2023 SGHS DRAGONS WITH DISTINCTION

Our Dragons With Distinction is back for 2023. Once again we wanted to take a special opportunity to highlight and celebrate our students that have earned honors recognition throughout their eight high school semesters. We asked all of the students to identify an employee of the Ste. Genevieve County R-II School District that has made an impact on them as a student and person. We took the time to celebrate the student and educator at our first ever ceremony on Friday, May 19th. Below you will find a special picture and the impact that the SG R-II Employee has had on the student. Please enjoy celebrating our top academic students at SGHS!

I've known Mr. Kreitler ever since middle school. He was my basketball coach in middle school and I was fortunate enough to get him as my advisory teacher in high school. He has always been someone I could talk to about anything and has always been there for me. High School wouldn't have been the same if I didn't have Mr. Kreitler's support along the way. He truly did have a huge impact on my time here.

Mr. Roth, you have been there for me since day one. First, you were my freshman advisory teacher. Then, you became an advisor for the organization that means the most to me, STUCO. You gave me the courage to keep trying after losing the first class presidency election. You have taught me the true meaning of being a leader. Even during hard times, you made sure I knew I was appreciated. Even when we would bicker about what shade of green was the right one or when I had used a blue pen and you just had to grab your green one. No matter what, you always had my best interests in mind as well as what was best for the school. You have helped me grow not just as a leader but as a person. I would not be here if it wasn't for you.

When I first heard that we were to have a new gifted teacher, I was a little skeptical. However, I truly believe that you were the best person for the job. Your caring and compassion for all of your students and their futures was never a question. You created an educational environment that made an everlasting impact on me. You taught me how to problem solve and look for a solution especially when it gets difficult. You also created a want for knowledge within myself. I wanted to learn more whenever possible, and you gave me tools that I required, and for that I am forever grateful.

Dr. Fritsche-Donze has made a huge impact on me. She has helped me to find something I am passionate about and helped me to be involved in a club. I never thought I would be a leader either, but Dr. Fritsche-Donze pushed me and helped me to learn a lot about myself and what I enjoy. Without Dr. Fritsche-Donze, I would not of had as many opportunities to learn and experience new things. I have no idea what I would have done if I did not have Dr. Fritsche-Donze by my side for the last three years.

I have known Mr. Schwent since freshman year and he has always been someone I could lean on and talk to about anything. He never fails to make me smile and has been one of my biggest supporters throughout high school. I cannot imagine going through high school without knowing Mr. Schwent. He is one of the reasons my time at SGHS has been so memorable.

Mrs. Fallert, you were one of the first high school teachers I met when I started my freshman year and I am very thankful for that. You show us how to be kind to others and you genuinely care about each and every one of us. Every time I come into your classroom, my day gets significantly better because of your attitude. You are such a great person, and I am so happy to have met you. I hope we keep in touch after I graduate.

There is no better example of kindness, inclusion, and acceptance at SGHS than Ms. Cleghorn. Many might think that high school is about making memories and succeeding in academics, but because of Ms. Cleghorn, I have learned it is much more than that. She has taught me that who I am as a person outweighs any mistakes or accomplishments I will make, that a person's worth is not defined by their abilities or lack thereof, and that if we truly look, we will find we are all more alike than we are different. Honored is the only way to describe how I feel after my time with Ms. Kristi, her teachers, and her students. From the bottom of my heart Ms. Kristi, thank you.

Since the beginning of my 8th grade year, you have been a bright light at the end of the hallway. Your witty sense of humor, thoughtful nature, generosity, enthusiasm, and intelligence quickly made you one of my favorite teachers and this has not changed 5 years later. Everyday I am energized to learn the lesson that you have planned. From learning about French culture through your own personal experiences on different continents to reading full books and studying French documents from hundreds of years ago, your passion for learning and love for life are evident through the work you have done. You have been an inspiration for so many. I, because of you, feel that I can take on the world. You have done exactly what teachers are supposed to do; create a spark for learning that lives forever within their students, and for that I am grateful. Merci Madame Uzzell. Merci pour tout.

