Callaway High School sent four representatives to the NSAA State Speech Championships last week - and one came home with a gold medal. As a team, Callaway finished tied for ninth place in the Class D1 sweepstakes, of the 21 teams represented.

Individually, Isabel Stallbaumer was in third place in Oral Interpretation of Poetry after the preliminary round. However, she stepped up her game in the final round of the top six and came away with the first place gold medal.

Izzy's day of accomplishment was not over quite yet. She was also honored with an NSAA Believers & Achievers Award. Believers & Achievers is a state-wide program designed by U.S. Bank and the NSAA to give recognition to Nebraska's future leaders. Throughout the school year, 48 Nebraska high school seniors are being honored as Believers & Achievers.

Izzy participates in play production, basketball, speech, music and track while maintaining a 3.7 GPA. She is an honor roll student and an NCPA academic all-state selection. She is also involved in National Honor Society, Art Club, is secretary of the Doggone Fun 4-H Club and a member of the Catholic youth organization in Callaway.

From the 48 finalists, eight will receive $500 scholarships from U.S. Bank to the college or university of their choice at a scholarship banquet to be held on April 24.

Also qualifying for the State Speech meet held in Kearney were lrelyn Rosfeld and Nadeema Haidle in Oral Interpretation of Serious Prose, and Chad Dishman in Entertainment Speaking.