There were about 45 local high school students that volunteered and assisted in the annual “Bluejay Way” Community Service Day on Sunday, October 12, 2024. The day promoted community service at Seward High School and coordinated opportunities for the students to add to their community service hours.  The school and community introduced a wide variety of venues to serve as opportunities for the students to add to their list of community service hours or begin their community service program.  Each graduate at Seward High is required to complete 30 hours of community service as a qualification for graduation.

There were two teachers from SHS assisting with this event, Ross Briggs and Ashlee Rickert, sponsored by SHS Key Club. Other community members volunteered and assisted guiding the students throughout the event in supervisory positions during the day.  

This event has been coined, "The Bluejay Way" and it was labeled a success for our students and community. All in all, there were 45 students, two teachers, and an extra adult or two at each location, which amounts to around 50+ people helping at 6 locations!  

Locations for this year’s event included the Civic Center, Foster Friends, Seward County Historical Society Museum in Goehner, Seward Memorial Library, Christ’s Cupboard, and Kiwanis Haunted House at Zimmer Mansion.  Students assisted with a variety of projects at each location, including grounds clean-up, organization, facility maintenance and cleaning.

Each of the locations continues to offer community service opportunities for volunteers.  Please contact them to assist with their programs.  The event was coordinated by SHS Key Club and local educators Ross Briggs and Ashlee Rickert – sponsors of the Seward High Key Club in Seward.  For more information on the program contact either teacher at SHS 402-643-2988 or email Ross Briggs at ross.briggs@sewardschools.org. 

The committee hopes to schedule another event for the Blue Jay Way in the spring of 2026!  For more information on the Blue Jay Way Day contact either Briggs or Rickert at Seward High.  

Elkhorn High, Kearney Catholic High and Shelton High Named Champions at the 22^nd Annual “Jean Kolterman Memorial” “Girls Only” GFWC NFWC Quiz Bowl in Seward, Nebraska at Newly Renovated Civic Center. SHS QB Team A Places Runner-up  to Elkhorn and SHS Team B wins Third in Large School Division!

Three high schools were declared their division Champion at the recent GFWC NFWC “Girl’s Only” Quiz Bowl tourney held at the Seward Civic Center on Wednesday, October 1, 2025, in an all day, general knowledge quiz bowl completion involving 48 teams from across the state and into Iowa!  The annual tourney is sponsored by the Nebraska Federation of Women’s Clubs, INC (NFWC) and was hosted by the GFWC Seward Woman’s Club, with Diane Uher of the Clarkson Woman’s Club, serving as the GFWC NFWC QB Chairman.  At the tourney, it was decided by the coaches and leadership to rename the Girl’s Only Quiz Bowl event the “Jean Kolterman Memorial Girl’s Only” GFWC NFWC Quiz Bowl-as she created the tourney to promote young women and literacy.

Seward High’s Team A placed second, coached by Melissa Pohl and included Emmaline Janda, Emma Matulka, Bethany Jurchen, Kayla Albright, and Ava Slechta-with SHS Team B placing Third in the Large School Division consisting of Madelyn Larson, Addilyn Sugden, Katy Daniels, Sophie Hemphill, and Mackenna Wollenburg.

There were three tournaments, held simultaneously, each tourney based on school size.  The winners in the large school division were Champions-Elkhorn High School, coached by Nate Hindman Second Place-Seward High-Team A-Coached by Melissa Pohl, Third Place –Seward High Team B Coached by Melissa Pohl and Fourth Place-Grand Island Northwest-Coached by Katrina Rother.    In the middle size school division, Champion was Kearney Catholic High-coached by Paula Renken, Second Place was awarded to Fillmore Central Team A coached by Ryan Komenda, third went to Logan Magnolia High from Logan Iowa Coached by Kathy Foreman- and Fourth Place was awarded to Milford Coached by Jacob Luenberger.  In the small school division-Champion was Shelton High-coached by Shanna Held, Second Place-was awarded to Nebraska Christian coached by Dee Flynn, Third Place-was won by Oakland Craig High Coached by Michael Menish and Fourth Place was won by Nebraska Lutheran coached by Hannah Zabel.

 All the First-Place winners won a trophy and individual medals, and the Second Place Team won a Team Trophy.  The awards were presented by GFWC NFWC Representative and Quiz Bowl Chairman for the GFWC NFWC-Diane Uher of Clarkson.

