News : T-Shirts honor academic successes of VSHS students

The VSHS freshmen, sophomores and juniors pose after being honored for ITED test successes.

Willow Huber and Natalie Ketchen were among the 17 freshman honored for ITED success Monday.

The new VS Academics T-shirts were given to those scoring in the 90th percentile on ITED test.

It's a custom at Vinton-Shellburg High School, as at most schools, to celebrate the successes of a school's extracurricular activities with T-shirts. You can seel, among others. shirts honoring the track, baseball and Jazz Band for their recent accomplishments in reaching the State contest in their specific activity.

But now, VSHS is honoring students for one specific academic success with T-shirts.

On Monday morning, Principal Kirk Johnson, along with Guidance counselors Sandy Hamilton and Scott Tandy, presented T-shirts and certificates to dozens of VSHS freshman, sophomores and juniors who scored in the 90th percentile or higher on their ITED (Iowa Test of Educational Development). A total of 17 freshmen, 18 sophomores and 22 juniors earned this distinction. Seniors do not take the test.

Johnson said the presentation was designed to celebrate academic success as well as extracurricular successes of VSHS students.

The T-shirts were made possible by Tharp Design, the PTO and also local donors.

"In just one day, we had more than enough in donations for all the shirts," said Johnson.

Freshmen honorees include: Katie Hanson, Kacie Struve, Max Griffith, Nicholas Stout, Tayler Dinderman, Colton Beatty, William Hancock, Hannash Leichsenring, Wade Bries, Shane Rizotto, Alexis Peterson, James Voyles, Alysha Wehage, Madelyn Cornell, Kassie Kilpatrick, Natalie Ketchen and Willow Huber.

Sophomores who scored in the 90th percentile or above include: Tess Noeller, Aric Hanson, Zachary Latting, Matthew Hart, Stephanie Lash, Madeline Springer, Ashton Vore, Emma Clingman, Jacob Milroy, Ryan Webster, Trevor Brown, Jordan Lazenby, Kyle McAbee, Corey Ramsey, Matthew Walston, Abigail Darland, Samantha Jorgensen and Brandt Corcran.

Juniors who achieved that score include: James Yenser, Brandon Maier, Ian Storey, Chace Wright, Wesley Lyons, Nicole Thompson, Alexander Jessen, Katherine Dick, Alexandria Schmelzer, Alex McGee, Allison Emrich, Meghan Owens, Wyatt Oltrogge, Molly Drake, Kyle Hanson, Dalton Lebeda, Brian Fischer, Jacob Dyson, Nathaniel Webber, Thad Dulin, Troy Hallberg and Bray Mullenix.