Category: Luther College and Decorah Schools

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Decorah High School honors the enduring legacy of two exceptional students with the installation of a memorial table and benches on the high school campus near the greenhouse. This will serve as a lasting tribute to the lives of Dalton Hemesath and Karter Einck who made valuable contributions to the school community, particularly through their involvement in FFA.

Einck and Hemesath were not only strong academic talents but also examples of leadership and dedication. Their passion for agriculture and commitment to the FFA program left an indelible impact on their peers, teachers, and the community. FFA advisor Joni Bruvold remarked, “This memorial represents their welcoming personalities, especially their ability to bring people together.”

Although the majority of the funding for this project came from the Decorah FFA chapter, the chapter extends its gratitude to community members and other FFA chapters who also made contributions to celebrate the lives of these two remarkable individuals. 

Family members, current FFA officers, and FFA advisor gather to honor the memory of Dalton Hemesath and Karter Einck with the installation of table and benches.

ALL: Row 1 (l-r): Matt Hemesath, Braden Hemesath, Karlie Einck

Row 2 (l-r): Joni Bruvold, Anders Lovstuen, Annika Brynsaas, Derek Tieskoetter, Michelle Einck, Mary Hemesath

Row 3 (l-r): Keagen Einck, Travis Nordheim, Creed Monroe, Brody Courtney, Jeramiah Rediske, Ryan Einck

FAMILIES (l-r): Mary Hemesath, Michelle Einck, Braden Hemesath, Keagen Einck, Karlie Einck, Matt Hemesath, Ryan Einck

FAMILIES AND OFFICERS: Sitting (l-r): Jeramiah Rediske, Creed Monroe, Annika Brynsaas, Anders Lovstuen

Back (l-r): Derek Tieskoetter, Brody Courtney, Mary Hemesath, Michelle Einck, Braden Hemesath, Keagen Einck, Karlie Einck, Matt Hemesath, Joni Bruvold, Ryan Einck, Travis Nordheim

OFFICERS (l-r): Jeramiah Rediske, Creed Monroe, Annika Brynsaas, Derek Tieskoetter, Brody Courtney, Travis Nordheim, Anders Lovstuen

The National FFA Organization honors FFA members who show the utmost dedication to the organization through their desire to develop their potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education. The American FFA Degree is bestowed upon a select group of students in recognition of their years of academic and professional excellence.  Each year less than one percent of the FFA membership receives the American FFA Degree.

Melia Kruse was awarded the American FFA Degree at the 96th National FFA Convention & Expo on November 4. Kruse has been an active member of the Decorah FFA and met the requirements for the highest degree through the FFA. Each recipient of the American FFA Degree will receive a gold American FFA Degree key and certificate.

To be eligible, FFA members must have earned and productively invested $10,000 through a supervised agricultural experience program in which they start, own, or hold a professional position in an existing agricultural enterprise or earned and productively invested $2,000 and worked 2,250 hours in excess of scheduled class time. Recipients must also complete 50 hours community service, demonstrate outstanding leadership abilities and civic involvement, and have a good academic record.

Kruse is the 22nd member of the Decorah FFA who has earned this degree. Other Decorah FFA members who have earned this degree include Aaron Lovstuen, 1996-97; Sam Murray, 1997-98; Jacob Groth, 2000-01; Jeremy Peake, 2000-01; Ryan Holthaus, 2001-02; Kayla Hotvedt, 2003-04; Aric Yaw, 2003-04; Justin Holthaus, 2005-06; Mitch Hemesath, 2006-07; Gabriel Twedt, 2009-10; Dalton Frana, 2011-12; Danielle Fulsaas, 2012-13; Dustin Bigler, 2013-14; Andrew Luzum, 2013-14; Jordan Tietz, 2013-14; Aric Luzum, 2016; Isaac Luzum, 2016; Daiton Tietz, 2017; Hailey Nierling, 2019; Ashley Schwartzhoff, 2019; and Blake Courtney, 2020.

Melia Kruse of the Decorah FFA received her American FFA Degree at the 96th National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana. 

By: Jeremiah Rediske, Decorah FFA Reporter

Sixteen members of the Decorah FFA departed to Indianapolis, Indiana, for the 96th National FFA Convention & Expo. Members enjoyed three days filled with leadership sessions and FFA business, all while learning lifelong skills and meeting fellow members from all over the nation. Outside of convention, members had the opportunity to tour local attractions, including the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory, Churchill Downs, Bayer Crop Science – Windfall Soybean Production Site, and Jake Wolf Memorial Fish Hatchery.

Members who attended convention include Rylee Averhoff, Annika Brynsaas, Karlee Bullerman, Brinlee Courtney, Brody Courtney, Kiele Eberling, Karlie Einck, Lauren Holthaus, William Kruse, Rashell Lippe, Lyla Lovstuen, Mara Lovstuen, Gabe Monroe, Eden Scheidel, Elora Schnitzler, and Derek Tieskoetter.

Front row (l-r): Lyla Lovstuen, Brinlee Courtney, Elora Schnitzler, Eden Scheidel, Kiele Eberling, Rashell Lippe, Lauren Holthaus, Karlee Bullerman

Second row (l-r): William Kruse, Brody Courtney, Annika Brynsaas, Derek Tieskoetter, Rylee Averhoff, Karlie Einck, Mara Lovstuen, Gabe Monroe

On Saturday, October 21 at Independence High School, 50 Decorah High School musicians participated in the Iowa All-State Music auditions. The students prepared difficult musical selections and then competed for spots in the All-State ensembles with students from East Central and Northeast Iowa, including Dubuque and Cedar Rapids area schools.

