STURGIS BROWN HIGH SCHOOL

Monday 10/27/2025

SBHS Fall Choir Concert: @ Sturgis Community Center; 7:00 PM

SBHS FFA: Nationals @ Indianapolis

Tuesday 10/28/2025

SBHS FFA: Nationals @ Indianapolis

SBHS Volleyball: vs. Stevens @ SBHS; 4:00 PM (JV)/4:30 (9A)5:30 (9B)/5:30 (C)/7:00 (V); GO GOLD NIGHT

Wednesday 10/29/2025

SBHS FFA: Nationals @ Indianapolis

Thursday 10/30/2025

SBHS FFA: Nationals @ Indianapolis

SBHS Football: 1st Round vs Watertown; 6:00 PM

Friday 10/31/2025

SBHS FFA: Nationals @ Indianapolis

Saturday 11/01/2025

SBHS Choir: All State Choir @ Sioux Falls; 7:00 PM (CST)

Season passes are not valid for playoff games.

Purchase Tickets Online: GoBound.com/Tickets

Come out and cheer on the Scoopers! 🏈

YLT Red Ribbon Events: October 27: Rural Red Ribbon; October 28: Unity Day; October 28: Whitewood Elementary Red Ribbon

October 31: Students, for Halloween, we ask that you do not wear costumes to school. Thanks for your cooperation.

November 5: Early Release@ 1:05 PM

November 10: National Honor Society Induction; 5:30 PM

November 10: Deadline for seniors wanting to participate in the Senior Art Show must sign up with either Mrs. Somervold/Mrs. White. Works can vary from projects completed in school to works done outside of school. All mediums welcome!

November 14: FCCLA Ironman Volleyball Tournament. Check your Google Classroom for more information and to sign up your team.

ASVAB Test: Junior or Seniors interested in taking the ASVAB test, stop in Student Services to sign up. The ASVAB test is free, and is a multiple-choice test that measures aptitude and knowledge for career paths in military and other vocational fields.

Tuesdays ONLY:

FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes). Meets Tuesday mornings 7:15 AM in Room 124, Mrs. Keffeler’s Room.
Chess club will meet on Tuesdays after school in Room 151, Mrs. Stevens’ room.

Sturgis Brown High School’s FCCLA chapter made a meaningful impact during Breast Cancer Awareness Month by raising $1,000 to support patients and families through Monument Health’s breast cancer and mammogram foundation.

The fundraising effort took place over three days in October, as FCCLA members sold Italian sodas during lunch. Students and staff showed tremendous generosity, with many purchasing drinks or offering additional donations to support the cause. Funds raised will go directly toward assisting breast cancer patients and their families with essential needs such as wigs, mammograms, and other supportive services.

FCCLA extends a heartfelt thank-you to everyone who contributed to this important initiative and helped make a difference in the lives of local patients. 💗🎀

On Friday, October 17, 2025, the Belle Fourche FFA Chapter hosted its annual Rushmore Leadership Retreat Leadership Development Event (LDE), bringing together several area FFA chapters to compete in 11 different contests focused on communication, problem-solving, and agricultural leadership.

Sturgis Brown High School FFA members performed exceptionally well, earning multiple top placements across several categories.

Ag Broadcasting: 2nd – Natalie Yates
Creed Speaking: 1st – Callan Johnson
Ag Issues Team: 1st – Ellie Storm, Jackson Cammack, and Kobi Millar
Prepared Public Speaking: 2nd – Ella Roberts, 3rd – Rowan Lutz
Ag Sales Team: 2nd – Braelyn Adam, Quintin Kelly, Aydan Rhodes, and Marlin Baker
Extemporaneous Speaking: 2nd – Eli Kuna, 3rd – Braelyn Adams

These outstanding results highlight the hard work and dedication of SBHS FFA students as they continue to grow their leadership and communication skills. Congratulations to all participants for representing Sturgis Brown with excellence!

Congratulations, Jaxon Dodson! The South Dakota High School Soccer Coaches Association (SDHSSCA) has announced the 2025 Boys Class AA All-State Soccer Teams. Sturgis Brown High School junior Jaxon Dodson earned Honorable Mention recognition for his outstanding performance this season. Congratulations to Jaxon on this well-deserved honor!

