The Tartan Review

Check out this great feature story from the Ozaukee News Graphic on Chloe Marotta, Homestead student-athlete, Marquette basketball star , and all-around exemplary human being!

"Crafting her own legacy - Marotta a star on and off the basketball court"

Chloe Marotta (Photo: Marquette University Athletics)

Kemi Alabi is an accomplished poet, writer, and artist who graduated from Homestead High School in 2008 and currently lives in Chicago, IL. Their book of poems, Against Heaven, was a
finalist for the 2023 Kate Tufts Discovery Award and a New York Public Library Best Book of 2022.

Kemi Alabi (Photo: Ally Almore)

Homestead senior and special needs advocate, Lily Oberneder, received an honorary award from the Wisconsin Council of Administrators of Special Services (WCASS). WCASS is a professional organization of over 350 members who administer and support special education programs throughout the state of Wisconsin. The WCASS awards recognize outstanding contributions made every day to enhance the lives of students with special needs.

The U.S. News and World Report has ranked Homestead High School in the Mequon-Thiensville School District #10 out of 462 (Top 2%) ranked high schools in the state of Wisconsin. The school was also ranked #561 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.

Homestead juniors Madeline Gehl and Kevin Wan are recipients of the Jay Miley “Service Above Self” award. This award is given to students who have gone above and beyond in service and commitment to others. Gehl and Wan were recently honored during a luncheon sponsored by the Milwaukee North Shore Rotary Club. Both students are honors students, gifted musicians in the orchestra program, and recipients of the Homestead's Merit Award for community service and engagement in Homestead activities.

Homestead High School is proud to announce that seniors Lauren Anderson and Benjamin Levin were recently honored as Herb Kohl Education Foundation Student Excellence Scholars. Student Excellence and Initiative Scholarships of $10,000 are awarded to 187 graduating high school students across Wisconsin who have demonstrated academic excellence and initiative and have displayed a broad range of activity and leadership in their community.

Congratulations to Homestead sophomore and "exemplary person" Aidan Bigonia, who was announced as a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Student of the Week! Aidan was nominated by Homestead aide, Sally McComis.

McComis noted, "I would like to nominate Aidan Bigonia for various reasons. He is an excellent student; however, it is his character traits that shine the brightest. He is always respectful, kind, productive and helpful. He always takes a moment to greet me in the hallway, and ask how I am doing. He looks out for his friends. He manages to balance his school life with his extracurricular activities (recently he was in the musical 'Oklahoma!'). Aidan exemplifies what it is like to be an exemplary student, and an exemplary person."

Homestead senior Sean West who was recognized on Sunday, February 4 at the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association All-State Banquet at Lambeau Field in Green Bay. Sean, a kicker on the HHS Football team, was selected for the 2023 All-State team and attended the banquet with head coach, Drake Zortman.

"Sean was the Kevin Stemke Award winner as well, an honor that goes to the state's top kicker and punter," said Zortman. "Sean finished second all-time in state history with 15 made FG in the 2023 season. He is a true football player excelling in many different areas on the field, not just kicking and punting. Sean has multiple opportunities to play at the next level."

In January, Magistra Wallach and the HHS Latin program won 1st place overall at the state convention in Madison! Homestead swept almost all awards, including Spirit and Roll Call, as well as scoring very high on most tests. 3 out of the 4 Certamen teams made it to finals with Latin 1 winning second place in the state, Latin 2 winning the championship for the second year in a row, and Latin 4 winning third place in the state. Special shoutouts to Charlotte K. for getting second place, and Luke L. for getting fourth place in the sweepstakes out of all 400 (400!!) delegates. Last but not least, special congrats to Matthew S. for being elected as the incoming Wisconsin Junior Classical League (WJCL) 2024-2025 president!

Homestead senior Reagan Godden who 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. 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.

Eight members of the Homestead Math Team competed in the MSOE Opportunity Mathematics Competition on Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024 in Milwaukee. Congratulations go to the team for bringing home a 2nd place team trophy! Individual medal winners also went to Kevin Wan for 3rd place overall and Aditya Kosaraju for 2nd place overall.

Team members included: Sara Yesufu, Jasmine Xu, Siddharth Kosaraju, Aditya Kosaraju, Kevin Wan, George Zhu, Julien Broughton, Shervin Ghanbari-Namdar

Get ready for a walk down memory lane!

The Class of 1979 will have two opportunities to reunite with classmates this summer - June 7th at Lionsfest in Thiensville and June 8th at Libby Montana's in Mequon.

For more information, visit the "Class of '79 45 Year Reunion" Facebook group, or contact Robin Dozer at robinkdozer@gmail.com.

On Friday, June 28th, join fellow Class of '69 alumni for golf, pickleball and an informal dinner. Then on Saturday, gather a the Family Fun Before the Fourth parade, picnic, and more! Wrap up the weekend with lunch at Remington's on Sunday.

Contact Jo Ann Warren for more information at warrenja@bell.net

The Class of 1974 will be celebrating 50 years on September 7th at River Club of Mequon.

Contact classof74reunions@gmail.com for more information.

If you are planning a reunion and would like to post the details in our Alumni Newsletter or in the Alumni section of the Homestead website, please email mloucks@mtsd.k12.wi.us or call 262-238-8517.

Class of '24 students enjoyed their prom this year at Discovery World in Milwaukee.

Flashback 30 years to the Class of '94 and their prom at the Grain Exchange.