Brenneman Spends 5 Months Abroad

Claudette Glenn

Carson Brenneman (Classical School, 2022) spent this spring and summer studying abroad at Otto-Friedrich University in Bamberg, a historic town in Bavaria’s Upper Franconia region of Germany. In addition to his academic studies, he became involved with a student ministry group called SMD-Bamberg, which helped him build meaningful connections with other students and engage more deeply with local life. His experience extended far beyond the classroom, as he immersed himself in the region’s vibrant culture by attending local festivals and adapting to daily rhythms that shaped his understanding of German society.

Carson explored numerous cities across both Germany and Austria. His travels included stops in Bamberg, Berlin, Nuremberg, Munich, Heidelberg, Würzburg, Erlangen, Coburg, Bayreuth, Regensburg, Salzburg, and Vienna. One particularly special moment for Carson was attending Easter service at the Berlin Cathedral, a personal milestone he had hoped to reach since his first visit to the cathedral during a freshman-year spring break trip.

Reflecting on his time abroad, Carson shared: “Spending five months in Germany gave me the opportunity to learn not only about German culture, but also America in contrast and the common values and history which bind us together in Western civilization.”

Barkus and Team Win Collaboration Award at LCE

Claudette Glenn

We are thrilled to share that Alexsis Barkus (2025), with a team of four other students from South High, competed in the Washburn Leadership Challenge Event (LCE) in Topeka, Kansas, this past Thursday and Friday – and made history!

The event is a simulation set in the fictional city of Metropolis, where teams must navigate a disaster scenario while taking on different leadership roles. This year’s challenge centered around a Mayoral Election, where Alexsis played the role of a political analyst.

Out of 30 competing high schools, South High stood out for their exceptional teamwork during the campaign, news interviews, and debate, securing one of only six awards, the Team Collaboration Award! This is the first time South has ever won at LCE, making it an exceptional accomplishment.

Alexsis reflected, “This challenge pushed my leadership abilities to the next level. Part of the difficulty was that teams did not know the simulation or their roles until they arrived. We had to quickly become experts in both the city of Metropolis and the campaign data; we had to know how to answer questions professionally and adequately from civilians and news networks, when we really did not know the answer. This challenge was different than anything I have ever experienced because not only did we have to demonstrate exceptional leadership, but we had to do it as professionals, not students.”

Congratulations to Alexsis and her team on this achievement!

Orief and Rogers: DECA State Champions!

Claudette Glenn

Ling Finishes Swim Season with State Medals

Claudette Glenn

Rogers Takes First at DECA Central Regionals

Claudette Glenn

Defore and Ling Head to State

Claudette Glenn

Defore Named DSI Finalist

Claudette Glenn

Brenneman Attends Inauguration

Claudette Glenn

Kha Becomes Research Technician

Claudette Glenn