Setting the bar high; JWP celebrates Academic Excellence and Senior Scholarships 

The celebration of student achievement at Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton High School continued on May 20 with the annual Academic and Scholarship Awards program. Serving as a second night of honoring outstanding Bulldog achievements—following last week’s fine arts banquet—the evening was particularly monumental for JWP seniors, who were showered with local scholarships and recognition for their hard work, leadership, and community focus.

Principal Rysdam opened the ceremony with a warm welcome, keeping his remarks brief but deeply impactful. Expressing his ongoing admiration for the student body, Rysdam noted how consistently impressed he is by JWP students, whether seeing them shine in the classroom, the arts, or on the athletic field. This school year has stood out as particularly exceptional, he remarked, not only due to the high volume of students participating in extracurriculars and academics, but because of “how high they are setting the bar.” He praised the remarkable diversity of talents within the student body, calling it a “heartening experience” for the school community, and offered special kudos to the senior class for their exemplary leadership.

A major highlight of the evening was the formal induction of JWP alumna Gina Peterson into the JWP Hall of Fame. Senior Tiera Anderson had the honor of introducing Peterson, offering glowing remarks that painted her not only as a successful professional but as a compassionate boss, a dedicated mentor, and a true pillar of the Janesville community. Clearly moved by the tribute, an emotional Peterson took the stage to express her deep gratitude for the unwavering support she received during her own high school days. She recalled how the school’s culture of dedication and long days helped shape her character, noting that no matter the obstacle she faced back then, there was always a supportive community ready to find a solution.

The program then turned its spotlight toward the cream of the crop in academic achievements. A total of 99 Bulldogs received academic letters for maintaining stellar GPAs, with the freshman class leading the charge with an impressive 32 recipients. Among the senior class, 23 students earned their JWP academic letters for maintaining a GPA of 3.3 or higher.

The evening also celebrated balanced success across all four grade levels with the presentation of the JWP Academic Awards and 4.0 Awards. The prestigious President’s Award, which recognizes top-tier placement on standardized testing, was awarded to four outstanding students in each grade from 7th through 12th, with separate distinctions given for academic achievement and academic excellence. Highlighting these scholastic milestones was senior Katelyn Olson, who was recognized as the sole 4.0 GPA winner and this year’s Valedictorian.

JWP’s commitment to global citizenship was also on display during the presentation of the World Language and Bilingual Seals. Presented by Spanish teacher Oelke, the awards recognized the immense cognitive and cultural benefits of mastering a second language, honoring several students who successfully navigated rigorous proficiency tests in writing, speaking, and reading. 

• Bilingual Certificates were awarded to Alexandra Hanks, Neveah Weimert, and Calista March.
• Gold Seals were presented to Claire Miller and Lily Quast.
• The Platinum Seal—the highest level of bilingual proficiency—was awarded to Emily James.

The National Honor Society (NHS) seniors were also warmly honored. Members Tiera Anderson, Alexandra Hanks, Brielle James, Kwynn Krause, Ellie Morsching, Katelyn Olson, Neveah Weimert, and Mikayla Wheelock were recognized for upholding the organization’s four pillars: scholarship, leadership, character, and service. Though NHS Advisor Knoblich could not deliver her remarks in person, she left behind a series of highly personalized, heartfelt, and humorous messages for each senior. Knoblich’s notes affectionately highlighted Hanks’s signature “scathing sarcasm,” James unwavering determination, Krause’s steadfast reliability, Morsching’s intense focus, Olson’s natural leadership abilities, and Wheelock’s relentless tenacity.

Serving as the finale of the event, the presentation of local scholarships demonstrated the immense generosity of the surrounding community organizations in supporting the graduating class:

• American Red Cross Scholarship: Awarded to Kwynn Krause for her exceptional leadership in organizing and running the school’s blood drives over the past two years.
• JWP Athletic Hall of Fame: Zander Terbeest and Neveah Weimert.
• Big Brothers, Big Sisters Federated Scholarship: Abby Balzotti.
• Bulldog Backers Scholarship: Bauer and Lily Quast.
• Darwin and Karen Lochner Scholarship: Katelyn Olson.
• JWP Education Association Scholarship: Tiera Anderson and Ellie Morsching.
• EF Johnson Foundation Scholarship: Devin Cowdin (who provided a moment of lighthearted amusement for the crowd by being momentarily absent when his name was called, though he was warmly applauded upon his return!).
• Gene Wiebusch Memorial Scholarship: Zander Terbeest.
• Janesville Chamber of Commerce Scholarship: Caleb Quast, Mikayla Wheelock, Claire Miller, and Bauer.
• Joe Finley Family Scholarship: Ellie Morsching and Langford.
• Joe Finley Trades Scholarship: Zander Terbeest.
• John P. Priebe Memorial Scholarship: Brielle James.
• Kris Fude Memorial Scholarship: Lily Quast.
• Richard Carda Scholarship: Zander Terbeest.
• Richard J. Krautbauer Memorial Scholarship: Abigail Balzotti and Victoria Blomstrom.
• Steele-Waseca Cooperative Electric Scholarship: Caleb Quast.
• Wayne Orval James – Community First Scholarship: Tiera Anderson and Victoria Blomstrom.

As the evening drew to a close, parents, staff, and community members lingered to congratulate the students. The JWP Class of 2026 has proven themselves to be a truly remarkable group of exceptional scholars, talented athletes, creative artists, and dedicated community leaders ready to make their mark on the world.