Graduation Spotlight: Get To Know The Pope John Seniors

Ashton Krebs

Get to know Ashton Krebs, a senior at Pope John Central Catholic High School. He graduates
Sunday, May 13, 2018.

School: Pope John XXIII Central Catholic High School

Parents Names: Jason Krebs and Alissa Krebs
                                                
Siblings: Talon, 14 and Colson, 11
                                                
Birth Date:  December 3, 1999                                                  

What activities did you participate in while in high school?  Football, Basketball, Golf, FBLA, One Act, Musical

What is your favorite memory of high school?  Transferring to Pope John.

What advice can you offer underclassmen?  Work hard and respect upperclassmen.

What are your future plans (college with major if known or workforce) and where do you hope to be in five years?  Attend UNL with an undecided major, but hope to see myself in a career with politics. In 5 years I hope to be chipping away at student loans and married to a gorgeous wife.

Brianna Hupp

Get to know Brianna Hupp, a senior at Pope John Central Catholic High School. She graduates Sunday, May 13, 2018.

School: Pope John XXIII Central Catholic High School

Parents Names: Benjamin and Jamie Hupp

Siblings:  Brody, 19 and James, 15                                                  

Birth Date:  July 12, 2000                                                   

What activities did you participate in while in high school? Cheerleading, One Act, Quiz Bowl, Speech, Musical, Track, Student Council, Honor Choirs

What is your favorite memory of high school?  Making it to State Quiz Bowl and competing against schools much larger than ours.

What advice can you offer underclassmen?  Do everything that interests you - even if no one else does. Take your time, do your work and do it well. Be more than average.

What are your future plans (college with major if known or workforce) and where do you hope to be in five years?  I plan on going to Wayne State and working towards a degree in criminal justice. In five years, I hope to be at USD working on my master’s degree for corporate law.

Calli Krebs

Get to know Calli Krebs, a senior at Pope John Central Catholic High School. She graduates Sunday, May 13, 2018.

School: Pope John XXIII Central Catholic High School

Parents Names: Jeff and Lynette Krebs

Siblings:  Kirsten, 14                                                  

Birth Date:  August 31, 2000                                                   

What activities did you participate in while in high school? Volleyball, Basketball, Track, Golf, Dance Team, One Act, Musical, Speech, NHS, Jr. Right to Life, Student Council, FFA

What is your favorite memory of high school?  Placing 3rd at state volleyball and qualifying for state basketball.

What advice can you offer underclassmen?  Be as involved as you can be. You may not realize it right now but high school is such a short part of your life, make the most of it and leave with no regrets!

What are your future plans (college with major if known or workforce) and where do you hope to be in five years?  Attend University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a major in nutrition exercise and health science. In 5 years I plan to attend med school in hopes of becoming a physician’s assistant.

Cameron Nielsen

Get to know Cameron Nielsen, a senior at Pope John Central Catholic High School. He graduates Sunday, May 13, 2018.

School: Pope John XXIII Central Catholic High School

Parents Names: Dane Nielsen and Jennifer Blackburn-Nielsen
                                                
Birth Date:  February 22, 2000                                                   

What activities did you participate in while in high school? Football, Wrestling, Track, One Act, Musical

What is your favorite memory of high school?  Football games, practices, and being a part of the team.

What advice can you offer underclassmen?  Don’t take your time in high school for granted and always do your best.

What are your future plans (college with major if known or workforce) and where do you hope to be in five years?  Go to UNL and major in business. In five years I hope to be done with college and back in Neligh working at Blackburns.

Cole Preister

Get to know Cole Preister, a senior at Pope John Central Catholic High School. He graduates
Sunday, May 13, 2018.

School: Pope John XXIII Central Catholic High School

Parents Names: Scott and Kaylyn Preister
                                                
Siblings: Chase, 20; Shantel, 19; Marissal, 15 and Christian, 17
                                                
Birth Date:  October 15, 1999                                                  

What activities did you participate in while in high school?  FFA, Football, Basketball, Track, Golf, One Act

What is your favorite memory of high school?  Getting Ashton to transfer to Pope John.

What advice can you offer underclassmen?  Work hard in school and make your mom proud.

What are your future plans (college with major if known or workforce) and where do you hope to be in five years?  I plan on majoring in criminal justice at Wayne State. In five years I want to have a law enforcement job.

Elizabeth Mlnarik

Get to know Elizabeth Mlnarik, a senior at Pope John Central Catholic High School. She graduates Sunday, May 13, 2018.

