Members of the class of 2026 got together early on Tuesday morning for a sunrise breakfast at the ballfield pavilion.
The breakfast, which ran the gamut from fruit to doughnuts to breakfast burritos, was provided by their parents.
For some of them, like Amber Bartell, Rich Draheim, Shannon Esser, Don McCabe, Becky Kern, Wendy Kortuem and Chris Seeman, the sunrise senior breakfast was not a new experience. They had kids who graduated in the past. For most though, the class of 2026 encompassed their oldest child.
All recognized that the event was bittersweet.
“It’s sad. It’s an ending, but it is the beginning of an end.”
Class member Vivian Hilfer thought the breakfast was a great way to set the tone for the school year, and she and some of her friends decorated their cars, made signs and sewed “seniors” on shirts for the event.
“It was fun to get together for the first, last time. You get to connect with people who you grew up with."
There are about 43 students in the class of 2026.
Above: From left to right, front row: Sam Baker, Sierra McCabe, Anna Kawatski-Klein, Vivian Hilfer, Olivia Reinhardt, Mollie Bowman, Vanessa Wondra, Isabel Duron, Breanna Geldner and Mickayla Janzen. Back row: Bode Bartell, Kaden Schmidt, Alex Kortuem, Caleb Possin, Gavin Karels, David Draheim, Mason Kluntz, Martavis Williams, Max Esser, Elijah Mons, Gavin Dent, Carter Kern, Emma Bluhm and Ethan Thompson.
Samantha Baker, Olivia Reinhardt, Mollie Bowman, Anna-Kawatski Klein and Vivian Hilfer all wore T-shirts they made for the occasion.
Framed! Mollie Bowman, Olivia Reinhardt, Anna Kawatski-Klein, Samantha Baker and Vivian Hilfer in one of the frame signs they made.
Picture this: Vivian Hilfer, Elijah Mons, Samantha Baker, Olivia Reinhardt, Emma Bluhm, Mollie Bowman, Carter Kern, Anna-Kawatski Klein and Vanessa Wondra pose in frame signs.
Anna-Kawatski Klein decorated her car in neon letters for the occasion.
Sierra McCabe decorated her car.
Elijah Mons writes on a rear windshield with neon markers. Watching are Vivian Hilfer and Emma Bluhm.
Finishing up their first course are Gavin Karels, Mason Kluntz, Caleb Possin, Gavin Dent, Kaden Schmidt and Alex Kortuem.
At one of the picnic tables are Carter Kern, Sierra McCabe, Isabel Duron, Melissa Miller, Vanessa Wondra, Bryn Woodrum, Madison Wollschlager, Dacota Lotspeich, Samantha Baker, Ethan Thompson and Olivia Reinhardt.
Building breakfast burritos are Mason Kluntz, Alex Kortuem and Bode Bartell. Parents were cooking eggs on a grill nearby.
Becky Kern records a video of some of the boys.
The pavilion was decorated for the occasion.
Gavin Karels, David Draheim and Mason Kluntz in a picture frame sign.