

“Leading the class is really fun,” said McAdaragh. “[So is] having another knowledge and [...] it’s just an easy way to exercise.”

But breathing exercises and LHS provides a yoga class meditation along with yoga taught by Huber, which is poses help many learn how to beginner-friendly and takes breathe properly and control students through poses and themselves when emotions are yoga flows step-by-step. Yoga is heightened. generally considered a form of “You can control [a stressed exercise with its use of strength, cardio and balance; but it has uses aura] internally by breathing and positive thoughts,” said outside of just exercise. When Huber. “[You are] able to see executing yoga poses and flows, the quiet confidence that yoga’s people stretch their bodies and providing.” gain more flexibility, helping With its fun, no-judgement prevent injuries in activities or everyday life. Yoga also helps with and easy-going environment, range of motion in both the joints many members look forward to yoga club meetings to learn and muscles.

“If you are in any dance things, about yoga, meet new people, then you do get stretched and you have fun and get to know each other, all with a snack provided. make sure you are not injuring There is no sign up and no yourself,” said Peters. pressure to come to all meetings.

While exercising the body, “I always look yoga also helps calm and clear the forward to it mind of stress. When someone throughout is present and in the moment, the day,” said their poses tend to be stronger, Ridoutbut when someone is mentally Norris. elsewhere, they tend to struggle with balance and fall out of poses.

This is because they are focusing on the past or their aura has been disrupted, and the student lets their surroundings affect them. Aura, in yoga terms, is an energy field that surrounds the body, reflecting emotional, mental and spiritual state.

photos by ElliE boEhrns | dEsign by ElliE boEhrns | artwork usEd with pErmission by Canva

FEATURES

17

I

magination knows no bounds.

Ingenuity requires no specified social status. Curiosity does not discriminate between Bill Gates and the kindergartener next door. And neither does SuFu Creative, a local nonprofit striving to provide every Sioux Falls community member with the opportunity to express themselves through art. Officially opening its studio location in the summer of 2024, this organization has continued to grow and adapt while keeping its unwavering commitment to the public.

SuFu Creative, founded by the president Heather Cain, began its outreach journey in 2022 by organizing art shows for other local nonprofits. Eventually, the team was ready to expand; they acquired a permanent location and sent out a community call for art supply donations. The original objective of SuFu Creative’s space was simply to allow individuals of all incomes to draw, paint, partake in paper crafts or the other infinite possibilities that art has to offer.

by bethany Jespersen

“We actually started out as an open art studio for people to come in and be creative without the barriers of finance… and then overtime we knew there was a need for a used art supplies store, especially with Joann Fabrics closing and other places going out of business. There used to be a JAM Art & Supplies store in town, so there were a lot of people asking that we bring something like that back because there’s such a need,” said Cain.

The idea of SuFu Creative incorporating a used art supplies store received a positive response from the Sioux Falls area. Material and financial donations rolled in. This concept of a center to recycle and resell art supplies at more affordable prices was not unheard of in the community. In 2019, the donation-based store JAM Art & Supplies located downtown on North Philips Ave. closed permanently after the costs of operation became too high.

This closure prompted Cain and the SuFu Creative team to act. photos by bethany Jespersen artwork used with permission by Canva

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“So, we decided to take the art supplies that we had been using for the open art studio and turn it into [a store] instead.

Lots of people wanted to clean out their stuff and bring [it in],” said Cain.

Named the reCreate Studio, SuFu Creative art center and now store is one of the many small businesses that make up Nordic Hall, a building downtown on 13th St. that hosts a collective of small operations from a hair and nail salon to a permanent jewelry business. Yet, the true goal of the reCreate studio is to provide an outlet for stress and foster personal connection among its customers.

“We want to empower people; a lot of the people that we have at our art shows are kids, teenagers and people who aren’t necessarily big Sioux Falls artists…,” said Cain. “We are looking desperately for board members and volunteers.

High schoolers are great for board members; it looks really good on your resume too. And it doesn’t take a lot. I mean you just come to one meeting a month and you help out with events.”

Public involvement is crucial to the mission of SuFu Creative. Anyone can contribute by eating out at places such as Chipotle and Famous Dave’s for the organization’s dine-to-donate nights, bringing gently used art supplies to the reCreate Studio in Nordic Hall or attending upcoming events like the Holiday Market at Overlook Cafe on Dec. 13, 2025. These opportunities are great for LHS students and the greater community to take advantage of; small acts go a long way for SuFu Creative.

by Isabel GIllespIe

“Reduce, reuse, recycle.”

We have all heard and seen it a million times: on signs, in commercials, in our schools and above trash cans. But what does it really mean? The phrase is so

often repeated that it loses its meaning; recycling has become unimportant while the issue of excess waste is becoming worse.

The recycling rate in the Sioux Falls area is on a downward trend, falling below 19 percent in 2024.

This “more waste, less recycling” trend has become a global problem, with more than 2 billion tons of solid waste being produced worldwide each year. But if this issue is so big, what can be done about it? One group at LHS has come up with its own answer.

