The Vinton-Shellsburg High School Senior Awards Night brought approximately $175,250 in scholarships and grants to the graduating class of 2026.

Below is a list of the scholarships and award winners:

Local Scholarships

Benton County American Legion (Fritz Noren)……Aly Erickson, Olivia McDaniel, Gracyn Kingsbury

Benton County American Legion Auxiliary Merit (Ed Schaffer)………Teagan Salter and Gracie Whelan

Vinton American Legion (George G. Luckey post #57) Scholarship (Fritz Noren)…… Gracyn Kingsbury, Aly Erickson, Gracie Whalen

Benton County Cattlemen's Association……………………… William McKenna

Benton County Pork Producers Scholarship……Benjamin Buhr, William McKenna

Benton County Suicide Prevention………………………………………Calli Torres

Benton Soil and Water Conservation District…………………..……… Ben Buhr

Century 21 / Barnes Scholarship………………………………............Aly Erickson

Century 21 / The Hartke Group Scholarship(Mike And Connie Barnes)…... Hudson Rule

Century 21 / Jordyn Edwards………………………………………………………………… Olivia McDaniel

Charles and Helen Yundt Foundation Scholarship………....….Wesley Mckenna,   Andrew Allsup

Clickstop Dream Big Scholarship……………………………..……… Aly Erickson

Farmers Savings Bank FFA Scholarship…………………Ben Buhr, Will McKenna

Garrison Emergency Service Auxiliary…………………….……Addyson Matheny

Garrison Lions Club...Ben Buhr, Zachary Dickinson, Alexa Henkle, Addyson Matheny

Mike Betterton Memorial Soccer Scholarship………………………Brigitta Sloop

Mike Betterton Memorial Wrestling Scholarship………………………Aly Erikson

Nathan’s Miles Memorial Scholarship………………………………Landon Osborn

National Honor Society Scholarship……...............…Athena Aragon, Trey Dooley, Taryn Martin, Annalyn Stiefel, Birgitta Sloop

Not Your Ordinary Scholarship – In Memory of Niccole Thomas................... .Gracie Whelan

Scott Hill “Go Hard or Go Homeâ€� Memorial Scholarship………Jacoby Johnson and Gracyn Kingsbury

Shellsburg Area Community Group………………………………Olivia McDaniel

Shellsburg Lions Club……………………………………………Olivia McDaniel and Teagan Salter

Vinton Community Foundation donated by Edwin & Melba Werning…........... Taryn Martin

Vinton Lions Club…………………Trey Dooley, Gracyn Kingsbury, Madeline Blais

Vinton Kiwanis Club Scholarship…..............William McKenna, Eli Olinger and Gracyn Kingsbury

Virginia Gay Hospital & Clinic Scholarship………...Alex Torres, Aly Erickson, Gracyn Kingsbury, Madalyn Blais, Teagan Salter

Jeanette M. Miller Nursing Scholarship…..…….Alexa Henkle and Callie Torres

PEO Chapter HG Scholarship ……………………………………Olivia McDaniel

The Ahrenstein Family Charitable Fund Inc

○ The Dean & Loretta Wenner Memorial Scholarship…………………Will McKenna

○ The Charlene Staab Memorial Scholarship……………...………….Charley Geiger

○ The Ellen Ahrenstein Memorial Scholarship……………………...Scarlett Petrzelka

○ The Herbert Ahrenstein Memorial Scholarship………………...……... Trey Dooley

○ The Holly Ahrenstein Memorial Scholarship……………………………..Cal Lessig

○ The Lilyan Ahrenstein Memorial Scholarship……………………….Athena Aragon

○ The Mary Craddock Memorial Scholarship………………..…….Cadence Relinger

○ The Paige M. Davis Memorial Scholarship………………............Olivia McDaniel

○ The Ronald Craddock Memorial Scholarship………………....Zachary Dickinson

○ The Charles Craddock Memorial Scholarship………...…...................Eli Ollinger

