6 Broadcaster Press April 30, 2019 www.broadcasteronline.com APRIL 2019 VERMILLION.K12.SD.US VERMILLION HIGH SCHOOL’S STUDENT NEWSPAPER Special Olympics Celebrates 50th Anniversary BY MADDI KALLSEN S pecial Olympics is proud to celebrate its 50th anniversary. For fifty years, sportsmanship, friendship and overall support has been provided to the Olympians and their families. ÒThe mission of Special Olympics South Dakota is to provide year-round sports training and competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.Ó This quote, found on the South Dakota Special Olympics website, exemplifies the spirit and purpose of the competition. Events range from basketball, track, and swimming to baseball, bowling and volleyball. The Vermillion Tanager team consists of twelve athletes. While interviewing one of the athletes, Robbie Cheeseman, it was clear how much of a positive impact participating has had on his life. He talked about how many friends heÕs made over the years and how much fun heÕs had competing in the Olympic events. He has participated in track, baseball, basketball, swimming and bowling, all of which he loves. Robbie, along with his teammates, enjoy the challenge of competing and succeeding; it is truly inspiring to see such success. Along with the Vermillion Tanagers, SESDAC also helps get adult athletes to participate. The families and friends of the athletes all get to see how much they grow and thrive off of participating and competing in Special Olympics. Connections, support and empathy are all built together between families as the athletes build confidence, friendships and lifelong skills. Locally and across the nation, Special Olympics has helped build unity and support for kids, adults, and their families, which is a beautiful thing. Many have dedicated so much to help keep the Tanager Special Olympics alive here in Vermillion. Mrs. Stone, the Special Education teacher at Vermillion High School, Gary Cheeseman, the Head of Pictured Left to Right: Jaminson Campbell, Reegan France, Maya Chatman, Kyle Moser, James Solberg, and Robbie Johnson-Cheeseman. Submitted Photo. Delegation, John Cole, board director, Susan Gapp, big supporter and family member of an athlete, along with Lori Jarred, who won South DakotaÕs Coach of the Year, have all contributed time, energy and faith into Special Olympics. The support and dedication is so clear and vital to the organization. There are many ways to get involved and volunteer; go to sosd.org/ become-a-volunteer.html for more in- formation. ÒSpecial Olympics is a global movement of people creating a new world of inclusion and community, where every single person is accepted and welcomed, regardless of ability or disability. We are helping to make the world a better, healthier and more joyful place- one athlete, one volunteer, one family member at a time.Ó NHS Inducts New Members BY KEEGAN RETZLAFF T his years National Honor Society (NHS) Inductees officially joined the organization on March 28th, 2019. Selection for the club is based on four criteria: Scholarship, Leadership, Service, and Character. At Vermillion High School, there was a ceremony honoring those who joined. The joining juniors include Zadya Abbott, Victoria Andre, Brooke Assmus, Kaliyah Beacom, Ashlyn Bickett, Alex Carr, Jacob Chaussee, Camerin Davoux, Kate DeVelder, Nick Doty, Riley Gautier, Javin Gillaspie, Libby Gregg, Logan Gregg, Will Hackemer, Nicholas Harris, Katrina Heles, Morgan Kerkman, Mad- dison Kranz, Ayden Lewison, Stephanie Magana, Brady Martinez, Brenna Mockler, McKenzie Mockler, Gracie Mollet, Jamie Moser, Jake Oehler, Kennedy Pratt, Sarah Prescott, Evan Rasmussen, Camiryn Regnerus, Roger Rolfes, Evelyn Saltzgiver, Alexis Saunders, Emily Stockwell, Arsheen Surani, Trevor Tarr, Brock Voss, Sam Ward, Elizabeth ÒBizzyÓ Wood, and Zhengyang Xu. Inducted seniors include Parker Anderberg, Phillip Hauck, Keeley Passick, and Keegan Retzlaff. Graduating senior members include Co-Presidents Fatima Alemam and Logan Wadley, Co-VicePresidents Shelby Husby and Kaya Lewis, Secretary Victoria Callegari, Treasurer Delaney Stapp, Parliamentarians Mason Schroeder and Macy Winslow, Historian Taylor Tarr. Other graduating members include Parker Anderberg, Rachel Brady, Kailee Brinkmann, Abigail Burbach, Rylan Craig, Tyler DeVelder, Makenna Druecker, Owen Dudley, Benjamin Fairholm, Ben- Historic Flooding Impacts Town BY ZADYA