The five students lead a graduating class of 26. They are —

— Elesia Maree Sweig, 18, will graduate with a cumulative grade-point average of 3.994, ranking first in her class. She is the daughter of Heather and David Sweig. She has two siblings, Annika and Landon.

Sweig has participated in volleyball, basketball and softball all four years of high school. She has also been actively involved in student council, National Honor Society, theater, forensics, and One Act. Sweig has served as class secretary all four years and has been recognized as a member of the Miss Niagara Court, Prom Court and Homecoming Court. She also attended ALA Badger Girls State.

Her honors and awards include: valedictorian of the Class of 2026, Miss Niagara 2025, DAR Award recipient, WVCA All-Academic Award (volleyball), Forensics State medalist, 2nd Team All-Conference pitcher (softball), varsity letters across athletics, Badger Awards in volleyball and softball, Academic Letter, Academic Bar and multiple Highest and High Honor Roll recognitions.

Annalee White

Sweig named her parents as her role models because they have consistently demonstrated hard work, resilience and empathy. She shared that they support her unconditionally while encouraging her to be her best.

Sweig enjoys working out, going for walks, reading, listening to music, spending time with family and friends, traveling, and watching movies and television.

She has worked at The Bean Box during the summers of 2024 and 2025 and is currently employed at Carlos Cantina.

Sweig has been actively involved in community service, including Aurora Mud Runs, Lions Club Picnic, youth volleyball and basketball camps, refereeing junior high volleyball, St. Anthony’s fish fries and dinners, coaching in the Great Eight Games, concession stands, and participation in school and community theater productions.

Sweig plans to pursue an athletic training degree at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point’s 3+2 program to earn her bachelor’s degree in exercise science and a master’s degree in athletic training. She aims to have a career as a licensed athletic trainer working with collegiate or professional athletes.

Alyssa Hedmark

— Annalee Elizabeth White, 18, will graduate with a cumulative GPA of 3.927, ranking second in her class. She is the daughter of Lori Mihelich and Ed White. She has one sibling, Eddie.

White has participated in volleyball all four years, softball, student council, National Honor Society, forensics and theater. She also was class president all four years of high school.

Her honors and awards include: Forensics State medals (2023, 2024, 2025, 2026), volleyball varsity letters (2024, 2025), softball varsity letter (2024), Academic Letter (2024), Academic Bar (2025), and Academic Star (2026). She has also earned her Certified Nursing Assistant certification, allowing her to gain hands-on experience in the health care field while still in high school.

White named the teachers and faculty at Niagara High School as her role models. She shared that their guidance, support, and encouragement have given her the tools to be successful. She is especially grateful for teacher Ginger Anderson’s persistence and the confidence instilled in her by teachers like Nicole Connors.

White enjoys working out, traveling, spending time with friends and being outdoors. She especially enjoys hiking and experiencing nature and values staying active as a way to maintain both a healthy body and mind.

Kaden Courts

She has maintained employment throughout all four years of high school. White works at the YMCA, where she leads and supervises youth activities, creating a safe, positive and inclusive environment while building strong relationships with children and families. She also provides attentive childcare, supporting daily routines, learning, and development. In addition, she works at Maryhill Manor as a CNA.

White has been actively involved in community service, including a CMS service trip, Salvation Army bell ringing, Lions Club picnic concessions and 50/50 raffles, Mud Runs 50/50, Miss Niagara 50/50, school play support, bowling tournament ticket sales, pasty making, brat fry events, student council concession stands, decorating for dances, and serving as a referee for the Great Eight games.

White plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in nursing at Bellin College this fall. She hopes to begin her career working in an intensive care unit, with a long-term goal to attend CRNA school and become a nurse anesthetist.

— Alyssa Helen Hedmark, 17, will graduate with a cumulative GPA of 3.904, ranking third in her class. She is the daughter of Stacy and Chad Hedmark. She has one brother, Dwight.

Hedmark has participated in volleyball all four years, as well as softball, basketball and soccer. In addition to athletics, she has been involved in forensics, theater, student council, National Honor Society, band, collective bargaining, and attended Badger Girls State.

Brooke Bruemmer

Her honors and awards include: Forensics State Gold Medalist, National Honor Society member, class vice president for two years, varsity letters in volleyball and softball, High and Highest Honors for 16 consecutive quarters, Badger Girls State alumna, Academic Letter, and Academic Bar.

Hedmark named her parents as her role models. She shared that her father’s perseverance and courage, along with her mother’s kindness and dedication, have inspired her to become the best version of herself.

Hedmark enjoys spending time with family and friends, reading, watching movies, painting, turkey hunting, shopping and staying active.

She has worked at Badger Care for the past three years during the school year.

Hedmark has completed more than 160 hours of community service through activities, including softball fundraisers, concession stands, student council events, youth volleyball camps and fundraisers, National Night Out, elementary concerts, school theater and the Lions Club picnic.

Hedmark plans to pursue a bachelor of science in nursing degree at Northern Michigan University, then return to the Iron Mountain area to begin her career as a nurse.

— Kaden Michael Courts, 17, will graduate with a cumulative GPA of 3.856, ranking fourth in his class. He is the son of Kimberly Yager and Kenneth Courts. He has three siblings, Jaxon, Drew and Weston.

Courts has participated in football and basketball throughout high school, as well as track and field and golf. In addition to athletics, he has been involved in Hi-Q, pep band, forensics, and National Honor Society. He also attended Badger Boys State.

His honors and awards include: High Honors all four years of high school and the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association All-Academic Award.

Courts named his grandfather as his role model because he has always been there to guide him and teach him how to be a better man.

Courts enjoys weightlifting, playing sports, spending time with friends and focusing on self-improvement.

He has work experience through positions with the Town of Niagara, M.J. Electric and Grace Lutheran Church.

Courts has been involved in community service activities including the Lions Club picnic, theater, emcee at band programs, student council, concession stand support and helping feed the needy at Muskego Feeds.

Courts plans to pursue a degree in mechanical engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison this fall.

— Brooke Lyn Bruemmer, 18, will graduate with a cumulative GPA of 3.756, ranking fifth in her class. She is the daughter of Denise Lind and Marc Bruemmer. She has one sibling, Evan.

Bruemmer has participated in volleyball and track and field during high school. In addition to athletics, she has been involved in forensics, theater, and National Honor Society.

Her honors and awards include: High Honors/Honor Roll throughout high school, National Honor Society member, Artist of the Month (senior year) and a Merit Award Scholarship for an art piece displayed at an art show at Kingsford High School. She also earned her dental assistant certification and advanced to state competition in forensics.

Bruemmer named her mother as her role model because of her strong leadership and work ethic. She admires how hard her mother works and the example she sets in everything she does.

Bruemmer enjoys spending her free time working out, creating art and spending time with friends.

She has worked as a lifeguard throughout all four years of high school and, beginning the summer of her junior year, was a hostess at Carlos Cantina as well. She has also completed dual enrollment coursework and gained hands-on experience in the dental field through her dental assistant program, including volunteering at Dentistry From the Heart.

Bruemmer has been actively involved in community service, including student council activities, community theater, the Niagara Lions Club picnic, and serving on the Miss Niagara Court.

Bruemmer plans to pursue a degree in dental hygiene at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College this fall.

Superintendent Nathaniel Burklund, the board of education and school faculty congratulates the group.

The graduation ceremony is set for 6 p.m. Friday, May 15, at Niagara High School.