Lincoln High School Band, Sioux Falls, SD

Thank you all for following and supporting our Senior Spotlight series! Earlier today, the class of 2026 walked across the stage at the Sioux Falls Arena. Congratulations to all of you and especially to our band seniors! We will miss all of you and can't wait to see what is next for you! Thank you all!

Our final "Senior Spotlight" of 2026 - Class of 2026, thank you so much! Have the best time at graduation today!

SENIOR SPOTLIGHT:
Tysen Ulmer

👥 Parents:
Shannon and Heather Ulmer

🎓 Plans for after graduation:
I am enrolled at Southeast Technical College in the Mechanical Engineering Technology Program.

📷 Favorite memory of being in the Lincoln Band Program:
During a band rehearsal this last season, we had to postpone rehearsal due to lightning. The entire trombone section piled into 1 vehicle. Also, during my freshman year at the finals in St. Louis, we received 4th place with our performance of Unchained. It was exciting to see the excitement of the upper classmen.

🗣 Advice for underclassmen:
Socialize with other members of the band to make friends.

💭 What has being a member of the band meant to you?
I've really enjoyed being in band and marching band. I have many friends in the program and had the opportunity to meet people with similar interests.

🎹 Do you plan to continue playing after high school? If so, where?
Yes, I think I'll continue to playing, but not at a program.

🏆 Awards/Honors
- Member of the Varsity Band, Jazz the Third, and Marching Band

Ladies and Gentlemen, Tysen Ulmer! We wish you the best of luck next year, Tysen! Thank you for all you have done for the program!

SENIOR SPOTLIGHT:
Sophia Pascoe

👥 Parents:
Angela and Joe Pascoe

🎓 Plans for after graduation:
Going to festivals and attending Augustana University

📷 Favorite memory of being in the Lincoln Band Program:
Going out to eat with my section

🎹 Do you plan to continue playing after high school? If so, where?
I do plan on playing at Augustana after high school

🏆 Awards/Honors
- 1-time member of All-State band
- 1-time section leader of the marching band
- Member of the Symphonic Band and Marching Band

Ladies and Gentlemen, Sophia Pascoe! We wish you the best of luck next year, Sophia! Thank you for all you have done for the program!

SENIOR SPOTLIGHT:
Dagim Jami

👥 Parents:
Ahmed Abogn and Mulumabet Tefere

🎓 Plans for after graduation:
I plan on attending South Dakota State University to study mechanical engineering.

📷 Favorite memory of being in the Lincoln Band Program:
My favorite memory would have to be both times the tuba section beat their ice cream records, which lead to us chanting while running around Lincoln. A close second would have to be when I saw a photographer get run over by the Big Apple during the Macy’s Parade.

🗣 Advice for underclassmen:
Apply yourself. I find myself procrastinating, complaining, and being lazy, and no good ever comes from it. Work hard to achieve your goals, and hold yourself accountable. Also, don’t use didgeridoos as baseball bats.

💭 What has being a member of the band meant to you?
Band has been a place where I’ve been able to eat a lot of free food.

🎹 Do you plan to continue playing after high school? If so, where?
I plan on playing in both the SDSU marching and pep band.

🏆 Awards/Honors
- 1-year section leader of the marching band
- 4-time member of the all-state band
- 2-time member of the Augustana Honor Band
- 1-time recipient of the Best Section Award
- 2026 John Philip Sousa Award Winner
- Member of the Symphonic Band and Marching Band

Ladies and Gentlemen, Dagim Jami! We wish you the best of luck next year, Dagim! Thank you for all you have done for the program!

SENIOR SPOTLIGHT:
Eliot Gongopoulos

👥 Parents:
George and Stephanie Gongopoulos

🎓 Plans for after graduation:
Attend UC Davis for aerospace engineering

📷 Favorite memory of being in the Lincoln Band Program:
Winning Basically Basie my sophomore and senior year.

🗣 Advice for underclassmen:
Enjoy every moment you have in band.

