By Elaine Rassel
Top 5 & War Eagle Conference Recognition – Preston Astidias, Brayden Dirks, Taylor Harpenau, Ellie Hilbrands, and Ellie Reuter
KCAU Best of Class – Ellie Reuter
Governor’s Award/Des Moines All Academic – Ellie Reuter
Member of National Honor Society (Blue/Gold Cords) – Preston Astidias, Autum Bonnstetter, Brayden Dirks, Emily Dreckman, Taylor Harpenau, Ellie Hilbrands, Kirsten Letsche, Makenzie Meyer, Asya Miller, Ryan Olson, Regan Peters, Ellie Reuter, Brett Staab, and Keegan Stevens
Silver Cord Recognition (200+ Community Service hours)_Autum Bonnstetter, Brayden Dirks, Emily Dreckman, Gunnar Grage, Taylor Harpenau, Ellie Hilbrands, Kortney Johnson, Regan Peters, Ellie Reuter, Michael Rupp, and Brett Staab
Students maintaining a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 to 4.0 (Gold Cords) – Preston Astidias, Autum Bonnstetter, Mattisen Dias, Brayden Dirks, Emily Dreckman, Taylor Harpenau, Ellie Hilbrands, Jared Krug, Kirsten Letsche, Ryan Olson, Raegan Peters, Carson Pick, Colin Pick, Ellie Reuter, Brett Staab, Keegan Stevens, and Brenin Stodden
ACT 25/30+ Honors (Medals) – Preston Astidias, Brayden Dirks, Ryan Olson, and Colin Pick
LifeServe Red Cord Recognition (3+ donations) – Autum Bonnstetter, Darley Carrillo, Brayden Dirks, Gunnar Grage, Taylor Harpenau, Ellie Hilbrands, Mya Holmes, Kortney Johnson, Kirsten Letsche, Aiyana Murray, Regan Peters, Carson Pick, Colin Pick, Alissah Poppema, Michael Rupp, Paul Schmidt, and Keegan Stevens
SkillsUSA Cords (100 + hours of Community Service) – Brayden Dirks, Gunnar Grage, Taylor Harpenau, Makenzie Meyer, and Brenin Stodden
FFA Cords (Chapter/Iowa Degree)_Gunnar Grage, Matthew Kollbaum, Makenzie Meyer, and Regan Peters
American Bar Association Association Citizenship Award – Ellie Hilbrands
William & Ethel Gund Scholarships – Ellie Reuter
Valedictorian of the Class of 2022 was Ellie Reuter and Salutatorians were Brayden Dirks and Ellie Hilbrands.
Awards
IGHSAU Iowa Girl Award – Ellie Hilbrands
Lyle Schlenger Award – For being most dedicated to MMCRU athletics were Preston Astidias and Ellie Hilbrands
Bernie Saga Award – Ellie Hilbrands
FCA Athletic Achievement Award – Brayden Dirks
John Philip Sousa Award – Mattisen Dias
Marines Distinguished Athlete Award – Emily Dreckman, Brett Staab
Marines Scholastic Excellence Award – Ellie Hilbrands
Marines Semper Fidelis Award – Mattisen Dias
FCA Pillars of Character – Preston Astidias, Emily Dreckman, Gunnar Grage, Taylor Harpenau, Ellie Hilbrands, Mia Holmes, Kirsten Letsche, Makenzie Meyer, Asya Miller, Regan Peters, Michael Rupp, and Brett Staab

Scholarships
Ag Processing, Inc. Scholarship – Matthew Kollbaum
AgState Scholarship – Makenzie Meyer
American Legion Wasmer Post 241 Scholarship – Regan Peters
Austin and Madison Whited Scholarship – Taylor Harpenau
MMCRU Music Boosters – Mattisen Dias and Ryan Olson
MMCRU FFA Scholarships – Makenzie Meyer and Regan Peters
MMCRU Boosters Scholarship – Brayden Dirks, Emily Dreckman, Taylor Harpenau, and Brett Staab
MMCRU Faculty & Staff Scholarship – Ellie Hilbrands and Brett Staab
Marcus Community Fair Scholarship – Matthew Kollbaum and Makenzie Meyer
MMCRU Area Health Professionals Scholarship – Brayden Dirks, Kirsten Letsche and Regan Peters
