Hy-Noon Kiwanis honors Storm Lake, St. Mary’s students at luncheon

Hy-Noon Kiwanis kept a Buena Vista County tradition alive Monday, honoring honor students from Storm Lake and St. Mary’s schools at a noon luncheon that has recognized student achievement for more than seven decades.

The gathering brought together middle school and high school students, giving families a public stage to celebrate academic success across multiple age groups. Dr. Brian Lenzmeier, president of Buena Vista University, served as the featured speaker and congratulated the students as part of the club’s long-running salute to local scholars.

The luncheon underscored how closely schools and civic groups remain tied in Storm Lake. Rather than a one-time awards program, the Kiwanis event has become a familiar community ritual, one that has been repeated for generations and continues to highlight students who stand out in the classroom. That continuity gives the recognition added weight in a county where local institutions often shape the path from school to leadership.

Lenzmeier’s role also connected the day’s recognition to Buena Vista University, one of the county’s key educational institutions. His presence linked the students’ current achievements with the broader pipeline of local talent, showing families that the names called at a school luncheon today could belong to the civic and professional leaders of tomorrow.

For students from Storm Lake and St. Mary’s, the honor was more than a certificate or applause. It placed their work in front of the community and reinforced the value of strong grades, steady effort and the kind of achievement that service clubs like Hy-Noon Kiwanis have chosen to celebrate for more than 70 years. In a school year often dominated by budgets, staffing and facilities, the luncheon offered a simpler message: the county still makes room to recognize young people who are succeeding.