Jeremiah Matias, Xavier Hibbert, Jordan Mills and Karagyn Whelchel pose for a photo after receiving the Beasley-Mills Memorial Scholarship during the Senior Awards Night on May 13, 2026, at the Perry Performing Arts Center. Allison Ullmann/Raccoon Valley Radio

Perry High School seniors were celebrated during an annual awards ceremony on Wednesday.

Counselor Tami Valline says almost $2 million was handed out during the 2026 Senior Awards Night in the Perry Performing Arts Center. She adds that the students received scholarships from colleges along with local businesses and organizations. 

Valline details that around 40 local entities handed out awards on Wednesday night, including a handful of new scholarships.

“I think it’s a great way to bring the community together. Some of our scholarships are memorial scholarships and it’s a nice way for them to remember their loved ones and honor them as well. And then also a nice chance for some of our area businesses that are successful to come in and give money to our students as well. Our students work pretty hard and it’s a nice way to reward them too for putting in a lot of hard work throughout school.”

To see photos from the Senior Awards Night, click here, and look below for a list of the scholarship winners.

ACADEMIC AND SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARDS

Iowa Governor’s Scholar Award – Seth Borgeson

IHSAA Bernie Saggau Award – Jesus Cerna

IGHSAU E. Wayne Cooley Award – Karagyn Whelchel

IGHSAU Lisa Brinkmeyer Award – Karagyn Whelchel

Tom Lipovac Award – Ayden Erickson, Seth Borgeson

Iowa Bar Association Citizenship Award –  Madeline McDevitt, Xavier Hibbert

HOIAC Academic All-Activity Award – Karagyn Whelchel, Ayden Erickson

The Spirit of a Bluejay Award –  Anthony Aguilar, Elsie Aguilar, Brody Booth, Jacob Cerna, Jesus Cerna, Ayden Erickson, Bethany Espinoza, Montserrat Hernandez, Xavier Hibbert, Iliana Ledesma, Madeline McDevitt, Carlos Martinez, Treasure Moore, Jeferson Reyes, Brandon Reyes-Guevara

NASSP Citizenship Award –  Anthony Aguilar, Michael Alberto, Ashlyn Atkins, Seth Borgeson, Derrick Carrillo, Jannai Chavez, Leobardo Delgadillo, Gavin Gamble, Andrea Goehring, Benjamin Guevara, Jonathan Mayancela, Hanna Sucher, Ema Valenzuela-Flores

Theulen-Davis Award –  Charity Parnell, Jesus Cerna

Presidential Academic Award – Anthony Aguilar, Ashlyn Atkins, Brody Booth, Seth Borgeson, Ayden Erickson, Andrea Goehring, Landon Grant, MacKenzie Kilts, Xavier Hibbert, Jeremiah Matias, Madeline McDevitt, Esteban Medina, Jordan Mills, Catherine Miranda, Charity Parnell, Alexandra Rodriguez, Levi Thoren, Coral Sanchez, Ema Valenzuela-Flores, Karagyn Whelchel

FINANCIAL AWARDS

The Barnes Memorial Scholarship – Seth Borgeson ($500)

Beasley-Mills Memorial Scholarships – Jordan Mills, Karagyn Whelchel, Jeremiah Matias, Xavier Hibbert, Andrea Goehring ($1,000)

The Mary Boyer Trust – Esteban Medina, Catherine Miranda, Landon Grant, Alexandra Rodriguez, Seth Borgeson ($1,000)

Dr Brady Memorial Scholarship – Kimberly Flores ($500)

Chapter DE, P.E.O. – Kimberly Flores ($500)

Chapter OK, P.E.O. – Alejandra Hernandez ($300)

E. Ruth Garren Scholarship – Michael Alberto, Cadence Conrad, Sofia Martinez, Iliana Ledesma, Jackelin Carrillo, MacKenzie Kilts ($1,250)

HUP Hispanic United for Perry – Catherine Miranda, Bethany Espinoza ($1,000)

Knights of Columbus – Esteban Medina, Madeline McDevitt ($250); Jesus Cerna ($500)