Mr. Rapp, I nominated you to award me this distinction because of how influential you have been in such a short amount of time. I randomly decided to take your class this year not knowing anything about you or drafting and it quickly became one of my favorite classes. Your classroom is a safe space for me to unwind and not worry about anything. I have a strong appreciate for all of my teachers, but I was never able to create a strong connection with them as quickly as I did with you. You are not afraid to be real with your students and are always there to listen to us when we need advice. Even though I make fun of you 99% of the time, just know I think you're a pretty awesome human being and I couldn't think of anyone better to hand me this award.

You have always been there as a figure to look up to. A role model for the life I wanted to achieve. A guide when I didn't know the next step. Although I've only known you Junior and Senior year, you have helped me so much. Whether it be college, school, or life related you always have advice and I owe lots of my success to you. Thank you for always recognizing my efforts and flaws and helping me move forward.

I really don't know where to start with this. I guess first of all I just want to say thank you for being such a big part and positive impact on me this year. Although I didn't get to spend much time with you throughout my four years at SGHS, I am thankful I took your class this year. Everyday I walked into your class and no matter if I was crabby, or you were crabby, or both of us were crabby, we always left the hour in better moods. I'm going to miss the long conversations about everything under the sun. Our class was really good at getting you off track and stalling. Anyway, thank you again for making my senior year better. I appreciate everything you do!

How do I even start this? You are another person I was blessed with in my senior year. When I received my senior year schedule, I was a little scared when I saw I had Mr. Rapp for more than half of my classes. If we would not of gotten along, it would of been a long year. Thankfully, this concern was soon dissolved after the first few days of school. Though Mr. Rapp and I fight like brother and sister, he truly is one of the best teachers I have ever had. I have spent more time with Mr. Rapp this past year than I have with my own parents, but I will forever be thankful for the time I have had in Mr. Rapp's class. He has taught me more than he will ever understand and for that I can never thank him enough.

I would've never made it this far if it wasn't for your constant unconditional love and support. I love you more than anything. I'm going to be in professional stage productions one day, and I can't wait for you to see me when that happens.

Being in Mrs. Kingery's class made a bigger impact on my life than I could have ever imagined. She treats all of her students with kindness and respect while pushing them to be their best selves. During the time that I have spent in her class, I have learned some key pieces of advice that I use in my life everyday and will continue to use in the future. To list a few; lead with kindness and love, taking a few minutes to reflect on your day can improve how you react in future endeavors, and to develop positive habits. Thank you Mrs. Kingery.

I have nominated Mrs. Crump for the Honors Recognition Award. I would like to start off by saying that Mrs. Crump is one of the best teachers that I have had throughout my high school journey. She does an awesome job of leading the class through our studies in an engaging and entertaining way! Speaking of entertaining, Mrs. Crump is also super fun to be around! No matter what my wacky conversations are about, she participates and adds to the discussion. This all contributes to the friendly environment that Mrs. Crump's classroom has and because of that, I always feel comfortable to stop by, chill out, and finish my classwork. To summarize, Mrs. Crump is a teacher that I will be sure to remember as I go on to college!

I chose Mr. Rapp as my distinct teacher. I have had Mr. Rapp 3 of my 4 years here and I wish I would have had him all 4 years. He is a great teacher and an even better person. His class allowed me to do projects I've always wanted to do, but didn't have the skills or tools to do so. His class is always a whole lot of fun and Mr. Rapp is a lot of the times the center of that. He is one of the few teachers I would want to hangout with and I hope I get to see him up at UCM for homecoming. Thanks Mr. Rapp.

Coach Coleman has been with me since 2nd grade. He has always been there for me and has helped me every time I have asked him. Early mornings and late nights he has been there pushing me to be a better basketball player and even as a person. I'm grateful to have had him as a coach from 2nd grade to my senior year. Even though we have had our ups & downs, I always knew he wanted me to succeed and I'm thankful for that.

Thank you Mr. Kreitler. Thank you for guiding and helping a childish boy turn into a slightly less challenging young man. You've helped me transition from an incoming freshman to a senior leaving for college. Thank you for everything you've done over these four years.

