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North Crawford and Seneca Valedictorians and Salutatorians honored
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MARY JO CODY is the 2017 North Crawford School District Valedictorian. Cody is the daughter of Bryan and Martha Cody of Seneca. She will attend UW-River Falls to pursue a major in Dairy Science and Pre-Veterinary Medicine.

Mary Jo Cody

North Crawford Valedictorian, Mary Jo Cody, is the daughter of Bryan and Martha Cody of Seneca. She intends to attend classes at the University of Wisconsin River Falls and major in Dairy Science for Pre-Veterinary Medicine.

Throughout high school, Mary Jo has been involved in National Honor Society, Student Government, Forensics, and Solo and Ensemble. Additionally, Mary Jo has made the highest honor roll every semester, went to state all four years in Forensics, and was vice president of Student Government.

Mary Jo is also very active in her community. She was crowned the Crawford County Dairy Princess in 2015. Representing Crawford County’s dairy industry was a role she valued greatly. Mary Jo volunteers in her church parish, St. Wenceslaus.

While attending high school, Mary Jo has also worked full time on her parents’ dairy farm. Doing both has helped Mary Jo discover the importance of time management and good studying skills.

“Working on my family farm and going to school full time forced me to the conclusion that there is just not enough hours in the day to accomplish everything that needs to be done.” Mary Jo has also worked at the South West Veterinary Clinic located Seneca. 

She credits her parents for pushing her to pursue her goals, work hard, and stay dedicated. Mary Jo would also like to thank the community and North Crawford High School for accepting her family and her after they open enrolled to the district.

“My parents made the decision to move my brother and I for a better education with more opportunities. They could not have made a finer decision.”

Jena Konichek

Seneca Valedictorian Jena Konichek is the daughter of Doug and Susie Konichek of Steuben.

Jena’s plans following graduation are to attend Southwest Tech for Ag-Business.

Throughout high school, Jena has been involved in softball, basketball and volleyball. She also received Student of the Month in January of 2014.

“Some strengths I have acquired through the last four years would be communication with my classmates and teachers, commitment to my school and helping to keep it a safe and healthy environment, responsible for my actions and choices and dedication to my work and friends,” Jena said. “These strengths have helped me to get where I am today and to become a better person all around for my community. There have been tough times through the years of high school, like getting slumps of homework that tend to cause a stressful mind. When this sort of thing happens though, I keep in mind that it can only get better and keep moving forward.”

Jena gives the following advice to her underclassmen:

“Never stop believing in yourself. Don’t give up on yourself even when life seems to be against you. Love your friends and family every day like it’s your last because when other people walk away, they will be the ones who have your back. Finally, don’t be afraid of change. The world around us is constantly changing and don’t try to fight it. You will gain new friends and you will lose old ones. You do you and don’t feel the need to impress everyone, as long as you are happy, then life will be great.”

Maggie Schellhorn

Maggie Schellhorn is the graduating Salutatorian of the Class of 2017 at North Crawford High School. Her parents are Scot and Julie Schellhorn who are residents of Gays Mills. Schellhorn is graduating high school achieving highest honors with a grade point average of 3.95. Throughout high school, Maggie has participated in Track, Volleyball, Cross Country, Gymnastics, Student Government, Band, National Honor Society, PALS, Yearbook, and was a member of the Ridge and Valley Sportsmanship Team. She has also made seven state appearances during her sports career. 

Schellhorn states that her biggest struggle in high school was maintaining a positive balance inside the classroom and out on the playing field. Being a student-athlete has taught her how to be well-rounded and a motivated person. It was also very important for Maggie to strive to be an active member in her school and community. She has done this by participating in different clubs and volunteering at local events. Although she is leaving her hometown, she will take the memories and lessons taught to her next year to University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire where Maggie will be studying Health Care Administration.

Samantha Boland

Seneca Salutatorian for the 2017 graduating class is Samantha Boland, the daughter of Chuck Boland and Renae Boland and Angie Schroeder and Bob Schroeder. Samantha lives in Seneca and plans to attend Viterbo University in the fall for nursing.

During her high school career, Samantha has been involved in basketball, softball, volleyball, National Honor Society, S.H.A.R.E, Business Club, FFA, Future Business Leaders of America, Vice President of the FBLA, P.A.L.s and Forensics.

Community service efforts Samantha has been involved with include: Roadside clean up with her dad, S.H.A.R.E, volunteered with the Church Bazaar each year, organized the donations of food for a local family who lost everything in a house fire, assisted Seneca Lions Club with Breakfast with Santa, and volunteered at the Seneca Educational Foundation Brat Sale, helping with wellness day planning for middle and high school students, giving gift bags to the sick and the elderly and assisting with the Wild Game Feed Dinner.

Samantha has been the recipient of the Greenhand award for FFA, Chapter award for FFA, Three year Member award for FFA, High and highest honor roll throughout all four years of school, Student of the Month during her Freshman, Junior and Senior year, Academic recipient for Freshman year and Academic letter and medal for sophomore year. Samantha was also nominated for the Good Citizen Award at the Seneca School District.

“‘If you work hard, your hard work will eventually pay off,’ is something my father has told me since I was a little child,” Samantha noted.

For the last two years Samantha has worked as a Certified Nurses Aide at the Boscobel Care and Rehab.

“I believe my strengths are my work ethic, I will always try my hardest to get things done to the best of my abilities. Another strength of mine is my communication skills. I am able to ask for help when struggling and that will help me in the future by being able to go to my professors for help,” Samantha said. “The two people that have inspired me are my father and my grandma. Both have always told me I will be successful but I have to work hard now in order to make it where I want to be.”

Samantha’s advice to her underclassmen is “Stay involved, if you have a chance to go on a speaking contest go, even if you’re scared to talk in front of people. Don’t only do what your friends are doing. If you’re the only senior in a club, that’s okay! Studying is very important, but there will be tests and quizzes that you will fail and darling that’s okay too. It is not the end of the world, it happens. Lastly, your friends you had in middle school may be your worst enemies when it comes to senior year. Learn to know that it is better to have a few great friends rather than a lot of fake friends. But mostly just have fun, you only have these years once, it is said that these are best years of your life.”