Tea Area Titans Hall of Fame 2025
Welcome Message
As a district, we are celebrating today, tomorrow, and yesterday. The rich traditions of Tea Area are rooted in amazing people. The Tea Area Hall of Fame recognizes the history, dedication, and leadership of those who have made significant contributions to the Tea Area School District.
2025Inductees
Benjamin Morehead
A lasting impact on the Titan community was made by Benjamin Morehead through academics, the arts, and athletics. Benjamin was active in concert choir, jazz band, marching band, and drama, earning numerous awards throughout the years. Competitions were also undertaken in football, baseball, track and field, and Quiz Bowl, balancing athletics, academics, and the arts with remarkable dedication
One of Benjamin’s most cherished memories was being part of something bigger, particularly through music at Tea Area High School. A standout moment occurred during a performance with the band at the South Dakota Bandmasters convention, which has been remembered as one of the best musical achievements of the Titan years These experiences helped shape a sense of teamwork, collaboration, and pride in being part of a community.
Now residing in St. Paul, Minnesota, with wife Janna Morehead (nee Remmers, also a former Titan, class of 2014), a 9-month-old daughter, Aviendha, and two dogs, Samwise and Gandalf, lessons learned as a Titan continue to be built upon. Benjamin earned a doctorate in audiology from the University of Minnesota in 2023, and works for Allina Health as an audiologist. The values of dedication, teamwork, and creative collaboration established during time at Tea Area High School continue to guide both professional and personal life.
Lauren Diede
Lauren Diede embraced every opportunity during her time at Tea Area High School, leaving her mark as a true all-around Titan. She competed in track, volleyball, and basketball, and also found success in the fine arts and leadership roles through choir, band, Student Council, FCCLA, National Honor Society, and HOSA Balancing athletics, academics, and service, Lauren formed lifelong friendships and built a foundation of discipline and teamwork that carried beyond high school.
Some of her favorite memories as a Titan came from the experiences strung together over the years—the excitement of competing at five state track meets, the joy of winning a district volleyball match, and the pride of cheering on the boys as they brought home state titles in track and basketball. But more than the victories, it was the journey and the people who shaped her most. Coaches and teachers pushed her to grow, instilling lessons that went far beyond the playing field. One of the most meaningful moments for Lauren was wearing the Titan uniform for the last time, reflecting on what it meant to be part of something bigger than herself.
Now living in Milbank with her husband, Logan, Lauren is eagerly awaiting the arrival of their first child. She serves her community as the elementary school nurse in Milbank, works as a labor and delivery nurse at Avera McKennan in Sioux Falls, and continues to serve her country as a nurse in the South Dakota Army National Guard. The values of teamwork, dedication, and resilience she learned as a Titan continue to guide her, and she looks back with gratitude on the experiences that shaped her into who she is today.
Margaret Larsen
Margaret Larsen played an important role in shaping the Titan community through years of service, leadership, and dedication across academics, arts, and athletics. She served on the music committee when the district was being formed, supported Music Boosters, and helped launch early STEM programming by working on grant applications, program development, and event support. Her involvement included judging middle school STEM events and science fairs, timing for home Quiz Bowl competitions, serving on the elementary school naming committee, presenting at the middle school career exploration event, judging Senior Projects, and contributing to the Tea Area Scholarship Committee. Beyond the classroom and committees, she also repaired U.S. flags for the district and lent her creativity to winter outdoor pot decorating at each school, leaving her mark in both big and small ways.
One of her most meaningful memories comes from those early days of forming the district seeing how the work brought the community together and watching the rapid growth unfold. For her, witnessing the construction of new buildings and the expansion of opportunities for all students highlighted what it meant to provide an outstanding education for Titans.
Today, she lives on a tree farm north of Tea with her husband, Wayne, whom she has been married to for 47 years. They have two grown children, Amanda and Matthew, who both earned engineering degrees and are now married with families of their own. Together, they have been blessed with five grandchildren Archer, Holden, William, Abigail, and Juliet—ranging in ages from 7 to 13 She works for a company that serves as a third-party administrator for retirement plans, but her legacy in the Titan community continues through the countless ways she helped build and support the district from its very beginning.
Sandy Cheney
Sandy Cheney has been deeply involved in the Titan community through her work, volunteerism, and leadership. During her time with the district and local organizations, she served as Interim Finance/Bookkeeper for the City of Tea, a member and council member of Trinity Lutheran Church, and actively participated in the Parent Teacher Organization, Music & Sports Boosters, the Tea Area School District Association, the Tea Area Community Fund/Foundation, the Tea Area Community Scholarship Fund, and Meals on Wheels. Her dedication to supporting students, families, and the broader community helped strengthen the bonds that make Tea Area such a special place
One of her most cherished memories is the “Revealing Event” held in the Legacy Gym, when the school colors, Titan logo, and mascot were unveiled. Packed with excited students, families, and community members enjoying tacos and entertainment from Sioux Falls mascots, the event featured students performing the newly developed school song and ended with cheers, hugs, dancing, and fireworks. For Sandy, this celebration exemplified the spirit of community and the joy of coming together to create something meaningful for future Titans.
Today, Sandy and her husband live in Tea, their fifth home with a “Tea” address They enjoy retirement, spending about half of the year in Arizona, and cherishing time with their three adult children Carrie (Kirby) Quamen of Delano, MN; Amber Johnson of Hill City, SD; and Casey (Vanessa) Cheney of Sarasota, FL. They have been blessed with eight grandchildren, ranging in age from 10 to 25, four of whom are Tea Area High School graduates For two years, they also had the joy of providing “Grandpa and Grandma Daycare” for six of their grandchildren, creating memories they treasure to this day.
Sandy Crawford
Sandy Crawford played an important role in the early development of the Titan community, serving on the Lennox School Board and helping organize the district. Her dedication and leadership during those formative years helped shape the foundation for the educational opportunities and community support that continue to benefit students today. One of Sandy’s most meaningful memories is the outpouring of community support and devotion during the early years of the district’s development a reflection of the collective effort that made the Titan community so strong.
Today, Sandy lives in Penrose, Colorado After moving there in 2005 with her late husband, Gary Meyer, who passed away in 2017, she remarried Freeman Crawford, and together they continue to own and operate her business, Classic Leather Designs. In addition to running the business, Sandy pursues western and wildlife photography, with Freeman serving as her “wildlife scout” and crafting beautiful frames for her images. The values of community, dedication, and collaboration she experienced as a Titan continue to guide her in both her professional and personal life.