The Evening of Excellence is held each spring to honor the top five percent of academic graduates at Central and Stevens High Schools and the educators who inspire them. The nominees and winner of our Teacher of the Year program will also be honored.  This event also serves as our primary fundraiser for our Grant Program.

This year’s Evening of Excellence will be held on Monday, April 25, 2022, at The Monument (formerly Rushmore Plaza Civic Center), LaCroix Hall. This year’s new format will begin with a dessert reception at 7:00 p.m. followed by the awards presentation at 7:30 p.m. All are welcome to attend this event and celebrate our honored teachers and students at no cost thanks to our generous sponsors, State Farm Agents Matt McCormick and Scott Carlson, Monument Health, and Black Hills Energy.

Attention Distinguished Scholars: If you have not yet completed the Evening of Excellence form which was previously on this site and if you plan to be in attendance at the Evening of Excellence, please contact Kara.Flynn@k12.sd.us. Photos will be used in online marketing and publicity of this event. Submit photos to Kara.Flynn@k12.sd.us

2022 Evening of Excellence Honored Students and Teachers

Connor Beckman – Stevens High School
Honored Teacher: Jeffrey Fierro
Grace Belcher – Central High School
Honored Teacher: Bruce Knowles
Hayden Bentz – Stevens High School
Honored Teacher: Tyler Olson
Genevieve Bernard – Stevens High School
Honored Teacher: Angela Giffin
Andrew Bjorson – Central High School
Honored Teacher: Nicole Bisgaard
Riley Bock – Central High School
Honored Teacher: Cassandra Garcia
Levi Busching – Stevens High School
Honored Teacher: Dr. Andrew Smith
Matthew Cuny – Central High School
Honored Teacher: Craig Steinberg
Nathan Davis – Stevens High School
Honored Teacher: George Dragoo
Luke Degen – Stevens High School
Honored Teacher: Dr. Andrew Smith
Keaton Fierro – Stevens High School
Honored Teacher: Angela Giffin
Tessa Frederick – Stevens High School
Honored Teacher: Jennifer Roark
Angela Gaddis – Central High School
Honored Teacher: Brynn Birkeland
Jennifer Garcia – Central High School
Honored Teacher: Kandy Hastings
Mirette Geske – Central High School
Honored Teacher: Patrick Sutliff
Amber Grace – Central High School
Honored Teacher: Dr. Robert Riggs
Thomas Haar – Stevens High School
Honored Teacher: Crystal McMachen
Derrick Hill – Stevens High School
Honored Teacher: Dr. Andrew Smith
Holly Hill – Central High School
Honored Teacher:
Gabriel Horn – Central High School
Honored Teacher: Kelly Horn
Kaden Kelderman – Central High School
Honored Teacher: Beth Farrar
Jersee Kepler – Central High School
Honored Teacher: Geoffrey Sheehy
Drew Kuske – Central High School
Honored Teacher: Andrew Belsaas
Christian Lanier – Stevens High School
Honored Teacher: Sarah Kuegle
Deirdre Martin – Stevens High School
Honored Teacher: Angela Phillips
Genesis Mata – Central High School
Honored Teacher: James Thovson
Jaden Matkins – Stevens High School
Honored Teacher: Kieran Huber
Taylor Moran – Stevens High School
Honored Teacher:
Gretchen Noble – Stevens High School
Honored Teacher: Oliver Hasse
Bailee Pike – Central High School
Honored Teacher: Lori Reurink
Kaylee Pillen – Stevens High School
Honored Teacher: Timothy Sesso
Jhancellor Potter – Central High School
Honored Teacher: Ryan Wheele
Joseph Reed – Stevens High School
Honored Teacher: Dr. Ailea Hernberg
David Robbins – Stevens High School
Honored Teacher: Amber Robbins
Hannah Salas – Central High School
Honored Teacher: Kerri Severson-Stover
Carter Schmitz – Stevens High School
Honored Teacher: Scott Tubbs
Joelle Simpson – Stevens High School
Honored Teacher: Shannon Zimiga
Gracie Smith – Central High School
Honored Teacher: Geoffrey Sheehy
Drew Solinsky – Central High School
Honored Teacher: Brian Hageman
Hanna Trapp – Central High School
Honored Teacher:
Jace Wetzler – Central High School
Honored Teacher: Dr. Robert Riggs

Jett Wetzler – Central High School
Honored Teacher: Dr. Robert Riggs
Abby Williams – Central High School
Honored Teacher: Brian Hageman
Andria Williams – Central High School
Honored Teacher: Shana Ward
Jesse Williams – Central High School
Honored Teacher: Shane Whidby