Lakeside Lutheran announces academic 'Top 10' students

LAKE MILLS — Lakeside Lutheran High School announced its Academic Top Ten from the Class of 2024.

Based on GPA, the following students average over a 4.0 and together, the Top Ten have taken 31 AP courses. Besides the Top Ten, the class of 2024 has an additional 11 students who have a GPA of over 3.9.

“These high grades show that students are putting forth high effort to use their gifts to the best of their abilities. We thank God for every student here at Lakeside and pray that God would bless each student as they discover the gifts that God has given to them, and then use them to his glory,” Principal Don Schultz said.

Megan Huber is the daughter of Matthew and Joy, Columbus. “I really like the environment at Lakeside. Being around people with the same beliefs is a gift that I cherish,” she says.

While at Lakeside, she participated in soccer for four years and basketball for two. She also participated in the marching band for three summers and concert band for four years. A student Rotarian, she participated in National Honor Society, Teens for Christ and Society of Women Engineers for two years.

Huber, who received the WLC Presidential Scholarship, plans to pursue math or finance and accounting at Wisconsin Lutheran College in Milwaukee. “I want to graduate and become successful in my career. Afterwards I would like to start a family to find happiness and contentment,” she says.

A member of Zion Lutheran, Columbus, she helps out at Easter breakfast and Christmas for kids and helps set up communion. She has also served as a surprise reader for the Kindergarten class at Zion. Outside of school, she works at Culver’s and has volunteered at Twice is Nice Resale in Jefferson.

Ambria McCrary is the daughter of Brian and Amanda, Sun Prairie. She has received the Chancellor’s Scholarship and will attend UW-Whitewater to study music and business. Ultimately, she would like “to study abroad, go on mission trips, start a family, and have cats and dogs.”

While at Lakeside, she participated in Teens For Christ, Operation Go mission trips, A Cappella Choir, Swing Choir, marching band, theatre, and forensics. She played golf and was a wrestling manager. “I am thankful for my years at Lakeside for all the close friendships that I have found and how I have grown in my faith,” she says.

At her church, Peace Lutheran, Sun Prairie, she helped coach a soccer camp. She works at American Eagle Outfitters.

Kieghtan Rank, daughter of Ben and Tracy, Madison, will attend Wisconsin Lutheran College to study neuroscience and psychology. She received the Presidential Scholarship.

“I love that I get to hear the word of God and that all of my teachers encourage me in my faith and all have strong Biblical knowledge. I love getting to hang out with my friends in the mornings. I get a ton of encouragement for the things that I want to achieve,” she said.

She participated in basketball and softball for four years and was two-time all-conference for softball. She also participated in Teens for Christ, National Honor Society, A Cappella Choir and Operation Go mission trips.

Rank is a member at Eastside Lutheran, Madison, where she has assisted as a Childcare Worker, Science Camp Counselor and in Trunk-or-Treat. Outside of school she also wants to travel and learn more about the culture in other areas, to learn how to play the guitar and speak another language.

Samuel Schmidt, son of Sandra and Stephen, Janesville, plans to study physical therapy.

“I want to complete grad school and work in Wisconsin, then eventually find a job in Florida,” he says. “I want to have a family and bring them up in a Christian life. I also want to travel the world and spread God’s Word.”

Schmidt participated in football and wrestling for four years and served as a captain in both sports. In wrestling, he was a four-time sectional qualifier and a state qualifier. He received academic all-state recognition for wrestling and was named second team all-conference in football and wrestling. In addition, he played baseball for three years and track for one.

Schmidt was also a member of A Cappella Choir, Swing Choir, Math Team, National Honor Society, Teens for Christ and the Cultural Awareness Club. He attended Badger Boys State and the UW-Madison Summer Music Clinic on a Gueldner-Rusch Scholarship.

A member at Peace Lutheran Church, Janesville, Schmidt participates in canvassing, vacation Bible school, church cleaning and yard work, ushering, singing in the church choir and playing piano. He works at Prime Quarter restaurant and umpires Little League baseball. He also mows lawns, shovels driveways for his neighbors and enjoys bowling and weightlifting.

“I loved being able to come to school every day knowing that someone would always be there to cheer me up if I wasn’t having such a good morning. The days when I felt I was struggling in my faith or getting filled with stress, I always knew there would be a point throughout the day where I could take it all to God, whether it be in chapel or during religion class,” he says.

Hayden Schoenherr, son of Lisa and Terry, Cottage Grove, plans to attend UW-La Crosse where he earned a merit scholarship. He hopes to have “a successful career in finance and have a family someday.”

