WABENO – Submitted by: Lion Clare Huisman and Lion Norma Johnson

The 49th annual Wabeno High School Honors Banquet was hosted by the Wabeno and McCauslin Lions’ Clubs on Wednesday, April 8th. Wabeno Lion Carrie Moravec did a great job organizing and coordinating a complicated event. Cassidy’s Cafe catered the delicious dinner portion of the banquet. The honor student presentation and speaker, Jason Bunton, took place in the Nancy Volk Auditorium. Lion Bill Taylor, Wabeno District Administrator, greeted everyone and introduced the presenters. Lion Gregg Tallier led the meal prayer. Lions’ Honor Students of 2026 were introduced and presented with their awards by instructors from each subject area.

The Wabeno Honor Students of 2026 included:
Art: Niya Frank (Senior)
Business Education: Abigail Seeber (Junior)
English: Jayce Harris (Sophomore)
Fab Lab: Sawyer Christianson (Junior)
Family and Consumer Science: Lily Harbeck (Freshman)
Instrumental Music: Ashton Jameson (Sophomore)
Life Science: Mazzie Williams (Senior)
Mathematics: Yukon Volk (Senior)
Physical Education-Girls: Payton Shampo (Sophomore)
Physical Education-Boys: Jorden Bolssen (Junior)
Physical Science: Autumn Warden (Senior)
Social Studies: Arya Shampo (Sophomore)
Technology Education: Brody Sattler (Freshman)
Vocal Music: Sierra Carpenter (Senior)

Lion Bill Taylor, Wabeno Area District Administrator, introduced speaker Jason Bunton, a 2001 Wabeno High School graduate and former Lions’ Honor Student. Jason has spent 15 years in education. He’s currently a Special Education Teacher in Genoa City, WI located near Lake Geneva. He also coaches boys’ basketball and baseball at Waterford High School.

Jason gave his own background in stages of his life that the Honor Students could relate to. He talked about his challenging early childhood through Junior High School to his positive and stable Wabeno High School years with his grandparents in Townsend. Jason described high school as awesome. He made lifelong friends and benefited from his time in the FBLA group. He had already learned that you have to work hard at anything you want to become good at. Jason was the first member of his family to attend college. He attended Marion College in Fond du Lac, WI. Jason was also a student athlete and worked hard on baseball. He was invited to pitch for Team USA in Prague. Jason is still involved in semi-pro baseball. Jason’s main points to the group were to expect to work hard to achieve what you want; to find your passion and know what you don’t want; and to never stop learning.

The Wabeno and McCauslin Lions would like to congratulate the 2026 Lions’ Honor Students. They also encourage these young people to get involved in organizations like the Lions and giveback to their communities.

Published on: May 22, 2026 at 12:10 pm