○ The Marvin J Rappaport Memorial Scholarship………………......Gracie Whelan

○ The Michael Davis Memorial Scholarship…………..…………NO APPLICANTS

○ The Ahrenstein Family Charitable Fund Scholarship….......NO APPLICANTS

○ The AFCF US Veterans Memorial Scholarship………..…..…NO APPLICANTS

○ The Brennen Still Memorial Scholarship……………………...NO APPLICANTS

○ The Justin Coots Memorial Scholarship………………...……NO APPLICANTS

Duane Fisher Memorial - 4 yr……….. ……………………………Will McKenna

Duane Fisher Memorial - 2 yr……………………………………..No Applicants

Go V-S Scholarship……………….Cadenence Redlinger, Trey Dooley, Birgitta Sloop, Miekela Ternus, Alex Torres, Tyler Lee

Cedar Valley Bank “Class of 2026 Penny Warsâ€� Scholarship…..................……Kora McCullough

US Bank Scholarship………………………………………………………Aly Erickson

Vinton Masonic Lodge W. Glenn Wood Memorial Scholarship…….............…Jenise Coberly

Vinton Masonic Lodge Jack Milroy Memorial Scholarship………Jacoby Johnson

Russell T. Cottrell Memorial Scholarship…………Jacoby Johnson and Jack Blais

Gerald & Beatrice Irwin Scholarship……Benjamin McGowan, Benjamin Buhr, Alexa Henkle, Addyson Matheny, Zachary Dickinson, Cal Lessig, Chloe Sanders

Howard & Imogene Matters Memorial Scholarship………………Madeline Blais

Ben & Nina Smith Memorial Scholarship………................................Braily Steinberg

Craig Hackbarth Memorial Scholarship……...………………………Charley Geiger

Esther Williams Memorial Scholarship…………Miekela Ternus and Jenise Coberly

Elmo and Mary Zada Baxter Memorial Scholarship………………..Jacoby Johnson and Aly Erickson

Thomas Bolenbaugh Memorial Scholarship……Aly Erickson and Athena Aragon

John J. Dieter Trust Scholarship………………………Cal Lessig, Gracyn Kingsbury, Elijah Ollinger

Paul Mackey Scholarship (John J. Dieter Trust)...........................William McKenna

Marjorie Scholeman McDowell Scholarship…...............Brynn Wilden, Taryn Martin, Gracie Whelan, Birgitta Sloop, Landon Osborn, Miekela Ternus, Aly Erickson , Alex Torres, Madeline Blais, Athena Aragon, Haley Crane, Gracyn Kingsbury, Chloe Sanders, Olivia McDaniel

Kathy Luze Memorial Scholarship…………….Gracie Whelan and Charley Geiger

Marlyn & Ann Jorgensen Family Scholarship…………...............……Haley Crane

John & Beverly Anderson Charitable Trust Scholarship……Birgitta Sloop and Brailey Steinberg

John & Beverly Anderson Charitable Trust Community College…............... Cadence Redlinger, Gracie Whelan, Alexa Henkle, Teagan Salter, Zachary Dickinson, Landon Osborn, Tyler Lee , Olivia McDaniel  

Vinton-Shellsburg Education Association Scholarship……………Will McKenna and Gracie Whelan

Viking-Vikette Booster Club Scholarship……Aly Erickson, Eli Olliger, Cal Lessig, Zachary Dickinson, Madeline Blais, Alex Torres, Jacoby Johnson

Other Scholarships Access Scholarship…………..………………… Shaylinn Tucker

Bright Scholar of Iowa Scholarship………………………………………Annalyn Stiefel

East Central Iowa REC Scholarship………………………………..…Gracyn Kingsbury

Farmers Mutual/USA Communications Scholarship…………Teagan Salter and Olivia McDaniel

Fellowship of Christian Athletes……………………………………Annalyn Stiefel

VS-HS Recognition Awards/Scholarship

KWWL Best of Class……………………………………………………Birgitta Sloop

Governor’s Scholar………………………..…………………………….Aly Erickson

Vinton Popcorn Project Award………………Waiting to hear from Cody Robertson

Des Moines Register Academic All-State ………………………….…Aly Erickson

Black and Gold Community Service Award…………Athena Aragon, Madeline Blais, Zach Dickinson, Trey Dooley, Lily Griffith, Jacoby Johnson, Gracyn Kingsbury, Olivia McDaniel, Scarlett Petrzelka Gage ,Birgitta Sloop, Mieke Ternus, and Brynn Wilden.

