Throughout the Culbertson elementary and high schools, posters, signs and pictures cover lockers, walls and windows in memory of Jami Herness.

Many of the posters sport the same theme, "Do it for Jami," one that the students and staff have all strongly embraced. Though one of their own was so tragically taken from them, students and staff have begun the long trek of mourning in the only way they know how - by honoring the memory of the wonderful young woman.

Herness loved music, and hoped to one day be a music teacher, but until then she found her niche in life through drill team, basketball and speech and drama, where she was an inspiration and pillar of strength for her peers. "She was extremely motivated," said speech and drama co-coach Ken Taylor. "She kept everyone up and excited. She was a real motivator for the team."

Throughout the year in speech and drama, she continually shifted between first and second place with a male student from Froid-Medicine Lake. With her death, the young girl, who always came in third behind Herness and the other competitor, confessed at speech and drama divisionals that her dream was for Herness to beat her competitor. "She was a good team player," said speech and drama teammate Cora Grimsrud, "and was good at what she liked to do."

Herness was a very vital part of the speech and drama team, and her loss just before divisionals took the team hard. Herness competed in Serious Solo and her two close teammates Devon Bengochea and Tammi Ruffatto competed in memorized public address with analysis and expository. "They had a tough first round," Taylor explained. Though, they rallied themselves afterwards and, after throwing out the first round, took first and second place before dedicating the plaque to Herness.

When she wasn't practicing for speech and drama, Herness spent plenty of time on the court, either playing basketball or volleyball. "She was very strong, very consistent," said Taylor, who is also the head volleyball coach and the high school science teacher. As one of three volleyball captains, she was a role model to the young players in her determination to excel.

"She was always on the floor," recalls senior and teammate Alex Baldwin. "She was quiet," said Karen Savely, also a student and volleyball teammate, adding with a chuckle, "Until something didn't go her way."

"You can tell she's missed," Taylor said in reference to the loss of her quiet, but self-assured presence in the classroom, "the kids that used to sit next to her have moved, because she's supposed to be next to them."

As a student, Herness put everything she had into each and every assignment. "No one wanted to follow her in English," Savely explained, referring to the various short skits that the English students often had to do. She was so good at her skits that she was often asked by students to perform her speech and drama presentation, which was about a girl with multiple personalities. "Everyone was in awe of her," explained Baldwin, "because we knew no one else could do what she did with the character changes."

Though the students of Culbertson and the staff have pushed forward to honor Herness in every way possible, they continue to mourn the loss of a very inspired youth who touched the lives of everyone with whom she came in contact.

"I'll miss her smile and personality the most," Grimsrud said. "She dressed punk but had the best personality." The two girls used to spend time hanging together at each other's houses and attended youth group together. Grimrud helped Herness when she broke her collar bone and needed some assistance.

Of the wonderful memories she has of Herness, she's going to miss their own invented game of "Hey, cow!" the most, one that they played on road trips together to Williston or Sidney. "You had to hang out the window and scream, 'hey, cow!' at a field of cows," Grimrud explained, "and how ever many cows raised their heads and looked at you was how many points you got." Unfortunately for Grimsrud, Herness won most of the games. "She had a voice that carried and she could be really loud."

Herness' life can be summed up by the words written on a flyer in honor of her by members of the community who loved and adored her. "Although, with our human eyes it's difficult to see, in our hearts, we know our heavenly father in his infinite wisdom sees the depth of all the fine qualities Jami possessed. Hope. Love. Joy. Faith. Strength. Aspiration. Inspiration, and many more. He knows she's ready, she's finished, she's complete. Perfect for the works He needs her to do."

"She's gone to a better place," Grimrud said, "and she'll always be in our hearts."

jennaa@sidneyherald.com