Van Meter High School’s production of “Newsies” has been recognized with eight awards at the 2025 Iowa High School Musical Theater Awards!

Production Awards:
✨ Distinguished Scene: “King of New York”
✨ Special Recognition: Ensemble

Student Awards for Outstanding Achievement:
✨ Principal Role: Ella King as “Crutchie”
✨ Principal Role: Gracie Beving as “Katherine Plumber”
✨ Principal Role: Cielo Sparks as “Medda Larkin”
✨ Behind-the-Scenes Role: Orion Vaughn and Brody Wiederholt for Lighting and Sound Design
✨ Behind-the-Scenes Role: Mason Bradley as Choreographer

Student Award for Special Recognition:
✨ Principal Role: Liam Newell as “Jack Kelly”

Congratulations to our cast and crew!

Orion Vaughn has also been selected as a Technical Theater Scholarship Recipient for his outstanding work in lighting design! He will receive a $2,500 scholarship to support his future studies and will be recognized during the Awards Showcase.

The Showcase will be held at the Des Moines Civic Center on Thursday, May 28, at 7:00pm and will recognize a total of 110 adjudicated schools from across the state.

Tickets to the Showcase, which start at $15, will go on sale on Friday, May 15, 2026, at 10:00am at DMPA.org, the Des Moines Civic Center Ticket Office, and by phone at 515-246-2300.

The Awards Showcase will be livestreamed at IowaPBS.org as part of a collaboration with Iowa PBS. Iowa PBS will also broadcast a highlights special of the event later this summer on dates to be announced.
about 1 month ago, Van Meter Schools
Blue awards graphic featuring two stage photos from Newsies: a large cast celebrating during “King of New York” and the ensemble performing onstage. Text reads “Distinguished Scene” and “Special Recognition Ensemble.”
Blue awards graphic featuring Ella King as Crutchie in a group scene and Gracie Beving as Katherine Plumber performing solo under colorful lights. Text recognizes both for “Outstanding Achievement” in principal roles.
Blue awards graphic featuring Cielo Sparks as Medda Larkin singing in a red sequined costume and a cast performance recognizing Orion Vaughn and Brody Wiederholt for lighting and sound design achievements.
Blue awards graphic featuring dancers leaping across the stage to recognize Mason Bradley for choreography and Liam Newell as Jack Kelly performing on an elevated set piece. Text highlights “Outstanding Achievement” and “Special Recognition.”
Blue scholarship recognition graphic featuring a portrait of Orion Vaughn standing in front of a brick wall wearing sunglasses and a gray shirt. Text reads “Technical Theater Scholarship Recipient.”
Join us for an evening of music as our High School Band and Choir students take the stage for their spring concert! 🌷🎶

The show starts at 6:00pm on Tuesday, May 12, in the South Gym. Awards will follow the performance.
about 1 month ago, Van Meter Schools
Blue poster announcing a high school band and choir concert on Tuesday, May 12 at 6:00pm in the South Gym with musical notes decoration.
Join us in recognizing our dedicated board members during Iowa School Board Recognition Month!

🌟 John Gilliland
🌟 Sarah Moore
🌟 Luke Reimers
🌟 Meredith Scott
🌟 Katie Fischer

We want to take this opportunity to thank them for their leadership, dedication, and support of our students and staff! 👏
about 1 month ago, Van Meter Schools
Graphic celebrating Iowa School Board Recognition Month with portraits of John Gilliland, Sarah Moore, Luke Reimers, Meredith Scott, and Katie Fischer.
GAMEDAY: Good luck to our boys soccer team as they take on Perry at home tonight. Go Dawgs! ⚽
🕖 4:30pm
📍 Van Meter HS
🎟️ $7/K-12 Student & Adult - Cash Only
#VanMeter
about 1 month ago, Van Meter Schools
Goalkeeper in orange jersey prepares to kick soccer ball during a game on a grassy field with a player in white in the background.
GAMEDAY: Best of luck to our boys track and field team as they compete at AC/GC’s meet tonight–let’s go, Dawgs! 🏃
🕖 4:15pm
📍 AC/GC HS
📊 aatiming.com
🎟️ $5 per K-12 Student & Adult
#VanMeter
about 1 month ago, Van Meter Schools
Male athlete in blue Van Meter uniform sprinting on a track during a boys' track meet event.
Wishing a very Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms in our community! 🌼❤️
about 1 month ago, Van Meter Schools
Blue Mother's Day greeting card with white roses and delicate blossoms framing the text.
GAMEDAY: Good luck to our girls soccer team as they take on Treynor this morning. Go get ‘em, Dawgs! ⚽
🕖 9:00am
📍 Treynor HS
#VanMeter
about 1 month ago, Van Meter Schools
Female soccer player in blue kicking a ball during a game against Treyner, with game day details on the right side of the image.
In social studies, 6th graders played “Domination,” a game in which they traded different products like the Mayans and worked to gain control over the area. They also had to contend with unfortunate events like drought, war, deforestation, and overpopulation. 🎲
about 1 month ago, Van Meter Schools
Student holds several printed cards with images and labels during a classroom trading activity.
Three students stand in a classroom comparing and reading cards during an interactive learning game.
Two students smile while exchanging printed cards in a classroom activity beside bookshelves and maps.
Two boys trade and examine printed cards during a classroom economics or trading simulation activity.
Two students exchange cards in a classroom while participating in a hands-on trading game.
Student types reflections on a laptop after completing a classroom trading and economics activity.
This spring, preschoolers have been busy exploring the world of insects and gardening! Students enjoyed a field trip to the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden and continued their learning in the classroom by exploring worms and butterflies. 🦋
about 1 month ago, Van Meter Schools
Group of young children in blue shirts gathered around and touching a large green banana leaf on a paved surface outdoors.
Teacher shows a young child a small bowl of dried flower petals during a hands-on classroom activity.
Children in matching blue shirts smell and examine potted plants during a greenhouse field trip.
Children balance and climb on large fallen logs in an outdoor nature play area under a cloudy sky.
Young student carefully sketches a worm beside a magnifying glass and red plate holding the worm.
Three children observe and point at worms on paper plates during a classroom science activity.
Two young girls smile excitedly while watching worms move across paper plates in a classroom.
Good luck to our band students as they participate in the IHSMA State Large Group Band Competition tomorrow at 1:50pm at Dallas Center-Grimes High School! 🎶

