School News

Homestead is proud to announce that junior Siddharth Kosaraju recently scored a perfect 36 on the ACT exam. The ACT is a curriculum-based achievement exam that measures what students have learned in school. Students who earn a 36 composite score have likely mastered all of the skills and knowledge they will need to succeed in first-year college courses in the core subject areas of English, math, reading, and science.

“I speak on behalf of the entire Homestead community when I say how incredibly proud we are of Siddharth’s outstanding accomplishment,” said HHS Principal Eric Ebert. “Achieving a perfect ACT score is a rare and remarkable feat, and Siddharth’s dedication to academic excellence, along with his contributions outside the classroom, make him an invaluable member of our school.”

At Homestead, Siddharth enjoys courses in math and engineering. Outside of school, he also participates in activities involving math, robotics, computer science, and tennis. After graduation, he plans to attend college to study computer engineering.

Nationally, about one-quarter of 1 percent of students who take the ACT earn a top score. In the U.S. high school graduating class of 2023, only 2,542 out of more than 1.39 million students who took the ACT earned a top composite score of 36.

The National Merit Scholarship Competition (NMSC) recently announced the names of over 16,000 Semifinalists in the 70th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. Homestead High School is excited to announce that ten of our senior students have qualified as National Merit Semifinalists. Those students are Julien Broughton, Niamh Cassidy, Alexandra Gaskin, Raima Naurin, Aiden O’Connor, Matthew Seiberlich, Joshua Stanford, Sanjana Vasireddy, Kevin Wan, and Sara Yesufu.

These academically talented seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for 6,870 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $26 million that will be offered next spring. To be considered for a Merit Scholarship award, Semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the Finalist level of competition. Scholar designees are selected on the basis of their skills, accomplishments, and potential for success in rigorous college studies.

"It is truly amazing to have ten National Merit Semifinalists this year. The exceptional achievements of these students are a reflection of the unwavering dedication and support of their families, the remarkable commitment of our outstanding educators, and the hard work of the students themselves," said Eric Ebert, principal of Homestead High School. "These ten scholars have shown not only academic excellence but also a deep intellectual curiosity and passion for learning. We are incredibly proud of their accomplishments and deeply grateful to the educators who have guided and inspired them. We look forward to watching them continue to excel in their future academic pursuits."

Over 1.3 million juniors across 21,000 high schools entered the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2023 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT), which served as an initial screen of program entrants. The nationwide pool of Semifinalists, representing less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, includes the highest-scoring entrants in each state. The number of Semifinalists in a state is proportional to the state’s percentage of the national total of graduating seniors.

Students who qualify as Semifinalists based on their performance on the PSAT/NMSQT are the only program participants who have an opportunity to advance to the Finalist level and compete for National Merit Scholarships. From the approximately 16,000 Semifinalists, about 15,000 are expected to advance to Finalist level, and in February will be notified of this designation. All National Merit Scholarship winners will be selected from this group of Finalists. Finalists will be announced beginning in April 2025.

Find more information about the National Merit Scholarship Corporation at www.nationalmerit.org

The Mequon-Thiensville School District is proud to announce that the Homestead High School Latin delegation, led by longtime World Language teacher, Magistra Marianne Wallach, recently returned from the annual National Junior Classical League (NJCL) convention at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. Held each summer, the NJCL is a chance for classics students across the nation to celebrate and compete in a multitude of diverse events to showcase the proficiency, enthusiasm, and talents of students in all that is Latin and Greek. This year, 80 students from across Wisconsin traveled to Tennessee at the end of July, with 23 of these dedicated scholars representing Homestead High School.

The convention brought together Latin students from across the nation to compete in a variety of rigorous academic and artistic contests centered around the classical arts. During the school year and into the summer, Homestead students worked tirelessly to prepare for the challenges of each competition. Their hard work was richly rewarded, with several students achieving top academic honors. Among the standout performers, junior Luke LaLonde claimed first place in the nation in the Latin 2 Grammar contest. Juniors Addison Drumm and Charlotte King showcased their exceptional talent by securing first place in Graphic Arts, Pastel, and Mosaics respectively.

The state of Wisconsin also saw success in the team competitions. All three Wisconsin Certamen level teams, Novice, Intermediate and Advanced, progressed to the National Semifinal rounds in this fast-paced quiz-bowl style contest, which is often likened to the popular game show, Jeopardy. Impressively, the Wisconsin Latin 1 team reached the Championship round and earned third place in the nation, with Homestead students Parker Pope and Misha Auchynnikau playing pivotal roles on this four-person team.