School: Pope John XXIII Central Catholic High School

Parents Names: Thomas and Susan Mlnarik

Siblings:  Denise, 40; Teresa, 38; T.J., 36; Julie, 35; Jenny, 32; Anne, 30; and Joey, 27                                                  

Birth Date:  November 12, 1999                                                   

What activities did you participate in while in high school? FFA, Jr. Right to Life Group, Student Council, Volleyball, Track, Golf, One Act, Speech

What is your favorite memory of high school?  Getting snowed in on the March for Life on the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

What advice can you offer underclassmen?  Learn from your mistakes. Save your money, and make every day count.

What are your future plans (college with major if known or workforce) and where do you hope to be in five years?  I plan on attending UNL for business and 5 years from now I hope to have a job I love.
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Grace Henn

Get to know Grace Henn, a senior at Pope John Central Catholic High School. She graduates Sunday, May 13, 2018.

School: Pope John XXIII Central Catholic High School

Parents Names: Tom and Sandi Henn

Siblings:  Bryan, 35; Brenden, 26 and Kalin, 20                                                  

Birth Date:  January 19, 2000                                                   

What activities did you participate in while in high school? Volleyball, Track, One Act, Student Council, FFA, Musical, Jr. Right to Life

What is your favorite memory of high school?  Getting 3rd place at state volleyball in 2016.

What advice can you offer underclassmen?  Enjoy every moment of high school because it flies by! Be involved in multiple school activities.

What are your future plans (college with major if known or workforce) and where do you hope to be in five years?  Attend Wayne State or Peru State College and major in pre-pharmacy. In 5 years I hope to be graduated from college and be in medical school.

Heather Bauer

Get to know Heather Bauer, a senior at Pope John Central Catholic High School. She graduates Sunday, May 13, 2018.

School: Pope John XXIII Central Catholic High School

Parents Names: Terry and Mary Jane Bauer

Siblings:  Trent, 21; Austin, 16 and Natalie, 14                                                  

Birth Date:  February 2, 2000                                                   

What activities did you participate in while in high school? Volleyball, Basketball, Track, One Act, Musical, Choir, Jr. Right to Life, FFA, Student Council

What is your favorite memory of high school?  Making it to state volleyball and basketball in the same year

What advice can you offer underclassmen?   Make every second count. Work hard, go out and have fun, make the memories last while you’re still here.

What are your future plans (college with major if known or workforce) and where do you hope to be in five years?  I plan to attend Northeast and go into AgriBusiness then transfer to Wayne or UNL to earn my bachelor’s. In 5 years I hope to be done with school, come back to a small town to start out my career and begin my life.

Sydney Kerkman

Get to know Sydney Kerkman, a senior at Pope John Central Catholic High School. She graduates Sunday, May 13, 2018.

School: Pope John XXIII Central Catholic High School

Parents Names: Steve and Becky Kerkman

Siblings:  Matthew, 8 and Regan, 21                                                  

Birth Date:  May 26, 2000                                                   

What activities did you participate in while in high school? One Act, Speech, Musical, Track, Jr. Right to Life, National Honor Society, Student Council, Bible Study

What is your favorite memory of high school?  Getting stuck on the turnpike while attending the March for Life.

What advice can you offer underclassmen?  Take it one day at a time and try to not stress out.

What are your future plans (college with major if known or workforce) and where do you hope to be in five years?  I plan on attending UNO and majoring in neuroscience. In five years I hope to have a career in my degree.

Logan Henn

Get to know Logan Henn, a senior at Pope John Central Catholic High School. He graduates
Sunday, May 13, 2018.

School: Pope John XXIII Central Catholic High School

Parents Names: Denis and Jan Henn
                                                
Siblings: Luke Henn, 16
                                                
Birth Date: December 6, 1999                                                  

What activities did you participate in while in high school?  One Act, Wrestling, Quiz Bowl, Speech, Musical, Track, NHS, Student Council

What is your favorite memory of high school?  Making state wrestling my freshman year.

What advice can you offer underclassmen?  If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing right.

What are your future plans (college with major if known or workforce) and where do you hope to be in five years?  Attend UNL with a software engineering major and get a job out of college in that field.

Madison Dilly

Get to know Madison Dilly, a senior at Pope John Central Catholic High School. She graduates Sunday, May 13, 2018.

School: Pope John XXIII Central Catholic High School

Parents Names: Doug and Shawn Dilly

Siblings:  Brynn, 15 and Matthew, 13                                                  

Birth Date:  August 29, 2000                                                   

What activities did you participate in while in high school? One Act, Speech, Musical, Jr. Right to Life, Quiz Bowl, Track, Volleyball, National Honor Society, Choir, Bible Study

What is your favorite memory of high school?  Participating in One Act and growing closer to my classmates.