The Environmental Ingenuity (EI) Club is making its mission to collect cans from LHS classrooms to be recycled.

Recycling bins already exist in the classrooms, but they are often ignored, or garbage gets mixed in, making them relatively

useless. The EI club is encouraging all students to toss their cans in the recycling bin instead of the garbage. These bins display signs made by the club, which make them easier to spot. Club members will collect the cans from each classroom and bring them to the R & T Unit Can Company, where they will be processed into new

greenhouse, garden outside with donated plants, get out to pick up litter and restart the school thrift store. The club plans to reinvest the money from the cans into its cause, perhaps for the greenhouse or to buy more recycling bins.

The impacts go far beyond the club itself. Their actions are teaching young adults about the influence

aluminum products and the club will be paid based on the weight. Aluminum is a material that can be recycled many times and retains its quality, which makes it a great focus for repurposing.

“Cans are some of the most recyclable items,” said Grace Werner, Co-chair of the EI club. “It’s 60 days from when you recycle a can to it being back on the shelf as a new can.”

Collecting cans is not the only action step the EI Club is doing for the environment. Werner and students are revitalizing the club after it fell apart last year. They are hoping to get more time in the

they can have on the planet with just a simple action.

“We’re hoping to get students more involved with [recycling], and more mindful when they have trash, putting it in the correct receptacle,” said Werner.

Molly Leuning, a senior at LHS and club president, treasures the club for its initiative and impact.

“Beyond learning how to reduce, reuse and recycle, we get to learn about the environment that surrounds our community and how to take care of it,” said Leuning. “The Earth gives so much to us, and the least we can do is protect and give back to her.”

photos by Isabel GIllespIe desIGn by Isabel GIllespIe artwork used wIth permIssIon by Canva

FEATURES

19

by Nadia SchNeider, editor-iN-chief

A

s only a sophomore in high school, Talia Candor has just moved to the fourth country she has been able to call home.

Candor was born and has lived most of her life in Turkey, but has also resided in the Netherlands, Uzbekistan and now the United States.

Right before the school year started, Candor moved to Sioux Falls because her dad got a job teaching at a university. Right away, her parents knew they wanted her to attend LHS because they heard it is the best high school in the area. So far, Candor has thoroughly enjoyed her experience, both at school and in the city of Sioux Falls.

“I love it here,” said Candor. “[My favorite part] is the people. The people are so kind and cute.”

Candor has noticed that the people she met in the United States have been very welcoming. Whenever she goes to the store or is out

in public, she has random people approach her and start making conversation. She appreciates this because in Turkey, they typically do not try to converse with others they do not know. Coming to a new country, Candor was not expecting the people to be as talkative as they are.

“I thought American people were so cold to talk to.

They’re not,” said Candor.

The kindness shown to Candor so far has made it easy for her to make the transition to a new school in a city with strangers. When she first arrived, she was scared because she did not know anyone; now, only a couple of months into the school year, she has made many new friends while still staying in contact with her friends from Turkey.

“I miss them a lot,” said Candor.

Other than the people, Candor admits that there is nothing else she misses back

in Turkey. Even coming from Turkey’s capital, Ankara, recreation activities for teenagers in the city are slim.

In most of her free time, she would visit malls and attend various concerts. In Sioux Falls, though, there is much more for her to do.

At LHS, Candor is on the cross country team and has competed in several meets already. She enjoys running and how it has provided another way for her to meet new people. In addition to this, she also rows outside of school. She goes to and competes in regattas with her dad, which she has already done during her time in the United States.

Candor has also taken note of how different the schools are in Sioux Falls compared to those in Turkey. This year is her first year doing inperson school since she was in sixth grade, because for three years she did it online.

Before that, though, she recalls how she would be in the same

classroom all day long. “[Here,] you’re walking classroom to classroom,” said Candor. “In Turkey, you’re just staying in the classroom and the teachers are changing.”

Candor likes how she is able to talk to different people and does not have to be in one room with the same people for eight hours every day.

Another difference that Candor has noticed is how Americans celebrate holidays.

While in Turkey they still celebrate Christmas, she admits that in the United States, people go all out. “[Americans] celebrate so crazy,” said Candor. “We’re not like that. We just have a Christmas tree and then presents.”

Candor is looking forward to celebrating other holidays in her new country, such as the Fourth of July. She plans on staying in Sioux Falls for a while and is excited about all the opportunities she is going to have in the future. deSigN by Nadia SchNeider artwork by Nadia SchNeider

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artwork uSed with permiSSioN by caNva

P

hotos are an important part of peoples’ lives. They capture memories that can be treasured forever and can be used as a powerful means of artistic and personal expression.

Photographs can even change the world for the better by telling the story of the past. Here at LHS, there is an unsung hero who brings the school to life everyday through his photography.

Ben Schumacher is the Executive Producer for the Sioux Falls School District (SFSD). He takes photos and videos of everything SFSD related, whether it be academics, athletics or the fine arts.

