The 33rd annual Honor Recognition Luncheon was held Wednesday, April 29 at Lake Region State College. Sponsored by the two service clubs of the city, Kiwanis and Rotary Clubs, the event brings together people from around the Lake Region honoring the best of the region’s graduating students from Devils Lake High School, Four Winds High School in Fort Totten, Lakota High School, Leeds High School, Minnewaukan High School, Starkweather High School and Warwick High School.
Program Chair Ned Clooten welcomed everyone attending and led the Pledge of Allegiance, then outlined the program for the event.
President of Devils Lake Kiwanis Club, Sean Roed, welcomed everyone, as well, and turned the mic over to Clooten to introduce the keynote speaker, Ben Bergstrom, 2012 graduate of DLHS.
Bergstrom shared a bit of his history with the audience including the “best” advice he said they would appreciate, if not now, they would within the next five to ten years.
Four items are on his list of “Good Advice” for Graduates”:
1. Assume the world will keep on spinning. Bergstrom reminded the crowd that he graduated in 2012, the year the world was supposed to end because the Myan calendar did not compute dates beyond 2012. DLHS grads from 2012 wore t-shirts under their graduation gowns with “I survived the end of the world” printed on them. The issue students face today? How about AI is coming for you – or for your job! We have to learn to adapt to what’s ahead, no matter what.
2. If you find yourself hating everyone – you need food and drink (like water) – not an adult beverage – and if you think everyone hates you – what you need is a nap. Nearly everything coming your way can be helped with either two coices.
3. Get comfortable asking honest questions. The emphasis on “honest.” Bergstrom talked about working on Capitol Hill and everyone at a speciaif meeting was all excited about Title 7. It was mentioned by every speaker, every lobbyist he encountered and when asked by a brave individual “what is Title 7?” the speaker had NO idea what it was! Don’t be afraid to ask questions. You learn faster that way.
4. Finally Bergstrom said that he believes you can have a life of meaning OR a life of happiness but you can’t have both. Limit your options, he said, it is up to you, for the most part, when it comes to responsibility take on those worth having.
He ended with this, “Ignore everyone who tells you that these are the best years of your life!” implying there is a lot of good that happens after high school graduation for you and all of us.
Following Bergstrom’s presentation each school brought their honor students forward giving a brief description of each and all the activities they had been involved with during their high school years and their plans for the immediate future.
Devils Lake High School honored Madilyn Dion, Betty Fang, Anna Kraft, Addison Lange, Aubrie Lebrun, Elizabeth Orness, Jordan Vannett and Cassandra Wentz.
Four Winds High School honored Joliese Hunt and Jonte Delorme.
Lakota High School honored Hannah Halvorson and Ethan Matejcek.
Leeds High School honored Isabella Engstrom and Olivia Follman.
Minnewaukan High School honored Asa Morgan and Carter Ironheart.
Starkweather high School honored Sydney Wolf and Anna Griedl.
Warwick High School honored Robert Richotte.
(Photos taken of all other students receiving recognition at this event will be included in the upcoming 2026 Graduation issue of the Devils Lake Journal)
Leave a Reply