Optimist Club of Mount Horeb, Wisconsin

06/24/2026

Kid's Zone at the Norsk will be bigger and better than ever! We hope to see you and your kiddos there next week! Also, everything is FREE!🎉

05/21/2026

Congratulations to the 5 Mt Horeb High School Seniors who were the recipients of the Optimist Club of Mt Horeb's Scholarships. We awarded 5-$500 scholarships at last evenings Senior Awards Event, and the recipients were from left to right: Eleanor Guenther, Kaylen Hastings, Lily Nelson, Kyle Frischman and Barret Kreul. Our very own Cynthia Jefko did a FABULOUS job presenting as always!

05/21/2026

DANIEL SCHILLING IS "SOMEONE YOU SHOULD KNOW”

Daniel was chosen as the Optimist Club’s high school recipient of the “Someone You Should Know” award for outstanding community service for the month of May.
Daniel is a senior at Mount Horeb High School. Since he earned one of the six percussion spots in middle school, Daniel has learned a lot about hard work as an individual and a teammate. Percussionists know that the performance needs not only strong musicianship but also the hard work of loading and unloading gear. He has been active within the music department performing in Marching band, Concert band, Varsity
band, and Jazz band within the percussion section as well as performing each year at Solo and Ensemble. That adds up to a lot of experience working as a team! It’s an experience that he shared when he volunteered during summer school and tutored middle school students during the fall music camp.
Daniel is also an athlete. He participated in soccer all 4 years of high school. During his junior year, the team started with a slump. Daniel broke it by scoring the first goal of the season! Beyond playing, Daniel has also assisted Coach Gage with coaching younger students during the summer soccer camp. He has continued with his love of soccer by taking the steps to be a soccer referee. Daniel volunteered with Mt. Horeb Summer Frolic and Brats in the Lot for soccer club. He also volunteered with brat sales at the Farmers Market and the Country Music Faire to help with fundraising for the Mount Horeb High School London Trip.
Outside of school, Daniel plays drums for Immanuel Lutheran Church’s praise band. He also volunteers each summer for Vacation Bible School helping to create imaginative scenes and sets for each room, and then by being a counselor to the kids as well as serving in the needed tech role during the opening and closing gatherings. He has also volunteered with Neighbors Helping Neighbors by greeting people and loading vehicles.
On the tech side, Daniel spent many summers at Camp Invention as a camper. It’s a STEM camp where kids get hands-on experiences with science and technology. As soon as he was old enough, he volunteered with Camp Invention as a camp counselor. As a senior Daniel has joined the esports club at Mt Horeb High School where he participates in structured, team-based competitive gaming, focusing on strategy, communication, and skill improvement.
Daniel was honored at the March meeting of the Optimist Club with his family members Tara Schilling, Tom Henderson, Ben Schilling and Sue Henderson present. He received a certificate of recognition, $50.00, and is also in the running to receive one of the Optimist Club scholarships awarded at the Senior Awards event in May.
The Optimist Club of Mount Horeb is proud to name Daniel Schilling as “Someone You Should Know.”

05/21/2026

FAITH DROESSLER IS "SOMEONE YOU SHOULD KNOW”
Faith was chosen as the Optimist Club’s high school recipient of the “Someone You Should Know” award for outstanding community service for the month of May.
Faith is a senior at Mount Horeb High School. She is actively involved in many different extracurricular activities including cross country, the high school musical, drama club, Writers’ Collective (a writing club co-founded and co-led by Droessler), among others. Droessler is also employed at Children’s Community School (CCS) and greatly enjoys being with and helping guide the kids.
Faith was honored at the May meeting of the Optimist Club with her parents Brian and Tanya present. She received a certificate of recognition, $50.00, and is also in the running to receive one of the Optimist Club scholarships awarded at the Senior Awards event in May. The Optimist Club of Mount Horeb is proud to name Faith Droessler as “Someone You Should Know.”

04/28/2026

Our newest club member John Calderone created our very first Optimist Club of Mt Horeb webpage. He did a BEAUTIFUL job and I would love for all of you to check it out.

Friends of youth in Mount Horeb, Wisconsin. Chartered 1995. Scholarships, community service, and the Mount Horeb Summer Frolic.