Schumacher has been with the school district for over 18 years now, and has had a lot of experiences working with the SFSD. Schumacher’s passion for photography started at a very young age.

“I got into photography in fourth grade. My parents got my brother and I these cameras that were just a step above a toy, but they had film and all that and I loved them,” said Schumacher.

Schumacher saw this passion grow even more in high school, and it eventually led to him going to Augustana University and majoring in print journalism.

“Right out of college I got an entry-level job at Keloland before eventually becoming a photo journalist,” said Schumacher After a short time, Schumacher saw an opening to be the Executive Producer for the SFSD and has held that job ever since.

Schumacher always tries to make his photos unique and interesting, despite the fact that he has been taking photos of the same places for 18 years. Whether it be changing the tools he uses or the way he edits, Schumacher invests hours of his own time and effort into his craft, while trying to keep each photo unique.

“That’s the hardest thing: thinking of new ways to tell the same stories over and over,” said Schumacher.

Throughout the years, Scumacher has been behind the scenes at LHS, making memories and strengthening the community, despite often not getting the recognition he deserves. He is one of LHS’s biggest fans and has had a powerful impact on the lives of the students that attend here, even if they may not know his name.

“Ben Schumacher is the epitome of a servant leader,” said LHS band director Drew Balta. “Constantly going out of his way to help others in any way possible, spending long hours on projects that are NOT in the expected responsibilities of his job and always putting the needs for students, teachers and community before his own; Ben is truly one of a kind. [He] can be found at most every SFSD event, most-always behind the scenes, creating media content that can be used to promote student learning, foster student excitement or create memories that teachers and students will have forever.”

BEHINDTHE LENS by sam barnett

The person responsible for capturing the spirit of LHS: Ben Schumacher.

design by LHs statesman

pHotos used witH perission by ben scHumacHer

(Above): Ben Schumacher takes photos and videos for a variety of events, including sports and fine arts. These photos were taken at the 2025 President’s Bowl where the LHS football team played OGHS, alongside the cheerleaders and band.

21

by Kinsley ernster

Hot take: an unpopular opinion that likely causes controversy.

In a world of social media, where everything spreads, there is one thing for sure: no one’s safe from the flames of a hot take.

Hot takes can create huge debates and start little fires everywhere they go, burning whatever lies in their path.

design by Kinsley ernster

artworK used with permission by Canva

ENTERTAINMENT

23

by Alonso RAmiRez & Quinton HollAn

You have probably been sitting in English class during free reading time and wishing to do anything but read your book. This is why we clash!

Since its release in 2016, Clash Royale has grown to be a standard way to pass the time for what seems like almost all high school students.

Whether you are sitting in class or bed-rotting at home, Clash Royale is the go-to app to amuse oneself. All of this comes with no surprise thanks to Clash Royale’s quick, accessible and fast-paced gameplay. The game is free on the IOS App Store and provides a strong community experience, letting you connect with other players around the world in real time to face off in a Player vs Player style game. With the game recently climbing charts, it is evident that LHS students have recently hopped on the trend. In fact, the bond goes much further than one might expect, “[Clash Royale] brings out the best in all of us,” said LHS senior Carl Olson.

For adults, a game like Clash Royale seems like a waste of time. However, for LHS students, Clash Royale represents a crucial part of teen culture. “I love Clash Royal cause it gives me something to do when I’m procrastinating doing homework,” said LHS senior Jackson Baumann.

With each game lasting only 3-5 minutes, it makes for a convenient and enjoyable way for LHS students to spend their time. Furthermore, the game has ingrained itself into social media with popular YouTubers such as Jynxzi streaming and posting about the game regularly. Clash Royale allows players to earn trophies in a rank-based system correlated with their wins, which makes the game extra addicting. For some, the attachment LHS students have to this game might seem odd, but for others it is just a common side effect of the grind. “[Clash Royale] made me love my family again,” said LHS senior Ethan Ohling.

LHS junior Connor Husser plays Clash Royale while a crowd watches in awe of his skill.

Now, it is known that LHS loves Clash Royale, but what have some of the most skilled students gained from the game? “I love clash because it is something that I can play wherever, meaning I can have fun wherever I am,” said LHS junior Connor Husser. Husser is part of the small percentage of Clash Royale players who get to claim the title of having earned over 15,000 in-game trophies. Similar to Husser, other LHS students like senior Graham Eisenberg have also reached the 15,000 trophy benchmark. “Because I’ve been playing it since before I can remember.

I literally think I’m the best,” said Eisenberg. These accomplishments show the skill and brain-power of LHS students because of the game’s strategic, chess-like play-style. At the end of the day, these students had to dedicate their time to become some of the most elite clashers in the game. If one thing is certain, it is that they are definitely proud of it.

24

pHoto by mAson DeAn

ARtwoRk useD witH peRmission by CAnvA & instAgRAm/@bRuHloon

Design by Alonso RAmiRez & Quinton HollAn

Now more than ever, it is so incredibly important to recognize what makes us grateful. We need to appreciate who or what lifts us up, rather than focusing on what brings us down. This is how LHS students and staff responded to being asked who they are grateful for, and why.