Marcus Action Club (MAC) Scholarship – Brayden Dirks and Ellie Hilbrands
Marcus Lions Club Scholarship – Ellie Hilbrands and Regan Peters
American Bar Association American Citizen Award – Ellie Hilbrands
American Bank Scholarship – Ellie Hilbrands
Iowa State Bank Scholarship – Ellie Hilbrands
United Bank of Iowa Scholarship – Makenzie Meyer
West Iowa Bank Corp (Farmers State Bank) – Emily Dreckman and Ellie Reuter
Cherokee State Bank Scholarships: (1) Brummer-Stiles-Duncan Scholarship – Preston Astidias, Autum Bonnstetter, Mattisen Dias, Brayden Dirks, Emily Dreckman, Gunnar Grage, Taylor Harpenau, Ellie Hilbrands, Mya Holmes, Kortney Johnson, Matthew Kollbaum, Jared Krug, Kirsten Letsche, Makenzie Meyer, Asya Miller, Regan Peters, Carson Pick, Colin Pick, Ellie Reuter, and Brett Staab
(2) Florence Frisbie Scholarship Fund_Autum Bonnstetter, Taylor Harpenau, and Matthew Kollbaum
Cherokee Flying Club Memorial Scholarship – Gunnar Grage
Cherokee Co. Cattlemen Scholarship – Regan Peters
Cherokee County 4-H Endowment Scholarship – Brayden Dirks and Matthew Kollbaum
Cherokee Fair Scholarship – Matthew Kollbaum
Cherokee Regional Medical Center Kenneth Hobson Memorial Scholarship – Brayden Dirks
Cherokee Speculative Lodge #307 Masonic Scholarship – Autum Bonnstetter
CML Telephone Cooperative Dan Rose Scholarship – Michael Rupp and Brenin Stodden
Austin and Madison Whited Scholarship – Taylor Harpenau
Carroll C. Mongan Trust – Brayden Dirks
Carol Pick Memorial Scholarship_Mattisen Dias
Christa M. Schmadeke Heitter Memorial Scholarship – Ellie Hilbrands
Clifford E. Perry & Marjorie Perry Scholarship – Autum Bonnstetter, Gunnar Grage, and Taylor Harpenau
Dana Foundation Legacy Scholarship – Brayden Dirks
Deborah Krekow-Nelson Memorial Scholarship – Asya Miller
Farmers Mutual Insurance of Hull Scholarship – Autum Bonnstetter
Floyd Valley Auxiliary Scholarship – Taylor Harpenau
Frederick Welding Scholarship – Matthew Kollbaum
Gloria Geerdes Memorial Scholarship – Autum Bonnstetter and Regan Peters
Grinnell Mutual Road to Success Scholarship – Gunnar Grage
Grace United Methodist Church Scholarship – Eban Hicks, Ellie Hilbrands and Mya Holmes
Holy Name Endowment – Emily Dreckman, Carson Pick, Colin Pick, and Brett Staab
Holy Name Catholic Daughters of America Scholarship Emily Dreckman
Holy Name Knights of Columbus Carson and Colin Pick
Holy Name St. Anne’s Guild Brett Staab
Happy Siesta Scholarship – Regan Peters
Hoefling Family Memorial Scholarship – Regan Peters and Carson Pick
Hohbach Construction Scholarship of Integrity – Ellie Hilbrands and Michael Rupp
Heisman High School Scholarship (School) – Brayden Dirks
Heisman High School Scholarship (School & State) – Emily Dreckman
Home Builders Association of Greater Siouxland & Professional Women in Building Scholarships – Makenzie Meyer
Iowa Farm Bureau Federation Scholarship – Ellie Reuter
Iowa 4-H Foundation Carol Schneider Scholarship – Regan Peters
Iowa Grocers Education Foundation for the Mary I. Fitzgerald Scholarship – Taylor Harpenau
Iver Johnson Family Foundation Scholarship – Ellie Hilbrands
John H. Bindner Memorial Scholarship – Michael Rupp
Joyce Bindner Gordon Memorial Scholarship – Regan Peters
Judy Winkel Scholarship – Matthew Kollbaum
Kate Ogren Memorial Scholarship – Autum Bonnstetter