Sturgis Brown High School will hold its annual “Choices Simulation,” on November 6 and 7. This is a powerful, hands-on learning experience that walks students through the real-life consequences of underage drinking and poor decision-making.

The simulation begins with an underage party scenario involving alcohol and drugs, followed by a mock car crash, emergency room visit, courtroom trial, and even a funeral for a peer. Organized by the Youth Leadership Team and supported by local law enforcement and legal professionals, the program aims to make the experience as realistic and emotional as possible.

The Sturgis Brown High School FCCLA (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America) is hosting a food drive from October 24 to November 21. They are accepting unexpired, nonperishable food items, which will be donated to the local Kiwanis Food Pantry to support families during the upcoming holiday season.

AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY STUDENT CONTESTS

The Meade Sturgis American Legion Auxiliary Unit 33 is inviting students to participate in this year’s Americanism Contests, promoting pride in our country and appreciation for our freedoms.

Two contests are offered:

Poem Writing Contest – open to students in grades 3–6
Essay Writing Contest – open to students in grades 3–12; COVER SHEET & RULES

Both contests provide an excellent opportunity for students to express their patriotism through writing. Cash prizes are awarded at the local, district, state, and national levels for essay entries.

All entries are due February 1, 2026, and should be submitted directly to: Carol Edwards. Unit President, Meade Sturgis American Legion Auxiliary Unit 33.

Mail submissions to:

Carol Edwards, President

Meade Sturgis Unit 33

American Legion Auxiliary

20616 Maitland Road

Lead, SD 57754

Students are invited to take part in the NASA TechRise Student Challenge, a free national competition for grades 6–12 that gives students the chance to design and fly their own experiments on a Virgin Galactic suborbital spacecraft or a World View Enterprises high-altitude balloon.

Teams, guided by an educator, will submit experiment ideas for a chance to be one of 60 winning teams that receive $1,500 in funding, a spot on a NASA-sponsored flight, and technical support from NASA TechRise advisors. No prior experience is needed—just creativity and curiosity!

The challenge gives students hands-on experience with the same processes used by professional researchers, building real-world skills in science, technology, and innovation. In the 2024–25 challenge, over 530 students from all 50 states and territories transformed their ideas into working experiments.

👉 Learn More:

View last year’s winners and projects, including South Dakota’s Lower Brule High School, at NASA TechRise 2024 Gallery.
Educators can sign up for updates or download the challenge flyer at the NASA TechRise Website.
For questions or additional resources, email techrise@futureengineers.org.

This is a fantastic opportunity for SBHS students to reach for the stars—literally! 🌌

Key Dates & Information

Students interested in leadership, public speaking, law enforcement, or marksmanship have several exciting opportunities through the American Legion this school year:

Oratorical Contest – Students can showcase their public speaking skills by competing in the annual oratorical contest. Post-level contests must be completed by December 22, 2025, and district contests by January 26, 2026. Assigned topics and details can be found at legion.org or sdlegion.org/oratorical-scholarship.
Boys State – Scheduled for May 25–29, 2026, Boys State provides an immersive experience in government and leadership for high school juniors and seniors (who have not previously attended). Registration is online at sdlegion.org/boys-state. The $250 fee is paid by the local Legion post. Learn more at southdakotaboysstate.org.
Youth Trooper Academy – Taking place June 22–26, 2026, this program gives students a hands-on look at law enforcement careers. Applicants must have a valid driver’s license, and only 24 students statewide will be selected. Applications are due March 21, 2026, at sdlegion.org/sd-youth-trooper-academy.
Junior Shooting Sports – Open to male and female youth under 18 (or high school seniors up to age 20), this program promotes discipline and marksmanship using the .177 caliber air rifle. Participants can advance through postal matches to compete in the National Championship, held each July at Hillsdale College in Michigan. More information is available at sdlegion.org/shooting-sports.

These programs offer excellent opportunities for students to develop leadership, citizenship, and teamwork skills while representing their school and community.

