Pictured are Caliche High School’s senior academic award winners recognized at the school’s annual awards night Thursday, May 9, 2024. (Callie Jones/Journal-Advocate)
There was much to celebrate Thursday as Caliche High School students were honored for their academic and athletic achievements at the school’s annual awards banquet.
The evening was hosted by the 2023-24 Student Council Officers: Taylor Hernandez, president; Amman Adolf, vice president; Raelee Kuskie, secretary; Kendyll Armstrong, treasurer; and Hallie Lewis, reporter.
Awards started with Daniel Hoppe, social studies teacher, recognized as the CU Boulder Colorado Outstanding Educator, followed by student academic achievement awards, presented by Principal Joe Vergilio, recognizing students on the Superior Honor Roll, with a grade point average of at least 3.75, and Regular Honor Roll with a GPA of 3.33 to 3.75, as well as students earning an academic letter, who had a cumulative GPA of at least 3.75 for the first, second and third quarter. The following students were recognized, an asterisk (*) denotes academic letter recipient followed by the number of years they received the award.
Freshmen: Lily Armstrong*, Avery Bell*, Caiden Bruns, Ethan Gerk, Kane Grauberger*, Cheyenne Lynch*, Riley Lynch and Hayden Walker*.
Sophomores: Amman Adolf*(2), Monique Contreras*(1), Hallie Lewis*(1), JoCee Nachtman, Caleb Schneider, Hailey Sommerfeld*(2), Ryann Svoboda*(2) and Damien Waters.
Juniors: Kendyll Armstrong*(3), Anastaycia Blecha*(3), Braylon Bruns*(3), Max Fryrear, Jordan Gerk, Ava Hernandez, Joe Lyons Jr. and Ayden Sager*(1).
Seniors: Taylor Hernandez*(3), Karsyn Huss*(2), Aaliah Jones*(4), Raelee Kuskie, Chance Mitchell, Ayden Ring, Samantha Stratton*(1), Joey Vergilio*(1) and Peyton Waitley.
Next Megan Eurich, the student academic advisor, presented the CU Boulder Outstanding Student Award to Braylon Bruns; the Elbridge Gerry Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizen Award to Taylor Hernandez; and the Colorado School of Mines Medal of Achievement in Math and Science to Ava Hernandez, Anastaycia Blecha and Braylon Bruns.
Daniel Hoppe, social studies teacher, recognized Aaliah Jones with the Richard Gilder History Prize.
Later, math and science teachers Chris Roth, Jacob Weems and Peyton Spaeth recognized students who participated in the Northeastern Junior College Math and Science Contest. Those who placed in the contest included: Kendyll Armstrong, 11th grade critical thinking honorable mention; Avery Bell, ninth grade science honorable mention; Anastaycia Blecha, physics sixth place; Monique Contreras, geometry honorable mention; Kane Grauberger, ninth grade critical thinking honorable mention; Caleb Schneider, 10th grade critical thinking second place and algebra II honorable mention; Hailey Sommerfeld, geometry honorable mention; and Hayden Walker, ninth grade science honorable mention.
Next, FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) president Karsyn Huss introduced her fellow officer team, Orran Adolf, vice president; Hailey Sommerfeld, secretary; Ava Hernandez, treasurer; Kendyll Armstrong, historian; Ryann Svoboda, reporter; and Hallie Lewis, student council representative.
She also recognized Monique Contreras, who will compete at the National FBLA Leadership Conference, as well as Caliche’s state competitors.
Those current officers then installed the new 2024-25 officer team: Hailey Sommerfeld, president; Ava Hernandez, vice president; Braylon Bruns, secretary; Ryann Svoboda, treasurer; Hayden Walker, parliamentarian; Lily Armstrong, reporter; Kendyll Armstrong, historian; and Riley Lynch, student council representative.
Next, Chris Roth, athletic director, presented athletic awards to:
Freshman: Lily Armstrong, Avery Bell, Peter Brekel, Ryan Brekel, Caiden Bruns, Ethan Gerk, Kane Grauberger, Cheyenne Lynch, Riley Lynch, Cooper Rockwell, Hayden Walker and Tyson Wolf.
Sophomores: Amman Adolf, Riley Becker, Colton Cochran, Hallie Lewis, Caleb Schneider, Hailey Sommerfeld, Ryann Svoboda, Damien Waters, Zachary Yost and Johnny Becker.
Juniors: Kendyll Armstrong, Braylon Bruns, Max Fryrear, Jordan Gerk, Ava Hernandez, Hayden Lynch, Joe Lyons Jr., Clinton Rockwell, Ayden Sager and Zander Yost.
Seniors: Orran Adolf, Dylan Harms, Taylor Hernandez, Karsyn Huss, Raelee Kuskie, Samuel Lange, Chance Mitchell, Ayden Ring, Andrew Smith and Joey Vergilio.
Roth also recognized two retirees, David Huss, girls basketball head coach, and JP Lambrecht, PE and art teacher. Huss spent 15 years as the school’s student council advisor, five years as a junior high football assistant coach, one year as a high school boys basketball assistant coach, seven years as a high school football assistant coach, 14 years as the high school track head coach and 19 years as the high school girls basketball coach.
Roth thanked Huss for everything he’s done for Caliche and expressed gratitude for his unwavering support and guidance over the years to Caliche students and athletes.
“Thank you for using your time to teach kids the sports they love to compete in, taking them to camps, planning practices, having practices, hauling kids to games, coaching the games, evaluating the games and so on,” he said. “Your dedication, passion and wisdom have not only shaped our students into athletes but as young adults that we can be proud of.”
Lambrecht spent 10 years as the high school football head coach, 11 years as the junior high football head coach, two years as the junior high basketball head coach, three years as a junior high wrestling coach, one year as the high school track head coach, 15 years as the high school baseball head coach and nine years as a high school baseball assistant coach.
Roth thanked him for all he has done for Caliche as a teacher, advisor and coach over the last two decades.
“Working alongside you for 16 years and coaching and teaching together for 20 years has been an honor,” he told Lambrecht. “Throughout these years of coaching, I have seen an unwavering dedication to the sport of baseball and to the athletes in your charge. You’ve taught players the importance of patience, resilience and leadership. Your commitment to getting better every game and helping kids realize it’s better to not compound the problem has instilled valuable lessons in the athletes you coached. Please know that your impact extends far beyond the field.”
