 The Gerard family of Brooklyn has three generations listed in the BGM Hall of Pride. Pictured, from left, Gracie Gerard, Charity Wilkerson, Joan (Montgomery) Bonnett, Josh Gerard and Lorelai Gerard. Gracie, a seventh grader at BGM, enjoys singing and acting and will be a candidate for the Hall of Pride after she graduates in 2031. Charity is listed in the Hall of Pride for Individual Acting category for a speech. Joan sang in the All-State Choirs her junior and senior years in high school. Josh made it to All-State his junior year in the Speech Improv and Lorelai earned Outstanding Performer at Choral Solo and Ensemble at All-State her senior year at BGM. By J.O. Parker The BGM Hall of Pride shines a light on the many achievements and accolades of students who have sat in the classrooms, walked the hallways at the school and participated in school activities. The hall features students who earned all-state honors in sports, band, chorus, drama, speech, dance, cheerleading, FFA and more. Located in the hallway near the elementary kitchen and gym, the BGM Hall of Pride, was founded in 2010 by former BGM teacher, coach and athletic director, turned historian/archivist/curator, Gary Schroeder. Currently there are 419 posters in the BGM Hall of Pride. Among the students listed in the hall are three generations of a talented Brooklyn family. It all starts with Joan (Montgomery) Bonnett, a 1972 BGM graduate. Joan participated in the 1970 and 1971 All-State Choirs her junior and senior years. “It was a choir of 600 students from across Iowa,” recalled Joan. “The choir was made up of 150 sopranos, 150 tenors, 150 altos and 150 bass singers.” Joan, who sang in the soprano group, remembers the choir singing the “Battle Hymn of the Republic” with the All-State Band performing the music. “It was a great privilege to sing with so many talented singers from across the state of Iowa,” said Joan. “It was an experience I will never forget.” Her son, Josh Gerard, was an All-State participate in 1995, his junior year at BGM in Speech Improv. Josh said his improv group did a skit about riding on a bus that couldn’t go below 55 mph. “It was zany, funny and ridiculous,” recalled Josh, who went on to become a playwrite and brings theatre to life at the Brooklyn Opera House. Joining Josh in the improv group was Stuart Hamby, Rachel Dodd and Chris Klaassen. “There were so many people there watching us do that skit,” recalled Josh with a chuckle. His senior year, Josh said the goal was to return and perform at All-State Speech. However, there was a problem – snow, lots of snow and it was all canceled. Charity Wilkerson, a 2002 BGM graduate and daughter of Joan and younger sister of Josh, is listed on the Hall of Pride in the Individual Acting category her junior year at All-State. “I performed a somber skit called “Grief Struck,” she said. “I played a mother who had to make the decision to take her son off life support.” And her senior year, Charity participated in Group Readers Theatre. That group didn’t make it to All-State, but did finish as Honorable Mention at state. And the third generation is Lorelai Gerard, a 2025 BGM graduate and daughter of Josh and his wife, Tracey. Lorelai earned Outstanding Performer at Choral Solo and Ensemble her senior year in the Vocal Solo, State Solo and Small Ensemble categories, finishing tops in her group (center). All the top performers from each group then performed solos. And what made it extra special for Lorelai was that her grandmother, Joan, accompanied her on the piano during her solo performance. “Out of all the students in my group (center), I won the top award,” she said. Lorelai is slated to have her poster placed in the Hall of Pride soon. And Lorelai’s younger sister, Gracie, a seventh grader at BGM, is on track to be added to the Hall of Pride following graduation in 2031. Each year, sixth graders are asked to write an essay about how they could see themselves on the wall someday and the character traits they must follow to reach that goal. Schroeder reads all the sixth grade student’s essays and selects his favorite ones. This year he selected 12 students. “Beside their writing skill, they have to choose one character from the Character Counts group, which would help them get there,” said Schroeder. “Also, they must choose one activity they want to be noted for.” Gracie said her aim is to earn All-State honors in singing and maybe acting. “My goal is to inspire others to be their best,” said Gracie. Where they are today Joan has worked at BGM Schools for more than 30 years as a music teacher associate. She teaches piano and serves as the associate pastor at Faith Christian Church in Montezuma. In addition to being a playwriter, Josh, who attended college at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Okla. is the Brooklyn Librarian and pastor at New Beginnings Church in Brooklyn. He and his wife have four children. Charity and her husband, Bill, are the parents of two boys. The couple met at Victory Bible Institute in Tulsa, Okla. Bill is pastor of Faith Christian Church in Montezuma and Charity serves in many capacities including secretary. Lorelai is in her first year at Northwestern University in Orange City where she is studying art and ministry art with a goal of becoming a church music director. Josh and family where able to travel this fall to Orange City and hear Lorelai sing and perform. “It was very special to us,” said Josh, of the concert. "I am thankful to be a part of the BGM Schools and community and be listed on the Hall of Pride along with my mom, sister and daughter,” added Josh. “It is a rarity to have so many family members make it to All-State,” said Schroeder.  Lorelai Gerard, a 2025 graduate of BGM, is shown with her Hall of Pride poster slated for placement soon. Lorelai earned Outstanding Performer at Choral Solo and Ensemble her senior year in the Vocal Solo, State Solo and Small Ensemble categories, finishing tops in her group.
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