“My non-biological grandparents. They took us in as part of their family. We aren’t that close with my dad’s side, and my mom’s side lives across the world. We are very close with them, and they call my brother and I their grandchildren and my parents their children, even though they have three biological grown kids. We call one of their daughters our aunt, and she thinks of us as her niece and nephew.”

“My older sisters, because they have both taught me important life lessons and great advice. They make everything better and more fun!”

am so “My mother. I mother g rateful for my just such because she is . She a strong woman there en has always be y one and for me since da e away never pushed m orted me and always supp d myself.” when I doubte

“My friend s, because they have been the m ost genuine, k ind, loving , empathetic , fu and amazin nny, caring g friends I ’ve ever had. S eeing them is always the highlight o f my school day .”

“I am grateful for my best friend. She is the most wonderful person anyone could meet. Her attitude and demeanor are extraordinarily positive.

Whenever I see her, she puts a smile on my face. I am grateful to call her one of my best friends.”

ngs and nts, sibli always e r a p y “M ey ecause th friends b be the best to push me myself and I can f o version hem.” unt on t o c s y a alw

“I am the most grateful for Jesus, followed by basically all the other people in my life.

I love my family, obviously, but also my . I am “LHS Students at ts friends and youth group leaders. Well, Jesus en ud e st thankful for th t ul Christ ic ff literall y saved my life; He came and the di LHS that make th or died w for r me and then freaking rose up from he ac te job of being a the grave and has promised that I will too. it.”

Gratitude is the absolute least I can give in s the e’ Sh r. he ot m return .”

“My to be. person I aspire king and She’s hardwor brilliant.”

by AvA Thompson

design by AvA Thompson

ArTwork used wiTh permission by CAnvA

“My mom. She’s always there to help me and always shows others kindness.”

ENTERTAINMENT

25

When you are feeling down, treat yourself to these local places all around Sioux Falls to guarantee a pick-me-up in your day.

Race around the rink and enjoy a fun skating experience at the heart of Sioux Falls. With amazing views and a snack shack, you are sure to have an time at The Lodge.

Although the Apple Orchard is only open during the fall season, that is what makes it so special. The fall festivities include picking apples, riding around on the tractor, finding the perfect pumpkin, visiting the petting zoo and stuffing your mouth with caramel apples. Additionally, the Apple Orchard opens up again November 21 for Christmas tree shopping.

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Cafe Breadico brings the freshest quality homemade baked goods, leaving a rich and vibrant flavor with some of the simplest ingredients. In additiona, Cafe Breadico is located right on the Big Sioux River downtown with an amazing view of the Arc of Dreams. This combination of great taste and wonderful views makes it a one-of-akind experience in Sioux Falls.

design by Lucy Hennies & Trey rapH arTwork by Trey rapH arTwork used wiTH permission by canva pHoTos by Lucy Hennies & Trey rapH

by

Lucy Hennies & Trey rapH

An award-winning patisserie shop offering a wide selection of macarons, croissants and other sweet treats.

Enjoy the hard exterior and soft interior of macarons, which have a rich taste that leaves your mouth watering.

The environment in Josiah’s is what sets it above the rest. The atmosphere, combined with the delicious and healthy breakfast at an affordable price, makes Josiah’s a must-stop breakfast place. The caramel roll was perfect due to its warm, fresh and sweet center.

Indulge in a oneof-a-kind matcha with a splash of vanilla, making this a refreshing drink with natural caffeine, waking you up and building spirits.

The Daily Clean Food and Drink smoothies are the pinnacle of nutrition.

Fuel up and feel good about what you are drinking. The Daily offers some of the most delicious smoothies, featuring rejuvenating ingredients that make you feel good about yourself.

ENTERTAINMENT

27

by brielle Kolling

Up until this year, the LHS dance team has never won first place more than once in a season.

Not only did the team win first place once, which has not happened since 2021, they even won first a second time. Placing in the top three has always been a goal for the team, but it has consistently proven hard to achieve. This year, they have been in the top three all season long, a figure representation of their strong performances.

The dance team holds tryouts in May, at the end of every school year. From there, they practice and get ready for competition season over the summer. The most important attribute that Jenn Van Dyke, LHS dance coach, looks for during tryouts is a hard worker.

“I want to see potential, I want to see someone that really wants it and wants to put in the work. Having skills and tricks come easy is not necessarily as important to me. Someone that you can tell really wants it and has a really good work ethic is design by eloise geraets

number one,” said Van Dyke.

As far as what makes the 2025 team stronger than ever before, it is clear that their connections make them excel.

“This team, they really respect each other. We have been focusing on connection all season long. They value each dancer on the floor and off the floor. They are really able to come together more as a team this year, and you see it when they perform,” said Van Dyke.

Not only can the audience see the connection the dancers have, but they can feel it when they perform. LHS senior and four-year dance team member Livi Wornson knows that it is important to be connected while dancing.