Kay Dettmann Music Scholarship – Ryan Olson and Brett Staab
LA Wescott Post 2253 Cherokee VFW – Makenzie Meyer
Lillian Birch Snyder Scholarship – Preston Astidias and Regan Peters
Little Sioux Corn Processors Scholarship – Preston Astidias, Taylor Harpenau, Makenzie Meyer, Regan Peters, and Ellie Reuter
Marcus PEO Chapter FM Scholarship – Kortney Johnson and Regan Peters
Merle Spieler Memorial Scholarship – Matthew Kollbaum
Michael Letsche Memorial Scholarship – Matthew Kollbaum and Kirsten Letsche
Montiford & Mary Beck Doupe Scholarship – Brayden Dirks, Kortney Johnson, and Kirsten Letsche
Natalee Henke Memorial Scholarship – Autum Bonnstetter and Reagan Peters
Northwest REC Scholarship – Makenzie Meyer and Regan Peters
N.W. Iowa Credit Union Scholarship – Preston Astidias and Taylor Harpenau
Patricia Goth Memorial Scholarship – Regan Peters
Phil and Judy Letsche Citizenship Scholarship – Ellie Hilbrands
Pilot Rock Chapter DAR Good Citizen Award – Brett Staab
Plymouth Country 4-H Foundation Scholarship – Regan Peters
Remsen Catholic Order of Foresters – Taylor Harpenau
Robert “Bob” Miller Scholarship – Makenzie Meyer
Royal Player’s Association Athlete Scholar Award – Emily Dreckman, Brett Staab
Sand Family Memorial Scholarship – Autum Bonnstetter and Eban Hicks
Sioux County Farm Bureau Scholarship – Ellie Reuter
Schmillen Construction Scholarship – Makenzie Meyer
Seaboard Triumph Foods Scholarship – Taylor Harpenau and Ellie Reuter
Siouxland Official Association Sportsmanship Scholarship – Ellie Hillbrands
Steve & Renea Ogren Family Speech Scholarship – Eban Hicks and Brett Staab
Vi Guest Educational Trust Scholarship – Taylor Harpenau
Wetherell Manufacturing Scholarship_Eban Hicks and Matthew Kollbaum
WestMar Scholarship – Ellie Hilbrands
WSC-Wildcat Excellence Scholarship – Makenzie Meyer
Remsen Chamber of Commerce Scholarship – Taylor Harpenau
Remsen-Union Education Association Scholarship – Ellie Hilbrands
RU Foundation Scholarships – Autum Bonnstetter, Taylor Harpenau, Ellie Hilbrands, and Regan Peters
MMC Foundation Scholarships – Preston Astidias, Autum Bonnstetter, Darley Carrillo, Mattisen Dias Brayden Dirks, Emily Dreckman, Gunnar Grage, Taylor Harpenau, Eban Hicks, Ellie Hilbrands, Mya Holmes, Kortney Johnson, Matthew Kollbaum, Jared Krug, Kirsten Letsche, Makenzie Meyer, Asya Miller, Ryan Olson, Regan Peters, Carson Pick, Colin Pick, Ellie Reuter, Michael Rupp, Brett Staab, Keegan Stevens, Brenin Stodden
MMC Foundation 2nd in Class Scholarship – Brayden Dirks
MMC Foundation 3rd in Class Scholarship – Ellie Hilbrands
Colleges
Augustana Academic Scholarship – Asya Miller
Buena Vista Regional Medical Center Scholarship – Taylor Harpenau
BVU Blue Award – Kortney Johnson
BVU Beaver Grant – Kortney Johnson
Iowa Lakes Community College HG Albee Aviation & Airport Management Scholarship – Gunnar Grage
ISU Hixson Opportunity Scholarship – Keegan Stevens
NCC Foundation Scholarship – Jared Krug
NWC Kuyper Honors Program – Brayden Dirks
NWC Stand Out Academic Scholarship – Brayden Dirks
NWC Men’s Track & Cross Country Scholarship – Brayden Dirks
NWC Presidential Scholarship – Brayden Dirks, Ellie Hilbrands, Ryan Olson
NWC Music Scholarship – Ryan Olson
Northwestern Cheerleading Scholarship – Darley Carrillo
