By SYDNEY KENT

A total of 129 soon-to-be Norwell graduates were honored with academic awards, honors, and scholarships Sunday afternoon.

Norwell High School recognized the Class of 2023 during its annual academic awards ceremony held Sunday afternoon in the high school auditorium. While 121 students were recognized, not all were present for the ceremony. The seniors were lined in rows on the stage, divided into two groups. They eagerly shuffled their chairs together and sang “cheese” to capture a few quick photos before celebrating with a large room of proud friends and family. (Photos by Sydney Kent)

“All I can say is wow,” Kam Meyer, Principal of Norwell High School, commented referring to the more than $1.5 million worth of scholarships earned by the 2023 senior class.

Their efforts were recognized during the senior awards Sunday afternoon by local organizations, businesses, and the NHS faculty. Also during the program, community scholarships, and award winners, Wells County Foundation scholarship recipients, and Norwell Dollars for Scholars recipients were honored with scholarships donated by many businesses and individuals from the Wells County Community. The awards are as follows:

Ethan Amans — Honors

Isabella Anderson — Core 40 with Academic Honors, Core 40 with Technical Honors, High Honor Cords, DFS Energy Control Scholarship, Johnson & Wales University Scholarship

Adaleigh Archbold — Core 40 with Academic Honors, Core 40 with Technical Honors, High Honor Cords, DFS Rachel Murchland Eckert Memorial Scholarship, Huntington University Academic Scholarship, SDI Scholarship

Lydia Aschliman — Honors

Claire Bailey — Core 40 with Academic Honors, Distinction Honor Stole, National Honors Society, WCCF — LiGHT The Way Gifting Scholarship, WCCF — Wells County Foundation Scholarship, DFS — Scholar-Athlete Excellence Scholarship, Taylor University Academic Scholarship, Taylor University Athetlic Scholarship, FFA Senior Scholarship, Norwell Middle School Athlete of the Year Scholarship

Emma Bailey — Core 40 with Academic Honors, Distinction Honor Stole, National Honors Society, WCCF — Mabel M. Wilson Archbold Scholarship, DFS — Go For The Flag Scholarship, 4-H Foundation/Senior Year Scholarship, Kelly and Margaret O’Neall Scholarship, Purdue University Presidential Scholarship

Lleyton Bailey — Core 40 with Academic Honors, Honors, Norwell DFS Scholarship

Emma Batdorff — Core 40 with Academic Honors, Core 40 with Technical Honors, Distinction Honor Stole, National Honors Society, WCCF- Forrest Dwight Ramseyer Memorial Scholarship, DFS — Gabe Norris Memorial Scholarship, Indiana Wesleyan University Presidential Scholarship, BBB Student of Integrity Scholarship

Isabel Battiste — Core 40 with Academic Honors, High Honors, Norwell DFS Scholarship

Jenna Bauermeister — Core 40 with Technical Honors, High Honors

Rachel Bauermeister — Core 40 with Academic Honors, High Honors, National Honors Society, WCCF — Forest Dwight Ramseyer Memorial Scholarship, DFS — Gabe Norris Memorial Scholarship, 4-H Foundation/Senior Year Scholarship, 4-H Association Scholarship, Bluffton Elks Lodge #796 Scholarship

Kiley Bishop — High Honors, Golden Shield Award — Art

Caiden Blinn — Core 40 with Academic Honors

Brody Bolyn — Core 40 with Academic Honors, Honors, Golden Shield Award — Physical Education, Bowling Green State University Scholarship

Gerald Borne — Core 40 with Academic Honors, High Honors, DFS — Pretzel’s Inc. Scholarship, FFA Senior Scholarship, Kain Krinn Memorial Award

Samuel Bradford  — Trine University Discovery Award, Trine University Rugby Scholarship, Diversity Award

Kahlan Brooks — Core 40 with Academic Honors, Core 40 with Technical Honors, High Honors

Faith Burnau —  Core 40 with Technical Honors, High Honors, FFA Senior Scholarship, Heath Bumgarner Memorial Award, Dr. Harry Brickley Farm Foundation Scholarship