Fifteen Decorah students were selected as members of the 2023 ensembles: Lucas Arendt, viola; Aitor Cuevas, trumpet; Connor Evelsizer, tenor voice; Gabriel Hiner, bass voice; Liam Huang, violin; Andy Kruger, tenor voice; Naomi Kutz, violin; Simon Kutz, cello; Alex McGohan, percussion; Lauren Severtson, violin; Ezra Vorvick, string bass; and Grant Zilka, baritone saxophone (alternate)

The concert will be broadcast on Iowa PBS on Thanksgiving, Thursday, November 23 at 7:00 p.m. 

Front Row (l-r): Liam Huang, Violin; Grant Zilka, Baritone Saxophone Alternate; Andy Kruger, Tenor Voice; Luke Arendt, Viola; Lauren Severtson, Violin; Naomi Kutz, Violin 

Back Row (l-r): Simon Kutz, Cello; Alex McGohan, Percussion; Connor Evelsizer, Tenor Voice; Gabe Hiner, Bass Voice; Aitor Cuevas, Trumpet; Ezra Vorvick, String Bass

Derek Anderson, author and illustrator of over 30 books for children, recently visited Decorah elementary students in Transitional Kindergarten through 4th grade. Some of Anderson’s works include the Croc and Ally series, Benny McGee and the Shark series, Gladys Goes Out to Lunch, and Story County. He is also the illustrator for the Little Quack series and the Hot Rod Hamster series. He grew up in Ames, Iowa, and now lives in Minneapolis. The Decorah FEC (Family, Educator, and Community Organization) generously funded this visit.

The students enjoyed the amazing opportunity to hear from Anderson about his work as an author and illustrator. In his two presentations, he shared with them the process of creating, that it’s okay to make mistakes, and to never give up. He also demonstrated how he draws his character Ally.

To help get the students excited about Anderson’s visit, the Oneota Valley Literacy Foundation generously donated 310 of his books, allowing each student in Transitional Kindergarten through 2nd grade to receive one of his books. 

Teacher Librarian Michaela Seeman remarked, “Decorah elementary students are incredibly fortunate to have such a supportive community to provide these unique opportunities.”

Mrs. Delaney’s second graders show off their new books.

Derek Anderson speaks to Decorah elementary students.

Derek Anderson draws a book character.

Walking around the commons area at Decorah High School now offers a history lesson of schools from the surrounding area. From Bluffton to Burr Oak and Nordness to North Winneshiek, thirteen regions are honored with photo collages displayed on the pillars of the DHS cafeteria and gym entrance.

Adam Riley, Associate Principal and Activities Director, wanted a way to pay tribute to the schools in our area. He knew contacting Elizabeth Lorentzen, currently on the board of directors at the Winneshiek County Historical Society and formerly a Decorah art teacher for 42 years, would be just the person to help him with this project. “We can’t thank Elizabeth and others from the Historical Society enough for the work that was put in to help this vision become a reality. Our commons area is a place where people from all over our school district come to gather, and we hope these photo boards can continue to help our students stay connected and have pride in the areas that their families come from,” Riley said.

Lorentzen does research for the Historical Society, teaches the public about the architecture of Decorah, and writes for the society’s newspaper. For this project she spent twenty-five hours researching each area and finding photos to represent them. “I really liked Adam’s idea,” Lorentzen remarked.

According to Lorentzen, there used to be community bands, baseball teams (from the 1890s to the 20s and 30s), and other events that drew people together. Gathering authentic photos helps with the identification of each of those places. She also shared that during the 1850s Winneshiek County had 225 country schools until a 1960s law forced consolidation of the schools. Locust School was in use the longest in the state of Iowa.

Elizabeth Lorentzen knows well the history of the area schools and was invested in the project because it was for the high school. “The photos are important because those areas still have a very personal feel for those residents,” commented Lorentzen. “They are proud of where they come from.”

Elizabeth Lorentzen by one of the photo collages

A close up of a section of the Highlandville collage

West Side Early Childhood Center and John Cline Elementary School recently hosted the Pumpkin Literacy Project.  Through generous funding from the Decorah Public Library and the Decorah FEC (Family, Educator, and Community Organization), they were able to create a school pumpkin patch. 

Students picked a pumpkin from the patch, read a favorite book, and then decorated their pumpkin to represent the book. Over 160 families chose to participate in this event.

The Decorah elementary schools and early childhood center recently hosted a Family STEAM Night.  Over 300 participants enjoyed STEAM-based activities, including coding, physics demonstrations, dance, math activities, art projects, STEAM challenges, robots, special snacks, a construction zone, and special guest visitors which included baby tortoises and giant hissing cockroaches.

Many organizations came together to make this event a success, including Keystone AEA, Crave Dance Studio, the Luther College Physics Department, 4H, Winneshiek County Conservation, Decorah Bank and Trust, and Wartburg College.

Students enjoyed making clay creations and 3-D cards.

Students practiced their coding skills.

Lots of awesome critters were in attendance, including lizards, baby tortoises and cockroaches.

Representatives of the Luther Physics Department brought awesome hands on materials to explore.

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