Warsaw High School’s awards night on Wednesday, May 13 provided a glimpse of the class of 2026’s diverse interests and accomplishments during their high school careers.

The Society for Academic Achievement (SAA), sponsored locally by Town and Country Midwest (Hill-Dodge) Bank, is dedicated to rewarding academic excellence and to challenging students to become “future intellectual leaders.” Twenty-two graduating seniors earned membership in the SAA for their outstanding scholarship achievement in academic subjects: Elise Blakewell, Aubrey Boley, Jadyn Climer, Jordan Crowley, Dallin Garfield, Jordan Gound, Gunner Grothaus, Kennedy Harl, Amelia Harness, Autumn Hill, Braden Hurt, Hayden Jamerson, Evalynn Jones, Jaiden Jones, Aubree Karle, Cooper Knowles, Jaycee Morris, Juris Pohren, Evan Smith, Adam Sullivan, Lillie Sumner, and Drew Wixom.

Elise Blakewell, Jordan Gound, and Adam Sullivan were recognized as Illinois State Scholars, students who are at the top 10% of graduating seniors in Illinois.

Members of the class of 2026 earned numerous scholarships:

Amelia Harness received the Olen L. Memorial Scholarship, presented by Don Gee on behalf of the Hancock County Historical Society.

Elise Blakewell received the Hancock County Historical Society Scholarship, presented by Don Gee.

Amelia Harness received the Robert Gerhardt Memorial Scholarship, established and presented by Cheryl Gerhardt, a retired Warsaw Elementary School teacher, and her family, to honor her husband.

Jaydn Climer, Jordan Crowley, and Aubree Karle were awarded scholarships presented by Debbie Becker on behalf of the Warsaw Spunky Point Seniors.

Amelia Harness was awarded a scholarship presented by Vian Neally on behalf of the Hancock County Republican Central Committee.

Juris Pohren was awarded the Culver-Stockon College Athletic Scholarship, the Culver-Stockton College Legacy Scholarship, and the Culver-Stockton College President’s Scholarship, which were presented by Haiden Molter.

Daytona Dooley presented the Western Illinois Commitment Scholarship to Evalynn Jones and Scott Allen, and the Western Illinois Alumni Scholarship to Scott Allen.

Lions Club President Joe Clarke presented the Warsaw Lions Club Scholarship to Aubrey Boley, Amelia Harness, and Braden Hurt. Clarke also presented the DA22 Scholarship, established by Darrell Althide’s family, to Elise Blakewell.

Mary Hurlburt represented the Edna Mae Miller and Mable J. Morris Scholarship and the Lawton Endowment Fund scholarship. Aubrey Boley, Jordyn Climer, Kennedy Harl, Amelia Harness, and Jaycee Morris received the Edna Mae Miller and Mable J. Morris Scholarship. The Lawton Endowment Fund Scholarship was awarded to Elise Blakewell, Jordan Gound, Kennedy Harl, Autumn Hill, Braden Hurt, and Jess Scott.

Mary Andrews, Vicky Balentine, and Sherry Morgan presented the American Legion Post 41 Scholarship to Kennedy Harl.

Dan Culp, vice president of operations at Carl A. Nelson and Company, presented the Carl A. Nelson and Company Scholarship to Elise Blakewell.

Jadyn Climer was awarded the Heart of a Titan Scholarship and Braden Hurt received the Titan Pride Scholarship, both of which were presented by Brooke Heagy.

Jaycee Morris received The Riverview Sportsmen of Dallas City Scholarship, which was presented by John Stimpson.

Amelia Harness was awarded the Hancock County Teen Court Scholarship, presented by Jessica Bell.

Gunner Grothaus received the Hamilton Federation Scholarship, presented by Jessica Bell.

Amelia Harness and Braden Hurt were awarded the Hancock County Beef Producers Scholarship, presented by Jason Beeler.

On behalf of the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Lodge No. 428, and the Hancock County Sheriffs, Shelby Moore and Gary Smith presented the FOP Scholarship, in its initial year, to Aubrey Boley.

On behalf of the Warsaw Chamber of Commerce, President Alexis Gregory presented the Warsaw Business Leadership Scholarship to Evalynn Jones.

Aubrey Boley, Kennedy Harl, Autumn Hill, Evalynn Jones, Jaiden Jones, and Jaycee Morris were awarded the Hancock County Democratic Women – Women Empowering Women Scholarship, presented by Brielle Hill-Johnson.

Principal Brad Froman presented the Warsaw FFA Chapter Scholarship to Camerson Franklin and the Warsaw Alumni Scholarship to Evalynn Jones, who also received the Warsaw High School Business Award from him.

Warsaw High School guidance counselor, Elizabeth Cepeda, presented the Berlin-Wisch Scholarship to Aubrey Boley, Layton Conkright, Jordan Crowley, Jordan Gound, Jaiden Jones, Aubree Karle, and Juris Pohren.

Elizabeth Cepeda presented the Julien E. LeMaire Memorial Scholarship to Jaiden Jones.

Seth Bent, Aubrey Boley, Jayden Climer, Jordan Crowley, Jordan Gound, Aubree Karle, Zayden Sonnenborn, and Gage Stull received the Todd “Bubba” Dicks Scholarship, presented by Elizabeth Cepeda.

The George Parker Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Scholarship, presented by Elizabeth Cepeda, was awarded to Gunner Grothaus and Amelia Harness.

Jadyn Climer received the Sons of the American Revolution Award, presented by Elizabeth Cepeda.

Jordan Gound was awarded the Daughters of the American Revolution Award, presented by Elizabeth Cepeda.

Elizabeth Cepeda presented the Dr. Elizabeth Korte Memorial Scholarship to Jadyn Climer and Jaycee Morris.

Jess Scott was the recipient of the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 965 Chuck Smith Memorial Scholarship, presented by Elizabeth Cepeda.

The Keokuk Area Community Foundation Leaders Scholarship, presented by Elizabeth Cepeda, was awarded to Elise Blakewell.

Jaiden Jones received the Town and Country Bank Scholarship, presented by Elizabeth Cepeda.

Elizabeth Cepeda presented the Iowa State University Academic Achievement Award to Aubrey Boley and Amelia Harness, and the Iowa State University Generations Award to Amelia Harness.

Illinois State University’s Redbird Academic Scholarship, presented by Elizabeth Cepeda, was awarded to Elise Blakewell.

Webster State University’s Webster Gold Academic Scholarship, presented by Elizabeth Cepeda, was awarded to Jordan Gound.

Elizabeth Cepeda presented McKendree University’s Presidential Scholarship to Jess Scott.

Layton Conkright received a Carl Sandburg Community College Athletic Scholarship to play baseball, and Jaydn Climer received a Carl Sandburg Community College Athletic Scholarship to play basketball. Elizabeth Cepeda presented both awards.

Cooper Knowles was awarded a Belmont University Athletic Scholarship to continue to play basketball. Elizabeth Cepeda presented the award.

Truman State University’s President’s Honorary Scholarship, TruMerit Scholarship, and TruOpportunity Scholarship were awarded to Jaycee Morris and presented by Elizabeth Cepeda.

Cameron Franklin received Quincy University’s Robert Blazel Scholarship and Discovery Scholarship, presented by Elizabeth Cepeda.

Loyola University’s Academic Scholarship was awarded to Kennedy Harl and Autumn Hill and presented by Elizabeth Cepeda.

A reception for these talented students followed the recognition. The Warsaw community salutes them, commends their pursuit of excellence – which earned them $764,000 in scholarship funding – and looks forward to their continued success.