Peri Bussel — Core 40 with Technical Honors, Honor, WCCF — K. Robert Ehrman Trade/Technical Scholarship

Abigal Cains — Core 40 with Academic Honors, High Honors, National Honors Society, DFS — Norwell DFS Scholarship, PSI IOTA XI Scholarship

Zayden Campbell — Core 40 with Academic Honors, Core 40 with Technical Honors, DFS — Norwell DFS Scholarship

Ella Carpenter — Core 40 with Academic Honors, High Honors, DFS — Norwell DFS Scholarship

Ashton Chamness — Core 40 with Academic Honors

Lance Chandler — Eastern Michigan University Emerald Scholarship

Brason Chaney — Core 40 with Academic Honors, High Honors, National Honors Society, DFS — American Mortgage Service Company Scholarship, Bluffton Elks Lodge #796 Scholarship

Jonathon Colbert — Core 40 with Academic Honors, High Honors, DFS — Energy Control Scholarship, University of Saint Francis Academic Scholarship, University of Saint Francis Athletic Scholarship

Delaney Connett —  Core 40 with Academic Honors, High Honors

Laren Cook — High Honors

Catherine Crawfis —  Core 40 with Academic Honors,  Core 40 with Technical Honors, Distinction Honor Stole, National Honors Society, WCCF — G. Robert and Emma Studebaker Agriculture Scholarship, WCCF — Wells County Master Gardener Scholarship, DFS — Go For The Flag Scholarship

Zachary Crow — Honors

Owen Cupp —  Core 40 with Academic Honors, Honors, WCCF — Gaylord and Crystal Mounsey Scholarship, DFS — Imsel Family Golf Scholarship, Butler University Academic Scholarship, Taylor Trustee Academic Scholarship, Reynolds Scholarship, Niblick Scholarship, Christian Leadership, Service Scholar Taylor Fund Scholar, and Indiana Freedom Scholar

Benjamin Decker — Core 40 with Academic Honors, Core 40 with Technical Honors, High Honors, DFS — Barkley Properties LLC Scholarship

Aleea Del Cid — DFS — Norwell DFS Scholarship

Karlea Dominiack — Honors, DFS — Norwell DFS Scholarship, Dr. Harry Brickley Farm Foundation Scholarship

Hayden Double — WCCF — Gaylord and Crystal Mounsey Scholarship, DFS — Imel Family Golf Scholarship

Connor Dreiband — Honors

Kiley Eccles — Core 40 with Academic Honors, Core 40 with Technical Honors, High Honors, DFS — Norwell DFS Scholarship, Spirit of A Forester Scholarship

Max Eckert — Core 40 with Academic Honors, DFS — Norwell DFS Scholarship

Helaina Evans — Valparaiso University Academic Scholarship

Kaylee Fisher — Core 40 with Academic Honors, High Honors, Golden Shield Award — English, WCCF — G. Robert and Emma Studabaker Agriculture Scholarship, DFS — Bluffton Animal Clinic Scholarship, Nucor Foundation Scholarship

Winston Frauhiger — Core 40 with Academic Honors (AHD), Distinction Honors Stole, National Honors Society, WCCF — Claude and Helen Decker Memorial Scholarship, WCCF — August and Eleanor Streater Mathematics and Science Scholarship, DFS — Meyer Bldg Scholarship, Red Cross Scholarship, Purdue University Presidential Scholarship

Graha, Gaier — Core 40 with Academic Honors, High Honors, WCCF — K. Ehrman Trade/Technical Scholarship, 4-H Foundation/Purdue Agriculture Scholarship

Samantha Garcez — Core 40 with Academic Honors, Honors,  WCCF — Gaylord and Crystal Mounsey Scholarship, DFS — Norwell DFS Scholarship

Tessa Garrett — Core 40 with Academic Honors, High Honors, National Honors Society, DFS — Pretzel’s Inc. Scholarship, Wells County Extension Homemakers Scholarship, The Bridget Memorial Golf Classic Scholarship, University of Findlay Trustee’s Scholarship