The tourney was hosted by an all-volunteer force to make the event happen.   Volunteer readers and judges for the event were Sue Imig, Nancy Schulz, Andy Jensen, and Clark Kolterman of Seward, Melissa Pohl of Utica, Nancy Meyer of Geneva, Jenni Erhart of Osceola, Ellie Janda of Beaver Crossing and Kathy Wilcox of Crete, along with Clark Kolterman, who also served as the Quiz Bowl project coordinator and Riley Nuttleman who served as the Quiz Bowl Master.  They were assisted during the day by GFWC NFWC Quiz Bowl Chair-Diane Uher of the Clarkson Woman’s Club and District III of the GFWC NFWC. 

There were 48 teams in the tourney, with high schools represented from Elkhorn North, Elkhorn High, Elkhorn South, Gretna, Ralston, Grand Island Northwest, Bennington, Central City, Crete, Kearney Catholic, Logan Magnolia of Logan, Iowa, Seward, Wahoo, York, Cross County, East Butler, Exeter/Milligan, Filmore Central, Friend, Fullerton, Heartland of Henderson, Howells/Dodge, Humphrey, McCool Junction, Oakland Craig, Osceola, Sandy Creek, Shelby/Rising City, Thayer Central.

This is the 22nd year of the GFWC NFWC “Girls Only” Quiz Bowl, sponsored by the GFWC NFWC for girls in the greater Nebraska region-first established by GFWC leader-the late Jean Kolterman.  At the tourney, it was suggested by the coaches that the tourney be named the “Jean Kolterman Memorial Girl’s Only” Quiz Bowl to honor her leadership in creating this program for young Nebraska women.  The Nebraska Federation of Women’s Clubs, INC is the state affiliate with the General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC)-serving under the theme of “Volunteer!”

Photo- L-R Seward High Team A First Runner-up in Large School Division Coach Melissa Pohl, Emmaline Janda, Emma Matulka, GFWC NFWC Representative Diane Uher of Clarkson Woman’s Club and the GFWC NFWC QB Chair, plus Team A members Bethany Jurchen, Kayla Albright, and Ava Slechta.

At its September 24, 2026 club meeting, the Seward Rotary Club recognized Seward High School senior Ayda Metschke, as the Youth Rotarian of the Month. Ayda is the daughter of Jon and Amy Metschke and is the second of 10 seniors to be recognized this academic year. Youth Rotarians of the Month are selected based on their service, scholarship, leadership, and citizenship efforts during high school. They receive a book scholarship for college and a bag of information about Seward. Monthly Youth Rotarians are also finalists for the Seward Youth Rotarian of the Year award which will be presented at the annual SHS Honors Night.

The motto of Rotary is “Service above self.” Ayda has documented more than 300 hours of community service during her high school career, using her talents and interests to help others. She has served in the kitchen and in caring for campers at Camp Luther. She has also assisted with Summer Horizons, the Daughter Date Night, and Vacation Bible School at St. John. Additionally, sh serves as a 4-H Junior Leader.  

Ayda is a good student, and an involved one. She has been part of three career student organizations: FCCLA, FFA, and SkillsUSA. She has been very active in the arts, including being part of the speech team, serving as a dance captain in Show Choir, being a section leader in Select Choir, being selected for the Concordia Summer Chamber Choir, and being part of the high school musical. She is also a member of her St. John youth group. Ayda has earned several awards related to her activities:

• Concordia Honor Choir selection - 3 years

• FCCLA State competition gold awards

• State Fair Writing competition - 1st place

• Grand Champion and Reserve Champion in various 4-H categories

• State Speech Qualifier

• SkillsUSA Nebraska Opening and Closing Ceremonies - 1st place team

In addition to her service, academic, and leadership excellence, Ayda has also built her skills as an employee. She has done detasseling and roguing, and is currently employed through babysitting, summer nannying, and at What’s the Scoop. Ayda continues to evaluate her postsecondary options and wants to ensure that she does something that is really helpful to other people. 

The Seward Rotary Club wishes the best to Ayda and all area seniors; and the club encourages each of them to embrace opportunities to serve others locally and around the world with their specific gifts and interests.