“I think that we were really connected this year. We really have grown to respect each other and really build deeper relationships with everybody. So, I think that that really helps on and off the floor. It’s important that we’re connected while we’re dancing,” said Wornson.

Anyone who has been

photo used with permission by lhs dance team

involved in sports knows competition day can feel very stressful. The pressure of wanting to perform well can consume the day, making it nerve-racking and difficult to enjoy. One of the aspects of this team that makes them perform well is they never forget to have fun.

“We always try to remember why we do this. We always think about our why, and our why is to have fun. And so that is what I really try to focus on,” said Van Dyke.

Taking the weight off their shoulders and keeping fun at the center of competition days is crucial to leading the dancers to the top.

With numerous practices, competition days and half-time shows, the dance team has made an abundance of memories together this year.

“My favorite moment from this year has been when we won, and then we won again. It was really just a testament to how well we work together and how hard we’ve worked this summer

artworK used with permission by canva

and the rest of the season,” said Wornson.

Of course, winning is not everything, and it can be easy to lose sight of what is most important. For Van Dyke, encouraging the team to focus on the journey and not the destination keeps them focused on enjoying the time they get to spend together.

“We’re having fun and we’re together, so it doesn’t really matter if we win or lose. We’re doing it because we love dancing and we love each other,” said Wornson.

This record-breaking team has worked hard for months to achieve this level of success.

Bonding together and creating trusting relationships is what makes them thrive. From early morning practices to weekend competitions, they pick each other up and never slack. What sets this team apart from the rest is their genuine love and care for their teammates. Having those deep connections on and off the floor have led them to victory time after time.

SPORTS

29

LHS ALUMNIMAKING

NOISE

by Hazel HugHes

T

he time, effort and dedication that go into each practice, game and film session for LHS football is truly something special. It is clear that the LHS players come together as one because of their coaches, time commitment and devotion to being the best. And it has worked — earning them the title of back-to-back State champions.

With this said, two LHS alumni football players recently were mentioned in a shoutout video in the locker room of South Dakota State University after they both were recognized for their impressive performance on the field. Jack Smith, the 2023-2024 Gatorade Player of the Year as well as football captain at LHS, holds many records such as…

All-time record holder for career receptions, career receiving yards, career receiving touchdowns, single-game receptions, single-game receiving yards, single-game touchdowns, single-season receptions and single-season receiving yards.

Smith scored his first Division I touchdown as a Jackrabbit on Sept. 27, 2025. Luke Krempges, another key athlete from LHS, earned all-state recognition in both 2023 and 2024.

Krempges recorded his junior year of high school: 34 tackles with five tackles for loss and four sacks. He kept racking up those numbers and put up 53 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and four sacks during his senior season, in which he also held the role as team captain and was chosen as an academic allstate honoree. Krempges earned his first minutes of Division I playing time and recorded his first sack as a true freshman against Mercyhurst.

AT

SDSU

SMITH AND KREMPGES’ REFLECTIONS: 1. Do you think playing football at LHS helped get you ready for the jump to Division I? 2. How are you liking football at SDSU so far?

3. If you could go back, would you still choose SDSU, or do you think you’d do anything differently?

Jack Smith (2024 Graduate):

1. “I think that playing football at LHS more than prepared me for college football. I think one reason why was because we had a more upbeat offense that was very detailed and specific. I also attribute my success to my coaches and teammates that were around me and pushed me everyday.”

2. “I am so blessed to be in the position I am in. Freshman year was a great year Luke Krempges (2025 Graduate): for me because I was able to travel and play in a couple of games. Now as a 1.” Yes! A lot of our coaches have experience in college football and sophomore I recently started my first game so I am just super thankful for all of know what it takes to play at that level, so I feel they trained and my experiences so far.” prepared me very well.”

3. “Going back I would still choose SDSU no matter what. Being at SDSU is a 2. “SDSU is great. It’s an honor to be here and it is a really good fit for blessing because of the people you are surrounded by and the culture that you me.” feel everyday. Also, It has always been a dream of mine to play at SDSU, so 3. “I would definitely pick SDSU again if I went back. This place is doing it for the little kid in me is what keeps me going.” tight and the culture goes a long way here.”

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design by Hazel HugHes

artwork by Hazel HugHes

pHotos used witH permission by Jack smitH & luke krempges

by John Quello

design by John Quello

artwork used with permission by Canva

S

ports psychology, a true fundamental across all sports.

Whether or not the athlete is aware of it, their mental state is crucial to success.

Sports psychology is the study of how an athlete’s mental state affects their performance.

In the field, there are plenty of different points of view, with many people suggesting a multitude of different strategic options that have varying levels of success. Different sports and teams also require different plans of attack.

Some sports players are a part of a team, but competition is actually individual, such as tennis, golf, wrestling, gymnastics and track.

Others are team sports where athletes must work together with their teammates to succeed, including football, basketball and volleyball.

Both types of teams have their own challenges and characteristics, but they all have one thing in common: being calm and having confidence is an undisputed fundamental, but the path to this outcome often varies.

