A HONOR ROLL

Grade 6 – Ethan Andresen, Maya Andrican, Lydia Baker, Chase Benson, Peyton Boldt, Alexis Bram, Kaylyn Breyen, Annika Carlson, Emma Cira, Emma Coffee, Jackson Davies, Alexandra Deeg, Rylee Donald, Elizabeth Doran, Sydney DuBay, Ashley Ege, Cole Erickson, Jake Eull, Eric Forstie, Skylar Fursman, Carter Galante, Jack Germscheid, Juan Gonzalez, Laura Grundman, Ella Hanson, Kaitlyn Hanson, Caitlin Harvey, Steven Hembre, Makayla Hendricks, Maxwell Hite, Ethan Hogan, Nikki Hortian, Esme Irel, Gracie Jensen, Ella Johnson, Wesley Johnson, Lilli Khaochonethan, Zackary Klingl, Benjamin Konkol, Max Koste, Adria Kotzian, Jack Lachmiller, Kristin Landrus, Jordan Langbehn, Faith Larson, Malayna Leuthold, Derrick Lodermeier, Annika Mathison, Jennie Mattson, Sage McLean, Megan McMorran, Andi Mehrer, Hayden Miller, Mason Miller, Brenna Monahan, Josie Monson, Aaliyah Mosher, Greta Nelson, Jaden Nemeth, Avery O’Donnell, Kaitlin Olson, James Owens, Isaac Paaverud, John Palmer, Michael Palmer, Marshall Partlow, Kate Perbix, Lilly Perron, Nicholas Rademacher, Brianna Rangel, Matthew Reinert, Owen Roehrdanz, Isabel Roiland, Lauren Rusnacko, Steven Ryabikov, Maria Rydberg, Gracyn Schmitz, Lillian Schoenert, Hannah Schumacher Sasse, Sophia Seidel, Isabelle Silvola, Grace Stimler, Kendall Tjosvold, Walker Traun, Vaughn Voigt, Daniel Ward, Julia Wilson, and Jason Wingard

Grade 7 – Emily Almanzar, Maverick Almich, Henry Babcock, Jordan Bauer, Emma Bobick, Tucker Brady, Logan Braley, Emily Bridgeman, Gavin Carlson, Lainie Carlson, Chloe Coffee, Elle Cotton, Gabriella Danielowski, Alexandra Dillion, Maya Eatherton, Andrew Foss, Collin Furlong, Carmen Galante, Erin Gannon, Amos Gborie, Luke Gintz, Tanner Greenwell, Dylan Haataja, Anthony Hanson, Julia Hanson, Ella Harris, Luke Hevey, Bella Hillman, Kendall Hudson, Ryan Hudson, Taylor Ives, Kylie Jimenez, Ava Johnson, Kage Johnson, Zoey Johnson, Braden Junker, Joseph Jusczak, Rylen Keoraj, Gabriel Kramer, Susan Kreber, Dylan Langley, Tate Madson, Rayna Mahowald, Peyton Maier, Cadence Martie, Mason Mattingley, Alyson Miskowic, Tia Mitchell, Caroline Nelson, Hailey Neumann, Ashley Ojeda, Ruby Olson, Sadie Olson, Erik Pilich, Thomas Rebrovich, Lindsey Redepenning, Josh Riffe, Julia Rindy, Taitum Rishovd, Destiny Scharf, Maxwell Schunk, Blaise Schutt, McKenna Stoll, Jack Sumstad, Gavin Swart, Bethany Timm, Jordan Voss, Hayden Waletzko, Amy Wallace, Harper Westgaard, Isaac Wiitala, Ryan Wingard, Rachelle Witt, and Ella Wonser

Grade 8 – Amber Aamodt, Alexandra Anderson, Kiyah Baker, Tyler Bakken, Treyvanne Bergstrom, Evan Bode, Isabella Braaten, Kareen Brenteson, Katelyn Carr, Easton Christian, Connor Corrow, Mackenzie Creighton, Isabella Dehkes, Ellen Dehn, Blake Douglas, Kaitlyn Flagle, Amanda Forstie, Edyn Fosse, Andrew Fox, Derek Fromm, Paige Germscheid, Katie Gerold, Emma Glasgow, Ella Goede, Megan Gordon, Joseph Greniuk, Jayna Hager, Luke Hansen, Madalyn Harvey, Ryla Hines, Brady Holland, Viktoria Hrytskevich, Linkin Huber, Franklin Jarmoluk, Andrew John, Abigail Johnson, Maya Johnson, Kira Kainz, Megan Kelley, Parker Kivley, Payton Kolles, Jacob Kotzian, Olivia Kramer, Johanna Langbehn, Kalia LaValley, Makayla Leuthold, Kendra Lingman, Gabriel Livingston, Lucas Lodermeier, Harleigh Lucas, Mckenzie Lundquist, Miah Martin, James McCarty, Jordan Mehrer, Kellen Michener, Austin Moss, Maxwell Muller, Audrey Neuerburg-Chapman, Payton Nivala, Grace Nord, Samantha Peterson, Bailey Phipps, Irina Rabikava, Blake Ramberg, Ethan Reznicow, Carlie Richter, Ellie Rivers, Lily Roiger, Cyra Sampson, Daniel Schroeder, Corinn Seifert, Kaitlyn Stelk, Emma Stenglein, Ariyanna Stibal, Molly Stroh, Emily Tatur, Sophia Tobin, Jack Tudor, Eric Ullrich, Kylie Urvig, Heaven Wells, Ryan Wilson, Charles Wonser,  and Mya Yoder

B HONOR ROLL

Grade 6 – Sylvia Allman, Cullen Asbeck, Katelyn Bakken, Logan Birdsall, Madison Borovansky, Emma Boser, Brennen Brothers, Emma Cockcroft, Mariah Dahlheimer, Quinn Dehkes, Ethan Delisi, Colton Flagle, Mark Gintz, Keana Gonzalez, Skyler Hines, Jaxon Hoffman, Kara Homola, Elizabeth Hopkins, Madeline Hopkins, Gabrial Hulbert, Owen Humphrey, Chase James, Vayla Kutsi, Leah LaFlamme, Nelly Lazarev, Mackenzie Lene, Tiana Louangthilath, Gavin Mansour, Tanner Martin, Justin Miceli, Kristin Miller, Grace Mueller, Dylan Murray, Renae Murrell, Hannah Parker, Noah Reznicow, Ayden Ricks, Noah Rustad, Jackson Schmitt, Carson Schutz, Chase Stennes, Morghan Thoennes, Elizabeth Ulbrich, Kelsey VanValkenburg, and Hailey Vinje

Grade 7 – Emma Anderson, Blake Benson, Noah Benson, Alex Brandt, Ryder Burdine, Lydia Burggraff, Andrew Christopherson, Cruise Clay, Ava Cole, Kayla Coolidge, Lucinda DeMars, Owen Doran, Zach Falls, Gemini Fields, Neal George, Railin Gonzalez, Dayton Guyer, Kaden Haferbecker, Tyler Hague, Maggie Hale, Belinda Hamlin, Emma Harder, Benjamin Hawley, Russell Hillukka, Gavin Hilyar, Emma Jackson, Lucas Jenniges, Brandon Kaufmann, Landon Kolles, Benson Kozitka, Rayna Laing, Kendra Lockwood, Brady McAdams, Boyd Peltonen, Madelyn Reisinger, Evan Ressler, Caleb Rother, Hannah Ruberg, Allison Rusnacko, Cade Sabby, Mason Schwegman, Joseph Swigart, Jaxson Tesser, Jerome Uche, Mason Weber, Sean Whealdon, Olivia Yurich, and Tanner Zierden

Grade 8 –  Kyleigh Boese, Josiah Bonin, Annika Borovansky, Allison Bourgeois, Grace Caouette, Jack Dahl, Faith Dahlheimer, Mitchell Dahlson, Zachariah Dickmeyer, Cole Donald, Gabrick Doro, Gavin Durfee, Jacob Faber, Blake Friestad, Jack Gebhardt, Kelsey Gust, Afton Guyer, Timothy Hanson, Kurt Haugen, Nathan Holm, Collin Humphreys, Jordan Johnson, Trinity Jones, Scott Jussila, Cullen Laaveg, Allen Lind, Tyler Lucas, Rayan Mahamed, Mason Martineau, Madelyn Merkle, Lincoln Mismash, Quinn O’Hara, Anne Overton, Jack Overton, Justin Owens, Dayne Partlow, Ethan Schmitz, Shelby Silva Garcia, Elissa Simone, Raymond Sizen, Gavin Swanson, Dacoda Thoennes, Olivia Tjosvold, Hailey Traun, Adaeze Udalla, Curtis Ulbrich, Jordan Underleiter, Cameron Weitnauer, Kennedy Westphal, Kalau Wuanti, and Kalen Yurich

by Jim Boyle
Editor

The Elk River Area School Board has called a special meeting for 5:30 p.m. Feb. 17 at the District 728 Office, 815 Highway 10, but it may not need it.