Northwestern Grant – Darley Carrillo
Northwestern Stand Out Mission Scholarship – Darley Carrillo
Northwestern Iowa Tuition Grant – Darley Carrillo
Northwestern Academic Scholarship – Darley Carrillo
ICCC Room & Board Scholarship – Autum Bonnstetter
ICCC Academic Scholarship – Autum Bonnstetter
ICCC Radiological Foundation Scholarship – Autumn Bonnstetter
Kirkwood Basketball Scholarship – Emily Dreckman
USD Academic Scholarship – Mattisen Dias
USD Coyote Commitment Distinction Scholarship – Ellie Reuter
USD Valedictorian Scholarship – Ellie Reuter
Graduate’s Future – Mekhi Armstrong (Iowa State University for Graphic Design); Preston Astidias (Purdue University for Computer Engineering); Autum Bonnstetter (Iowa Central Community College for Radiological Technology); Darley Carrillo (Northwestern College for Nursing/Pre Med); Mattisen Dias (University of South Dakota for Business Management); Brayden Dirks (Northwestern College for Exercise Science); Emily Dreckman (Kirkwood Community College for Marketing Management); Gunnar Grage (Iowa Lakes Community College for Aviation & Airport Management); Taylor Harpenau (Des Moines Area Community College for Exercise Science); Eban Hicks (Northwest Iowa Community College for Manufacturing & Welding); Ellie Hilbrands (Northwestern College for Elementary Education); Mya Holmes (University of South Dakota for Business Marketing); Kortney Johnson (Buena Vista University, later transfer to Cleveland University for Kinesiology); Matthew Kollbaum (Northwest Iowa Community College for Industrial Instrumentation & Control); Jared Krug (Northwest Iowa Community College, later transfer for Computer Science); Kirsten Letsche (University of Iowa for Nursing); Makenzie Meyer (Wayne State College for Skilled Trades Education); Asya Miller (Augustana University for Exercise Science with Fitness Management); Aiyana Murray (Iowa Lakes Community College for Graphic Design with Game Development); Ryan Olson (Northwestern College for Music Education (vocal); Regan Peters (South Dakota State University for Nursing); Carson Pick (University of South Dakota for Finance); Colin Pick (University of Iowa for Business); Emily Rains (Western Iowa Tech Community College for Early Childhood Education/Child Development); Ellie Reuter (University of South Dakota for Accounting); Michael Rupp (Emmaus Bible College for Biblical Studies/Youth Ministry); Paul Schmidt (Western Iowa Tech Community College for Welding); Brett Staab (Wayne State College for Industrial Technology/Manufacturing Management); Keegan Stevens (Iowa State University for Political Science); Brenin Stodden (Western Iowa Tech Community College for Auto Collision Technician) and Damien Van Iperen (Northwest Iowa Community College for Diesel Technology).
Jessica Boggs is doing Real Estate; Thien Goodburn will spend quality time with Family & Friends around the Community; Nathan Harvey is Entering Workforce; Jason Kirchner is Entering Workforce and Truck Drive; Austin Paradise is Entering Workforce @ Simonsen’s; Alissah Poppema is Undecided; and Jacob Ruhrer is Entering Workforce for Interstates.
The aforementioned names for Awards, Scholarships and Graduate’s Future Plans were taken from the 2022 MMCRU Graduation folder.