Tickets can be purchased through Bound: https://tickets.gobound.com/tickets/events/h2026042808280452957b3fbf808ee42/checkout.
about 1 month ago, Van Meter Schools
Blue poster wishing good luck for the IHSMA State Large Group Band Competition on May 9, 2026, at Dallas Center-Grimes High School.
GAMEDAY: Our boys soccer team is traveling to take on Kuemper Catholic today–Go Dawgs! ⚽
🕖 5:00pm
📍 Kuemper Catholic
#VanMeter
about 1 month ago, Van Meter Schools
High school boys' soccer players in blue uniforms on the field during a game, with spectators seated in the background.
GAMEDAY: Best of luck to our girls soccer as they take on Waukee NW at HOME! Let’s go, Dawgs! ⚽
🕖 4:30pm
📍 Van Meter HS
🎥 fan.hudl.com/usa/ia/van-meter/organization/15612/van-meter-high-school
🎟️ https://www.vancoevents.com/us/eventlist/vanmeter
#VanMeter
about 1 month ago, Van Meter Schools
A female soccer player in blue kicks the ball while a player in white defends on a sunny field.
MEETDAY: Good luck to our boys and girls track and field teams at Panorama’s Meet. Go Dawgs! 🏃
🕖 4:30pm
📍 Panorama HS
🎟️ Admission: $7.00 for adults and students K-12
#VanMeter
about 1 month ago, Van Meter Schools
Athlete in blue uniform crouched at starting blocks on a blue track preparing for a race at Panorama High School meet.
MEETDAY: Our boys golf team is traveling to compete in their meet today. Good luck, Dawgs! 🏌️
🕖 4:00pm
📍 River Valley Golf Course (Adel, IA)
#VanMeter
about 1 month ago, Van Meter Schools
Boys' golf players on green preparing for a putt during practice at River Valley Golf Course.
MEETDAY: Good luck to our girls golf team today at their meet–go Dawgs! 🏌️
🕖 4:00pm
📍 Shady Oaks Golf Course (Ackworth, IA)
#VanMeter
about 1 month ago, Van Meter Schools
Girl golfer putting on green near red flag at Shady Oaks Golf Course for Girls' Golf Meet Day event.
Congratulations to our boys golf team on placing as runner-up in the WCAC Tournament!

The team had two All-Conference players. Jonah Shelton earned First Team All-Conference honors with his 7th-place finish (78). Evan Roberts received Second Team All-Conference honors with his 11th-place finish overall (81).

Congratulations, boys! ⛳️
about 1 month ago, Van Meter Schools
Group of six young men standing on a golf course with two golf bags in front of them under a shaded canopy.
Last call for purchasing the 2025-26 Secondary Yearbook! We will have a very limited number available for purchase in the fall, so don’t miss out on all of this year’s memories. 📘

To order your yearbook, visit https://vmbulldogs.revtrak.net/yearbooks/yearbooks-secondary/.
about 1 month ago, Van Meter Schools
Final chance to buy the 2025-26 secondary school yearbook, order yours today.
Congratulations to Josie Bemis! She is the 2026 WCAC Girls Golf Champion after shooting a low score of 69. Her performance also broke the school record for the lowest 18-hole score, previously set by Kylie Carey in 2021 with a score of 70. 🎉⛳️
about 1 month ago, Van Meter Schools
Golfer in black Nike polo and shorts standing on a sunny golf course with a golf bag on a pushcart behind them.
Our 2nd-4th grade students will perform their May Day Concert on Thursday, May 7! The performance starts at 5:30pm in the North Gym. 🎶
about 1 month ago, Van Meter Schools
Announcement for 2nd to 4th grade May Day concert on Thursday, May 7 at 5:30pm in the North Gym with musical notes decoration.
We are proud to recognize Katie Hovda on National School Nurses Day! Your care, compassion, and expertise make a lasting impact on our students and school community.

Thank you for all you do! 🩺
about 1 month ago, Van Meter Schools
Blue graphic celebrating National School Nurses Day with a stethoscope and a thank you message to Katie Hovda.