Seward High’s FBLA and Seward Rotary Annual Holiday Home Lighting Awards Announced -2025
December 15, 2025
Launch the media gallery 1 playerThe annual Seward High Future Business Leaders and Seward Rotary Home Holiday Outdoor Lighting Contest was held Sunday evening, December 6, 2025. The holiday outdoor lighting and decorated homes in the Greater Seward Area were judged by a group from the Seward Rotary Club and the Seward High Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA). The following homes and families are recognized and thanked for their outstanding efforts to create a festive atmosphere for the 2025 Seward holidays. Winners were selected by nominations to the Rotary Club by family, neighbors and friends and even self-nomination and include…
The “Grand Prize-Best Overall” –“Top Award– The Judge’s Choice – The Valeri and Jason Dillon Family at 1320 River Street, Seward, NE (You’ve got to see it to believe it!)
The President’s Award- “Santa’s Choice” Award-The Best of the Best- The “Country Christmas” Award-The Bobbie Arnt Family / Radiant Heating, 1067 280th-South Hwy 15-South of Seward
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The “Mayor’s” Award- The Tony and Karen Sabatka Family, 212 Hickory
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Best Decorated Tree-Chuck and Jan Matzke Family-15 Seward Street
The “Meaning of Christmas” Award-The People’s Choice Award/ Favorite—The Tom Rief Family, 105 Wildwood Road (Lights flash to the music!—91.7 FM)
The “Rotary Club Centennial” Award- The Jerry and Tracy Rumery Family, 1540 North 1st Street
The “Beautiful Historic Seward” Award-The Max and Melanie Wake Family-136 North Columbia Avenue
The “Christmas Comet” Award- Tom Matzke Family-116 South Columbia Avenue
The “FBLA Student Chairman’s Choice” Award-The Tony Rodocker Family at 325 Hickory Street
The “Christmas Message Award” Best Homemade Display-“Hands On”-The Alan and Culleen Bauer-434 Lindell Avenue,
The “Picture Perfect” Award- The Michael T. Goldsmith Family, 1610 North 2nd
The “Best Wreath Award” Award Tie-Brad Bowen Family, 1269 Ridge Run and Greg Zabka Family, Karol Kay
The “Meaning of Christmas Display”Award - The Terry Kamprath Family, 938 Cherry Lane
The “Christmas Joy” Award- The Sue Wickersham Family, 906 North 3rd Street
The “Snow Family” Award-The Kevin Fisher Family, 232 North 5th Street
The “Home for the Holidays” Award-The Dale Grimes Family, 926 Cherry Lane
The “Best Decorated Deck” Award-The Steve Wignall Family, 139 Cedar Avenue
The “Real Meaning of Christmas” Award-The Brady Johnson Family-733 E Pinewood Avenue
The “Christmas Castle” Award-The Matt Stryson Family, 1039 North Fifth Street
The “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” Award-The Dennis Otte Family, 1650 Meadow Lane
The “Candy Cane Porch” Award-The Brent Royuk Family, 142 Seward Street
The “Come Home to Christmas in Seward” Award-David and Amber Fiala-411 N Columbia Avenue
The “Storybook Christmas” Award- The Marv Siefert Family, 1466 Karol Kay Blvd.
The “Christmas Rainbow” Award-The Steve Novak Family, 711 East Pinewood Avenue
The “Christmas Classic” Award-The Steve Steinauer Family, 445 N. 2nd Street
The “Christmas is About Family”- The Steve Borer Family, 1955 Rainbow Avenue
The “Christmas Candles in Every Window” Award-The Doug Gremel Family-939 Hillcrest Avenue.
The “So Much Christmas” Award- Jerry and Marcy Kremer-2105 North First Street
The “Christmas Picture” Award-Dan and Nancy Schulz Family-214 Moffitt Street
The “Christmas Joy” Award-Cary and Annie Engel Family-505 3rd Street.
Honorable Mention Awards were presented to homes including….
The John Moody Family-2040 Parkview Drive
The Rosie Westerhoff Family, 1216 Sunrise Avenue
The Jeff Volzke Family, 1226 North First Street
The Clark Koehler Family, 1050 North 5th Street
The Duane Miner Family, 2030 Rainbow Avenue
The Richard Novak Family, 901 Bradford Street
The Keith Gardinere Family, 214 E. Roberts Street
The Gerald Eickmeier Family, 525 North Columbia Avenue
The Gerald Meyer Family, 1060 Augusta Street
The Dr. Van Vahle Family, 700 East Pinewood Avenue
The contest was judged by members of the Seward Rotary Club and the SHS Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA). Judges co-chair for the Rotary Club were Ken Schmieding, assisted by Clark Kolterman. Judges co-chair for the SHS FBLA were FBLA Representative Lucian Gunn and FBLA Alumni Chair Riley Nuttleman. Questions can be directed to Lucian Gunn-project co-chairmen or Riley Nuttleman-FBLA Alumni Chair. It was noted by the judges that in spite of the recent cold weather, there were many beautiful home lighted displays and these names and addresses are only a few of the wonderful light displays in Seward that were nominated to the committee by families, friends and Rotarians. We encourage you to drive around and visit all the beautiful homes with your family!”
While businesses were not judged, special recognition must be given to the Nebraska National Guard Museum and Concordia University for their decorations to celebrate Christmas in Seward. Also, Merle’s Flower Shop, Allure Fashions, The Blue Bench, the Café on the Square, Liberty House, 14tin, Davisson Furniture, Second Closet, Seward Smiles Dental, Etcetera Gifts and Thrift, What’s the Scoop, Seward Sparetime Lounge, Chapter Books and Gifts, The Golden Snail, Fairlane, Volzke Funeral Home, Zabka/Perdue Funeral Home and the Rumery Lawn Service for their holiday window and outdoor decorations.
Many of the local churches also have beautiful, life-size nativity scenes on their lawns. The downtown Seward business area is aglow with holiday lights and creates a festive atmosphere for all who see it! A must see is also, the GFWC Seward Woman’s Club’s “Festival of Trees” in the Civic Center-616 Bradford Street.
Photo One: The “Grand Prize-Best Overall” Award– The Judge’s Choice-Valeri and Jason Dillon-1320 River Street-Sponsored by Seward Rotary and SHS FBLA
Photo Two: The “FBLA Student Chairman’s Choice” Award-The Tony Rodocker Family at 325 Hickory Street- awarded by Seward Rotary and SHS FBLA
Photo Three: The “Christmas Castle” Award-The Matt Stryson Family, 1039 North Fifth Street-Selected by Seward Rotary and SHS FBLA
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