Brockshus named Flagfest Youth Ambassador

(Photo by Kris Todd) Emily Jones, left, and Carrie Cunningham, right, clap as Hannah Brockshus is announced the 2010 Flagfest Youth Ambassador this past weekend. Jones and Cunningham were named second alternate and first alternate, respectively, Sunday afternoon in the Spencer High School Little Theater. [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

Spencer High School senior Hannah Brockshus was named the 2010 Flagfest Youth Ambassador Sunday afternoon, and Carrie Cunningham and Emily Jones were named first and second alternates, respectively.

The daughter of Todd and Barb Brockshus, of Fostoria, participates in individual and large group speech, Thespians, Key Club, band and soccer as a high school student. She has also coached soccer for 4- and 5-year-old children, enjoys scrapbooking and is currently serving as first runner-up for 2009 Clay County Fair Queen. Upon graduation from SHS this spring, Brockshus plans to major in animal science at Iowa State University or South Dakota State University.

Cunningham, the daughter of Clark and Cathy Cunningham, of Spencer, is a SHS junior involved in drama, speech, golf, band and choir. Her plans are to attend Iowa State University.

Jones, the daughter of Paul and Deb Jepson, is a SHS senior involved in cheerleading, choir, mock trial and drama. She intends to attend classes at the University of Iowa and to eventually pursue a law degree.

Each of the three young women submitted resumes and essays before Sunday's ceremony. After interviewing individually with Marion Brunsvold, Pat Ahlers and Reynold Peterson, who served as judges, Brockshus, Cunningham and Jones gave self-expression presentations before an audience Sunday afternoon.

Jones offered a PowerPoint presentation about Civil Rights movement leader Martin Luther King Jr. which highlighted Ruby Bridges, the 6-year-old student known as the first African-American child to attend an all-white elementary school in the South in 1960. Cunningham shared her version of the storybook "Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse" and Brockshus delivered an "American Hero" speech about the late Norman Borlaug, father of the Green Revolution.

During the competition, each answered the two-part question, "How has the crisis in Haiti affected you? And, if you were in a position of power, what would you do to help the situation?"

After a letter was read from Liz Taylor, the 2009 Flagfest Youth Ambassador, Brockshus, who was named her successor, received a $1,500 scholarship, compliments of the Spencer Rotary Club; Cunningham received a $1,000 scholarship from Community State Bank; and Jones received a $500 scholarship from the Kiwanis After Five club.