Gavin Garton — Honors

Thomas Garza — Core 40 with Academic Honors, High Honors, DFS — Lancaster Staff Bobcat Bucks for College Scholarship, Ball State University President Scholarship

Kennedy Gerber — Core 40 with Academic Honors, High Honors, WCCF — Claude and Helen Decker Memorial Scholarship, DFS — Pretzel’s Inc. Scholarship, Bryn Mawr College Scholarship, Elks MVS Applicant Scholarship

Emerson Graft — Core 40 with Academic Honors, High Honors, WCCF — Loren and Helen Decker Educational Scholarship, DFS — Pretzel’s Inc. Scholarship, University of Indianapolis Distinguished Lugar Scholarship, University of Indianapolis Music Scholarship Award

Luke Graft — Core 40 with Academic Honors, High Honors, DFS — Norwell DFS Scholarship

Carter Gray — Core 40 with Technical Honors, Honors, Golden Shield Award — Industrial Technology, DFS — Norwell DFS Scholarship

Maxwell Hahn — DFS — Norwell DFS Scholarship

Kaylee Heckber — DFS — Norwell DFS Scholarship

Luke Herrell — Core 40 with Academic Honors, High Honors, WCCF — Loren and Helen Decker Educational Scholarship, DFS — Norwell DFS Scholarship

Gavin Heoppner — Core 40 with Academic Honors, Honors, WCCF — Gaylord and Crystal Mounsey Scholarship

Ryan House — Core 40 with Academic Honors, Core 40 with Technical Honors, High Honors, Golden Shield Award — Social Studies, WCCF — Six Mile Church Christian Education Scholarship, Grace College Dean’s Scholarship

Jack Hughes — Honors

Brooklynn Huss — Honors

Ethan Isch — WCCF — K. Ehrman Trade/Technical Scholarship, DFS — TTG Equipment Scholarship

Savannah Johnson — DFS — Norwell DFS Scholarship

Makenzee Kahn — Core 40 with Academic Honors, Core 40 with Technical Honors, High Honors, DFS — Norwell DFS Scholarship, Indiana University East Red Wolves Scholarship, Indiana University East Athletic Scholarship

Mason Kracium — Honors

RieAnn Krinn — Core 40 with Academic Honors, High Honors, DFS — Norwell DFS Scholarship

Kiersten Krueger — Core 40 with Academic Honors, High Honors, WCCF — Daniel M. and Ruth A. Eichhorn Scholarship, DFS — Boilermaker Special Scholarship

Robert Kwandrans — Core 40 with Academic Honors, Core 40 with Technical Honors, High Honors, WCCF — Loren and Helen Decker Educational Scholarship, DFS — Norwell DFS Pay It Forward Scholarship

Saige Lambert — Honprs

Phoebe Lantz — Core 40 with Academic Honors. Core 40 with Technical Honors, High Honors, WCCF — Robert E. Pence Work-Based Learning Scholarship, University of Saint Francis Scholarship

Gabriel Leamon — Honors, DFS Norwell DFS Scholarship

Grace Lee — Core 40 with Academic Honors, Honors, FFA Senior Scholarship

Mya Lloyd — Core 40 with Academic Honors, High Honors, National Honors Society, WCCF — Loren and Helen Decker Educational Scholarship, DFS — Pretzel’s Inc. Scholarship, Grace College Presidential Trustee Scholarship

Reece Lobsiger — Core 40 with Academic Honors, High Honors, DFS — Roembke Mfg. & Design, Inc. Scholarship

Alana Longardner — Core 40 with Academic Honors, High Honors, DFS — Roembke Mfg. & Design, Inc. Scholarship

Lillian Lovell — Core 40 with Academic Honors, High Honors

Cale Mallery — Core 40 with Academic Honors, Distinction Honor Stole, National Honors Society, DFS — Scholar-Athlete Excellence Scholarship, University of Saint Francis President’s Scholarship Indiana State Teachers. Association Career Scholarship, Steel Dynamics Scholarship

Taylor Marchand — Golden Shield Award — Family and Consumer Sciences, WCCF — Wells County Turnaround Award

Luke McBride — Core 40 with Academic Honors, High Honors, DFS — Peyton Northern Scholarship, Bethel University Men’s Basketball Scholarship

