Every year, Morrill High School has the student body vote on Royalty, three times throughout the year: Homecoming, Winter Royalty, and Prom. Last Friday, January 29th the Winter Royalty Court was made up of:
Brooke Hopkins is the daughter of Josh and Joann Hopkins. Throughout high school Brooke has been involved in basketball, track, FBLA, STUCO, National Honor Society and Spanish Club.
Brooke lettered in basketball and track, has consistently been on the AB Honor Roll. She enjoys shopping, drinking iced coffee and watching Keeping Up with the Kardashians, hanging with friends, and taking care of succulent plants. Next year, Brooke plans to attend the University of Texas to study physical therapy and nutrition so that she can work with hot college football players.
Brooke was escorted by Mark Bartlett.
Mark is the son of Mark Bartlett and Lisa Buckridge. Mark has been involved in football, One Acts, wrestling and track. He enjoys playing video games, helping his mom clean the elementary, hanging out with friends, and helping his step-dad work on his semi. Next year, Mark plans to enlist in the Marine Corps and then attend college to become a police officer.
Madison Mendoza is the daughter of Jaci Mendoza. Madison has been involved in Basketball, volleyball, track, FBLA – in which she serves as president, FCA, National Honor Society, Quiz Bowl, tutoring, Spanish Club, STUCO, and band.
Madison is a four year letter winner in volleyball and basketball, and was on the AB Honor Roll from 2017-2020. She enjoys Tik-Tok dancing, sleeping, playing with her cats, and hanging with the gals. Next year, Madison plans to attend Wayne State College, then go on to Medical School to study Dermatology and become the next Dr. Pimple Popper. If that doesn’t work out, she plans to become the next CEO of Burger King.
Madison was escorted by Isaiah Guerue.
Isaiah Guerue is the son of Josh and Cynthia Guerue. Throughout high school, Isaiah participated in football, basketball, golf, track, FCA, and the High School State Fishing Tournament. In Isaiah’s spare time he enjoys, fishing, hunting, golfing and lifting.
Isaiah is a 4 year letter winner in football and basketball, and so far a 2 year letter winner in Golf. In 2018-2019, he made Panhandle Athletic Conference Honorable Mention in football and was the Western Trails Conference Golf Champion. In 2019-2020, Isaiah was honored in football with the following: WTC All Conference, All State Honorable mention, All Region Team, and All District Team. In the Fall of 202, Isaiah was on the AB Honor Roll. In 2020-2021, Isaiah was on the Panhandle Prep Players to watch list for football and Isaiah was honored in football with the following honors: PAC All Conference, WTC All Conference, All District Team, All Region Team, All State Honorable mention, the Sertoma 8-Man All Star Game 2021, and is the first player in school history to make the Nebraska Shrine Bowl.
Isaiah has signed to play football at Chadron State College, he plans to study Recreational Management, and hopes to play in the NFL.
Libbie Shaefer is the daughter of Todd and Laura Schaefer. Throughout high school, Libbie has been involved in volleyball, basketball, FFA – in which she currently serves as president, FBLA, FCA and FSB.
Libbie has lettered in volleyball and basketball and received WTC and PAC all conference first team and All State Honorable mention for basketball, she also received Honorable mention for WTC and PAC in volleyball. She has earned two leadership awards in FFA: the Chapter Green Hand, and Chapter Farmer Award. Libbie enjoys working on the ranch, church and barrel racing. Next year Libbie plans to go to college, become a vet tech, marry a cowboy and move to the mountains somewhere. If that doesn’t work out, she plans to become a Olympic swimmer.
Libbie was escorted by Caden Lewis.
Caden is the son of Lacy and Levi Bernhardt and Rob Lewis. Caden has been involved in basketball football, track, FBLA, FCA, and Quiz Bowl. He has earned letters in basketball, football, track and quiz bowl. He has earned Academic All State five times, has a 4.0 GPA and has been Mr. Peacock’s favorite student for three and a half years. He was also named football manager of the year.
In his free time, Caden enjoys LARPing, butterfly catching with Mr. Balz, making mittens with Mr. Muir, and especially collecting ancient rocks. Next year, he plans to attend UNO to study physical therapy. If that does not work out, he will go to school to be like his idol, Mr. Peacock.
The 2020 Homecoming Royalty, Ilycia Guerue and Kolten McMackin honored Mark Bartlett and Brooke Hopkins as the 2021 Lord and Lady, Caden Lewis and Libbie Schaefer as the 2021 Prince and Princess, and crowned Isaiah Guerue and Madison Mendoza as the 2021 Winter Royalty King and Queen.
Isaiah said, “It was definitely awesome to be crowned king; it was a big moment for me. The best part of high school was sports, especially what I love – football. Spending every day with all my friends was pretty great too!”
When asked about how hard it is going to be, going off to college, Isaiah said, “Mostly, it’s going to be hard on my parents. They are going to still need me; they might need me for a weekend of work; it will be nice to be close enough for me to go home on weekends when needed, and for them to come up to see me.”
Madison said, “It was really special, I didn’t think I would get it since I wasn’t a part of homecoming court. It made it more special to be crowned with Isaiah.” Mr. Sherwood asked, “Are you two dating?” They both blushed, laughed and said, “Yes, for about 2 and ½ months!”
Madison’s favorite thing about high school, “was getting involved in so many activities; I worked hard not to spread myself too thin; building great bonds with my friends especially from sports, these will be great bonds for life.”
Madison doesn’t know how she is going to do it without her mom so close, “She does a lot of things for me, I will have to become way more independent. It will be heart breaking when I get homesick, and she won’t be there. My mom will be able to discover a new level of independence too!”
When asked what advice they would you give to junior high and elementary kids when they get to high school, Isaiah responded, “Definitely enjoy every second of it; I thought it would go slow, but it rushed by so quickly that I could barely keep up.” Madison responded, “High school was so fun being involved in so much; take time to do your homework and study, it will make life easier and you’ll actually be able to have more free time that way and have way less stress, try your hardest to make it to the top.”
Josh Guerue, as father of the King, commented, “I’m proud of how determined he is to reach his goals, his care and loyalty to his family, I am proud of the young man he is developing into. It will be hard to not have him at at home, next year. Last night, Lish was upstairs singing in the shower, Isaiah was downstairs watching videos and laughing, those sounds won’t be in the house. Isaiah being in Chadron is close enough for us to drive up for the day and have a meal together, he wanted to be close, that went into his college decision.”
Jaci as mother of the Queen, commented, “Everything about her makes me proud, her sense of humor, all of her accomplishments; she really matured in this past year; I’m really proud that she made NHS, she and I were both so happy of that. I am in denial that she is a senior right now, the fact that she is going across Nebraska, to Wayne, is going to be hard, but she and I both need to become more independent, it will be good for both of us.”
Superintendent Sherwood commented, “All six of these students are very fine young people, they have contributed to our school and our activities so positively, during the last 6 years. I have really enjoyed watching them during their secondary careers, they will be really missed!”