Seward High Senior, Marisa Schmeckpeper was recognized as the December Seward Rotary Club’s Youth Rotarian. She is the daughter of Dr. Shannon Hall-Schmeckpeper and Kurt Schmeckpeper of Seward. She was introduced and recognized for her many achievements as a student at SHS and thanked for her hours of volunteer service.
Marisa is first and foremost, a scholar and is a leader in the SHS National Honor Society. She is always on the Honor Roll and enjoyed a host of Advance Placement (AP) and Dual Credit Classes through Concordia University and Southeast Community College. She is a leader as well on the SHS “Award Winning” Quiz Bowl team and recognized for her writing in programs through the GFWC and the Nebraska State Fair-often placing first in the category she enters.
She is a leader in a variety of service clubs at SHS. She is a member of the SHS Leadership team (Student Council) and involved with Key Club, Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA, Launch Leadership and Hope Squad. Not only is she a member, but always very involved with a variety of leadership roles.
Marisa is a musician and dancer, and part of the SHS Marching Band-serving as the Drum Major, the SHS Wind Ensemble and the SHS Symphonic Band. She has enjoyed 14 years of dance with the Company Ballet and participated in the Dance Summer Collective for one year.
She is also a key SHS Student Ambassador, and hosts both students and adults in a mix of tours and other happenings at SHS.
She represented SHS at the annual GFWC NFWC Sophomore Pilgrimage at the State Capitol and participated in a host of activities at the Nebraska State Fair in the Education Division.
She is a longtime leader on the SHS Speech Team and participated with Informative and Persuasive Speaking, Duet and Drama Team and Poetry events. This year she is focusing on Persuasive, Drama Team and Program of Oral Interprestaion (POI).
Track is the sport of choice for Marisa and she has participated in Track all four years of high school as a Pole Vaulter and lettered in Track as well.
She is a member of the Southwood Lutheran Church and served as a Sunday School Teacher for six years, as well as being part of their Vacation Bible School program for two years.
Marisa enjoys babysitting and tutoring and has been a lifeguard at the Seward Dowding Memorial Pool since 2023 and certified in CPR, First Aid and AED. She also is a skilled swimmer and teaches swimming lessons.
Her community service-“Service Above Self” revolves around her service clubs, her church and her activities at SHS, logging in over 200+ hours of community service!
She plans to attend Drake University and study Kinesiology.
Marisa was presented some Rotary and Seward mementos, a Rotary Club banner and a Rotary Club Book Scholarship. She will again be recognized at the SHS Honors Night in May and is a finalist for the Youth Rotarian of the Year award and scholarship.
The Seward Rotary Club honors one youth Rotarian a Month and applications are available at the Seward High Counselors office. Contact the SHS Counselors with questions
Many Seward High students took time in the classes to write a Christmas Card to a Military Veteran in Nebraska. The program- remembering military veterans at Christmas - is sponsored by the GFWC Seward Woman’s Club! The Woman’s Club furnished the cards and collects the finished cards - to deliver them to area veterans’ homes.
Pictured are members of the TJ Towle Health Class with their Christmas Cards. Mr John Moody’s JAG classes also participated in the effort to remember Vets - writing Christmas cards and messages as well!
Many of the blank Christmas Cards were donated by Woman’s Club members and individuals in the community. New, unused Christmas cards are still being accepted and can be dropped off at the Nebraska National Guard Museum. They accepted full boxes of cards, as well as half boxes of cards! Last year hundreds of cards were delivered by members of the GFWC Seward Woman’s Club. Project chair for the event is Rene’ Chandler.
The GFWC Seward Womans Club also has created a space at the Ne National Guard Museum where a table is prepared with blank Christmas cards- inviting the community to sign a card for a Nebraska military veteran and thank the veteran for their service! The Nebraska National Guard Museum is open M-F from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm - M-F.
The GFWC Seward Woman’s Club is the oldest Civic volunteer organization in Seward - founded in 1900 and holds membership with the General Federation of Women’s Clubs. For more information- contact Angela Belew - President of the GFWC Seward Womans Club at angelabelew@gmail.com
The annual Seward Rotary Home Holiday Outdoor Lighting Contest was held Sunday evening, December 8, 2024. The holiday outdoor lighting and decorated homes in the Greater Seward Area were judged by a group delegation from the Seward Rotary Club and the Seward High Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA).
“We really had a hard time trying to decide,” stated project Co-chairman Rilynn Hiser-an SHS Junior with the SHS FBLA. Rotarian Judge Clark Kolterman observed: “There were so many great looking homes this year, both in Seward and in the surrounding area-we really appreciate all the work everyone did to make Seward a real Christmas wonderland! Thanks Seward-everyone wins and the community of Seward is the winner this year!”
