OMAHA WORLD-HERALD
2016 All West-Central Academic Team First Team
Anna Helzer
Rachel Bisbee
Collin Potts
Aurora
Gering
Parents: Christopher Helzer and Gennevieve Weiss Class rank: 4 out of 91 Test scores: 34 ACT, 2140 SAT National Merit finalist College plans: UNL, secondary Spanish education My top achievements: All-State Band and Orchestra (French horn), superior ratings at district music contest; district champion cross-country team and two-time state qualifier
Parents: Darryl and Amy Potts Class rank: 1 out of 144 Test scores: 36 ACT, 2300 SAT National Merit finalist College plans: MIT, physics My top achievements: All-State Band; speech district medalist and state qualifier; lead actor in spring musical; medalist at Chadron State College scholastic contest; president of National Honor Society
Joseph Taylor
Alexander Kleinjan
Cambridge
Hastings
Parents: Dave and Andela Taylor Class rank: 1 out of 22 Test scores: 35 ACT College plans: Michigan, mechanical engineering My top achievements: National Future Business Leaders of America qualifier; state runner-up, informative speech; play production conference best actor; Academic Decathlon state first place in science
Parents: Scott and Amy Schaecher Class rank: 1 out of 65 Test scores: 34 ACT, 2130 SAT National Merit finalist College plans: My top achievements: COMING FRIDAY
Neligh-Oakdale
Parents: John and Donna Bisbee Class rank: 1 out of 401 Test scores: 34 on ACT, College plans: UNL, forensic science My top achievements: Superior ratings on every performance at district music contest; All State honor choir member; National Honor Society
Parents: Tim and Jane Kallhoff Class rank: 1 out of 35 Test scores: 35 on ACT, 2180 on SAT National Merit finalist College plans: My top achievements: American Legion Boys Nation nominee; national speech quarterfinalist, state speech champion; National Quiz Bowl qualifier, State Quiz Bowl competitor
Jordan Wong
Christian Schleif
Kearney
Osceola
Parents: Thomas & Stacy Kleinjan Class rank: 1 out of 252 Test scores: 35 on ACT, 2170 on SAT National Merit finalist College plans: Grinnell, English My top achievements: National qualifier in Public Forum debate; MVP of Quiz Bowl team and state qualifier; sixth place at National Qualifiers Congress Debate; class valedictorian
Parents: Diane Duffin and Howard Wong Class rank: 9 out of 401 Test scores: 35 on ACT, 2080 on SAT College plans: Stanford, WashingtonSt. Louis, Michigan, Northwestern, Wisconsin or UNL, economics My top achievements: State champion in oral interpretation of drama, honors in extemporaneous speaking; All-State Orchestra (viola); national FCCLA competitor
Parents: Tom and Kristi Schleif Class rank: 1 out of 18 Test scores: 36 on ACT College plans: UNK, computer science My top achievements: Created onscreen live scores graphic for school’s online sports broadcasts; state track qualifier; multiple winner of “Bulldog Top 5,” an award distinguishing the top five students in each grade
Kayla Neeley
Katie Cumpston
Logan Uhlir
Lydia Schaecher Columbus Scotus
Chase Kallhoff
Kearney
Humphrey
Central City Christian
Sidney
Parents: Kirk and Julie Neeley Class rank: 1 out of 27 Test scores: 34 on ACT, 2080 National Merit finalist College plans: UNL, pscyhology My top achievements: First place in English composition at Northeast Husker Academic Contest; best actress one-act performance at Morningside; entertainment speech honors; Food Science team, State FFA honors
Parents: Josh and Allene Cumpston Class rank: 1 out of 27 Test scores: 35 on ACT, 2270 on SAT National Merit finalist College plans: Wichita State, biomedical engineering My top achievements: Track and field state medalist, school record holder; All State choir; outstanding performance-ensemble at district music contest; cross country state medalist
Parents: Mary and Tony Uhlir Class rank: 2 out of 83 Test scores: 34 on ACT, 2090 on SAT National Merit finalist College plans: UNL, computer engineering My top achievements: Nebraska State Envirothon honors; state track and field championship team; All State Choir; Chadron State College scholastic contest award winner
Second Team Jacob Gardner Arapahoe Parents: Randy and Carla Gardner Class rank: 2 out of 30 Test scores: 34 ACT
Jamie Bish Aurora Parents: Mike and Susie Bish Class rank: 1 out of 91 Test scores: 34 ACT
About the nominees
Shea Jeffres
Tucker Vahle
Jesse Kruse
Burwell Parents: Lin and Nancy Jeffres Class rank: 1 out of 25 Test scores: 33 ACT
Grand Island Parents: Dan & Deb Vahle Class rank: 1 out of 464 Test scores: 33 ACT
Hartington Cedar Catholic Parents: Gary and Lisa Kruse Class rank: 4 out of 30 Test scores: 35 ACT
Sarah Koubek
Justin Fay
Isaac Wahlmeier
Grand Island Parents: David and Kristel Koubek Class rank: 1 out of 464 Test scores: 34 ACT
1,110 students nominated Breakdown by Region: (In Nebraska, the schools are divided into three regions. The Metro region consists of Douglas and Sarpy Counties. Our western Iowa region reflects the WH circulation area in Iowa.)
Metro, 465 Eastern, 240
West Central, 286 Western Iowa, 119
220 of 308 Nebraska schools sent nominees, for 71 percent participation. 50 of 74 Western Iowa schools nominated students, for 68 percent participation.
Grand Island Northwest Parents: Rod and Cindy Fay Class rank: 1 out of 191 Test scores: 33 ACT
Hastings St. Cecilia Parents: Patrick and Debra Wahlmeier Class rank: 1 out of 34 Test scores: 33 ACT
85 nominees were National Merit Finalists
12 scored 2300 or higher on the SAT
19 students earned perfect scores of 36 on the ACT
83 scored a 35 on the ACT
1 student had a perfect 2400 on the SAT
140 achieved a 34 on the ACT
Krista Benesch
Cy Jennings Cannon
Kearney Parents: Donna Biddle, Steve Benesch Class rank: 1 out of 401 Test scores: 33 ACT
Osceola Parents: Ken and Beverly Cannon Class rank: 1 out of 18 Test scores: 34 ACT
Macy Cool
Matthew J. Holloway
Kearney Parents: Mike and Holly Cool Class rank: 15 out of 401 Test scores: 34 ACT
College choices of the All State Team members: CalTech North Carolina-Chapel Hill Stanford (2) New Mexico Fordham Columbia MIT UNL
Scottsbluff Parents: Jeff and Kim Holloway Class rank: 1 out of 167 Test scores: 33 ACT
Majors of the All State Team members: mechanical engineering, aerospace focus biochemistry, economics or history math and computer science biochemistry environmental science/pre-med financial engineering economics or computer science math/actuarial science computer science