The purpose of the meeting will be to make a decision on entering into contract negotiations with one of three finalists, if it decides not to make a decision on Feb. 16 after completing a series of finalist interviews.

The School Board called the meeting Monday, Feb. 13, after completing the first of three finalist interviews. It has a second one scheduled on Wednesday, Feb. 15, and a third on Thursday, Feb. 16.
Members of the School Board discussed the timing of its decision at the request of School Board Chairman Shane Steinbrecher.

Some said they felt the best option would be to make a decision Thursday night, while others talked about having a night or weekend to sleep on it.

School Board Member Holly Thompson talked about the importance of taking time to read through the questionnaires school officials, teachers, community members and city leaders have filled out after meeting with the finalists throughout the day of their second interview with the School Board.

School Board members agreed to carve out 30 minutes of time after dinner and before the final interviews on Wednesday and Thursday to read through the paper copies of the questionnaires that are being assembled on each candidate.

School Board members Tony Walter and Gregg Peppin both said that making a decision on Thursday night or Friday afternoon felt rushed to them.

Kenneth Dragseth of School Exec Connect, the search firm assisting the School Board with the search for a superintendent, cautioned School Board members from taking too long to make a decision, noting that sometimes residents begin to think a School Board is unable to come to a decision and that can viewed as sign that board members lack confidence in selecting a top choice.

Dragseth said another challenge that can surface is a candidate could accept a job elsewhere, noting there are a number of vacancies across the metropolitan area being filled.

He told board members they can do what they want, but asked them to consider what waiting over the weekend would be like with people stopping them to ask questions at church and the grocery store and so forth.

“This is a School Board decision,” Dragseth said.

The consensus of the group was that making a decision Thursday night, if it can, would be best and that the board would have Friday as a backup if need be. State law requires three days’ notice of a special meeting, and it forbids meeting on holidays like President’s Day on Monday. To wait out the weekend would mean extending its decision until Tuesday. The majority of the School Board was not comfortable doing that.

“I think we should try to make a decision on Thursday night,” School Board Member Jamie Plantenberg-Selbitschka said.

The School Board interviewed Albert Lea Superintendent Michael Funk on Feb. 13 and has plans to interview Duluth Superintendent William Gronseth on Feb. 15 and Sauk Rapids Superintendent Daniel Bittman on Feb. 16.

About 25 people applied for the Elk River Area School District superintendency. The School Board narrowed a list of six semifinalists to three last week.

This week the finalists were scheduled to meet with district administrators and take a tour of the district before settling in for interviews with students, district administrators, building administrators, classified staff, community and civic leaders, certified staff as well as the public before going out to Rockwoods in Otsego for dinner.

Upon their return they have their second interview with the School Board at the former Minnesota School of Business facility now owned by District 728.

by Jim Boyle
Editor

The Elk River Area School Board has voted 7-0 to enter into negotiations with Sauk Rapids-Rice School Superintendent Dr. Daniel Bittman.

The decision came Thursday night, shortly after the board concluded its last finalist interview with Bittman and a straw poll revealed unanimous support for the Minnesota native who was the first in his family to attend college.

After the vote, School Board Chairman Shane Steinbrecher called Bittman told him the news on a speaker phone.

“That is fabulous,” Bittman said. “I am so excited to be part of your team.”

The next step is to negotiate a contract, which will beging next week after the President’s Day holiday.

Bittman has been an educator, administrator and director in Minnesota and Nevada and was the Minnesota Association of School Administrators’ pick for the 2016 Minnesota Superintendent of the Year. He also served as the assistant commissioer of education for the Minnesota Department of Education.

“I like his diversity of experience,” board member Gregg Peppin said. “He has worked at a large district, a midsize district and done a number of other things.”

The district’s search has been conducted with the services of School Exec Connect, whom the district hired in 2016.

That search was narrowed to a field of six candidates Monday, Feb. 6, with the board naming three final candidates Wednesday, Feb. 8.

The three finalists, Bittman, Dr. Mike Funk of Albert Lea and Mr. William Gronseth of Duluth spent a day with students, district staff, teachers and community members as the final interview process unfolded Feb. 13 through Feb 16.

The superintendent of schools position opened in June 2016, due to the retirement of Dr. Mark Bezek. Bruce Watkins has been serving as the interim superintendent for District 728 schools. He will complete his services June 30, 2017.

A Honor Roll Zimmerman Middle School – 2^nd Quarter 2016-2017 

Grade 6 – Amelia Acker, Rebekah Anderson, Hailey Becker, Chloe Belanger, Chase Berwald, Kelsey Bibeau, Gracie Blaedorn, Justin Blazevic, Carmen Boyer, Abby Buermann, Rayna Cabak, Brianna Carlson, Pieper Christiaansen, Cora Conrad, Danielle Dekok, Hunter Dipprey, Ava Ende, Jenna Findell, Claire Firkus, Maggie Fischbach, Isabelle Fischer, Matthew Freeberg, Cole Gibeau, Max Gostonczik, William Grangroth, Ashley Gruwell, Isaac Hagen, Drew Halland, Caitlyn Hanlon, Owen Harding, Ashlynn Hauth, Karly Hermanson, Caitlin Herrmann, Olivia Hiltner, Merrilee Hofstede, Brooks Howard, Tatum Hupalo, Amaya Jackson, Lily Jendro, Carson Kalisch, Elizabeth Kerzman, Kayla Kowalski, Louise Kritzeck, Talia Kuss, Austin Lee, Kaylee Leider, Ty Mansfield, Payton McEachern, Jack Montplaisir, Chase Morrissette, Autumn Murphy, Marissa Oberfeld, Eryn Olson, Kenneth Olson, Cole Orgon, Mishima Padilla, Samantha Paulsen, Ella Pouliot, William Rachel, Rhylee Reimann, Elena Roberts, Makenna Rotz, Karyn Rzeszutek, Chase Sabinske, Ashley Sendzik, Kaden Shortell, Audrey Smith, Shailyn Solle, Caden Spence, Trevor Sweet, Natalie Thompson, Wyatt Tschida, Christine Waage, Hunter Wagner, Sarita Watson, Dylan Weller, Treyton Wibeto, Tyler Wick, Sophia Williams, Reed Zahler, Hailee Zimpel

Grade 7 –  Carter Anderson, Kelsi Anderson, Gretchen Andresen, Abby Barthel, Holly Bath, Michaela Beaver, Abigail Benson, Lauren Bondhus, Lauren Brooks, Allison Brostrom, Calan Bushinger, Caden Curtis, Madeline Dahl, Brandon Deal, Tristyn Erdman, Emma Flaten, Cecilia Galeano, Abigail Gau, Heather Gordon, Sydney Graf, Grace Guentzel, Lane Halland, Heather Hawkins, Kiana Helland-Boriboune, Avery Hollan, Abram Hunter, Luke Inman, Connor Janowiec, Meagan Jentzsch, Kenneth Jones, Trevor Jones, Zachary Karnes, Lydia Keskey, Austin Kitzberger, Riley Klick, Carter Kluge, Marley Knight, Nataysia Koehler, Ella Kostrzewski, Mark Kucherov, Elizabeth Kuker, Abigail Larson, Katelyn Lawliss, Andrea MacDonald, Morgan Malecha, Tiffany Maschler, Addison McBroom, Brynn Miller, Rileigh Miller, Nina Moll, Karlee Monteleone, Corbin Nelson, Gavin Neubauer, Jayna Newcomb, Mara Olson, Peyton Opsahl, Aiden Pardino, Breanne Plude, Gavyn Popejoy, Aurora Rahn, Madison Randall, Beau Richards, Rachel Rotz, Josephine Rowley, Molli Shannon, Hannah Smith, Abigail Steinbrecher, Abigail Sterling-Morlock, Alayna Swirtz, Bethany Szlavich, Eliana Tiggelaar, Sarah Tucker, Abigail Valencia, Isaiah Wagner, Elle Werner, Ella Williams

Grade 8 – Kameron Arieta, Grace Baker, Avery Berg, Ryan Bouley, Abbey Brady, Sylvia Cabak, Sebastian Carcione, Kaylee Clifton, Alexander Cromwell, Anna Deitz, Makenna Elphick, Bjorn Franke, Kai Franke, Nils Franke, Ella Haas, Carly Hanlon, Rachael Hartley, Madisyn Hayes, Bryan Hoerr, Cambell Jenson, Isabelle Johnson, Logan Johnson, Polly Kritzeck, Crystal Li, Shannon Mattson, Anikka Miller, Joseph Montplaisir, Melissa Muckenhirn, Carson Nolan, McKenzie Olene, Haruka Padilla, Ryan Peters, Wyatt Petron, Cheradin Ralph, Ryan Reinking, Scott Rickard, Dylan Rogers, Adyson Roman, Sierra Rosby, Andrea Schneider, Lana Schultz, Miranda Schwieger, Innka Simonovich, Sophia Smith, Drew Tempesta, Lucie Thompson, Rachel Waage, Ava Wark, Nicole Weekley, Kaitlyn Wehmeyer, Landon Wesloh, Kyla Wiley, Olivia Williams, Jonathan Wilson, Joshua Wisness