The person that has impacted me the most during my school career I would say is Mr. Thompson. Mr. Thompson has been my throwing coach from 7th grade to now. Ever since I started throwing I've been the only one in my grade to throw. Mr. Thompson has been there with me every step of the way. My first day throwing I was hit in the ankle by thankfully a rubber disk and not a metal one, but that didn't stop me. My love for throwing continued to grow thanks to the coaching of Mr. Thompson. I always look forward to track season. Track has taught me how to be a better leader and how to push myself for what I want. Last year I tore my meniscus before track season and during season I had to work on getting back to where I was before. During that season I was always down on myself and mad that I wasn't as good as I was before, but Mr. Thompson always saw the bright side even if I didn't and would tell me that I have another year and I will get there. Thank you Mr. Thompson for always being there and cheering me on. I'm grateful to have had you as my coach for 6 years. Thank you for being a part of making me the person I am today. Thank you!

I want to thank my mom for absolutely everything she has ever done for me. Even though I never had her as my teacher, she has guided me through more than I can imagine. She has sat with me through homework, studying, and even reads my papers to make sure my grammar is on point. I couldn't imagine life through school without her. I love you the most mom and I will forever be so grateful to have someone like you as my rock, mentor, inspiration, and mom.

I am writing this about Mr. Roth. The impact that he has left on me was when we could talk about life or anything. Mr. Roth would always check on me at least once a day top see if I was having a good day or if I need to just talk to him to have a better one. He would always hold me to a high standard because I had to be someone the younger class could look up to. Mr. Roth would help me be better for the people around me and for life after high school. He was one of the people in my life I wanted to make proud. The memories that I have built with him will last forever. He is my friend, coach, and my brother. Love you Coach Roth.

Dr. Oldham taught me what it means to be a hard worker. Dr. Oldham created my love for travel and wanting to see the world. He made me love school again and want to learn. He is the reason for me being the man I am today. It's hard to explain in words, but Dr. Oldham really was my guidance all through middle school.

Dear Mr. Roth, I want to take a moment to thank you for all that you've done for me the past four years. I appreciate the time and effort you put into helping me understand new concepts and challenging me to be my best self. Your dedication to your students is truly inspiring, and I feel lucky to have had you as my teacher. It is because of your guidance that I have decided to pursue a career in education, hoping to impact future students the same way you did me. Thank you again for all that you've done.

Mrs. Bowen has impacted my life in more ways than I can count. Some people may forget their elementary teachers, but I will never forget her. She showed me kindness and made me feel welcomed/safe when I transferred schools. She pushed me to do my best and helped me every step of the way. Even today she still checks in on me and asks me how I'm doing and what my future plans are. I could go on and on about how much of an amazing teacher and person she is. Mrs. Bowen will always be someone I remember and look up to.

Mrs. Yamnitz, you have had the greatest impact on me. I've had you since sophomore year. You learned to know me so well and always knew when something was wrong and you found a way to cheer me up. Even if it was just a hug. I never felt dumb asking a million questions during class. You always encouraged me to do my best in school, even in math. I've always been called a "try hard" if my presentation looked more put together or if my essay was longer than the required length, but you helped me learn to be okay with that. I've never had this good of a connection with a teacher before that I could feel safe talking to about anything. I'll forever be thankful that I had you as a teacher. Love you forever Yammy.

Mr. Toombs, you have helped me look past high school and in to what I am going to do after I get out. No matter what you are doing or who you are talking to you always say hi to me and that means more than you will ever know. If I would ever need to talk to you about something, I Know you would be there ready to listen no matter what it is. Your advice that you have given me made me start thinking about what I have wanted to do when I get out of school and I just want to say thank you.

Dr. Smith, thank you for being such a good impact on me not only academically, but creatively as well as helping to push further into my plans after high school and just overall a great influence on me as a person!

Building relationships with students in my opinion is the most important thing for a teacher to accomplish. Dr. Smith is a teacher who can build and amazing relationship with his students while simultaneously teaching complex subjects. Dr. Smith has taught me to be more self-aware, be more independent, and the ins and outs of business. I would like to thank Dr. Smith for all he has taught me, the good advice he has shared, and for being an overall amazing influence in my high school life.

My aunt, Stephanie Sulser is one of the people I look up to the most. Her perseverance, dedication to anything she sets her mind to, and her charisma inspires me. She accepts me and makes me remember who I am, even if she doesn't know it. I can't even describe how much I love her and how important she is to me. Thank you Aunt Nene for being you.