Established in 1947, our Voice of Democracy audio-essay program provides high school students with the unique opportunity to express themselves in-regards-to a democratic and patriotic-themed recorded essay. Each year, nearly 40,000 9-12 grade students from across the country enter to win their share of $2.1 million in educational scholarships and incentives awarded through the program.

The national first-place winner receives a $35,000 scholarship paid directly to the recipient’s American university, college or vocational/technical school. A complete list of other national scholarships range from $1,000-$15,000, and the first-place winner from each VFW Department (state) wins a minimum scholarship of $1,000 and an all-expense-paid trip Valley Forge. Want to apply? 2025-2026 Entry Form

VOD Deadlines:

Midnight, October 31, Entries to the Post: Nancy J Worth, nworth1971@gmail.com

November 20 - Entries due to the District

December 5 - District Winners due to the Department Chairman - Marc Calcaterra

Rules and Eligibility Requirements: VOD Rules / Eligibility

DO NOT mail District entries and required forms to State Headquarters. Mail them directly to the State Voice of Democracy Chairman!

SENIOR NEWS | Class of 2026

September 2025

Senior Class Advisors:

Kari Van Zee (kari.vanzee@k12.sd.us)
Jenece Holzbauer (jenece.holzbauer@k12.sd.us)
Stephanie Kaufman (stephanie.kaufman@k12.sd.us)

Information below is subject to change. Please watch the SBHS Announcements and the Class of 2026 Google Classroom for updates.

Preparing for Your Senior Year

The Class of 2026 is entering an exciting and busy year filled with important deadlines and memorable moments leading up to graduation. Below are key dates and reminders to help seniors and their families stay on track.

Fall Deadlines

October 2 – Deadline to order Cap & Gown and graduation merchandise. (Instructions available on the Class of 2026 Google Classroom.)
October 17 – Deadline to submit class poem, song, motto, and flower color nominations via Google Classroom.
- Songs must include printed lyrics, a YouTube link, and be school-appropriate.
- Poems must be original, appropriate, and will be read at graduation by the author if selected.
- Motto submissions must be cited appropriately.
November 3–7 – Online voting for poem, song, motto, and flower color.
November 7 – Baby picture due for the senior slideshow.
December 15 – Senior yearbook picture due (uploaded through Google Classroom; see Mrs. Craig with questions).

Spring Deadlines

February 1 – Many local scholarship applications open (check Student Services website).
April 1 – Most scholarship applications due (verify deadlines individually). Questions can be directed to Registrar Judy Weisz.
Week of April 13 – Make class awards in Room 303 during Scooper Times.
April 17 – Deadline to sign up for Graduation Speaker try-outs (via Google Classroom). Note: If your poem is chosen, you cannot audition.
April 23 – Graduation Speaker try-outs, Room 113.
April 27–May 1 – Online voting for Class Awards.
May 11 – Pick up Senior Checkout Sheet and complete Exit Survey.
May 13 – Senior Walk, last day of class, turn in checkout sheet and computer (during 5th period).
May 15 – Awards, graduation practice, and Senior BBQ (details TBA).

Graduation Day – Sunday, May 17, 2026

12:30 PM – Doors open
1:15 PM – Seniors line up
2:00 PM – Graduation Ceremony begins promptly

Dress Expectations:

Ladies: Dress, skirt and blouse, or dress pants and blouse. Shoes must have a back strap (no flip-flops or tennis shoes).
Gentlemen: Dress slacks or black jeans with a dress shirt. Shoes must have a back strap (no flip-flops or tennis shoes).

Adornments Allowed:

Honor cords, honor tassels, NHS and military stoles, military uniform (if basic training completed), eagle feather/plume, tribal beading, or star quilt on chair (SDCL 13-1-66).
No other hat decorations or gown adornments permitted.
See Mr. Wilson by May 15 with dress code questions.

This year is full of opportunities to celebrate your hard work and create lasting memories. Stay connected through the Class of 2026 Google Classroom and SBHS announcements to ensure you don’t miss important deadlines. Congratulations, Seniors—it’s your year!