B Honor Roll Zimmerman Middle School – 2^nd Quarter 2016 – 2017

Grade 6 – Jack Abrahamson, Ryland Anderson, Kaiden Arieta, James Armstrong, Sadie Benjamin, Joel Bouley, Jordan Burris, Hunter Collins, Layla Denn, Owen Drake, Sheldon Eischens, Tyler Elphick, Cole Evans, Samuel Fox, Carter Haas, Dillon Hammer, Angelina Hansen, Natalie Hayes, Ryland Higgins, Charles Hokanson, Selina Jeffers, Riley Kihlman, Clayton King, Nathan Kohner, Noah Kolander, William Kucherov, Dane Lachman, Leah Lahmers, Gavin Lahn, Jacob Lambres, Gaven Leach, Madelyn Lehman, Lindsay Lewis, Gretchen Mattson, Samuel Miller, Kalitia Neumiller, Blake Nordlund, Rocco Olson, Henry Paulsen, Cora Reschke, Reese Rivers, Sierra Sheets, Brock Snow, Gracie Steffes, Sandra Weekley, Brett Wells, Samuel Williams, Trinity Zortman

Grade 7 –  Tyler Aderman, Elizabeth Ahner, Samuel Benjamin, Richie Bray, Mackenzie Brooking, Zachary Dehnhoff, Emily Dordal, Haylee Ellingson, Kylie Enderle, Aubrey Gamache, Joseph Gardas, Peyton Giffen, Jayden Harris, Abigail Holien, Payton Horacek, Brenen Howard, Bailey Isaacson, Lucas LaVigne, Heath Lester, Luca Madland, Ty Mager, Jacob Mandler, Madelyne Mantei, John McCullough, Riley McMullen, Ekaternia Miller, Abigail Monson, Grace Murphy, Samuel Norland, Kamya Reed, Tristian Rinehart, Rylan Rivers, Harlen Rooney, Olivia Rotz, Vasiliy Rozhik, Araya Rudolph, Sydney Sayre, Bennett Scott, Ethan Sheck, Olivia Spence, Emma Teal, Lillian Victor, Benjamin Welle, Kayla Zinken

Grade 8 – Ryan Aanonsen, McKenzie Aderman, Avery Bakke, Gaven Birdsell, Jolie Bornetun, Teagan Braun, Alyse Brouhard, Abbey Callison, Lucas Carlson, Isaiah Colbert, Madison Diegnau, Emmalee Ellingson, Kenneth Fenstermaker, Jack Firkus, Joseph Fox, Ilus Gallay, Mackenzie Haley, Braydon Haugland, Cody Hiltner, Cole Hinton, Dillon Howe, Autum Hullermann, Lilienne Ihla, Sophia MacDonald, Madison McPheeters, Lyrik Peacock, Nicholas Peterson, Gina Pogones, Rachael Quaintance, Micheal Richter, Jocelyn Sailor, Cheyenne Schaible, Jack Senderhauf, Christian Wells

A Honor Roll Zimmerman High School -1^st Semester 2016 – 2017

Grade 9 – Eric Ahner, Avary Anderson, Elisabeth Anderson, Samantha Andresen, Kayden Baldridge, Bailey Benner, Rachel Bickman, Aleah Boyer, Thomas Britt, Taylor Burke, Cole Carbert, Joseph Diegnau, Ella Dipprey, Ashley Dittberner, Dustin Dittberner, Evelyne Dmitruk, Bailey Emery, Gavin Ericson, Madeline Feigum, Samuel Freeberg, Courtney Gordon, Nicole Gruwell, Elizabeth Hendrickson, Maximus Hernandez, Julia Hiatt, Ashley Hoheisel, Josie Janu, Blake Johnson, Maili Kamruzzaman, Payton Knight, Alyssa Koch, Dayton Koehler, Evelina Kucherov, Abigale Larson, Amber Larson, Laura Mager, Carter McEachern, Amber Moll, Madison Naatz, Jordan Nauber, Cooper Nelson, Hannah Nelson, Sydney Payeur, Nicole Pearce, Abigail Pecholt, Grace Peterson, Hailee Peterson, William Pouliot, Jolie Putnam, Talia Richards, Matthew Rotz, Lilya Rozhik, Corina Sandy, Parker Schelske, Brody Schultz, Noel Spence, Sara Standingcloud, Adeline Tiggelaar, Dillon Tucker, Kaylee Turney, Timothy Vorobyev, Aaren Vrana, Jamison Ward, Joseph Zaidi

Grade 10 – Nateale Ammann, Anna Beard, Alexis Berg, Cheresa Bouley, Hunter Budeau, Ian Carlin, MaKayla Christ, Connor Cook, Alyssa Daugherty, Jacob Deal, Delaney Dekok, Margo Drew, Brady Gibeau, Carter Giese, Dane Harberts, Karissa Heyer, Sydney Hicks, Katelin Jacob, Jacob Johnson, Madalyn Johnson, Ruvim Kucherov, Kinsey Lage, Allison Larson, Hannah Larson, Bradley Mattson, Ryan McMahon, McKenna Miller, Natalie Miller, Miranda Muckenhirn, Noah Nelson, Caden Neubauer, Alexis O’Connor, Abby Paulus, Hunter Peterson, Josey Peterson, Lindsay Phillips, Mikayla Pramann, Hadley Roman, Noah Rotz, Clay Sandy, Timothy Schermann, Johnathan Steinke, Robert Stephany, Laura Waage, Hope Wiley, Gabriella Wilson, Hannah Wudtke, Allison Ziesmer, Alexander Zillmer

Grade 11 – Taylor Abrahamson, Leah Benz, Nathaniel Boyer, Jason Bratkov, Justin Brown, Nathen Carlin, Isabella Crego, Brendan Dahl, Maison Dipprey, Brandon Dobosenski, Kacia Dooley, Emilie Filiatrault, Alyssa Hanlon, Thomas Haupert, Sarah Hendrickson, Brooklyn Horkey, Kayli Johnson, Kylee Johnson, Alexis Laurent, Joseph Leider, Zane Luing, Amanda Mager, Dylan Martin, Ilea May, Mya Miller, Kylie Mossman, Andrew Olinger, Chikara Padilla, Jacob Pensinger, Steven Peters, Justin Robinson, Andrea Ruether, Rebecca Schmit, Payton Scott, Caitlin Steiskal, Makenna Upton, Ryan Walz, Mikaela Wharton, Alissa Wilbur, Adina Willis, Kevin Winkels, Colton Wrobel, Cassidy Young

Grade 12 – Jarret Anderson, Treyton Bieber, Morgan Bronken, Bryce Caswell, Melissa Certa, Trey Chambers, Jackie Charles, Kailey Denzer, Kaydia Dewey, Isaac Fordahl, Arica Forsti, Tanner Frederick, Thunder Heyer, Alyssa Johnson, Elizabeth Johnson, Camryn Keymes, Alexis Larson, Gerald Mager, Miranda McKay, Haydon Miller, Madelyn Muckenhirn, Brady Neubauer, Greta Rosini, Benjamin Schnellmann, Deanna Schultz, Makayla Schwieger, Mikayla Sonterre, Mikayla Swigart, Kelsie Tufto, Emily VanWyhe, Danielle Williams

B Honor Roll Zimmerman High School – 1^st Semester 2016 – 2017

Grade 9 – Erika Andrews, Ethan Cairns, Aaron Coons, Sydney Curtis, Emily Dalrymple, Skyler Daubanton, Miguel Ebel, Paige Findell, Hunter Fladung, Olyvia Fondie, Alison Fore, Cody Frederick, Bailey Giffen, Dylan Hicks, Brett Howard, Amber Knapp, Brooke Knapp, Molly Knutson, Trent Kohner, Jackson Lietha, Blake Maegi, Joseph Manthey, Annika Neitzer, Parker Nelson, Connie Neumiller, Daniel Nicosia, Wyatt Norby, Alyson Olerich, Jacob Olson, Morgan Olson, Joshua Palashewski, Mason Riddel, Jordana Rost, Kendall Schottenbauer, Emili Waite, Gabrielle Weber, Dominic Wehmhoff, Trevor Wellman

Grade 10 – Peyton Ahner, Ean Benjamin, Lindsey Bennett, Landon Berroa, Cade Bondhus, Kyle Briggs, Katlyn Brinwall, Mikayla Brooking, Tucker Budreau, Joseph Culbertson, Paul Dehnhoff, Cade Dering, Evan Dewey, Samuel Dmitruk, Morgan Frisch, Timothy Gruis, Logan Jacobson, Michael Johann, Patrick Keskey, Clayton Lawliss, Chloe Loudon, Madilynn Mathison, Ryan Mueller, Jacob Murphy, Mariah Nord, Benjamin Nye, Emily Olinger, Jay Rickard, Olivia Robinson, Eilysha Rosario, Molly Schmidt, Aliska Simonovich, Catelynn Soland, Blane Stumpf, Haylie Sullivan, Luke Sundeen, William Tazelaar, Britney Ventsch, Eleanora Veselovskiy, Jude Werner, Samantha Westphal, Tally Zincke

