Josie Ganser Named Harriet Hughes Outstanding Fine Arts Student

The forty-second recipient of the Harriet Hughes Outstanding Fine Arts Award was Josie Ganser on Tuesday, May 4, 2021. Along with this recognition, she will receive a $750.00 scholarship courtesy of the Harriet Hughes Memorial, Brown County Arts Council and the Ainsworth Star-Journal. Ganser was also the recipient of the Jess Duden Memorial award for speech and the John Philip Sousa Band Award.

The 2020-2021 Fine Arts Candidates were, sitting, Josie Ganser (outstanding candidate) and Brandt Murphy (alternate), and standing, Cody Kronhofman and Ellie Welke.

Senior Brandt Murphy was the recipient of the Patrick S. Gillmore Award, Thespian of the Year and International Honor Thespian.

Elizabeth Smith won the Dave Streich Memorial Award in Mock Trial.

Cody Kronhofman was named this year’s Senior Oratory Award winner.

The National Choral Award was presented to Senior Seth Anderson.

During the Annual Fine Arts Awards program, the Ainsworth High School Band under the direction of Erin Rathe played “(Ghost) Riders in the Sky” by Stan Jones, arr. by Paul Lavender.

The 520 Band entertained the audience with two songs during the awards ceremony. The first song, “(The) Blues” by Johnny Cash was sung by Seth Anderson and the second tune, “Holiday” by Greenday was sung by Matt Jeffers.

The Ainsworth Mock Trial team qualified for Virtual State Competition in 2021. Receiving their 5th place state medals were team members Brandt Murphy, Cody Kronhofman, Alyssa Erthum, Dakota Stutzman and Elizabeth Smith.

Thespian Initiates included (left to right): Makenna Pierce, Taylor Allen, Ian Finley, Mason Titus and Cole Bodeman.

The Ainsworth High School Choir recently won a State Medal at district competition. During the evening, the choir sang “The Sound of Music,” arr. by Mark Brymer.

Recognized as Honor Thespians were (left to right) Josie Ganser, Cody Kronhofman, Alyssa Erthum and Seth Anderson.