Congratulations to eighth-grader Annaliese Rauschenberger, who won the North Dakota State Spelling Bee!  Annaliese will compete at nationals in Washington D.C. on May 26.

And speaking of amazing North Dakota students, today’s news is about the Civil War, a Happy Cafe, and mathletes.  Read on.

The Peske family has had music in their blood for generations, which is why it was all the more special that 11-year-old Ben Peske played his great-great-great-grandfather’s Civil War drum at this year’s Bismarck High School winter concert. (KFYR TV)

Eleven-year-old Alexis Thompson has hosted her fourth annual “Happy Café”. (KFYR TV)

For the last six years, Hankinson has hosted a Mathcounts competition for 7^th– and 8^th-graders. (Wahpeton Daily News)