Grade 11 – Amanda Artmann, Lindsey Briggs, Zachary Brooks, Rachel Bruce, Samuel Egland, Taylor Foster, Brett Gordon, Madison Guimont, Kerrisa Hodge, Blake Howard, Nicholas Kliever, Aaron Koch, Benjamin Kuker, Tyes Laidlaw, Dylan Larrabee, Christian Lestina, Heidi Lietha, Dallas Loneman, Riley McKnight, Luke Morin, Elena Palashewski, MaKayla Pool, Andrew Thompson, Nathan Thompson, Paola Urzua, Megan Vensland, Allisyn Young, Damon Ziebarth

Grade 12 – William Arola, Cassandra Boucher, Dominic Bowers, Jonas Davis, Hannah Dordal, Kelsey Forster, Rylie Hinrichs, Alyssa Kalisch, Alexander Karnes, Haley Kline, Reid Kopitzke, Marcus Kovatovich, Dennis Kucherov, Ilona Kucherov, Elizabeth Merwin, Kendall Norenberg, Tyler Olson, Damien Pearce, Kayla Peterson, Brian Rajchel, Ethan Swirtz, Calvin Waterhouse, Chandler Wellman

by Jim Boyle
Editor
Elk River High School’s DECA program is among 360 school-based enterprises that will be recognized in April at DECA’s International Career Development Conference in Anaheim, California.

The program achieved Gold Level Certification first in 2007, and the latest group of students to work on it — Danielle Lachmiller, Shae McLean and Ellie Truebenbach with the assistance of their adviser Sonja Weiler — now have a deep appreciation for all that goes into running a successful operation.

To be certified or recertified, a chapter must submit documentation of compliance and application in all content areas in a paper form (25-40 pages depending on project type).

The projects are evaluated at the national center. Elk River received all “exceeds expectations” on its evaluation form.

“Working on this project made me realize how much work it takes to successfully run and operate a store like this and how important it is to work with such a hardworking group of people,” Truebenbach said.

The next step will be to create a presentation for the state conference and bring that presentation to Anaheim in April.

McLean credits Elk River’s success to working well together and having a drive to keep progressing.

“We are extremely excited to see what’s in store for our project,” she said.

Lachmiller says watch out Anaheim – “Elk River DECA is coming to town.”

The school-based enterprise at Elk River High School has operated for many years and was recently remodeled. The store is managed and operated by students as hands-on learning laboratories that integrate National Curriculum Standards in Marketing, Finance, Hospitality and Management.

Weiler said the recertification is a great project that connects content to real-world application.

“I am so happy that DECA provides projects like this (and others) that connect my classroom to the business world,” she said.

Marketing educators and DECA advisers have utilized this effective educational tool for more than four decades to provide their students with realistic and practical learning experiences that reinforce classroom instruction, enhance 21st century skill development, and prepare students for college and careers.

DECA’s School-based Enterprise Certification Program was developed to provide recognition for outstanding achievement by school-based enterprises. Elk River’s program received the highest level of certification.

DECA Inc. is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit student organization with more than 215,000 members in all 50 United States, the District of Columbia, Canada, China, Germany, Guam, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Spain.

Student: Charlie Eldredge

Parents: Chuck and Jennifer Eldredge

List the activities you have participated in and tell of your proudest accomplishments:
I’ve been playing baseball for over 10 years. I am a current member of the National Honor Society and Leadership Academy. One of my proudest accomplishments is having a GPA higher than 4.0.

What is your favorite class and why? What is your favorite subject?
My favorite class/subject is math because numbers come pretty easy for me. I enjoy the challenge of math and like that there’s usually more than one way to solve a problem.

What are your future plans?
I know I will go to college but haven’t decided where or what I will study. I will likely go into a field that has something to do with math or science. I would love to continue playing baseball in college if I have the opportunity.

What are your hobbies and/or personal interests?
One of my favorite things to do is play baseball. Whether it’s playing whiffle ball in the backyard or traveling around the country for tournaments, it’s something that is always fun for me. I also enjoy hunting and fishing.

Tell of a memorable experience that relates to school, personal interests or a hobby:
One of my favorite memories was traveling to Cooperstown, New York, to play baseball for a week and touring the National Baseball Hall of Fame. It was a really great experience.

How do you demonstrate leadership?
I would say that I try to lead by example. In school, I’m very focused. I work hard to meet my deadlines, I get good grades and I help others out when I can. In sports, I’m always at practice on time, I show respect to my coaches and teammates, and I am constantly working hard to get better.

How do you approach academics to achieve success?
A big part of my success in school is time management. Balancing school, sports, friends, and my job takes a lot of work, but in the end, school always has to come first. Putting school first is not always the easy or fun choice, but it’s a big reason why I am successful.

What special projects have you done, in or out of school?
As a member of NHS, I have the opportunity to volunteer in many different ways. I have volunteered at the CAER food shelf, Feed My Starving Children and have spent many hours volunteering for Elk River Youth Baseball.

by Rachel Minske
Contributing Writer

The Elk River Area School Board selected who it would like to be the district’s next superintendent in a 7-0 vote on Feb. 16. The decision arrived following a lengthy selection process that included community interviews and input.
The board entered into negotiations this week with Daniel Bittman, superintendent of Sauk Rapids-Rice Public Schools. The plan is to approve a contract at the March 13 regular board meeting.

The District 728 superintendent position opened in June 2016 after Mark Bezek left to take a job in Somerset, Wisconsin. Bruce Watkins, a former St. Cloud Public Schools superintendent and district administrator with Duluth Public Schools, has served as interim superintendent since early August.
The board requested School Exec Connect, a national search and consulting firm, to gather information from community members regarding the district’s strengths and challenges and traits desired of the new superintendent.
School Exec Connect facilitated much of the interview process.
That search was narrowed to a field of six candidates Feb. 6, and the board named three finalists after a round of interviews. In the pool of finalists, Bittman was joined by Mike Funk of Albert Lea Area Schools and William Gronseth of Duluth Public Schools. Each spent a day with students, teachers, district staff and community members the week of Feb. 13.
The following candidates were also interviewed by the School Board for the vacant superintendent position, but were not selected as finalists:
•Stephen C. Flisk, deputy chief of Schools, Minneapolis Public Schools.
•Brenda S. Lewis, assistant superintendent, Rochester Public Schools.
•LaDarla L. Haws, superintendent, Racine Unified School District (Wisconsin).

Bittman pick pleases leaders
Elk River Mayor John Dietz said he found Bittman to be a standout candidate and felt his background and experience represented a good grasp of finances.
Bittman previously worked for the Minnesota Department of Education as an assistant commissioner and director of education quality and licensing from 2005 to 2007.
“I was impressed with things he’s done in other districts,” said Dietz, who attended listening sessions and met with the three finalists last week. “I just liked his ideas. He was very quick to respond to all the questions that were asked.”
Dietz said he was glad he made a point to sit down with each of the three candidates but is pleased with the board’s pick of Bittman.
“I was very happy with his selection,” Dietz said of District 728’s next superintendent. “I will make a point to sit down with him this summer.”
Rogers Mayor Rick Ihli echoed Dietz’s thoughts and noted he also enjoyed the fact that Bittman has finance experience.
“He struck me as the type of person who would dig in and get to work,” said Ihli, who graduated high school out of Bittman’s current district.
Ihli said he attended two out of the three sessions with the candidates last week, adding he liked the informal setting where community members sat at tables in a circle and were invited to freely ask questions of the candidates.
During an interview with community members Feb. 16, Bittman, like every other finalist candidate, was asked questions about unifying the district’s communities, advocating for students and staff at the legislative level and their leadership styles.
“No one is going to respect the office of the superintendent more than me,” said Bittman, a father to three school-aged children.
When asked what his proudest accomplishment was to date, Bittman reflected on his time in the Sauk Rapids-Rice district.
“(I’m proud) that people want to be a part of the district,” he said, adding that when he first started, students were leaving the district for reasons like a lack of all-day kindergarten. Bittman said he made a point to contact each of the families that left the district and inquire about why they left in the first place. He helped introduce changes – including all-day kindergarten – that increased enrollment.
Otsego Mayor Jessica Stockamp said she thought the search firm did a “thorough job.”
“I’m very excited to have a superintendent that really sees that there are unique differences in all of our communities,” Stockamp said, noting Otsego anticipates the opening of a new E-8 building come this fall, something unique for her community.

Community members weigh in
Retired school counselor Louise Kuester attended two of the community interviews alongside her husband, John, a former Elk River Area School Board member.
“I feel very strongly about community,” Louise Kuester said on why she chose to attend the meetings.
Karen Pensinger, of Zimmerman, still has one child in the school district – two of her children have already graduated. Pensinger attended each of the community interviews held the week of Feb. 13.
“I feel privileged to be a part of the process,” said Pensinger, who was selected by the high school administration to be a parent representative. “The district is doing its due diligence.”