In addition to these individual achievements, Wisconsin as a state was awarded first place in the week-long Spirit competition for large states, further highlighting the enthusiasm and dedication of our students. Matthew Seiberlich, a senior at Homestead, as the 2024-25 President of the Wisconsin Junior Classical League (WJCL) had the responsibility to lead and motivate the Wisconsin delegation at the convention, which he did with enthusiasm and a positive attitude. Then rounding out the weeklong competition were the Olympika sport contests with 31 states competing for the top 3 spots. Wisconsin beat its competition winning 1st place in track and field, ultimate frisbee and swimming. Medals awarded to Homestead athletes include Dino Dhaliwal, London Boettcher, Anthony Lopina, Peter Chromy, Addison Drumm, Ian Godden, Luke Lalonde. Lucas Mersky and Matthew Seiberlich. Ian Godden, a Homestead junior, achieved a 2nd place trophy overall in the combined Olympika events with his impressive individual score of 88 points. 

"I am incredibly proud of our Highlanders for their outstanding achievements at this annual convention,” said Magistra Wallach. “Their dedication and passion for the study of Latin have truly shone through in their performances. All of our students have worked hard to prepare for this convention, and their success is a testament to their hard work, determination, and love for the classics.”

The NJCL is not only a competition but also a celebration of the rich history and culture of the Latin language, and Homestead High School is proud of its students' annual achievements on this national stage. As the 2024-25 school year begins, Homestead Latin will begin preparing for next summer’s NJCL event which will be held at Miami University in Ohio.

The Mequon-Thiensville School District is proud to announce that Homestead High School counselor and Director of Counseling, Kris Besler, has been named the High School Counseling Professional of the Year by the Wisconsin Association for College Admission Counseling (WACAC). WACAC is the state-level affiliate group of the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC).  Its main objective is to support high school, community college, and technical college students in Wisconsin to prepare for and assist with their chosen post-secondary school journey.

Besler was recognized by the organization during the Midwest ACAC Conference in Dubuque, Iowa on Monday, May 20 for her excellence and dedication to serving the needs of students in the transition from high school to college. She has served Homestead High School for the past 18 years, helping hundreds of students navigate high school and plan for their post-secondary journeys. 

"It is a pleasure to honor the unparalleled dedication and excellence of our high school counselor, Kris Besler, who has tirelessly guided our students through the pivotal transition from high school to college,” said Eric Ebert, Homestead High School Principal, “Her unwavering commitment and heartfelt support have empowered countless young minds to achieve their academic dreams and embark on promising futures."

Besler was nominated for this recognition by fellow Homestead High School counselor, Sarah Robinson, who spoke highly of Besler’s ability to collaborate effectively with her team and meet the unique needs of all Homestead students.

“Kris Besler is a leader in the school counseling profession. Her knowledge, experience, passion, relational capacity, and student-focused approach to supporting students is exceptional. Kris leads with professionalism, experience, grace, and wisdom. Kris ensures that we are meeting the needs of ALL students,” said Robinson. “Kris uses her strengths and skills to support students with academic improvement, career exploration, college planning, and personal wellness. Kris calmly and creatively problem-solves, manages a busy schedule meeting with students and parents, and dives into research and college trends to maintain a pulse on college admission practices to best support our students. Kris Besler is deserving of this award because of her work ethic, commitment to supporting students, professionalism, leadership in the counseling profession, and resiliency in her career. She is an inspiration and a role model in the school counseling profession.”

Homestead High School is proud to announce that senior Reagan Godden received 1st place at the local Post level and 2nd at the District level in the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Voice of Democracy Scholarship Contest. This is a national essay/speech contest that starts at the local level with the potential to advance to the district level and national levels. The Mequon-Thiensville area belongs to VFW District 6, which is made up of 20 local Posts across five counties. This year, 30 submissions were received, with 11 finalists reaching the District level for review by a panel of judges.

On Tuesday, January 16, VFW district representatives Ron Schnorenberg and John Kleinmaus visited Homestead High School to present Godden with her scholarship award for her essay on the theme, “What are the greatest attributes of our democracy?” Godden received a monetary reward of $175 along with a framed certificate on behalf of the VFW District 6. Godden’s essay focused on the Bill of Rights, highlighting six amendments and their role in clearly defining the freedoms and rights of American citizens in a free democracy. Godden credits her interest in the United States government to the U.S. History class she took at Homestead with Mr. Nicholas Schueller. The course, Godden said, prompted her to think about the ways government applied to her own life. She then heard about the VFW scholarship opportunity through student announcements and the Homestead counseling office and decided to it a chance.