A productive mental state can propel an athlete’s performance, but the inverse can also easily occur. This is where the coach’s true influence lies. Across many sports, there is a team, yes, but the actual competition happens individually. Track and field is one of those sports. Coach James Jarovski (Jaws) is the respected head coach of both the boys and girls track teams at LHS. “It starts with getting to know your athletes and knowing what they can handle, then it’s individual conversation with them and putting them into situations that they can feel comfortable [in],” said Jaws.

This approach is clearly effective with the results that both track teams have had. The boys’ team has won the state championship back-to-back years, and the girls’ team has won two of the last three championships. The combined team also just won the 2025 State title.

“Handling different athletes [in] different ways is all about getting to know them, and I think that’s why we’ve been successful at Lincoln High School,” said Jaws.

However, different sports with more team competition, like basketball, may have a different outlook.

“I think we need to make sure that when we are coaching, we find ways to put guys in situations that are difficult…when the game comes, you’re gonna feel like you’re ready for it,” said LHS boys basketball Head Coach Luke Hannemann.

One of these activities that the team does is a mile run every Friday morning.

“It is a little bit of conditioning, but in addition, it’s something that is challenging every single week,” said Hannemann.

Some of Hannemann’s role models for his coaching style are David Goggins. Goggins is a retired Navy SEAL who has completed over 70 ultra-distance races, and he previously held the world record for most pullups in a seventeenhour period with 4,030. Goggins inspired Hannemann so much that he also completed a 100-mile race in the Black Hills. “[It] made me realize that your body can do more than you really think you can,” said Hannemann.

SPORTS

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STATESMAN

The integrity gap: The depth of the LHS cheating epidemic November Issue

by

Will Hansen & Jacob Wessels

Perspectives

Artificial intelligence, notes hidden in shoes, answers left in calculators and the tried-and-true paper-peaking method are all ways that LHS students have conspired to cheat throughout the years. Being aware of this phenomenon begs the question: How bad really is the LHS cheating epidemic?

Regardless of grade, chances are that most students have encountered an opportunity to cheat or have cheated themselves. It is a natural desire to want to do better on a test or assignment even if it could be morally compromising. Whether it be that students simply did not study enough, or that the unit was taught poorly and now test time has arrived and pupils do not know any answers, cheating is a reality of the education system. But what percentage of the world cheats and how does that compare to LHS? According to a poll recently conducted which was sent to LHS student’s e-mail inboxes, around 65% of LHS students’ have cheated on an assignment or test in some way. This is drastically lower than the national average according to the International Center for Academic Integrity, which claims that 95% of high school students have cheated in some capacity. On a surface level, this data makes it seem like LHS does not have that severe of

a cheating epidemic; however, many LHS teachers beg to differ.

“The problem is it’s coming at us super-fast and from all the angles,” said LHS Principal Dr. Laura Raeder.

While some teachers feel that there is, in fact, a cheating issue on some level at LHS, the majority of students would argue the opposite. Around 73% of LHS students deny a cheating issue at LHS. However, it is still up for debate. Despite students denying the problem, the data suggests a present cheating problem. When asked how many times they had cheated in the past 30 days, the majority of LHS students said zero, a majority said zero; however, a staggering 21.7 percent claimed to have cheated seven or more times. This equates to an astronomical figure of roughly one quarter of LHS students engaging in some form of academic dishonesty.

According to the survey, roughly 22.6 percent use AI to cheat in some form. Whether it was to breeze through an assignment or get the answers for a test, AI is a prominent form of cheating in the classroom.

Other students have claimed to use methods such as writing on their arms or legs, using their phones and even copying off their peers’ work.

As the school year goes on, cheating will likely only evolve as

AI and other methods become more refined and prominent. The duty falls on administration, teachers and the students themselves to maintain academic integrity throughout LHS. LHS has a long reputation of academic success and honesty that should not be jeopardized. Recent data indicates a cheating epidemic infecting the younger generations at LHS, but if it can be squandered quickly, LHS can maintain its academic prowess and unity.

“I think we need to have more conversations, more about what plagiarism is,” said Dr. Raeder.

artWork by cHarli FickboHm

design by Jacob Wessels & Will Hansen

ALL-TIME ACADEMIC DISHONESTY FOR LHS STUDENTS

PERSPECTIVES

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I

n 2024, a recordbreaking 331.9 million visitors traveled to the 63 national parks that span the U.S. Showcasing the diverse, wild beauty of the American landscape, national parks give travelers an intimate view of America and its wildlife, protected and preserved by the government and park rangers.

Following the increase in industrialization and the use of automobiles in the nineteenth century, a movement emerged aiming to preserve America’s natural beauty. According to the National Park Service, Yellowstone was established as the world’s first national park following the Yellowstone National Park Protection Act of 1872. The act set aside more than 2 million acres of public land to be “dedicated and set apart as a public park or pleasuringground for the benefit and enjoyment of the people,” according to The National Park Service.