About Daniel Bittman
The Minnesota Association of School Administrators’ pick for the 2016 Minnesota Superintendent of the Year, Bittman said during his initial interview with the board that he was the first person in his family to ever attend college, which has been a driving force throughout his career.
Bittman has served as superintendent for Sauk Rapids-Rice Public Schools for the last seven yeas. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Minnesota-Duluth and has worked as an educator in both Minnesota and Nevada, the latter of which included a decade of work at Clark County School District, one of the nation’s largest districts. While with Clark County, Bittman worked as a teacher, building administrator and director where he oversaw 186 elementary schools.

The Shane Martin Band helped christen the new Zimmerman High School auditorium this past weekend. The Zimmerman High School choir and pep band made a special appearance during Martin’s show.

The official grand opening for the auditorium at the middle and high school will be from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, March 2. There will be tours, a ribbon cutting and free food and beverages. The 728 Cadets will perform.

Dean’s lists:
Bethel University
Elk River
Chlotielde Bechtel, Lorna Bechtel, Sydney Durkot, Madeline Gibas, Maggie Hohlen, Jared Johnson, Michelle Klimstra, Rachel Mynahan, Hannah Prange
Rogers
Natalie Johnson, Alexandra Kurre, Michael Neubauer, Adrianna Tjeerdsma
Zimmerman
Tanner Hermanson, Alexis Jorgenson, Alyssa Spofford

College of St. Benedict
Elk River
Julia Abell
Otsego
Katie Langer
Rogers
Paige Dobberstein, Briana Schulzetenberg
Zimmerman
Julia Petron

Concordia College
Elk River
Garrett Ott, Chelsey Petrich
Zimmerman
Hunter Smith

Concordia University Wisconsin
Elk River
Hannah Whiting

Gustavus Adolphus College
Elk River
Jenna Hagglund, Cassandra Lane
Nowthen
Laura Katchmark
Otsego
Savannah Seiter
Zimmerman
Samuel Archer, Sylvia Michels, Helen Thompson

Itasca Community College
Elk River
Eden Friedrich

Lake Region State College
Otsego, MN
Kennedy Kaeding

Michigan Technological University
Elk River
Katherine Gingras, Hunter Gulbranson, Sarah Livingston
Rogers
Brenton Johnson
Zimmerman
Nicholas Olinger

Minnesota State University, Mankato
Elk River
Katie Crocker, Shyler Egan, Greta Gleiter, Elisa Goodsell, Mia Hansen, Kayla Herzog, Lydia Jagodzinski, Brandon Marohn, Matthew Osberg, Maria Otachi, Adam Peterson, Charles Quiram, Amanda Reasor, Nicole Remus, Sarah Schroeder, Paige Wheeler
Otsego
Linh Hoang, Madison Jellum, Christina Nathan, Breana Stang, Alyssa Wisner
Rogers
Lauren Carey, Callan Feucht, Kendra Hambleton, Rachel Hinz, Stephanie Johnson, Kalli Larrabee, Alyssa Molnar, Jenna Neis, Alexandra Schaub, Ryan Thomas, Alicia Utecht, Brittany Wickoren
Zimmerman
Tanner Haglund, Trenton Mitchell, Anna Ruel, Austin Tretbar

Minnesota State University Moorhead
Albertville
Kristen Connelly
Elk River
Madison Reichert
Otsego
Isabelle Farkas, Alexa Gerber
Rogers
Tyler Donnay, Alyssa Huete, Johnna Kringen, Thomas Lloyd, Luke Pecka
Zimmerman
Jacob Antolak, Daenon Bronken, Carlie Lage, Lee Muellenbach, Jeffrey Mueller, Cameron Norenberg, Karly Syverson, Karli Williams

St. Cloud Technical and Community College
Elk River
Jennifer Bracken, Ryan Chesemore, Leah Dehn, Brady Hoffmann, Cheyenne Nelson, Gretchen Olson, Brielle Pierson, Jamie Rustad, Blake Schweninger, Erin Smith
Otsego
Benjamin Binczik, Brian Larson
Rogers
Natasha Miller
Zimmerman
Sara Beard, Stephanie Benoit, Kailey Johnson, Mitchell Koski, Ashley LeVos, Cayla Lusche

University of North Dakota
Zimmerman
Alexander MacGregor

University of Northwestern – St. Paul
Elk River
Josiah Donat, Alec Hills, Angela Hipsag, Erik Nyquist, Mitchell Weege
Otsego
Freya Hanson
Rogers
Jessica Earlewine, Scott Neubauer
Zimmerman
Brianna Nelson, Caityln Wilbur

University of St. Thomas
Elk River
Brianna Anderson, Jacob Buhl, Noah Cornell, Emma Crane, Shayla Curtis, Courtney Grunewald, Peter Jones, Jake Knopick, Madeleine Ley, Cullen Olson, Amanda Penick, Mary Schmitz
Otsego
Nykeesha Greer, Heather Kilber, Madison Lehn, Steffan Musoke
Rogers
Megan Ibe, Jenna Karls, Markku Makinen, Rocky Nelson, Sabrina Odegard, Alyssa Rokke, Corryn Stelflug
Zimmerman
Kathryn Denne, Nicholas Johnson, Mackenzie Rickard, Molly Street

University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Elk River
Hannah Larson, Ashley Lind, Kayla Olsen
Otsego
Kyle Kackman
Rogers
Katherine Fleck, Linsi Osland, Brandon Roehl
Zimmerman
Summer Peoples

University of Wisconsin-Madison
Elk River
Alyse Grunewald, Grant Tesdahl
Otsego
Carl Parent
Rogers
Courtney Lynch, Jake Nardini, Tyler Pinter, Sophia Schmidt, Chase Schottler, Michaela Taddeini, Helaina Von Bank, Ethan York

University of Wisconsin Oshkosh
Elk River
Amanda Koehn
Rogers
Carter Swiderski

University of Wisconsin-Stout
Elk River
Chloe Aday, Tyler Bethke, Alexa Filipiak, Riley Filipovich, Alyssa Germscheid, McKenna Holien, Jack Kolar, McCall Lynch, Brianna McCarty, MacKenzie Mitzuk, Joshua Opdahl, Blake Shermer, Kara Simonson, Kennedy Strain, Jaclyn Studniski, Marissa Van Tassel, Jessica Wisniewski
Rogers
Paige Larrabee, Isabella Pedlar, Nicholas Reynolds, Alison Saxton, Sydney Wolfbauer
Zimmerman
Bailey Bircher, Stephanie Delong, Brenna Lesnar, Taylor Odegard, Janessa Ortberg, Shania Sinna

Vermilion Community College
Elk River
Nathan Benkofske

Graduations:
Bethel University
Elk River
Madeline Gibas, B.S., biology

Minnesota State University Moorhead
Rogers
Ryan Maki, B.S., project management, magna cum laude
Zimmerman
Jacob Antolak, B.S., advertising and public relations, cum laude

Rochester Community and Technical College
Elk River
Sheila Skogen, A.S., web design

St. Cloud State University
Elk River
Jordyn Denne, B.S., mass communications; Alexandra Grillo, B.S., mass communications, cum laude; Melanie Marshall, B.A., studio art; Tailor Milbrandt, B.S., entrepreneurship, cum laude; Nicholas Ooley, B.S., management; Lisa Perbix, master of arts, teaching English as a second language; Brandon Rand, B.A., communication studies; Shilo Roman, B.A., criminal justice studies, cum laude; Brandon Tonneslan, B.S., accounting, cum laude
Otsego
Nathan Faust, B.S., finance, cum laude; Gustavo Hernandez, executive masters in engineering management; Kristen Hildebrand, B.S., social work; Cassandra Kemna, B.S., finance; Kelley Kroll, bachelor of elective studies, liberal studies; Emma Lindenfelser, B.S., elementary/K-6 education, summa cum laude; Madison Lutgen, B.A., communication studies supplementary, magna cum laude; Madison Lutgen, B.A., women’s studies, magna cum laude; Cassandra Nelson, B.S., social studies education, cum laude
Rogers
Keith Furlong, B.S., management; Michael Hagel, bachelor of elective studies, English, magna cum laude; Shane Karna, B.S., nursing, cum laude; Jake Neidenfeuhr, B.S., marketing, certificate, professional selling specialization
Zimmerman
Lindsey Bartholdi, master of science, criminal justice studies; Eva Faircloth, B.S., environmental studies; Morgan Feldick, B.S., accounting, magna cum laude; Jenae Mettling, B.S., community health

University of Minnesota, Morris
Zimmerman
Christian Korlath, B.A., sports management

University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Elk River
Eric Brinza, B.S., geology
Otsego
Kyle Kackman, B.S., nursing

University of Wisconsin-Green Bay
Rogers
Nicole Greene

University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
Rogers
Kirsten Heikkinen, B.S., mathematics, highest honors; Nicole Killian, B.A., communication studies: interpersonal communication emphasis

University of Wisconsin-River Falls
Elk River
Shelby McChesney, B.S., health and human performance; Hailey Skog, B.S., health and human performance; Leah Waite, B.S., marketing communications
Rogers
Samuel Hines, master of science in education, counseling; Hailey Jessen, B.S., elementary education

