Indian Lake Middle School students celebrated growth and success this school year!
Hundreds of students were rewarded for being responsible, respectful and resilient during the past year at the recent 2026 ILMS Academic Awards ceremony.
Students were recognized for perfect attendance, art, academic club involvement for 6th, 7th and 8th graders and more.
Nearly every instructor in the building selected a student for what’s called the Laker Pride Awards. This could be for a student who demonstrates one or more of the 3 Rs mentioned above.
Finally, special annual awards were handed out to 8th graders completing their time at the Middle School. The principals, guidance counselor and 8th grade teachers made the selections.
The Friends Serving Friends Award goes to Zeke McVety for assisting students with special needs.
Kaiden Lacher and Julie Wolf were the recipients of the Outstanding Leadership Award demonstrating high leadership, scholarship and citizenship. Calen McClelland and Abby Bihn were presented with the Archie Griffin Award, recognizing students who display exemplary sportsmanship in their school and community.
The final award of the program was the Blake Smith Award, named after an ILMS student who passed away from leukemia in 1996 at the age of 13. Principals, teachers and the guidance counselor chose 8th grader Mason Berg as the student who best demonstrates exemplary leadership, scholarship, citizenship and high athletic ability. Berg received a plaque and his name will be engraved on the Blake Smith Award on display in the trophy case in the ILMS cafeteria.
Academic Awards Ceremony 2026
Laker Pride Awards
Mrs. Berg - Vernicia Austin-Onyema
Mr. Burden - Paisley Howe
Mrs. Clune - Katelyn Berg
Mr. Dietz - Gilbert Howell
Mrs. Dotson - Lucy Kirkpatrick
Mrs. Even and Roxie - Jacob Castle
Mrs. Fatone - Evony Rhoads
Mrs. Fulkerson - Britanny Echipare
Mrs. Fullerton - Adalynn Snipes
Mrs. Grider - Samantha Altstaetter
Mr. Hall - Owen Flory
Mr. Hecker- Gabe Castle
Mr. Hunter - Calen McClelland
Mrs. Imm - Brier Wilson
Mrs. Kaser - Dallas Warman
Mrs. Kinsey - Stella Wagner
Miss Leffel - Aris Southard
Mr. Maurer - Keaton Thompson
Mrs. McPherson - Alayna Andrus
Mrs. Mefford - Shelby Angel
Mrs. Metzger - Isaac Sealscott
Mrs. Miller - Jacob Hangholt
Mrs. Newkirk - Calli Sprague
Mrs. Notestine - Brady Jackson
Mr. Overturf - Avery Sanders
Mr. Page - Hailee Dillon
Mrs. Pickering - Wyatt Mullins
Mrs. Rapp - Luke McVety
Mrs. Reese - Aubrey Hoffman
Mrs. Schulz - Bella Oakley
Mrs. Schulze - Lydia James
Mrs. Strayer - Conor Ferguson
Miss Strayer - Kayla Lazo
Miss Sullivan - Mya Salyer
Mrs. Sweeney - Rozalyn Lane
Mrs. Taylor - Addison Mowery
Mr. Tidwell - Westin Oakley
Mrs. Tidwell - Abby Arnett
Mr. Tucci - Kayla Tracey
Mrs. Van Horn - Keaton Vasquez
Mrs. Wagner - Addalyn Estep
Mrs. Wickline - Bentley Grube
Mrs. Wisener - Eeverly Griffiths
Mr. Young - Grady Zielinski
Friends Serving Friends: Zeke McVety
Archie Griffin Sportsmanship Award: Calen McClelland and Abby Bihn
Leadership Award: Kaiden Lacher and Julie Wolf
Blake Smith Award: Mason Berg