This year the Rotary Club decided to “Mix It Up” award wise-anyway and just announce their “Top Ten” list. It previous years-the club awarded a series of awards and places-ranging from “People’s Choice” award to “Mayor’s Award” to “Chairman’s Choice.” So, this year instead of selecting a “Best Wreath” or “Nicest Home Made Nativity,” the club decided to list a “Top Ten.”
“The weather has been very nice and there are so many nicely decorated homes-our list would have been even longer and last year it was pages long,” said Co-Chair Clark Kolterman. “We embrace change at Rotary and so we decided to be different this year with our awards-next year is our Club’s Centennial-so we might go back to the “Old School” way but this year all you get is the “Top Ten” Decorated Homes in the Greater Seward area-as we call em! Enjoy!”
“For many decades we have announced a “slew” of awards and enjoyed the experience judging and sharing the awards. We are always open to change-we embrace it and so we are really saying all the other homes are “Runners-up,” stated Rotarian Clark Kolterman. “We now encourage all of you to select your “top ten”-and driving around Seward, with all the beautiful homes-it won’t be easy-but it will be fun!”
The following homes and families are recognized and thanked for their outstanding efforts to create a festive atmosphere for the 2024 Seward holidays. Winners were selected by nominations from phone in calls or emails by family, neighbors and friends to the Seward Rotary Club and SHS FBLA and the final “Top Ten” include… (in no particular order) …
The Tom and Brenda Reif Family, 105 Wildwood Road (Lights flash to the music! —91.7 FM),
The Jerry and Tracy Rumery Family, 1540 North 1st Street (Be sure to see both their front lights on First and their back lights on Columbia Avenue!).
The Tony and Karen Sabatka Family, 212 Hickory-check out the reindeer with the sleigh! Wow!
The Val and Jason Dillon Family, 1310 River Street-Really a “Unique Look”-you’ve got to see it!
The Jonathan Curtis Family, 2200 Rainbow Avenue-Beautiful Nativity-Prettiest in town!
The Arnt Family - 1067 280th-South Hwy 15-South of Seward-A real country feel with this presentation.
The Jerry Kremer Family-2105 North First Street-So much to see-a full yard!
“Matzke Corner”-The Chuck Matzke Family, 15 Seward Street-and The Tom Matzke Family, 116 South Columbia Avenue-check out Elf and Clark G in his station wagon!
The Steve Borer Family, 1955 Rainbow Avenue – Christmas message is conveyed here!
The Keith Gardinere Family, 214 E. Roberts Street-Home lighting is a real family tradition at this address!
The contest was judged by members of the Seward Rotary Club and the SHS Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA). The Judges chair for the Rotary Club delegation was Ken Schmieding and Clark Kolterman, assisted by Jon and Bonnie Kruse. Judges chairmen for the SHS FBLA delegation were Co-Chairs SHS Junior Rilynn Hiser and SHS Freshman Rydesa Else. Questions can be directed to Rotarian Ken Schmieding or Wade Miller -the SHS Advisor for the SHS FBLA. It was noted by the judges that because of the recent beautiful weather, there were many beautiful home lighted displays, and these names and addresses are only a few of the wonderful light displays in Seward that were nominated to the committee by families, friends and Rotarians.
While businesses were not judged, special recognition must be given to East Hill Motel and Suites, Merle’s Flower Shop, Rivoli Theater, Allure Fashions, Blue Bench Gifts, Chapter’s Book’s and Gifts, Liberty House, Smile Dental, Volzke Funeral Home, Zabka Funeral Home, Suhr-Lichty Insurance, Concordia University, Rock Lutheran Church, Red Path Gallery, Second Closet, Et Cetera and the Rumery Lawn Service for their holiday window displays and outdoor decorations. Many of the local churches also have beautiful, life size nativity scenes on their lawns. The downtown Seward business area is aglow with holiday lights and creates a festive atmosphere for all who see it!
A must see is also the beautiful tree and decorations inside and out at the Nebraska National Guard Museum! The GFWC Seward Woman’s Club’s annual “Festival of Trees” is on display and free and open to the public. Special honor and recognition to the Nebraska National Guard Museum’s Historical Society for their outstanding presentation of their front yard-featuring their decorated M-4 Sherman Tank and lighted sculpture in the front lawn-a must see!
Of special interest are the lights and displays at Memorial Park on the corner of Third and Seward Streets and the Kiwanis Club’s Bemis Park lights on Highway 34!