A student Rotarian and a member of the National Honor Society, Schoenherr also participated in Jazz Band and baseball. At his church, Peace Lutheran, Sun Prairie, he ushers and performs music.

“I enjoyed the Christian atmosphere at Lakeside where students and teachers shared their faith every day,” says Schoenherr, who also works at Piggly Wiggly. “Playing baseball all four years was a highlight for me because of the bond between teammates.”

Valedictorian Cole Teteak, son of Michelle and Jim, Middleton, will study engineering at UW-Madison. He’d like to own a company, most likely an engineering firm.

The recipient of the Academic Excellence Scholarship, Teteak was a member of National Honor Society and a student Rotarian. “I loved the friendships that I made, and getting to know my class throughout the years,” he said, “I liked the academic classes such as AP literature and composition. And I liked sports, going to football games and other events.”

A member of St. Andrew Lutheran, Middleton, he enjoys solving puzzles such as Rubik’s cube, video games and working out.

Mia Teteak, daughter of Michelle and Jim, Middleton, plans to study journalism and mass communication at UW-Madison. “I hope to become a book publisher and travel to as many different countries as possible,” she says.

A member at St. Andrew Lutheran, Middleton, she has taught Sunday school and worked on the audiovisual team. Earning high honors all four years, she was also a member of the National Honor Society. Teteak participated in Teens for Christ, Cultural Awareness Club, and enjoyed New Friends events. She played soccer and served as the manager for JV volleyball and football.

During the summer, Teteak worked at Koala-T-Kare as a leader and nannied for multiple families. She also loves being at the lake, traveling, and playing tennis and pickleball.

“I really enjoyed the friends I made during my years at Lakeside,” she says. “I cherish all the memories from AP Lit and Spanish 4. Lastly, I’m so glad I had the opportunity to worship and learn about God every day.”

Salutatorian Maria Vik, daughter of Matthew and Jennifer, Fort Atkinson, will attend Martin Luther College. She plans to pursue a double major in elementary education and mathematics. Her goal is to “start a family and teach Algebra 2/Trigonometry or Precalculus—that would be my dream job,” she says.

A winner of the Outstanding Band Member award and the nationally-recognized Louis Armstrong Jazz Award, Vik has won 32 medals at WSMA for piano solos, duets and trios, and as a trombonist, for jazz ensemble, brass quartet, trombone solos and trombone-baritone duets.

Vik, a National Merit Commended Student and Badger Girls State participant, is also a member of National Honor Society and the co-president of the Society of Women Engineers. She has served with Teens for Christ, the newspaper staff and as the yearbook editor-in-chief. She also participated in forensics, math team and Academic Bowl. She is on the soccer team and leads the program for keeper saves.

At her church, St. Paul Lutheran, Fort Atkinson, she plays music and helps with Christmas 4 Kids and vacation Bible school. In the community, she has helped at the library and judged grade school forensics tournaments.

“I enjoyed the Christ-centered nature of Lakeside and the support that was always available from teachers, coaches, and friends,” she says. “Thanks to my mom for forcing me to practice my instruments and not letting me quit. Thanks to my dad for always looking out for me and making sure my faith in Christ is strong.”

Caitlin Weiland is the daughter of Daniel and Laurie, Fall River. She is a member at Zion Lutheran, Columbus. In fall she plans to attend Carroll University, where she received the Academic Trustee Scholarship.

“My future goals are getting married and having a family, doing a job I love that helps others and the world around me, and spending time with my family,” she says.

Weiland played basketball for three years, volleyball for one year and ran cross country for two years. She also is involved in Teens for Christ and National Honor Society.

Weiland, who works at an assisted living home, has been a Rotarian Student of the month. She also enjoys running, shopping, boating, camping and spending time with family and friends. She is thankful for Lakeside where she could spend time with friends and create new friendships.

Freidrich Weittenhiller, son of Douglas and Courtney, DeForest, plans to study biology at Wisconsin Lutheran College, Milwaukee, where he has received the Presidential Scholarship. His goal is to attend med school and become a surgeon.

Weittenhiller has been involved in football for four years, track and field for two. He has also served on the Student Council and Teens for Christ. He works at Twig and Olive Photography in Madison.

“I liked playing football and meeting new friends who share my Christian beliefs. I’m grateful for continuing to grow in friendship and faith,” says Weittenhiller. “The teachers actively wanted me to learn and would go out of their way to help when I didn’t understand.” A member at Peace Lutheran, Sun Prairie, he also enjoys playing the piano, weightlifting, science, and spending time with his four dogs.