American Citizenship Award…………………………………………Athena Aragon

NHS Scholarship…………Athena Aragon, Trey Dooley, Taryn Martin, Annalyn Stiefel,

Birgitta Sloop ($100 each)

State of Iowa Seal of Biliteracy Awards……………………Trey Dooley, Brynn Wilden, Taryn Martin, Birgitta Sloop, and Lily Griffith

Scientific Trivium Award……………….Brynn Wilden, Hudson Rule, Annalyn Steifel, Madeline Blais, Aly Erickson, Alex Torres,Kaylee Stein, Zach Dickinson, Vera Celo, Lily Griffith, Athena Aragon, Scarlett Petrezella

Senior Impact Award………………………...……………………….Athena Aragon

Senior for Excellence in Art Awards……………………Karma Bresson

*Studio and Graphic Design, Maliah Parker

*Studio Art, Athena Aragon *Studio Art, Mieke Ternus

*Studio Art and Graphic Design, Cadee Redlinger

*Studio Art and Graphic Design, Jenise Coberly

*Studio Art, Yasmin Galeote-Maximo

*Studio Art and

Graphic Design, Tyler Lee

*Graphic Design, Val Patrilla - Heart of an Artist Award: Mieke Ternus

Val Patrilla - Heart of an Artist Award………………………………….Mieke Ternus

Athletic Awards:

Jeremy Ternus Memorial Cross Country Award………………….Alexander Torres

Bernie Saggau Award…………………………………………………..Jacoby Johnson

E. Wayne Cooley Award Nomination…………………………………...........……………………….Aly Erickson

Iowa Girls Award- Lisa Brinkmeyer Award…………………………. Brynn Wilden

Vikette Athlete of the Year………………………………………………Aly Erickson

Viking Athlete of the Year…………………………………………….……………………….Jacoby Johnson

Presidential Excellence & Academic Letter Awards:

Academic Awards:

Athena Aragon, Jack Blais, Madeline Blais, Zoey Bresson, Benjamin Buhr, Pranvera Celo, Paige Clemensen, Jenise Coberly, Keyan Cook, Zachary Dickinson, Trey Dooley, Aly Erickson, Kaden Fisher, Yasmin Galeote-Maximo, Adele Gerard, Lily Griffith, Jacoby Johnson, Gracyn Kingsbury, Tyler Lee, Taryn Martin, Addyson Matheny, Benjamin McGowan, Elijah Ollinger, Cadence Redlinger, Hudson Rule, Chloe Sanders, Tayton Schminke, Brigitta Sloop, Kaylee Stein, Braily Steinberg, Annalyn Stiefel, Erijona Tafa, Miekela Ternus, Alexander Torres, Shaylinn Tucker, and Brynn Wilden.

Presidential Awards

Athena Aragon, Jack Blais, Madeline Blais, Zoey Bresson, Benjamin Buhr, Pranvera Celo, Jenise Coberly, Zachary Dickinson, Trey Dooley, Aly Erickson, Yasmin Galeote-Maximo,Adele Gerard, Lily Griffith, Jacoby Johnson,Gracyn Kingsbury, Taryn Martin, Benjamin McGowan, Elijah Ollinger, Cadence Redlinger, Chloe Sanders, Brigitta Sloop, Kaylee Stein, Annalyn Stiefel, Miekela Ternus, Alexander Torres, Brynn Wilden

Student Senate:

The following Student Senate members are being recognized tonight with Red, White and Blue cords signifying their active involvement, dedication, leadership and commitment to enhancing the student body's high school experience.

Athena Aragon

Calli Torres

Taryn Martin

Black and Gold Hours:

Athena Aragon, Madeline Blais, Zachary Dickinson, Trey Dooley, Lily Griffith, Jacoby

Johnson, Gracyn Kingsbury, Cal Lessig, Olivia McDaniel, Scarlett-Petrzelaka Gage,

Birgitta Sloop, Miekela Ternus, Brynn Wilde