Elk River High School Grade 9 “A” Honor Roll
Olivia Ackerman, Savannah Albu, Megan Averill, Jaures Ayumba, Ashley Ballou, Emily Balluff, Joshua
Bauer, Abigail Bense, Molly Bense, Ryan Benson, Meghan Bentz, Adam Boeckermann, Kaylee Bonk,
Alexander Bray, Johanna Breyen, Snow Bryner, Liam Carr, Brendan Chermack, Connor Clausen, Lauren
Conzet, Madelyn Cramer, Kelly Crocker, Katelyn Dee, Gracelyn Dilley, Genna Dow, Adam Eldredge,
Bartholomew Engvall, Samuel Erickson, Elayne Ernst, Jami Feist, Jack Ferry, Abigail Filipiak, Tate
Fluguear, Rachel Ford, Abigail Fritschel, Paige Gangl, Nicklaus Gill, John Gintz, Annie Givens, Kennedy
Gleason, Samera Graves-Lambert, Isabel Gruhlke, Benjamin Grundman, Nicholas Gulden, Lydia Haack,
Jaida Hagen, Adam Hague, Cassandra Hall, Samantha Halter, Samuel Hansen, Aria Hanson, Carter
Hanson, Kira Haus, Hannah Hawley, Joshua Hebrink, Sophia Hemphill, Grace Hendrickson, Andrew
Herrboldt, Clarissa Hilary, Rhetta Hillukka, Hannah Hilyar, Troy Hinz, Jaylynn Hovanetz, Alyson Hovda, Tyler Hughes, Savannah Hulse, Delaney Huntley, Anders Johnson, Cassandra Johnson, Audrey Johnson, Elisabeth Johnson, Mickiah Johnson, Nisa Kedrowski, Moira Kirschbaum, Savanah Klegon, Alyssa Kosbau, Jonathan Kovach, Joshua Koziol, Isabella Krueger, James Krzesowiak, Christian Kubicka, William Lillestrand, Aric Lindgren, Grace Lofquist, Bryce Loidolt, Nathan Loretz, Allison Lundeen, Isaac Maki, Michael Mattson, Makayla Melchior, Jack Milless, Sidney Mitchell, Sean Mynahan, Bradley Nelson, Bridget Niemi, Emily Nierengarten, Joseph Nordstrom, Kaden Odegaard, Jenna Olawsky, Amelia Olson, Samuel Orgon, Alicia Palmer, Kara Paulsen, Abigail Peterson, Nice Plasabas, Kaylin Plautz, Kaiden Poling, Amber Pomeroy, Jadon Purcell, Sergey Rabikau, Alexis Rademacher, Alan Rincon, Greta Rivers, Sydney Robertson, Cole Ronallo, Beau Ruby, Elizabeth Rumreich, Alejandro Rydberg, Makenna Sacre, Katelyn Sampson, Paul Schmitz, Alaina Schoenfelder, Erin Schunk, Victoria Schwieters, Emily Scott, Jacob Shaheen, Ethan Sharp, Devon Shaw, Abigail Skoog, Jamison Skoog, Abbey Smith, Zachary Stroh, Kaylee Sullivan, Joseph Thorkildson, Charity Timm, Jessica Timm, Megan VanDrehle, Emily Vetter, Jessica Weisgram

Elk River High School Grade 9 “B” Honor Roll
Cooper Adcock, Albis Almanzar, Destiny Anderson, Calvin Artmann, Trisha Averill, Christina Babaya,
Mitchell Bakken, Samantha Ballenger, Emily Banker, Nicole Beyer, Elijah Bicek, Elizabeth Bounds, Sadie
Boyd, Izzabella Brouhard, Makayla Buckley, Kodi Buckley, Gregory Bury, Taylor Byars, Addison Casey,
Benjamin Christensen, Taylor Christian, Jake Cunningham, Jackson Danielowski, Alexander Dedon, Tyson Dusosky, Allison Dwyer, Joseph Eberle, Aalyse Eik, Alexa Engebretson, Ava Gagnon, John Gannon, Thomas Good, Elijah Greenberg, Olivia Grev, Arianna Grotheer, Adam Gulden, Austin Hagen, Anson Hanna, Hannah Harder, Kiersten Hartje, Sara Heinkel, Jack Hipsag, Zachary Holtz, Seth Hopkins, Tyler Hudson, Jonathan Hughes, Eric Ingham, Halle Johnson, Mikayla Kanenwisher, Michael Kotzer, Noah Kramer, Jake Krauth, Anthony Kutzer, Emma LaFlamme, Grace Larson, Alma Larson, Maxwell Lassek, Regan Lassle, Kayla Lingman, Ellie Loe, Lance Loyd, Alexis Lynch, Mackenzie Mahowald, Ihle Majeres, Hunter McClay, Kaylee Miller, Alexa Moen, Wyatt Morin, Mataya Mose, Tennison Mueller, Robert Nelson, Isabel Nelson, Kaytlin Nething, Madeline Neu, Hayley Oestreich, Miles Olofson, Jolea Osborne, Colton Pool, Allison Potts, Blake Rademacher, Emily Reimann, Brodie Rice, Sophia Riewe, Karsen Risse, Juliet Saari, Owen Sailor, Sebastian Salazar Santor, Hailey Sandberg, Carter Scharber, Codi Schminkey, Marianne Schoen, Tristan Steinke, Cameron Stroud, Mark Thole, Elijah Thompson, Alex Ustimchuk, Evan VanEps, Benjamin Verdick, Elena Vermeer, Maryjane Voight, Levi Voigt, Ashley Werner, Austin Wilke, William Yang

Elk River High School Grade 10 “A” Honor Roll
Anna Alex, Michael Almich, Melaina Anderson, Neely Anderson, Joseph Anderson, Toni Baldwin, Alexis
Beck, Abigail Benson, Kelli Boe, Karly Boedigheimer, Gabrielle Brunkow, Chloe Brunkow, Erin Buerke,
Katherine Buhl, Janine Bury, Joseph Butterfield, Annica Carr, Camryn Chouinard, Larkin Clem, Annabelle Czech, Isabel Davis, Deanna Dokken, Hanna Dorff, Gabrielle Eatherton, Obiamalu Egbujor, Charles Eldredge, Logan Fisher, Joseph Foss, Angel Fredin, Alexis Friesen, Claire Gebhardt, Grace Gilbertson, Hannah Goede, Jacie Gordon, Ally Gramstad, Jazmyn Gray, Benjamin Greni, Ava Grimm, Lucas Gustafson, Hannah Hagglund, MyKenna Haley, Alexis Hanson, Grace Hanson, Tyler Hanson, Kayden Hendrickson, Riley Hogan, Dylan Hollom, Alina Hrytskevich, Samuel Hund, Annabel Inman, Carly Jagodzinski, Michael Jarmoluk, Donna Johnson, Michael Johnson, Madeline Johnson, Hannah Johnson, Sarah Johnson, Alyona Juntunen, Hamdi Kasim, Kelli Keyser, Kelsey King, Brandon Koziol, Katarina Kraljic, Julia Kramer, Alexis Lane, Mitchell Larson, Madeline LaVallee, Alexandra Lee, Sophia Leither, Kallie Middleton, Evan Miller, Madison Mitzuk, Mitchell Muniz, Kwamboka Ndege, Selena Nelson, Cassandra Neuenfeldt, Arik Nordenstrom, Shelby Novotny, Michael Nowotny, Jade Ochu, Elizabeth Olson, Malia Peacock, Julia Pierce, Tyler Powell, Sydney Redepenning, Arica Reesman, Miranda Reierson, Samantha Reiner, Sofia Rivers, Alaina Rossum, Josephine Schaaf, Cole Schaal, Ethan Schultz, Katie Schwegman, Elana Sederholm, Noah Shenkle, Afnan Siddique, Jack Simmons, Philip Skorykh, Eli Smith, Harrison Stephens, Danielle Stewart, Sonja Tesdahl, Mackenzie Thom, Jordan Thorpe, Riley Thorson, Emily Tincher, Bailey Tobiason, Tess Trombley, Cole Tveit, Samuel Varner, Callie Velisek, Matthew Vick, Talsi Wagner, Sarah Walters, Kaitlyn Walz, Branden Weber, Sophia Wetherille, Alexis Winberg