“Every little bit helps when it comes to having money for college,” said Godden. Though she has been accepted to several Big 10 colleges, she has yet to decide where she will be attending in the fall.

“It was an honor to have two veterans here with us to present Reagan with this award,” said Eric Ebert, principal of Homestead High School, “The subject matter is close to my heart as a former teacher of government and it is a great achievement for Reagan as the first Homestead student, in at least several years, to receive this award through the Voice of Democracy scholarship program.”

According to the VFW, the Voice of Democracy audio-essay program was established in 1947 and provides high school students with the unique opportunity to express themselves regarding a democratic and patriotic-themed recorded essay. Each year, nearly 40,000 students in grades 9-12 from across the country enter to win their share of $2.1 million in educational scholarships and incentives awarded through the program.

The National Merit Scholarship Competition (NMSC) recently announced the names of over 16,000 Semifinalists in the 69th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. Homestead High School is excited to announce that seven of our senior students have qualified as National Merit Semifinalists. Those students include: Camille Chen, Hannah D’Cruz, Maya Graupe, William Harwood, Benjamin Levin, Jasmine Xu, and George Zhu. 

These academically talented seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for 7,140 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $28 million that will be offered next spring. To be considered for a Merit Scholarship award, Semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the Finalist level of competition. Scholar designees are selected on the basis of their skills, accomplishments, and potential for success in rigorous college studies.

“The remarkable achievement of these students is a testament to the dedication and excellence of our students, their families, and our outstanding educators here at Homestead and MTSD,” said Eric Ebert, principal of Homestead High School. “These seven scholars have not only demonstrated academic prowess but also a commitment to intellectual curiosity and a passion for learning. We are immensely proud of their accomplishments, and we look forward to seeing them continue to excel as they move forward in their academic journeys.”

Over 1.3 million juniors across 21,000 high schools entered the 2024 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2022 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT), which served as an initial screen of program entrants. The nationwide pool of Semifinalists, representing less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, includes the highest-scoring entrants in each state. The number of Semifinalists in a state is proportional to the state’s percentage of the national total of graduating seniors.

Students who qualify as Semifinalists based on their performance on the PSAT/NMSQT are the only program participants who have an opportunity to advance to the Finalist level and compete for National Merit Scholarships. From the approximately 16,000 Semifinalists, about 15,000 are expected to advance to Finalist level, and in February will be notified of this designation. All National Merit Scholarship winners will be selected from this group of Finalists. Finalists will be announced beginning in April 2024.

Find more information about the National Merit Scholarship Corporation at www.nationalmerit.org

The U.S. News and World Report has ranked Homestead High School in the Mequon-Thiensville School District #7 out of 452 (Top 2%) ranked high schools in the state of Wisconsin. The school was also ranked #458 of nearly 18,000 (Top 3%) public high schools in 50 states and the District of Columbia. Schools are ranked on their performance on state-required tests, graduation, and how well they prepare students for college. By earning a national ranking in the top 40%, Homestead High School has reaffirmed its achieved status as a U.S. News Best High School.

“Our school community knows its value as Mighty Highlanders, but it’s always nice to see the hard work of our students and staff members validated in rankings like this,” said Eric Ebert, Principal of Homestead High School. “I’m proud of the dedication, impressive achievements, and continued successes of our students and educators - all of those things are absolutely reflected in this update from the U.S. News & World Report.”

U.S. News bases rankings on performance on six ranking indicators: college readiness, college curriculum breadth, state assessment proficiency, state assessment performance, underserved student performance, and graduation rate. While the six ranking indicators that determined each school’s rank were the same as those used in the three prior years, U.S. News adjusted its calculation of these measures to account for the impact the COVID-19 pandemic had on schools in the 2019-2020 school year. A notable achievement for 2023 was Homestead’s rank as #2 in the state and #397 in the nation in the category of College Curriculum Breadth Index Rank. This indicates the proportions of 12th graders who took and passed AP or IB exams in multiple areas. 

“The collective drive of our students, passion of our educators, and support of our community is evident in this most recent ranking from the U.S. News & World Report,” said Dr. Matthew Joynt, Superintendent of Schools. “This ranking is a testament to the value of high-quality public education and affirms MTSD’s place as a true ‘launchpad to success’ - something that we could not continue to achieve without the support and teamwork of our entire school community.”

Visit https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/wisconsin for additional information regarding the state and national rankings.