34 years later, under the influence of President Theodore Roosevelt, the Antiquities Act was signed

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into law, giving presidents the authority to preserve historical structures and landmarks. By August of 1916, the National Park Service was established in order to oversee the current 35 national parks and monuments. Park rangers were hired with the responsibility of firefighting and animal control, among many other tasks essential to the upkeep of these precious lands.

Due to public push to preserve the American wild, the Wilderness Act of 1964 was signed, providing government protection for wilderness areas across the country. The National Park Service defines wilderness as “...an area where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain…”. This act provided nature-loving Americans, as well as tourists, with the ability to better enjoy the American landscape and further fuel preservation movements.

As the 20th century dragged on, national seashores, lakeshores and recreation areas began

to span the country. In 2025, there are now 63 national parks along with 803 respected wilderness areas, covering approximately 112 million acres of the U.S in total.

While generally enjoyed and supported by the public, these parks do not exist without controversy.

When national parks are established, they often strip traditional lands and hunting grounds from Indigenous people.

While the government has worked to return the grounds to their people, the cultural damage remains evident in the memories of those affected. Large mining or oil companies also advocate against parks, arguing that the land would be better used for its natural resources, such as lumber or fossil fuel extraction. Keeping America’s priceless land safe from those who strive to take from it for a profit is becoming increasingly important.

Many parks constantly experience underfunding, which leads to chronic staffing shortages and large numbers of needed repairs and maintenance.

Recent budget cuts put into place by the Trump Administration increased pre-existing pressures on parks; 1 billion dollars is planned to be cut from the National Park Service in 2026, the agency’s largest budget cut in history. As a direct effect, there are 16.5% fewer park employees compared

photos used by permIssIon by sammlung publIc domaIn buIlder & pIx4free |artwork used wIth permIssIon by chatgpt desIgn by lIly osmundson

to 2023, according to the National Parks Conservation Association.

If action is not taken to reinstate the parks with their resources and staff, they could become stretched too thin.

National parks and sites provide learning grounds for visitors, educating them about America’s nature and history. Closures can inhibit travelers from experiencing the beauty and significance of these parks or monuments.

More than education is at stake here. The cultural significance of these locations holds strong in many hearts across the nation. Yosemite Valley is the home of an Indigenous group called the Southern Sierra Miwok people, who are recognized as the first inhabitants of the area that would later be named Yosemite National Park.

While they were pushed out of the area when

by lIly osmundson

the park was created, the tribe and the National Park Service have since worked together to rebuild a village, called the Indian Village of Ahwahnee, for use by the Miwok people for gatherings and

Yosemite National Park covers more than 750,000 acres of American land and is ranked among the top ten most visited parks in the U.S. as of 2025.

ceremonies. Yosemite also recognizes the land as their sacred ancestral homeland and provides educational information regarding the tribe in their visitor center and around the park.

However, the importance of national parks extends beyond their history and cultural significance.

National parks emphasize the Americans who strive to be adventurous and explore the extravagant landscape of their country.

In a world that is becoming increasingly indoors, national parks remind Americans, and visitors from around the globe, to not only take time to enjoy the beauty of nature but also respect and preserve the earth for generations to come.

PERSPECTIVES

35

The

po·lit·i·cal problem

“In training for effective citizenship, it is necessary for students to study issues that are controversial.”

- Section I of the Sioux Falls School District policies and regulations

by Mason Dean

36

Design by Mason Dean

C

ontroversy is an inescapable part of our world. Every story’s plot is driven by it; every news outlet obsesses over it; every social media post causes it; and everyone is thinking about it. It only makes sense that controversy — something synonymous with humanity — would be a part of learning. Students cannot be prepared for the world while also being sheltered from it. The issue with this, however, arises when we consider the political problem.

Controversy is almost always labeled as political because that is what politics are: the different opinions different groups have on different issues. Inherently, any topic taught in school that is considered controversial will also be considered political. In that lens, the Sioux Falls School District’s (SFSD’s) goal of teaching the controversial can seem less noble. While a controversial topic is a discussion starter, a political topic sounds taboo to even mention in the context of a classroom. With politics in schools, we inherently think of other words — bias, prejudice, indoctrination — that depart from teaching students to think independently and to think instead like their instructor. That fear of indoctrination creates a stigma, one that the SFSD recognizes. “[It is the right of the student] to study under competent instructors in an objective atmosphere free from bias and prejudice. The instructor will provide resources, materials, or sources of information on as many aspects of the issue as he/she can in order that all students may reach individual conclusions with regard to the particular issue.”

However, this policy does not prevent pushback when those “particular” issues become points of political polarization.

