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. 

SHS Sophomore Jordyn Samuels Selected as the 2025-2026 HOBY Representative for the Hugh O’ Brian Yourth (HOBY) State Leadership Conference in the Spring of 2026.  She is the daughter of Mark and Kari Samuels of Seward.  The selection to the State Leadership conference was based on written application, resume and personal interview.

Jordyn is a member of the SHS Cross Country Team, the SHS Track Team, Bowling, Ambassadors, Speech, Show Choir, FCCLA, Select Choir, Musical, FCA and the Bluejay Leadership Team. She was also a member of the SHS Quiz Bowl team and the Skills USA and participated in the Seward County Summer Honor Choir, and a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Seward- and their Godparent program.  She has participated in a variety of activities at the Seward County Fair and the State Fair and won several writing award from the GFWC Seward Literature Contests. 

She was selected from a printed application and an “in person” interview on Wednesday, September 10, 2025 at the Seward United Methodist Church. The winner will attend a three day youth leadership conference, at no expense to the student.  Previous SHS HOBY representatives, Avery Rodocker and Lexi Collings hosted the candidates and coordinated the times for the interviews with the judges. 

HOBY was founded by the late actor, Hugh O’Brian in 1958 as a nonprofit organization with the same mission we work toward today–to inspire a global community of youth and volunteers to a life dedicated to leadership, service, and innovation. Over 5000 high schools across the USA and worldwide participate in the annual conferences.  The program is officially endorsed by Rotary International, Kiwanis International and the General Federation of Women’s Clubs International (GFWC).

Seward has participated in the Nebraska HOBY program every year since it started in Nebraska, with Jennifer Kruse selected as the first SHS HOBY representative.

Traditionally, the Nebraska HOBY program is held on a college campus and this year’s site it yet to be announced. 

Locally, HOBY is sponsored by the GFWC Seward Womans Club, the GFWC Seward Junior Women’s Club, the Seward Rotary and the Seward Kiwanis Club, along with the Gifted Program of the School District of Seward. 

The student applicants each participated in a seven-minute interview at the Seward United Methodist Church in Seward, with the local selection panel-Bonnie Kruse-Representing the GFWC Seward Woman’s Club, Jon Kruse-Representing the Seward Rotary Club, and Seward Kiwanis Members Courtney Meyer and Cindy Winter.

Seward Rotarian Greg Zabka coordinated the facilities for the interview and Seward Rotary Club member Clark Kolterman served as the local HOBY coordinator, assisted by SHS Counselor Noelle Baker.

Photo: L-R Jordyn Samuels-HOBY Representative from SHS, Judges Courtney Meyer-Seward Kiwanis Club, Jon Kruse-Seward Rotary Club, Bonnie Kruse-GFWC Seward Womans Club/Seward Rotary and Cindy Winter-Seward Kiwanis Club