💭 What has being a member of the band meant to you?
Being a member of this program has allowed me to work with a very large group of people to achieve a shared goal. This gave me life skills and experiences that a am very grateful to have. I hope this program continues to impact students this way after I leave.

🎹 Do you plan to continue playing after high school? If so, where?
Yes UCD

🏆 Awards/Honors
- 1 year drum line captain
- 1 year field commander
- 2 year all state jazz
- 1 year all state band
- Member of the Symphonic Band, Jazz Collective, and Marching Band

Ladies and Gentlemen, Eliot Gongopoulos! We wish you the best of luck next year, Eliot! Thank you for all you have done for the program!

SENIOR SPOTLIGHT:
Ethan Ohling

👥 Parents:
Ron and Sonia Ohling

🎓 Plans for after graduation:
Going to SDSU for mechanical engineering.

📷 Favorite memory of being in the Lincoln Band Program:
Performing Houdini Unchained in St. Louis

🗣 Advice for underclassmen:
Make good friends. those friends will influence how you grow and develop both as a musician and a person.

💭 What has being a member of the band meant to you?
I’ve made so many good friends that have been with me throughout all of highschool.

🎹 Do you plan to continue playing after high school? If so, where?
Yes in the sdsu jazz band

🏆 Awards/Honors
- 1-year field commander
- 1-time all state band
- 2-time all state jazz band
- Member of the Symphonic Band, Jazz Collective, and Marching Band

Ladies and Gentlemen, Ethan Ohling! We wish you the best of luck next year, Ethan! Thank you for all you have done for the program!

SENIOR SPOTLIGHT:
Lydia Redepenning

👥 Parents:
Jeremy Redepenning, Jessica Redepenning

🎓 Plans for after graduation:
Attending the University of Montana with a major in Human Biology and Biomedical Sciences

📷 Favorite memory of being in the Lincoln Band Program:
Going to New York, and jumping in puddles in full uniform after marching the parade.

🗣 Advice for underclassmen:
Have fun, it is not about the awards, or the points but making friends and meeting tons of new and different people.

🎹 Do you plan to continue playing after high school? If so, where?
Yes, at the University of Montana

🏆 Awards/Honors
- Member of the Symphonic Band and Marching Band

Ladies and Gentlemen, Lydia Redepenning! We wish you the best of luck next year, Lydia! Thank you for all you have done for the program!

SENIOR SPOTLIGHT:
Madison Empey

👥 Parents:
Jessica and Matthew Evans

🎓 Plans for after graduation:
I'm not committed to a college, but I'm going to have fun wherever I go!!!

📷 Favorite memory of being in the Lincoln Band Program:
Melanie setting off the fire alarm with her hair dryer in our hotel room during All State Band

🗣 Advice for underclassmen:
Get to know as many people as you can!!

🎹 Do you plan to continue playing after high school? If so, where?
Yes, I plan to play at the college that I attend!

🏆 Awards/Honors
- 1-year section leader
- 1-year field commander of the marching band
- 3-time member of the all-state band
- 3-year member of the all-state jazz band
- 3-year member of the all-state orchestra
- Marching band soloist 2025
- Member of the Symphonic Band, Jazz Collective, and Marching Band

Ladies and Gentlemen, Maddie Empey! We wish you the best of luck next year, Maddie! Thank you for all you have done for the program!

SENIOR SPOTLIGHT:
Meredith Johnson

👥 Parents:
Brenda and Eric Johnson

🎓 Plans for after graduation:
Attend SDSU for a pre mortuary science path.

📷 Favorite memory of being in the Lincoln Band Program:
Being able to create many good relationships.

🗣 Advice for underclassmen:
Show up and put in the effort.

💭 What has being a member of the band meant to you?
I had a lot of fun and made lots of memories.

🎹 Do you plan to continue playing after high school? If so, where?
Maybe at SDSU

🏆 Awards/Honors
2026 All state band member
- Member of the Symphonic Band and Marching Band

Ladies and Gentlemen, Meredith Johnson! We wish you the best of luck next year, Meredith! Thank you for all you have done for the program!