ABBOTT & REY FELICIA T he recent Midwest flooding proved challenging to the many people residing in this region. Nebraska, North and South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, and Missouri were all affected. The cause of the flood was from the mixture of melting snow and large amounts of rain. Evacuation was mandatory in some areas and hundreds of people had to leave their homes. In Nebraska, approximately 75 cities were forced to evacuate, and 4 people have died because of the flooding. The overwhelming water caused many damages. For instance, roads were closed off, many were told to limit their usage on water and Iowa crops took a unexpected blow. It was estimated for the damages to cost up to around 1.3 billion dollars. In light of these unfortunate results of the flooding, many volunteers have risen to the occasion, from filling sandbags to collecting supplies. In one instance, Lenni Billberg, who is part of the Social Science Department of Vermillion High School, partnered with friend Chris Doty to start up the Flood Victim Relief Drive. The driveÕs purpose was to raise supplies for floodridden Nebraska. The process began when Doty got in contact with the mayor of Spencer, NE, to inquire after what the heavily flooded area needed. Billberg and Doty then created a Facebook post, detailing the needs of the flooded region. From there, RAISE YOUR Expectations Vermillion | 605.624.4461 | CorTrustBank.com the movement spiraled. Within hours they had four material drop off units; “Within five days we filled a 16 foot enclosed trailer, an extended cab truck and a large SUV with supplies,Ó explained Mrs. Billberg. The halls of VHS were not immune to the desire to help. A fact demonstrated by the student brought supplies that filled Ms. Billberg classroom. The following weekend all the collected supplies were delivered to the Boyd County relief center in Spencer, NE. From there supplies are being distributed to the Knox County Area. Mrs. Billberg refers to this experience as an example of how, ÒOnce more, the power of social medium is used to make a difference in peopleÕs lives.Ó 5 W. Cherry St. Vermillion 624-4444 Tanager Merchandise, Greeting Cards, Candies, Home Decor and Many Other Great Gift Ideas! jamin Finnegan, Harrison Freeman, Brooklyn Hansen, Nicole Hauck, Phillip Hauck, Regan Henie, Kasey Herbster, Natalie Kaufman, Andrew Kronaizl, Peyton Larson, Alisha Leber, Keeley Passick, Gray Peterson, Jacob Peterson, Madelyn Powell, Keegan Retzlaff, Justin Sorensen, Jane Ni Struckman-Johnson, Madison Treiber, Jenna Wilhelm, Carter Williams, and Isabel Young. We also would like to thank Dr. David Struckman-Johnson, Dr. Cindy Struckman- Johnson, Professor Scott Druecker, and Mrs. Gretchen Burbach for coming and sharing their knowledge. We are extremely proud of all the dedication and hard work NHS members have served our community with. APRIL 26 4pm G Golf Quad: TBA 12pm B/G 7th/8th Track: Yankton (T) State Jazz Band @Brandon Valley 5:00pm Baseball Varsity @ Parkston 7:30pm Baseball: JV Game @ Parkston 27 Booster Club VHS Hall of Fame State Jazz Band @Brandon Valley 29 10:30am B Tennis: Mitchell (T) 5:00pm Baseball Varsity @ Beresford 7:00pm Baseball: JV Game @ Beresford 30 9am G Golf Invite @Dell Rapids May 3 7:30pm (Show Time) Spring Play Performance @VHS 9am Howard Wood B/G Track Relays @SF O’Gorman 4 SAT Test- TBA 7:30 (Show Time) Spring Play Performance @VHS Howard Wood B/G Track Relays 5 2:30pm (Show Time) Spring Play Performance @VHS 6 9am Golf Invite @West Central 4pm B Tennis: SF Roosevelt (T) 7 6pm-7:30pm VHS Music Awards & Finale Concert @VHS 3:30pm B/G 7th/8th Dakota XII Conference Track Meet @EPJ 9 7pm 6th Grade Spring Concert @ VHS 4pm G Golf: Dakota Valley (T) TBA - B/G Track Dakota XII Conference Meet @Tea Area 10 PLT-Early DismissalAll Schools dismissed @1:30pm 11 2:30pm Graduation @ Coyote Sports Center, USD Campus 13 7pm 7th/8th Grade Spring Concert @VHS 9am G Golf Invite @Home 7pm School Board Meeting @ Al Neuharth Media Center, USD Campus 14 3pm JV G Golf Dakota XII Conference Track Meet @Lennox 16 2pm B/G Region Track @Lennox State “B” Tennis @SF/Brandon 17 State “B” Tennis @SF/Brandon 18 State “B” Tennis @SF/Brandon 20 9am G Golf Dakota XII Conference Meet @Home 21 Last Day of School End of 4th Quarter 23 9am G Golf Regions @Home 24 State “B/G” Track @ Sioux Falls 25 State “B/G” Track @ Sioux Falls 27 Memorial Day