Ladies Golf Scholarship – Karagyn Whelchel ($400)

Lloyd and Anne Lane Scholarship – Jacob Morales, Israel Soto-Rojas ($500); Yamilet Gonzalez, Delilah Riquleme, Brooke Nelson, Leobardo Delgadillo, Karina Perez ($1,000)

Madelon Capp Carlile Scholarship – Andrea Goehring, Esteban Medina, Coral Sanchez, Karagyn Whelchel, Jeremiah Matias, Ayden Erickson, Xavier Hibbert, Landon Grant, Anthony Aguilar, Alexandra Rodriguez, MacKenzie Kilts, Jacob Morales, Madeline McDevitt, Ema Valenzuela-Flores ($1,000); Levi Thoren, Kimberly Flores, Oneida Hernandez, Jean Carlos Puente, Catherine Miranda ($2,000)

Mary Waggie Memorial Scholarship – Coral Sanchez ($1,000)

Kirk Waggie Memorial Scholarship – Levi Thoren ($1,000)

Millard & Blanche White Scholarship – Levi Thoren ($500)

Trent Miner Memorial Scholarship – Jordan Mills, Karagyn Whelchel, Madeline McDevitt, Catherine Miranda, Levi Thoren, Alejandra Hernandez, Cadence Conrad, Brooke Nelson, Jace Coleman, Hailey Bautista, Gustavo Drahos ($500)

Optomist Club of Perry Scholarship – Essay Winner: Landon Grant; Smiles for Ahmir: Anthony Aguilar; Education Award: Levi Thoren ($500)

PEA – Oneida Hernandez, Levi Thoren ($250)

Perry Lion’s Club – Seth Borgeson ($1,000)

Perry Lutheran Homes StepUp Scholarship – Melissa Aguilar-Murillo ($1,000)

Perry Rotary Club – Madeline McDevitt, Israel Soto-Rojas, Alejandra Hernandez, Cayden Hay ($1,000)

PHS Science-Tech Scholarship – Anthony Aguilar ($400

Raccoon Valley Bank – Catherine Miranda, Madeline McDevitt, Jesus Cerna, Gustavo Drahos ($500)

Tom Schleicher Memorial Scholarship – Karagyn Whelchel ($150)

St Patrick’s Regina Guild – Jesus Cerna, Madeline McDevitt ($250)

Van Kirk Scholars – Jesus Cerna, Montserrat Hernandez, Juan Beato-Amparo, Jace Coleman, Dionisio Andres, Brandon Reyes-Guevara, Joseph Perez, Hailey Bautista ($1,000); Jeferson Reyes, Daniel Herrera, Nile McClintock, Zander Shelley ($2,000)

Judge Van Wifvat Memorial – Oneida Hernandez, Seth Borgeson ($500)

Virginia O’Brien Scholarship –  Levi Thoren ($1,000)

Iowa Hospital Foundation Association – Ayden Erickson ($2,000)

DCH Foundation Scholarship – Sofia Martinez, MacKenzie Kilts ($1,000)

The Otley Masonic Lodge 299 Scholarship – Seth Borgeson, Jordan Mills ($5,000)

Character Still Counts Scholarship – Madeline McDevitt ($1,000)

Osmundson/South Scholarship – Andy Schuttler, Ben Tolle ($500)

Ruth Calhoun Scholarship – Michael Alberto, Leobardo Delgadillo, Karina Perez, Brooke Nelson, Deliliah Riquelme ($1,000)

The Family Credit Union’s Hispanic Scholarship – Ema Valenzuela-Flores ($1,000)

The Dame Family Foundation Scholarship – Sofia Martinez ($3,000)

The Burger Entrepreneurial Scholarship – Jesus Cerna ($250)

The Tom Stone Memorial Scholarship – Juan Beao-Amparo ($500)

The Josh Davis Memorial Scholarship – Brody Booth, Hanna Sucher ($1,000)

Harrison Smith Memorial Scholarship – Jordan Mills ($1,000)