On Wednesday, March 20th, the Wagner Rotary Club found themselves in a different location. Our meeting was held at the Two Spurs Restaurant to accommodate six students, Juniors, and Seniors, from the Wagner Community School and their parents. Every year in the Spring the Rotary Club recognizes these top scholars in their classes with an invitation to one of our meetings, a meal, and a presentation by their High School Superintendent.

Our usual format of singing and our Membership Minute were suspended for the meeting to allow time for the guests. The all important Fines for the Day were allowed: Jamie Soukup, Sergeant at Arms fined: $1 to every Rotarian that did not show up for ditch cleaning last week and is “able-bodied” such as Becky Brunsing, Bill Frei, Amanda Bechen, Gerit Juffer, Bryan Slaba and Bill Herrmann; $2 to Jordan Weber for not showing up to be President for the days meeting because he had to leave early; $2 to Jerry Weber for his unique way of opening up a grain bin with a tractor and log chain; $2 to Bryan Slaba for his false advertising at the hospital with “checks”’; $2 to Jamie Soukup forgetting the meeting was at Two Spurs and he went to the Rotary building first.

Happy Fines were: $2 from Gerrit Juffer for having another daughter get married; $5 from Jerry Weber for creating his NCAA bracket; $5 from Rachel Woods because by next week one of her employees will have a baby; $5 from Patty Frei who is grateful that her son Koltan is still around to help her do chores as Bill is a little disabled right now; $5 from Linda Soukup who announced that her son David, a Mechanical Engineer has been promoted to Corporate Headquarters for Phillips Petroleum in Houston, Texas. She directed her remarks to the students present as noting that you can go a long way with your education from your Wagner High School.

Past President Rachel Woods welcomed the students and parents and asked Pastor/Rotarian Bill Herrmann to lead us in prayer. He gave thanks for the food, the graduates present, and asked for divine guidance as they get ready to pursue their lives after High School.

Woods then invited Wagner High School Principal Lori Kokes to introduce the students and their parents. There were three Seniors this year: Karstyn Lhotak whose parents are Brad and Jen Lhotak; Shona Kocer, parents Fran and Karla Kocer; Jenny Barnett, Jerry, and Judy Barnett. There were three Juniors present this year: Hunter Lhotak whose parent is Gina Lhotak; Lydia Yost, parents Matt and Amy Yost; and Presley Slaba, parents Matt and Mieke Slaba.

President Woods then introduced Jen Lhotak who is the High School Guidance Counselor and had accompanied the students to the Rotary meeting. Woods then asked Lori Kokes to make the certificate presentations. Kokes talked about each Senior and Junior student. She had previously given the students a form to fill out with questions about the person they admire the most and the advice the Seniors give for the future. She read their answers and then talked about the subjects they are studying in school. Also mentioned was their involvement in extra-curricular activities, their favorite subjects, and their postgraduate plans.

The group was given a round of applause. These students are not only heavily invested in their school subjects but are highly active in sports, church activities, and other school organizations such as the National Honor Society, school plays, etc. Please read the Senior Spotlights that are published in The Wagner Past each week to get a complete idea of the fine class of Seniors that are graduating from Wagner Community School this coming May.

Themeetingwasadjourned in our usual fashion. Please note the picture of the Rotarians that cleaned eight miles of ditches on both sides of Highway 46 from the Junction with highway 50. They are to be commended for doing this project every year.