What advice can you offer underclassmen?  Kind words go a long way.

What are your future plans (college with major if known or workforce) and where do you hope to be in five years?  Attend Mount Marty and get a degree in special and elementary education. In 5 years I hope to be done with college and teaching.

Marie Meis

Get to know Marie Meis, a senior at Pope John Central Catholic High School. She graduates Sunday, May 13, 2018.

School: Pope John XXIII Central Catholic High School

Parents Names: Jim and Anne Meis

Siblings:  Justine, 24 and Jonathon, 21                                                  

Birth Date:  January 22, 2000                                                   

What activities did you participate in while in high school? FFA, Speech, One Act, Musical, Quiz Bowl, Volleyball, Student Council, Jr. Right to Life

What is your favorite memory of high school?  Getting to eat lunch everyday with my classmates for the last 13 years.

What advice can you offer underclassmen?  High school is a time to find your interests - don’t be afraid to try something new.

What are your future plans (college with major if known or workforce) and where do you hope to be in five years?  I hope to attend the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and study agriculture communications with a possible double major in journalism. In 5 years I hope to have a job where I can educate others about agriculture.

Nickol Payne

Get to know Nickol Payne, a senior at Pope John Central Catholic High School. She graduates Sunday, May 13, 2018.

School: Pope John XXIII Central Catholic High School

Parents Names: Ray and Peggy Payne

Siblings:  Kix, 23                                                  

Birth Date:  December 12, 1999                                                   

What activities did you participate in while in high school? One Act, Speech, Volleyball, FFA, Dance Team, Student Council, Track, Golf, Quiz Bowl, Musical, National Honor Society, Jr. Right to Life, Broadcasting

What is your favorite memory of high school?  Having my grandparents come to my school events.

What advice can you offer underclassmen?  The hard times are a lot easier if you trust God, and get advice from your parents.

What are your future plans (college with major if known or workforce) and where do you hope to be in five years?  I plan to go to UNL and major in public relations while also joining the Air Force ROTC. I hope to be working as an officer in the Air Force, stationed somewhere in the world.

Paige Meis

Get to know Paige Meis, a senior at Pope John Central Catholic High School. She graduates Sunday, May 13, 2018.

School: Pope John XXIII Central Catholic High School

Parents Names: Ben and Anna Meis

Siblings:  Austin, 20                                                  

Birth Date:  June 8, 2000                                                   

What activities did you participate in while in high school? Volleyball, Basketball, Track, One Act, Musical, Speech, National Honor Society, Jr. Right to Life Group, Student Council

What is your favorite memory of high school?  My junior year volleyball season as a whole, especially winning 3rd place at state.

What advice can you offer underclassmen?  Take part in as many activities as possible; you can sit around when you’re old.

What are your future plans (college with major if known or workforce) and where do you hope to be in five years?  I plan to go to UNL and major in athletic training and exercise science. I hope to be in UNMC in 5 years, furthering my education in order to become a physical therapist.

Taralyn Baum

Get to know Taralyn Baum, a senior at Pope John Central Catholic High School. She graduates Sunday, May 13, 2018.

School: Pope John XXIII Central Catholic High School

Parents Names: Chris and Jeanine Baum

Siblings:  Devon, 22 and Trey, 20                                                  

Birth Date:  September 9, 1999                                                   

What activities did you participate in while in high school? FFA, Musical, Speech, One Act, Bible Study

What is your favorite memory of high school?  May 1, 2017; it had snowed and my class had a snowball fight.

What advice can you offer underclassmen?   Focus on the stuff that makes you happy and don’t stretch yourself thin with things that make you unhappy.

What are your future plans (college with major if known or workforce) and where do you hope to be in five years?  I am going to SDSU in Brookings, S.D. and double major in Wildlife and Fisheries Biology and Ecology/Environmental Sciences. In five years I hope to have a job in Game and Parks or with the NRD.

Wenting Yu

Get to know Wenting Yu, a senior at Pope John Central Catholic High School. She graduates Sunday, May 13, 2018.

School: Pope John XXIII Central Catholic High School

Parents Names: Li Wang and Dengyu Yu                                                 

Birth Date:  March 25, 1999                                                   

What activities did you participate in while in high school? One Act, Speech, Musical, Junior Right to Life, Choir

What is your favorite memory of high school?  Participating in various activities, especially choir singing

What advice can you offer underclassmen?  Don’t rush! Enjoy the life you are living through because it will never happen again!

What are your future plans (college with major if known or workforce) and where do you hope to be in five years?  I will major in engineering and minor in business and arts with college unknown.