Elk River High School Grade 10 “B” Honor Roll
Lafayette Bade, Cade Baldwin, Jacob Ballenger, Michael Baron, Lana Battig, Tailer Benson, Kelsey
Bielefeld, Stephanie Blasius, Olivia Bloom, Anna Breuer, Zachery Buchert, Rand Carlson, Grant Carlson,
Lindsey Carlson, Leanna Christen, Tayler Cunningham, Ryan Czech, Angelo Deieso, Logan Enkhaus, Kyle Esperum, Chandler Flint, Carson Friestad, Gavin Frost, Jason Frost, Marilyn Gago, Saul Gonzalez,
Samantha Gust, Abbigail Heinen, Alyssa Heinkel, Madalyn Hembre, Drew Hightshoe, Samuel Homola,
Tanner Jess, Dalton Johnson, Madeline Johnson, Sydney Johnson, Megan Jung, Riley Kaluza, Alison
Keoraj, Bridget Kiemele, Taylor Kline, Sydney Knopick, Madelyn Kotzer, Sarah Kring, Kalee Krippner, John Krivich, Joey Kunkel, Ryan LeBlanc, Peyton Lorentz, Mitchell Maass, Ryan Madsen, Riley Mathis, Anna Matter, Autumn Mattson, Grace Miller, Vianna Moua, Katie Nelson, Joseph O’Connell, Zachariah
Odegard, Jacob Palm, Diamante Patino, Jackson Perbix, Sarah Rapp, Morgan Ray, Hunter Rissman,
Mason Schaal, Brenna Soderstrom, Trent Soukup, Ryan Stigen, Jonathan Suchy, Olivia Swigart, Jack
Taylor, Kylee Thompson, Benjamin Truebenbach, McKenna Uphoff, Julia Vicioso, Annie Wagenpfeil,
Jessica Waldron, Ashlyn Weber, Katherine Wilcox, Jack Wilson, Cassidy Wolcenski, Izabella Yager, Jason Zheng, Sydney Zierden

Elk River High School Grade 11 “A” Honor Roll
Colin Abress, Noah Adams, Kayla Andersen, Heather Anderson, AdLai Bade, Ciara Bailey, Belinda Beaver, Katherine Bedbury, Sarah Bense, Cade Beyer, Madison Bizal, Connor Bizal, Alison Blumb, Taylor Brandt, Nicholas Breuer, Meagan Brown, Christian Bruno, Anna Charboneau, Dylan Chouinard, Madison Coonradt, Alexis Cunningham, Emma Dalton, Joshua Daniel, Erin Davis, Kaitlyn Dhooge, Madison Dillerud, Alexandra Ditter, Acacia Donat, Wyatt Dopp, Addie Droen, Amanda Duitsman, Nicholas Eull, Megan Feist, Jade Fredin, Ethan Gardner, Gillian Greenberg, Megan Greenberg, Claire Grundman, Allison Hall, Claire Hanegraaf, Olivia Hansen, Keegan Haus, Mollie Heinen, James Heinzen, McKenzie Herrboldt, Madison Hilyar, Kelsie Hoffmann, Addie Hohlen, Jessica Holmquist, Jill Humphrey, Eleanor Humphrey, Benjamin Inman, Alexi Jacks, Grace Jacobs, Carmen Kaelke, Michael Kohorst, Lauryn Kolles, Jacob Kovach, Adam Kruger, Zachary Kruger, Sophia Kruger, Jacob Lane, Madison Leuthold, Madison Libor, Ashley Lingman, Ashley Lynch, Erin Mably, Sara Magnuson, Ava Maki, Madeline Marquez, Dylan Martie, Chancellor McDonald, Jackson Michener, Derek Monahan, Kaja Montplaisir, Reese Norby, Madison Odegaard, Hailey Odegard, Abigail Olson, Alayna Osterman, Peyton Paaverud, Beryl Palmer, Amanda Patterson, Joseph Pelle, Mackenzie Perron, Matia Person, Ashley Peters, Dominik Peterson, Ashley Peterson, Carson Pixley, Morgan Pool, Ashley Purcell, Madisen Rademacher, Lucas Randall, Sophia Riebel, Lauren Rishovd, McKenzie Scheid, Rachel Schoenecker, Megan Schroeder, Sydney Schuster, Taylor Seifert, William Sibilski, CeCelia Simmonds, Nicholas Sink, Emily Sizen, Reilly Springman, Lindsay Stiegler, Mary Stoutenburg, Kincaid Strain, Mitchell Stroh, Shelby Swenson, Matthew Syverson, Katherine Thorpe, Kate Torfin, Josephine Uche, Haley Ullrich, Chineng Vang, Lauryn Venne, Sarah Vernon, Thomas Wallace, Hannah Warner, Grant Warner, Rachel Wojcieszak, David Woyke, Cameron Wyse, Haley Yoder, Vittorio Zappa, Dominick Zappa, Sage Zerban

Elk River High School Grade 11 “B” Honor Roll
Sydney Adkins, MaCartney Ascheman, Jack Averill, Beau Babcock, Forrest Babcock, Dennis Bakken,
Carter Baldwin, Eva Bednarz, Brooke Benolkin, Carlita Bertsch, Sydney Bever, Morgan Bianchi, Emily
Bixby, Samantha Bray, Emma Brotemarkle, Jack Burger, Tristan Carlson, Stephanie Carlson, Alexis
Chambers, Kristen Collins, Carley Collins, Grace Crawford, Jared Creighton, Hannah Czech, Logan Davies, Nicole Dee, Samantha Elsenpeter, Andrew Fausone, Brittany Flander, Alexis Freund, Mikayla Hansen, Andrew Hess, Ander Hillebregt, Lucas Holbrook, Bailey Horner-McAlpine, John Ingham, Kyle Jussila, Noah Kirk, Tristan Kirschbaum, Samuel Kirscht, Madeline Klein, Tierney Klinker, Ty Kovar, Madison Kummrow, Faith Larom, Mallie Larson, Grace Larson, Adam Larson, Taiyo Larson, Jared LeClair, Lauren Lee, Laura Lefebvre, Tia Lerud, Callum MacArthur, Brooke Mackner, Taylor Masterman, Matthew Melco, Sara Monroy, Lloyd Morin, Matisse Myles, Alyssa Nielsen, Bruce Norton, Kendell O’Leary, Sabrina Onuma, Olivia Osmundson, Helena Parranto, Jared Paulson, Christian Porter, Logan Rademacher, Spencer Rammer, Malorie Rehbein, Elizabeth Rolfes, Robert Schiller, Shayne Schoenfelder, Anthony Schreder, David Schwappach, Lily Sharp, Jackson Smith, Ashley Smith, Jazlynne Smith, Mikala Springer, Megan Starr, Sydney Sullivan, Tristen Sykes, Elayna Torfin, Nicholas Utz, Hannah VanEps, Karah Walvatne, Jonathan Waters, Alexandra Weber, Sydney Weisenberger, Thomas West, Livana Wieber, Isabella Wolcott, Philip Xiong, Iviee Yager, Griffin Young, Hallie Yurich

Elk River High School Grade 12 “A” Honor Roll
Hayley Ackermann, Samantha Alexander, Joel Alfveby, Nicholas Anderson, Kyle Ballou, Katherine
Barschdorf, Kaylee Benson, Tyler Billman, Kristina Blasius, Kamilah Boedigheimer, Ryan Bouma, Elizabeth Brayden, Blaine Brenteson, Maria Brown, Connor Bryan, Megan Buhl, Kian Cappelli, Rebecca Caswell, Peyton Christoffer, Dylan Clausen, Cameron Cotton, Kelsie Cox, Zachary Cramond, Cole Daleiden, Annie Dalton, Danielle Dokken, Avalon Donat, Gabrielle Dose, Isabella Dusbabek, Abby Dwyer, Dylan Earl, Taylor Eastman, Kristina Erickson, Kory Esterberg, Paige Evenson, Michael Fischer, Grace Fonder, Maxwell Friese, Olivia Fromm, Logan Gacke, Andrew Gehring, Bradley Geist, Allissa George, Jarod Gill, Ashley Greenlun, John Greniuk, Madeleine Griffin, Gabrielle Haack, Alina Hansen, Casey Hass, Kaitlyn Hembre, Jack Hendrickson, Emily Holmquist, Emily Holzknecht, Mackenzie James, Sinclair Jankowski, Julia Jerome, Kailey Johnson, Emma Johnson, Hannah Jones, Hadley Jordan, Jamie Klang, Dylan Kline, Raelyn Korinek, Erika Kovar, Isaac Kramer, Ava Kramer, Kaytlin Krivich, Kali Larson, Gannon Larson, Spencer Larson, Alexander LaValley, Christian Leonard, Christina Lysdahl, Benton Maass, Chase Marchand, Mary McAlpine, John McClay, Justin McDaniel, Amanda McDonald, Shae-Elle McLean, Maggie McQuown, Maxwell Michaelis, Kennedi Mitchell, Davis Monahan, Diamond Moore, Alexander Morgan, Annika Morgan, Rebekah Morrison, Cy Musgjerd, Ellie Neilson, Ashley Nething, Josephine Neuenfeldt, Jessica Nielsen, Samuel Nordstrom, Marcus Ogren, Grace Olson, Lauren Ott, Matthew Paavola, Crystal Palmborg, Macee Pearson, Nicholas Perron, Andrea Petrich, Arieanna Poling, Ryan Rapp, Haley Rasmussen, Nicholas Rice, Logan Rodgers, Grant Schmitt, Cassandra Schmitz, Alyssa Schroeder, Jenna Schunk, Kaytlin Sederholm, Lily Simmons, Nicholas Sporre, Hailey Stein, Tyler Stordahl, Samuel Strack, Madeline Streifel, Mark Swann, Mackenzie Taylor, Mason Tegg, Connor Thompson, Tyler Thompson, Victoria Tobin, Madeline Tomlinson, Brady Trittin, Maxwell Waite, Jordan Wallace, Emma Waller, Nicholas Walz, Kennedy Warner, Jeffrey Watkins, Noah Weege, Sidney Wentland, Andrea Westgaard, Maxwell Wiczek, Rohan Willoughby, Michaela Wirz, LeeAnne Wuanti

