HURON — The Huron School District’s 34th annual Employee Recognition Banquet was held Wednesday night at the Huron Event Center.  

Several awards were presented throughout the course of the evening.

Teachers of the Year for the 2021-22 school year are: Elementary - Amy Schoenfelder from the Buchanan K/1 Center; Middle School - Sharon Engelhart and High School - Sarah Rubish.

Romana Olivio, an Administrative Assistant at Huron High School, was one of the honorees for Classified Employee of the Year.

The 2022 Classified Employees of the Year are Dean Hirschkorn, a custodian at Huron Middle School, and Romana Olivio, an Administrative Assistant at Huron High School, while Lacy Wilde, a Huron High School counselor is the Professional Support Staff Employee of the Year.

The following employees were honored for meritorious service:  

5 Years: Kate Ashbaugh, Laura Beck, Morgan Boomsma, Robert Brooks, Sandra Brueske, Molly Charlson, Donna Frank, Donald Freese, Rachel Kary, Lori Kopfmann, Amanda Ladwig, Travis Ladwig, Anne Larson, Charles Mahowald, Marcia Miller, Mark Owens, Truman Savery, Cheryl Sibson, James Stueckrath, Tara Ulvestad and Chad Zachrison.

Lacy Wilde, a Huron High School counselor, is honored as the Professional Support Staff Employee of the Year.

10 Years: Leah Branaugh, Amber Eichstadt, Victoria Erwin, Laura Iverson, Ethan Moo, Jonathan Schouten, Megan Smith and Melody Witte-Trowbridge.

15 Years: Kelly Hennrich, Janet Johnsen, Samantha Kruse, Suzie Van Berkum and Patricia Van Vleet.

20 Years: Rita Baszler, Erica Boomsma, Amanda DeJong, Mona Kotas, Dolly Venables and Dayna Winter.

25 Years: Kristle Christensen, Heidi Holforty, Neil Kotas and Todd Preston.

30 Years: Vanya Wagemann

35 Years: Tim Buddenhagen and Susan Fleck

Dean Hirschkorn, a custodian at Huron Middle School, was recognized as one of the 2022 Classified Employees of the Year.

The night ended with the recognition of the retirees:
Rebecca Stoddard, 11 Years, Middle School Teacher; Robert Behlke, 14 Years, Middle School Para-Educator; Pat Van Vleet, 15 Years, Middle School Para Educator; Mona Kotas, 20 Years, Transportation Bus Driver; Dolly Venables, 20 Years, Administrative Assistant in Superintendent’s Office; LaVae Tschetter, 23 Years, Riverside Colony Teacher; Neil Kotas, 25 Years, Transportation Bus Driver; Pamela Biel, 33 Years, Administrative Assistant Business Office; Janelle Olmsted, 34 Years, High School Nutrition; Susan Fleck, 35 Years, Madison 2/3 Center Teacher and Kathy Curr, 42 Years, Madison 2/3 Center Teacher.