Stuart McCabe — Core 40 with Academic Honors, High Honors, National Honors Society, WCCF — Zadylak Family Wrestling Scholarship, DFS — Ossian Elementary Denim for Dollars, Indiana University Provost Scholarship

Ean McIntosh — Core 40 with Academic Honors, High Honors, National Honors Society, WCCF — Loren and Helen Decker Educational Scholarship, DFS — Norwell DFS Pay It Forward Scholarship, Bowling Green State University Academic Scholarship, Eva Marie-Saint Scholarship

McKenna McNabb — Core 40 with Academic Honors, High Honors, National Honors Society, DFS — First Bank of Berne Scholarship, Indiana University Academic Scholarship

Marin Melcher — Core 40 with Academic Honors, Honors, DFS — Norwell DFS Scholarship

Elle Misch — Core 40 with Academic Honors, Core 40 with Technical Honors, Distinction, National Honors Society, WCCF — Forrest Dwight Ramseyer Memorial Scholarship, DFS — Go For The Flag Scholarship, Purdue University Presidential Scholarship AGEC Support Scholarship

Grace Mitchell — Core 40 with Academic Honors, High Honors, National Honors Society, Golden Shield Award — Business, Grace College Presidential Scholarship, Questa Education Foundation Scholarship

Coltin Mounsey — Honors

Kline Neuenschwander — Core 40 with Academic Honors, High Honors

Savannah Newnum — Core 40 with Academic Honors, High Honors, Norwell Yearbook Scholarship

Ethan Ottinger — Core 40 with Academic Honors, Distinction Honor Stole,

National Honors Society, Golden Shield Award — Science, WCCF — Rex, Marceille and Jerry Shutt Memorial Scholarship, DFS — Bluffton Rotary Club Scholarship

Emma Page — High Honors, WCCF — Sherrie’s Kitchen Scholarship, DFS — Pretzel’s Inc. Scholarship, David L. Rice Merit Scholarship, Next Generation Hoosier Educators Scholarship

Jacob Parker — Core 40 with Academic Honors, Distinction Honor Stole,

National Honors Society, WCCF — Forrest Dwight Ramseyer Memorial Scholarship, DFS — Norwell DFS Pay It Forward Scholarship, Taylor University Dean Academic Scholarship, Taylor University Track and Field Athletic Scholarship

Natalee Pennington — Core 40 with Academic Honors, High Honors

Samuel Peterson- Core 40 with Academic Honors, High Honors

Brooklyn Pine — Core 40 with Academic Honors, Core 40 with Technical Honors, High Honors, Grand Valley State University Excellence Scholarship

Kennedy Privett — Core 40 with Academic Honors, Core 40 with Technical Honors, High Honors, DFS — Norwell DFS Scholarship

Darci Pulfer — Core 40 with Academic Honors, Core 40 with Technical Honors, Honors

Michael Reidenbach — Core 40 with Academic Honors, High Honors, DFS — Norwell DFS Scholarship, Indiana University Provost Scholarship

Madalynn Reinhard — Core 40 with Academic Honors, High Honors, National Honors Society, DFS — Bluffton Regional Medical Center Scholarship, Ball State University Presidential Scholarship

Logan Renninger — Core 40 with Academic Honors, High Honors, DFS — Pretzel’s Inc. Scholarship

Makayla Richmond — Core 40 with Academic Honors, SDI Scholarship

Johann Rodriguez — DFS — Norwell DFS Scholarship

Alexander Roloff — Core 40 with Academic Honors, DFS — Norwell DFS Scholarship

Aydan Rusu — Core 40 with Academic Honors, Distinction Honor Stole,

DFS — Indiana Physical Therapy Scholarship, the University of Indianapolis, Dean’s Scholarship Director’s Room Award, University of Indianapolis On-Campus Award Indiana Elks Scholarship

Ty Schuhler — Core 40 with Academic Honors, Honors

Elizabeth Scott — Core 40 with Academic Honors, Honors, DFS — Norwell DFS Scholarship, Grace College Honors Scholarship