In wake of the Black Lives Matter movement, the book “All American Boys,” a novel by Jason Reynolds about two Black teenagers dealing with police brutality and racial

profiling, was taken out of English I and Accelerated English I and put into English II and Acc English II as an optional piece. As immigration came to the forefront of politics in early 2025, the text “Citizen Illegal,” a poem by José Olivarez questioning the status of the children of illegal immigrants, was taken out of usage in English III. In September of 2025, “Brujería” by Angelica Mercado-Ford, a poem about overcoming adversity related to identity and sexual orientation, was restricted from being used in tests in English I. When issues in our world become more controversial and politicized, it doesn’t mean that students should be protected from them because school is a “safe” space. Schools are safe in that they can be neutral, objective and truthful places to learn about heated issues. These texts provide insights into lives and experiences that can be very similar and very different from students’ and help develop a wider understanding and empathy — one that can’t be made in constant agreement but needs to be challenged and tested so it can strengthen and adapt.

“One of the most important goals of education is to help young people understand the diversity of viewpoints, religions, and cultures in the world.” - SFSD Policies and Regulations section K.

But this issue doesn’t end with students. While they are the ones who experience the effects of pushback, teachers suffer the brunt of it — or don’t.

When parents have concerns about class material, the SFSD’s policies and regulations section KEC-R states they can “meet with the teacher, the principal, and/or the department chair” and request “alternative instructional materials” for their child.

But in the case of “Citizen Illegal” and “Brujería,” this procedure was

bypassed. The parents went around the teachers and instead took their complaint directly to the district. The district then moved “Citizen Illegal” and “Brujería” from being full class readings to being optional readings, meaning teachers no longer could use them for class-wide assignments. This is a well-intentioned and diplomatic solution that allows some students to still read these pieces, but it puts the literature in a limbo state where it is unlikely it will ever be taught. What teacher would teach a piece when it has a stigma of pushback, a parent who wants it out and they are the one who will be put under the light if there is pushback? That responsibility should not be placed on the teacher, but rather the curriculum board and the district. It is the policy of the district that controversial issues be taught, and as such, it ought to be at that level that it is defended at.

But this whole quandary would never exist if parents followed the simplest and easiest solution to this problem: to request “alternative instructional materials.” Individual parents have the right to decide what their child learns, but circumventing the simple process laid out to accommodate that right is changing the education of every student. If a parent truly feels the need to have course materials removed from the curriculum entirely, they can follow the procedure outlined in the SFSD’s policies and regulations section KEC-R. Fear of indoctrination is valid, but that fear held by relatively few cannot be allowed to stop all students from learning about the most important controversial — and yes, political — issues in our world. High school is meant to transition teens into young adults, and that can’t be done if students are sheltered from anything different or disagreeable. Education must teach not just academics but an understanding of the boundless scope of life, experiences and opinions that make the world so controversial.

PERSPECTIVES

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by EloisE GEraEts, Editor-in-ChiEf

indness costs nothing, yet it is valuable when it comes to human interactions. It is not just being nice because you have to; it is a conscious decision to build connections with others. When it comes down to the logistics of a problem, the best solution is to treat people with kindness and respect.

Throughout the halls of LHS, the fundamental value of kindness is overlooked. It is crucial to understand kindness is more than just being polite after a favor is done. It is truly going out of your way to make a genuine act that improves the well-being, big or small, of another person.

It is the difference between acknowledging someone and confirming that they matter.

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Being kind is one of the most powerful actions to perform, and its benefits reach far beyond the person receiving it. From a psychological standpoint, showing kindness through words or actions reduces one’s stress and anxiety.

At LHS, Head Counselor David Myers believes that it also helps with loneliness, improves social connections and fosters a sense of community. These benefits help with the overall socialemotional well-being of a student. It shifts your internal focus away from yourself and helps develop empathy and gratitude for others, rather than dwelling on negativity. While LHS might seem divided at some points, choosing kindness reminds everyone of the shared impact that one small, genuine act can have on another student’s life.

Counselors at LHS frequently encounter students struggling not only with being kind to others but also with understanding their own self-worth. When encountering issues through the counseling department, Myers emphasizes that while we may not have control over others’ emotions, we certainly have control over our own.

“Showing kindness can shift a person’s thought process from negative dEsiGn by EloisE GEraEts

thoughts to positive thoughts,” said Myers.

With this, your intentional act of kindness creates a school that has a safe and conducive environment for learning.

Beyond the emotional benefits, kindness has a larger ripple effect that extends into the world.

One kind act often inspires another, creating a chain reaction of goodness.

Kindness spreads from one person to another, slowly shaping communities and even societies into more compassionate places.

World Kindness Day,

artwork by EloisE GEraEts

held annually on Nov. 13, serves as a global reminder of how easily kindness can change the course of someone’s life.

It reinforces the practice that small kindness is often remembered more than grand gestures. Holding the door open for someone who has their hands full, offering encouraging words to students or lending pencils to stressed classmates are all examples of small but high-impact acts.

While everyone comes from different backgrounds, kindness is a taught and

learned behavior. It begins with parents or guardians modeling this behavior and continues as teachers show positive reinforcement to students. These lessons that we learn from a young age help us understand the struggles, perspectives and needs of others.

The hardest part of it all is to make it a daily practice. This means choosing patience over irritation, encouragement over judgment and understanding over assumptions. Ultimately, you will never regret being kind.

PERSPECTIVES

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