Walsh-Pembina County Projects
Walsh County MATHCOUNTS
Seventy-one middle school students from area schools of Cavalier, Fordville-Lankin, Grafton, Minto, Park River Area and Valley-Edinburg competed in the Walsh-Pembina Counties MathCounts competition held Friday, February 7, 2025 at the Walsh County Courthouse.
MathCounts is a national program designed to improve math skills among U.S. students. The program focuses on middle school students, who are at a crucial stage in developing and sustaining math interest and ability.
The top three Mathletes with the highest scores from Walsh County area were: 1st Place, Charley Moen of Fordville-Lankin; 2nd Place, Logan Rutherford of Park River Area; and 3rd Place, Adley Gudmundson of Park River Area.
The top two teams with the highest scores from Walsh County were: 1st Place, Park River Area Team, consisting of Trey Almen, Chris Schmitz, Gabe Shirek, and Lauren Solseng, coached by Mr. Jonathan Berg; and 2nd Place, Minto Team, consisting of Noah Anderson, Isaac Hefta, Bennett Kennedy, and KcKenna Ray Pinta, coached by Ms. Olivia Norman.
Following competition, the students were treated to a pizza party through a generous donation from Kadrmas, Lee & Jackson.
The Walsh County MATHCOUNTS Chapter is sponsored by the Walsh-Pembina School Administrators. More information can be found at https://www.mathcounts.org.
Individual Winners Left to Right: Charley Moen, Fordville-Lankin; Logan Rutherford, Park River Area; and Adley Gudmundson, Park River Area.
First Place Team, Park River Area, Left to Right: Chris Schmitz, Gabe Shirek, Trey Almen, and Lauren Solseng.
2nd Place Team, Minto, Left to Right: Isaac Hefta, McKenna Ray Pinta, Noah Anderson, and Bennett Kennedy.
Walsh County Bus Driver’s Workshop
The 2024 Walsh County Bus Driver’s Workshop was held in August 2024.
- School Bus-Vehicle Driver Registration Form
- School Bus Driver’s Guide
Training Requirements
Bus Driver Training Requirements (includes drivers of school vehicles designed to seat 10 to 15 passengers):
- Annual 3-hour training workshop sponsored by the local school district of county superintendent’s office, SFN 52088 submitted to NDDPI by August 15
- DDC-4 workshop every five years. New drivers must attend within one year of employment
Walsh County Spelling Bee
The Walsh County Spelling Bee was held on Tuesday, February 11, 2025 in the Farmer’s Room at the Walsh County Courthouse in Grafton. Noah Anderson, a 7th grader representing Minto Public School, placed 1st; Liam Miller, a 7th grader representing Park River Area School, placed 2nd; and Olivia Bredeson, an 8th grader representing Grafton Public Schools, placed Honorable Mention.
Other participants from Walsh County, ranging from grades 6-8, included Ruby Hagen, Charley Moen, and Sutton Nielsen, coached by Mrs. Rachel Smith, represented Fordville-Lankin Public School; Jackson Douville, Jesly Hernandez, and Johnny Rios, coached by Mrs. Elizabeth Loeffler, represented Grafton Public School; Allison Haugen, Isaac Hefta, and McKenna Ray Pinta, coached by Mrs. Paige Sundby, represented Minto Public School; and Roman Carlson, Sia Patel, and Lauren Solseng, coached by Ms. Evy Pregunta, represented Park River Area School. Bee pronouncer was Mary Rudnik; Cindy Johnson and Teresa Dusek served as judges; and bee coordinator was Lori Zahradka.
All students participated in a written round, a vocabulary test, and an oral round. The top ten students moved on to the oral spelldown. The oral spelldown concluded after eighteen rounds, making for an exciting competition. The Scripps National Spelling Bee provides word lists and rules for use at the county court competitions.
The 1st and 2nd place winners will be advancing to the State Spelling Bee to be held in Bismarck on March 17. The Scripps National Spelling Bee will be held in the Washington, D.C. May 27-29, 2025.
Left to Right: Noah Anderson, 1st Place; Liam Miller, 2nd Place; and Olivia Bredeson, Honorable Mention.
Walsh-Pembina Counties Academic Olympics
High School
High school students from across Walsh and Pembina counties showcased their academic prowess at the 10th Annual Walsh-Pembina Counties Academic Olympics, held on Tuesday, February 25, in the Grafton High School gymnasium. Sponsored by the Walsh-Pembina School Administrators and coordinated by North Valley Career and Technology Center, the event brought together students from Cavalier, Grafton, Midway, Minto, North Border Pembina, North Border Walhalla, Park River Area, and Valley-Edinburg.
Fourteen teams competed in the rigorous academic contest, demonstrating their knowledge across various subjects. After an initial regular round, the top three teams-Grafton Varsity, Cavalier Varsity, and Minto Varsity-advanced to the high-stakes lightning round. Emerging victorious was the Cavalier Varsity team, comprised of Owen Crosby, Jonas Kuhn, Shirley Kemp, Ava Kemnitz, and Madison Heller. Under the guidance of their coach, Mr. Doug Fisher, they secured the championship title and earned the coveted traveling trophy.
Moderated by Mr. Todd Burianek, the competition featured challenging questions spanning multiple disciplines, including English, Science, Mathematics, Social Studies, Electives, and Current Events.
The Academic Olympics season continues with the Regional Competition set to take place at Grafton High School gymnasium on March 11 beginning at 10 AM. The public is welcome to attend. The State Competition in Bismarck will follow on March 25.
Cavalier High School Academic Olympic Team L to R: Owen Crosby, Jonas Kuhn, Shirley Kemp, Ava Kemnitz, and Madison Heller.
Jr. High
More than 100 intelligent junior high students from the schools of Cavalier, Drayton, Fordville-Lankin, Grafton, Midway, North Border Pembina, North Border Walhalla, and Valley-Edinburg competed in the 9th Annual Walsh-Pembina Counties Jr. High Academic Olympics Competition on Thursday, October 31 in the Grafton High School gymnasium. The events was sponsored by the Walsh-Pembina Administrators and coordinated by North Valley Career and Technology Center.
Students participated in a regular round with the top three teams advancing to a lightning round. Of the fourteen teams competing, the Cavalier Public School 8th grade team of Naomi Stegman, Aburey Ratliff, Averie Sondeland, Ali Briese, and Micah Crosby, coached by Mr. Doug Fisher, came out on top, earning them the traveling trophy. For 2nd place, the Valley-Edinburg team of Benedict Burrell, Vohn Austfjord, Joe Langerud, Max Vivatson, Gary Olimb, and Ben Peterson, coach by Ms. Leslie Fagerholt edged out the Grafton team of Benjamin Green, Riley Cole, Braden Ziegelmann, Bryson Almen, Jackson Douville, and Jorgen Olson, coached by Ms. Megan Wynne and Ms. Krystle Thiele.
Moderators Gunder Kemp, Jonas Kuhn, and Madison Heller, members of the 2024 Walsh-Pembina High School Academic Olympics Championship Team from Cavalier High School kept the competition moving at a nice pace. Students were asked question related to the categories of English, Science, Math, Social Studies, Electives, and Current Events. Grafton FFA Chapter members prepared and served a pulled pork sandwich lunch for all to enjoy.
Walsh-Pembina Jr. High Academic Olympics Champions Cavalier Public School Team: Naomi Stegman, Aubrey Ratliff, Averie Sondeland, Ali Briese, and Micah Crosby.