04/21/2026

BARRET KREUL IS "SOMEONE YOU SHOULD KNOW”

Barret was chosen as the Optimist Club’s high school recipient of the “Someone You Should Know” award for outstanding community service for the month of April.
Barret is a senior at Mount Horeb High School. Throughout his high school years, Barret has been involved in many co-curricular activities including Link Crew, Ecology Club, Yearbook Club, and Viking Book Club. He is also a member of the National Honors Society and has earned his Silver Cord. His interest in dance and music has given him the opportunity to be in the cast and also as the choreographer of the high school musicals. He is also a member of Vocal Jazz and Madrigal.
Outside of school, Barret has been an active student in Forte Studios’ dance program taking classes of Ballet, Jazz, Modern, Tap, Hip-hop, Pointe, and Improvisation. This year he is the Dance Captain of X-tension performing for the Madison Capitals and Milwaukee Herd. He has also performed for the Dance Masters of Wisconsin competition for three years. Barret makes it his goal to help with the education of children. Barret started off volunteering as a dance teacher’s assistant at Forte, helping out with a 1st-3rd grade ballet and tap combo class. The following year he volunteered as an assistant to a 3rd-5th grade combo class of ballet and jazz. Barret is now employed as a student dance teacher at Forte Studios. Barret has dedicated his time over the summers to helping out with Mount Horeb Summer School. He volunteered for Mrs. Sieja’s 3rd grade math camp and the next summer with Mrs. Rockow’s Kindergarten Kickoff. After helping the following year with Mrs. Ryan’s Kindergarten Kickoff he decided that he wanted to help out with kindergarteners during the school year, also. He is currently helping Mrs. Chamberlain’s kindergarten class during their math and integrity time.
Barret was honored at the April meeting of the Optimist Club with his parents Darrick and Stacy Kreul present. He received a certificate of recognition, $50.00, and is also in the running to receive one of the Optimist Club scholarships awarded at the Senior Awards event in May.
The Optimist Club of Mount Horeb is proud to name Barret Kreul as “Someone You Should Know.”

04/21/2026

MADDIE HADAC IS “SOMEONE YOU SHOULD KNOW”

Maddie was chosen as the Optimist Club’s high school recipient of the “Someone You Should Know” award for outstanding community service for the month of March.
Maddie, a senior at Mount Horeb High School, exemplifies leadership, compassion, and commitment both inside and outside the classroom.
A member of her community, Maddie has volunteered at Evangelical Lutheran Church of Mount Horeb and has actively supported fundraising efforts for childhood cancer research.
Maddie has developed a deep appreciation for cultural connection and global understanding through her experiences as an exchange sister. Over the past several years, she and her family have hosted three international exchange students from Thailand, Ecuador, and most recently, Greenland. As an exchange sister, Maddie has gained invaluable insight into other cultures, traditions, foods, and lifestyles. At the same time, she has proudly shared what life looks like in the United States, especially in Wisconsin and our lovely village of Mount Horeb. These experiences have broadened her worldview and strengthened her ability to connect with people from all over.
Since the age of three, Maddie has been dedicated to dance at Forte Studios. Training in ballet, hip hop, jazz, tap, and modern, she has developed not only technical skills but also discipline and perseverance. Last year, she stepped into a leadership role as a teacher for younger dancers, and she now serves as a teacher for five classes - all while maintaining her own rigorous dance schedule.
Maddie’s commitment to helping others succeed extends into the classroom as well. She tutors middle school students for one of her favorite teachers, Mrs. Olsen, providing academic support and encouragement to younger learners.
Throughout high school, Maddie has been actively involved in several student organizations. She participated in Young Life, a Christian ministry that provides mentorship through bi-weekly gatherings and summer camp experiences for middle school, high school, and college students. She is also a member of Letters of Love, an organization dedicated to providing emotional support to children battling serious illnesses through heartfelt, hand-crafted letters. As part of the Mount Horeb High School chapter, Maddie has embraced the mission of spreading kindness and plans to remain involved in college.
For the past three years, Maddie has also been an active member of DECA. She has advanced to district competition twice and most recently earned a medal in her second role play in Hospitality Services Team Decision Making, finishing as a finalist in her category.
While many students struggle with the question of what they want to do in the future, Maddie found her path through reading a book about discrimination, an experience that sparked a passion for advocacy and justice. Since then, she has volunteered her time on election campaigns, encouraged peers to become informed and engaged voters, and emphasized the importance of understanding both local and national issues. During one campaign event, she had the unforgettable opportunity to shake hands with President Barack Obama—a moment that further fueled her aspiration to create meaningful change, perhaps running herself one day. Her courage to stand up for others, paired with her intelligence and compassion, sets her apart as a future leader.
In the fall of 2026, Maddie will attend Edgewood College, where she plans to study Criminal Justice and Political Science on a pre-law track. With her unwavering determination, strong moral compass, and dedication to others, there is no doubt she will continue to impact her community and beyond.
Maddie was honored at the March meeting of the Optimist Club with her parents Shannon and Jim Hadac present. She received a certificate of recognition, $50.00, and is also in the running to receive one of the Optimist Club Scholarships awarded at the Senior Awards event in May.
The Optimist Club of Mount Horeb is proud to name Maddie Hadac as “Someone You Should Know.”