For 4 years Mr. Schweiss has had a big impact on me. If it wasn't for Mr. Schweiss then I don't know what would've happened the past 1,460 days. He has taught me all of the characteristics to be a good man. There is not much for me to say to put in perspective how much I will miss seeing Mr. Schweiss everyday. Here are just a few of the things I will miss the most. I will miss: Making fun of Mr. Schweiss...A lot, spending our advisory time with Lena, Hunter, and Evan. Playing Shazan in his first hour, which was one of the hardest to do because Mr. Schweiss thinks he knows every word to every song, but in reality he knows nothing. I will miss: watching Mr. Schweiss try to become Tik Tok famous, blaming Mr. Schweiss for our losses against Flat River because he told his brother, which is their head coach, all of our plays, and last but not least I will miss learning how to make the best financial investments in the sports world. Thank you and I will miss you "Schwizzle."

Coach Pope, you have impacted my life for the best in many ways. From having us show up to football early to having us work through hot days. You taught me responsibility to actually show up every single day. You showed me that I had that in me which will carry on later in life for hard work. You showed me hard work is the only kind of accepted work too. Thank you for everything. I will appreciate it in the long run!

First and foremost, I want to thank Mrs. Sulkowski for having such a positive influence on me during my four years of high school. She has taught me to be a better person. She is friendly and welcoming to all students who come into her office seeking advice. To begin with, when my father had a heart attack about a year ago, it was a very difficult time in my life. I'd have good days and bad days. When I was having a bad day, I would go to her and tell her how I was feeling. She has taught me that it is okay to be afraid and to express my emotions. Mrs. Sulkowski is a compassionate person who knows how to put a smile on everyone's face.

I gained a little more knowledge from him that I will use in my career.

I have known Coach Basler since freshman year and the relationship I built with her will last a lifetime. She was able to help me with many things on and off the court. I am more than thankful for the opportunity to be coached by Coach Basler. I truly believe that I would not have become the player I was this season without Coach Basler. I couldn't imagine accomplishing all of my goals with any other coach. Thank you for everything Coach Basler.

Mr. Mueller, I'd like to appreciate everything that you've not only taught me but what you've taught everyone that has taken your class. You've been more than just a teacher, you've become a friend. I'm so glad that I took your class because I got closer with my friends and I've learned a lot of things I didn't know before so now I can do a lot more by myself. Thank you.

Mr. Pope, throughout my last 4 years of high school, even though you were only my advisory teacher for 2 years, you have made a lasting impact on me. Your classroom was always somewhere where I could go and talk about anything that was happening. You and your classroom gave me a safe place the last few years and I thank you for giving me that when no other teacher was able to do so.

Mrs. McDaniel has never been my academic teacher, but she has influenced and helped me the most through my 13 years of school. Mrs. McD as I would call her, is the only person I have known to be able to not only create a 360 with my mood when I am feeling down, but to also allow for a safe space on the golf course no matter what else is going on at school or home. She alone has helped me to switch up my outlook on my future. She has also given me countless memories and amazing advice that I will carry with me way beyond high school. Anyone is lucky to have a Coach McD in their life.

It has been an incredible past 4 years. Over these 4 years I have grown to appreciate you more and more everyday. You truly embody SGHS as a whole and have made my high school experience more than memorable. Thank you for always being a shoulder to lean on and for always pushing me to be a better person. Without you I wouldn't be half of the athlete, student, and person I am today. After all the ankle taping, countless rants I've made you listen to, and many laughs I wouldn't have traded these past 4 years for the world. Once again I appreciate you with every ounce in me. Thank you always!

Mr. Schwent has had an impact on me by being a coach and teacher. He was my coach all throughout my high school career and gave me guidance when I needed it. I want to keep my relationship when I leave high school as well. Thank you Mr. Schwent.

Ms. Koenig has been my teacher since middle school and has always acted as a support system for me. Over the years she has taught me countless valuable lessons that I will carry with me beyond high school. Ms. K. has been my biggest cheerleader over the years and it is comforting to know that I will always have someone out there rooting for me. I was truly lucky to have the "Ms. Koenig" experience and I know that I am a better person today because of her.