Cardinal students honored at Academic Excellence Awards Banquet

On Tuesday, March 21, 2023, the South Central Conference (SCC) hosted its Academic Excellence Awards Banquet at Carpenter's Hall. Students who were in the top 5% of their graduating class were honored. A meal, awards ceremony and a speech by Todd Jacobus, executive director of the Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs, were provided to the students.

Cardinal Community School District students honored include Madison Barnes, Allee Black, Ella Drish and Kylee Williams.

“All the students honored have spent countless hours studying and preparing to be the best learners they can possibly be,” said Andrew Lehn, Cardinal High School principal. “It was an honor to present the awards and medals to our four outstanding young women!"

After graduation, Barnes plans on attending Indian Hills Community College to pursue her Licensed Practical Nursing degree. Black has already completed her welding degree from Indian Hills and plans on continuing her studies there in the Radiologic Technology program. Drish plans on attending the University of Northern Iowa to pursue a major in Elementary Education. Williams plans on attending Iowa State University to pursue her degree in Family Consumer Science Education.

"I love that the SCC has an event like this," Lehn said. “We honor student-athletes all the time for their success in athletics. These students truly excel in the classroom and oftentimes that goes unnoticed.”