Rylee Searles — Core 40 with Academic Honors, High Honors, DFS — Norwell DFS Scholarship

Eliza Shaw — High Honors

Allison Shepherd — Core 40 with Academic Honors, Core 40 with Technical Honors, High Honors, WCCF — Christian Care Retirement Community Scholarship, DFS — Norwell DFS Scholarship, David L. Rice Merit Scholarship

Arianna Smith — Core 40 with Academic Honors, Core 40 with Technical Honors, Honors

Cayden Smithley — Honors

Nathaniel Soares — Core 40 with Academic Honors, High Honors

Marissa Springer — Norwell Yearbook Scholarship

Benjamin Stephens — Core 40 with Academic Honors, Core 40 with Technical Honors, Distinction Honor Stole, National Honors Society, Golden Shield Award — Choir, DFS — Gabe Norris Memorial Scholarship, Bluffton Elks Lodge #796 Scholarship, Indiana Premier Young Talent Award, Jacobs School of Music Academic Excellence Scholarship, Jacobs Supplemental Award,

National Elks Scholarship

Nicholas Stephens — Core 40 with Academic Honors, Honors, DFS — Roembke Mfg. & Design, Inc. Scholarship

Brooke Stinson — Core 40 with Academic Honors, Honors, DFS — Norwell DFS Scholarship, Bluffton Elks Lodge #796 Scholarship

Elijah Stutzman — Core 40 with Technical Honors

Anna Tanner — Core 40 with Academic Honors, High Honors, Golden Shield Award — German, DFS — Norwell DFS Scholarship, Indiana University Provost Scholarship

Logan Taylor — Core 40 with Academic Honors, Distinction Honor Stole, National Honors Society, DFS — Ossian Days Scholarship

Skyla Tomasek — Core 40 with Academic Honors, Core 40 with Technical Honors, High Honors, Rochester University Basketball Scholarship, Rochester University Academic Scholarship

Gavin Topp — Honors

James VanDyk — Core 40 with Academic Honors

Hunter Voght — Core 40 with Academic Honors, Core 40 with Technical Honors, DFS — Norwell DFS Scholarship

Zachary Waldman — Core 40 with Technical Honors

Max Walker — WCCF — K. Ehrman Trade/Technical Scholarship, DFS — Kendall Electric Scholarship, Wells County Extension Homemakers Scholarship, Bluffton Elks Lodge #796 Scholarship

Jared White — Core 40 with Academic Honors, Distinction Honor Stole, National Honors Society, Golden Shield Award — Band, DFS — Ossian Days Scholarship, Purdue University Trustee’s Scholarship

Mackenzie Williams — Core 40 with Academic Honors, Core 40 with Technical Honors, Honors

Olivia Wills — Core 40 with Academic Honors, Core 40 with Technical Honors, Honors, DFS — Norwell DFS Scholarship, Indiana University Fort Wayne Merit Scholarship

Ethan Wilson — Core 40 with Academic Honors, Distinction Honor Stole,

National Honors Society, Golden Shield Award — Math, DFS — Gabe Norris Memorial Scholarship, Rose-Hulman Merit Scholar, Rose-Hulman Grant

Hannah Wilson — Honors, Mitch Daniels Early Graduation Scholarship

Kylee Wilson — Core 40 with Academic Honors, Core 40 with Technical Honors, High Honors, DFS — Pretzel’s Inc. Scholarship, Manchester University Dean’s Scholarship

Colson Woodworth — Core 40 with Technical Honors, High Honors

Kyle Zeddis — Core 40 with Academic Honors, Core 40 with Technical Honors, High Honors, WCCF — K. Ehrman Trade/Technical Scholarship, DFS — Norwell DFS Scholarship, Taylor University Academic Scholarship, Taylor University Athletic Scholarship, Christian Leadership Scholarship, Cultural Diversity Scholarship

True Zuercher — Core 40 with Academic Honors, Distinction Honor Stole,

Golden Shield Award — Agriculture, FFA Senior Scholarship

“Parents and families,” Principal Kam Meyer concluded. “You have raises an outstanding group.”

sydney@news-banner.com

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