04/21/2026

MOLLY McCUE IS “SOMEONE YOU SHOULD KNOW”

Molly was chosen as the Optimist Club’s high school recipient of the “Someone You Should Know” award for outstanding community service for the month of March.
Molly is a senior at Mount Horeb High School. Molly has been active in many clubs and activities throughout her high school career. She is a member of all three Jazz Bands making her way up to the most competitive Jazz Band - Tuesday Jazz. Due to her love for band, she was elected to the Band Board her senior year and has been helping run and create many of their events, such as Senior Night and Band Show. Molly also played in the Pit Orchestra for the musical Guys and Dolls. She was a two year member of DECA. In her junior year, Molly joined Club Interact due to her passion for service and is currently the Vice President.
She is a four-year member of Spanish Club and currently is a member of Book Club and Writer’s Collective, doing what she loves most - writing. Molly has recently joined the peer tutoring program at the high school and tutors Spanish students. As a National Honor Society Officer she and her peers led a very successful supply drive and were able to donate the largest amount of donations Ronald McDonald House has ever seen.
Outside of school Molly is a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church where she attends a youth group. She traveled to North Carolina on a disaster relief trip to aid in the wreck after Hurricane Helene where she helped build houses, clear paths and roads, volunteered at homeless shelters, and worked at Habitat for Humanity. She also volunteers as a Sunday School teacher. Throughout high school, she has volunteered at Neighbors Helping Neighbors in both the food and the clothes centers. This service experience has allowed her to help using her intermediate knowledge in Spanish to Spanish-speaking families in need at the Pantry and Closet as well. One of her favorite events of the year that is hosted at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church is Feed My Starving Children. Each year in high school she has participated with deep passion and joy in helping through the idea that many hands make a difference. Food parcels are made that go to Africa to feed their children. Molly attended the World Affairs Seminar event at Carol College last summer. She was also chosen as one of two Student Rotarians last fall. Molly aspires to work through the Peace Corps or Lutheran Corps after college to put her hands and drive for service to work.
Molly was honored at the April meeting of the Optimist Club with her family present: Father Eric, Mother Ann, and brothers Connor, Brady and Quinn. She received a certificate of recognition, $50.00, and is also in the running to receive one of the Optimist Club Scholarships awarded at the Senior Awards event in May. The Optimist Club of Mount Horeb is proud to name Molly McCue as “Someone You Should Know.”

04/21/2026

KAYLEN HASTINGS IS "SOMEONE YOU SHOULD KNOW”

Kaylen was chosen as the Optimist Club’s high school recipient of the “Someone You Should Know” award for outstanding community service for the month of April.
Kaylen is a senior at Mount Horeb High School. She has been a member of the Chamber Choir and the high school musical cast all four years. As a member of the choir, she attended trips to New York and to London where she was able to perform a concert for local residents at the Holy Trinity Church. She is currently a member of the Yearbook Club and People’s Organization of Women’s Equality and Rights (POWER) Club. The POWER Club aims to recognize the strength of women in our community and the student body. Kaylen was inducted into the National Honors Society at the end of her sophomore year. She attends monthly meetings, maintains a high GPA and has fulfilled the annual 20-hour volunteer requirement participating in various activities such as food drives, blood drives, etc.
Outside of school, Kaylen has been volunteering in events at Evangelical Lutheran Church all throughout high school. She helps out with Sunday School. She enjoys going on mission trips with other youth from local churches and helping to do things like volunteer at a local clothes closet and cleaning an elderly woman’s garage. Her church also has an annual “Give/Love/Serve” week each summer during which she has participated in making blankets and baby kits for people in need and working at local clothes closets and food pantries. The past two summers she volunteered at Rennebohm Park in Madison on Thursday evenings setting up and taking down chairs, music stands, speakers and other equipment. She also helps elderly folks to their chairs to watch “Concerts in the Park” performed by the Capitol City Band. Kaylen plans on volunteering for the next couple years at Sugar Creek Bible Camp where she has participated as a camper since she was six years old. Kaylen has met the required 140 volunteer hours for the high school’s Silver Cord program.
Kaylen was honored at the April meeting of the Optimist Club with her parents Gary and Mary Hastings present. She received a certificate of recognition, $50.00, and is also in the running to receive one of the Optimist Club scholarships awarded at the Senior Awards event in May. The Optimist Club of Mount Horeb is proud to name Kaylen Hastings as “Someone You Should Know.”

04/20/2026

Congratulations Ella and Nimer for advancing to the Regional Oratorical Contest level! All five of the participants in the Zone Level Contest yesterday did an outstanding job!!