By Randy Nelson
Happy 1993! We hope all the time people have worked on income taxes in class has paid off because they are capable of doing the returns instead of paying someone else to do them. Or everyone is doing so well financially a tax accountant is necessary.
The staff is preparing for the second semester after feeling first semester has gone well.
Doug is a walking testament to a healthy lifestyle as he continues to recover from his late summer bout with babesiosis and is entering cross-country ski races in Minnesota and Wisconsin and working his way back to training condition.
Lester’s 40th has passed and she doesn’t look any older. She is working hard to make sure there are students around who are capable of producing Com-Mini on the computer.
Dawn is in graduate school evenings completing coursework in biology and trying to juggle Mini-School classes and mainstream during the day. She has gone on some snowshoe excursions with students first hour. She, Lester, and Joanne took a group of students on an overnight which included the Nutcracker that evening and the Plains Indians exhibit at the Institute of Art the next day.
Our sympathy is extended to our newest staff member, Ramona, and her family on the death of her father-in-law just prior to the holidays. Ramona is also pursuing an additional degree at night in Special Education to add to the challenge of providing math for the students during the day.
Joanne is truly the nerve center of the program and has moved back into the program comfortably after 10 years away. She’s gradually getting us systematized in between the constant flow of interruptions. Parents and students have discovered how competent this woman is and her importance to the program.
We try to keep updated on the doings of former students and appreciate the time they take to stop by. Chris Zenner came by to proudly announce his “A” grades in social studies and English at Huron State in South Dakota. Darnelle Dallman LaBoda was quoted in the Strib [Star Tribune] during the John Beargrease Sled Dog Race last month. She and her husband raise sled dogs near Hovland, Minnesota. Jamie Brisley was married in August in Jordan, Minnesota, with Mark Meldahl as one of the groomsmen. Jamie, as head coach of Mound-Westonka’s boys soccer team, led them to a 8-4-2 record, one of their best ever.
Val Raihl, Nate Miller, Rich Benavides and Karlene Knacke have qualified as former students by graduating during the first semester. Congratulations!
Other former students: Mike Snyder is the Supervisor of Great Scott Township near Chisholm. This is similar to being mayor. Sandy Lambrecht Elden has taken up photography and has already had a one-person show in her home town of Mandeville, Louisiana. Andy Hambor is the head of maintenance at the Marsh, a health and fitness and balance facility in Minnetonka. Joey Reifenberger will be finishing up at Dunwoody in air conditioning/refrigeration soon and later this spring will be getting married. Suzanne Ward has passed the GED and plans on taking classes at Normandale this spring and is set on attending Macalester College in St. Paul next fall. Autumn Murphy is working at the new Pet Food Warehouse and finishing up her high school career at R.A.P. (only 2 more elective credits needed!). She has also been accepted at the University of Minnesota. Jon Oelke is attending Minneapolis Community College and doing well, especially in science. He plans to get an “A” in the course. We are proud of these former students and congratulate them on their successes.
Finally, a special thank you to long-time program supporters, Bob & Nadine Conklin for a most generous contribution. We are happy to hear about the success of a recent kidney transplant that Bob had. Another special thank you for a generous contribution from Tom & Diane Heuerman. The Mini-School staff would like to recognize the contributions made by CUB Foods and Burger King at Vinehill and Hwy 7 to the annual bowling competition. Thanks, everybody!
Now for the present students. Jesse Walker strolled off with the highest total pins at the annual Mini-School bowling outing, edging Randy by two pins 288-286.
Some of the star employees for second quarter are Jessica Ryan, Stacey Vetvick, Matt “Meatball” Richard (Wendy’s), Justin Weitnauer (Sasha’s), Chris Bagdons and Jesse Carlson (Excelsior Amoco), Sharon Korzendorfer and Jenny Case (KMart), and David Zytkoskee (Minnetonka McDonalds). I’ll try and recognize the other hard-working students in the next issue.
Another class, Beyond Mini, is a 6/7 hour strength training class. It’s providing some impressive results and growth—literally. Chris Glowaski, Josh Stinson, Elliot Tan, Chris Bagdons, & Justin Weitnauer are among those working hard.
Elliot Tan’s “A” grade led the way of several students who performed well at Vo-Tech.
Well, have to get to my taxes.