The GFWC Seward Woman’s Club highlighted the area “First Responder” Christmas Trees for the Seward Christmas Festival on the weekend of November 30th, 2024. The local GFWC Club wanted to be part of the bigger community effort to kick-off Christmas. The decorated trees were featured during the week-end, with most held over the entire Christmas season-depending on the tree ‘s situation. The event was held in the Jones Bank Theater of the Nebraska National Guard Museum in Seward. The event focused on area First Responders-The Fire Departments and EMT’s of Seward County, the local Law Enforcement and the National Guard.
Area First Responder groups-such as local Fire Departments and were welcome to decorate a furnished artificial tree or bring both their tree and decorations. Some local organizations also decorated trees to honor and celebrate and thank a specific First Responder group of the area. “We hoped to attract decorated trees filled with a variety of ornaments and decorations and happy that these very busy groups were willing to share their tree with the community. Area First Responders had trees full of special ornaments-such as badges, fire trucks and medical equipment, as well as the traditional Firefighter’s hat and even the firefighter’s boots! “We realize that this may be asking a lot from families, during the busy Christmas season,” but it was fun Christmas family activity, and the effort promoted area community volunteers working together with many fun trees to share,’” said GFWC Seward Woman’s Club President Angela Belew.
Local trees showcased in the 10th Annual GFWC Seward Woman’s Club’s Festival of Trees “Saluting Are First Responders” includes the Medical Reserve Corps, the Pleasant Dale Volunteer Fire Department, the Seward Police Department Salute by the SHS Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), the Goehner Volunteer Fire Department, the Tammora Volunteer Fire Department, The Nebraska National Guard Salute by the SHS Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) Class, The Salute by the SHS Skills USA honoring the Seward County Law Enforcement-Seward County Sheriff Department, the Milford Volunteer Fire Department honored by the SHS JAG Class, the SHS Family Community Career Leaders of America (FCCLA) Honors the Cordova Volunteer Firefighters, the Garland Fire Department, the SHS Key Club Salutes the EMT’s of Seward County, the SHS FFA Salutes the Rural Fire Departments of Seward County, the Staplehurst Volunteer Fire Department, the Seward Volunteer Fire Department, the Nebraska National Guard is honored by the Nebraska National Guard Historical Society.
Also featured at the Festival of Trees are photos of the ten volunteer Fire Departments of Seward County and several free drawings for possible prizes for those that attend.
There was not competition or prizes-as they were all be “winners” and the club just appreciated the families sharing their trees. Many want to keep their trees up at the Museum during the entire Christmas season to promote First Responders and share their message.
The “First Responder” Festival of Trees offered free admission and asked for a free-will donation to benefit St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital and/or canned goods for the area food bank or a donation of gloves, stocking caps, scarves, mittens and socks to both local city missions at the club’s “Mitten Tree.” The project was selected by the club when they decided to be part of the local Community Christmas Festival to kick off the Christmas season. The goal was to promote Seward County, say thank you to our First Responders, live the Christmas Spirit, make an impact in the community program by helping the less fortunate and to remember to also have fun!
“We so appreciate the help and true sense of volunteerism by the leadership of the Nebraska National Guard Museum,” commented Jean Kolterman-co chair of the event. “Because the Civic Center is under remodeling, we needed a space and the leaders at the NNGM volunteered to help us keep the tradition of the festival of trees on the agenda for the Seward Christmas Festival. Special thanks to Gerald and Mary Meyer who spent many hours assisting our group on this project.”
“We really involved so many more this year, with the change of location, as we were fortunate to have many Seward High students assist us with moving and setting up the trees. Their service clubs at school also wanted to pay tribute and thank our First Responders-and I think that says a lot about these groups of students,” noted Jean Kolterman. “These are very busy groups-especially the First Responders and we so appreciated that they took time to share their group’s message. This is truly a community and countywide effort and really demonstrates the unity and uniqueness of our county at the same time. We hope you have time to stop in and enjoy this fun, family geared, free Christmas event.”
The GFWC Seward Woman’s Club’s Festival of Trees is open M-F from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM at the Nebraska National Guard Museum in Seward at 201 North 8th Street. Admission to the museum and the Festival of Trees is free!
The GFWC is the oldest service group in Seward and was organized in 1900. The club members have membership with the International General Federation of Women’s Clubs INC (GFWC). For more information on the GFWC Seward Woman’s Club contact Angela Belew -President of the GFWC Seward Woman’s Club at angelabelew@gmail.com