Elk River High School Grade 12 “B” Honor Roll
Samantha Alery, Shannon Allen, Joseph Averill, Abraham Bade, Holland Baker, Sadie Balken, Cierra
Beckerleg, Hannah Bies, Kyle Bouten, Emmalee Breth, Anissa Buhay, Emily Charleson, Samantha
Christianson, Andrew Clark, Nicolas Crego, Alyssa Dailey, Luke Dickinson, Rachel Dorff, Halle Doro,
Caitlyn Dunbar, Thomas Ellis, Nathan Faust, Mitchell Feige, Darya Findorff, Sean Finical, Caitlyn Foote,
Arthur Fosse, Charles Franz, Caden Gatlin, Alec Germscheid, Katelyn Gfroerer, Samuel Gibas, Quinton
Gilbertson, Lyndsey Graves, Zachary Griffiths, Dawson Hagen, Joseph Halvorson, Trevyn Haus, Joseph
Hess, Grant Hevey, Blake Hills, Joseph Hinchcliff, Benjamin Hookom, Nathan Horn, Maryna Hrytskevich, Benjamin Johnson, Nissa Johnson, Peightyn Karsten, Sierra Kearns, Emily Kiemele, Jackson Kliewer, Danielle Lachmiller, Daniel Larom, Molly Larson, Cooper Lewis, Colin Lindgren, Trevor Loidolt, Cassandra Lovric, Dalton Maahs, Coleman Maegi, Taylor Martin, Makayla Massey, Emily Mattingley, Benjamin Meyers, Josiah Monroy, Jax Murray, Jalon Nielson, Dylan O’Connor, Isabel O’Konek, Grace O’Konek, Marlys Oliver, Zachary Olson, Tyler Paulson, Justin Pearson, Nicklaus Perbix, Hailey Pratt, Josette Provo, Mason Quarnstrom, Kaitlyn Radke, Jessica Reckard, Brianna Reinarts, Abegail Reisinger, Nicholas Samson, Casey Schilz, Skyler Schmitz, Abby Severson, Laura Simcoe, Abbigail Slawson, Austin Solors, Dawson Straus, Elizabeth Thompson, Tyler Thorson, Luke Tudor, Christopher Udalla, Lisa Vorlicek, Edward Walentiny, Jerrik Walker, Madeline Walters, Sidney Weeks, Ryan Weeks, Alexander Wiczek, August Wiitala, Connor Woolfolk

“A” Honor Roll

(GPA 3.51 and above)

GRADE 9

Ella Achterkirch, Brianna Adamson, Bailey Alberts, Lauren Andersen, Mikayla Anderson, Joshua Anthony, Sam Bakri, Vince Barkley, Luke Behnke, Margaret Behrendt, Sydney Berry, Robin Beyer, Michael Braun, Alaina Brenning, Anna Browning, Abigail Bruers, Isabella Brunetti, Katelyn Buechler, Lindsey Carriere, Cheyenne Carter, Luke Chapman, Holly Cserpes, Ellie Dahlheimer, Lauren Dahlstrom, Kyra Dalluge, Benjamin DeMarais, Bailey Dobberstein, Kiley Dorion, Boston Eddy, Ashlee Eder, Ellen Erdahl, Henry Erdahl, Jacob Esteves, Zachary Farrell, Kaylee Fenner, Benjamin Fisher, Riley Fiske, Shay FitzPatrick, Kamryn Fjellanger, Nathan Franz, Ryan Getz, Thomas Glad, Benjamin Gordon, Kaitlyn Hager, Isaac Hanauska, Hailey Hartlage, Alex Hedlund, Claire Hippen, Drew Hommerding, Kayli Huber, Hannah Hulinsky, Heather Hulinsky, Taylor Husarik, Grace Jablonski, Gretta Jensen, Tyler Johner, Abigail Johnson, Jessi Jordan, Paige Jordan, Tessa Judge, Kasidy Justen, Brandon Kain, Sara Kangas, Alexa Kanieski, Ali Karels, Lauren Kellar, Jenna Kerkvliet, Sarah Koshiol, Ella Lanman, Elise Larsen, Isabella Larson, Claire Lehtola, Joshua Leon, Patric Loeffler, Sierra Lorbeski, Lauren Lougheed, Ethan Loukusa, Morgan Marrs, Hailey Mattioli, Marissa Meier, Raegan Meskimen, Easton Miller, Samuel Miller, Isaac Mize, Kayla Moccia, Joseph Moss, Vince Moua, Mitchell Myers, Walker Nelson, Brittany Neu, Kacie Nevison, Abigail Northuis, Mackenzie Olsen, Princess Pacheco, Sara Parent, Adam Paris, Jace Parliament, James Peterson, Carson Phenow, Catherine Ramola, Oleksandr Reshetar, Madison Richardson, Jaden Rivers, Christopher Rooney, Preston Rosacker, Sydney Saen, Nicholas Sanders, Sophie Schmitz, Tristan Schultz, Breanna Schumacher, Nathan Scollard, Samuel Simpson, Brandon Sitarz, Emma Sorensen, Katherine Sperr, Gunnar Stangeland, Kate Stein, Ryan Streeter, Olivia Sultany, Andie Timpe, Marissa Vescio, Brianna Vote, Brennan Vreeman, Michael Wegleitner, Josie Wenum, Jack Wicklund, James Yabandith, Cody Yoss, and Alex Zhukouski

GRADE 10

Autum Adair, Ethan Anderson, Mariah Armstrong, Emily Barrett, Holly Benzi, Anna Bergman, Adam Block, Alexa Carlson, Noah Chapman, Patrick Coskey, Elise Crow, Emily DeValk, Abby DiChiria, Jacob Dirschel, Matthew Domanus, Justin Dorr, Holly Eshleman, Peyton Farrell, Ella Frantzen, Maximus Fuller, Grant Goodrich, Amanda Grassel, Ayana Greene, Justin Grudem, Caden Gunnarson, Melissa Hacker, Ashley Hanauska, Madeline Heimer, Carlie Heinecke, Katelynn Holland, Ellie Huttner, Madeline Jezierski, Benjamin Johnson, Ramsey Jones, Amanda Kaehler, McKenna Kalahar, Anoushka Kapoor, Lucas Konkol, Lauren Krall, Samantha Labatt, Chase LaMotte, Riley Lewis, Gavin Lien, Mackenzie Lynch, Kyle Maciej, Ryan Makela, Scott Martin, Brayden Mateuszczyk, Benjamin McNaboe, Christian Meyer, Isabel Miller, Nathaniel Miller, Elizabeth Mink, Anthony Nardini, Ryan Neuman, Dylan Newstrum, Britney Nguyen, Nathan O’Connor, Porschia Olson, Nicholas O’Neil, Cameron Ott, Charles Pereda, Ava Pinske, McKade Poirier, Joshua Prahl, Jamie Proell, Marie Reimer, Allie Roberts, Kyleigh Roberts, Emily Rubbelke, Jonathan Schaupp, Samantha Scherling, Raven Schwieters, Amber Secrist, Eve Selken, Hannah Sinton, Tassanni Sirattanatray, Donovan Skawiniak, Madison Smith, Samantha Stickler, Zacharie Strombeck, Brooklyn Stuhlsatz, Hunter Stull, Kayla Tester, Dylan Timm, Jared Toensing, Carter VanEngen, Emily VanStelten, Gabriel Voronyak, Braydon Wald, Cathryn Wallmow, Kayla Walstrom, Jake Whaley, Aidan Whitcomb, Emma Wyman, Ellie Yonak and Alesya Zhukouski

GRADE 11

Grace Alford, Nathan Amoe, Jessica Andersen, Thomas Andersen, Nicholas Baccam, Carter Barbeln, David Bauer, Abbey Beehler, Jordan Belka, Claire Bode, Danielle Bourgeois, Jasmine Brockberg, Alexa Brown, Maxwell Brown, Morgan Bruers, Ella Bussmann, Ellie Cargill, Ryan Catton, Blair Cecil, Shalyn Cole, Riley Daun, Cali Davis, Lauren Demoret, Carson DeSotel, Jenna Dietl, Jonathan Dietz, Kaylee Dirschel, Erin Dorn, Anastasia Dulski, Morgan DuVall, Anna Eakman, Laura Ebert, Kaitlyn Eder, Megan Edstrom, Hannah Finstad, Lucas Fjellanger, Elizabeth Fleck, Danielle Franklin, Madisen Frausto, Zachary Fuchs, Alaina Gadtke, Tyler Gelo, Luke Gentle, Nathan Gice, Jerod Gordon, Kaitlyn Haapala, Kallie Hambleton, Haley M Hansen, Madison Hansen, Hailey Hanson, Rachel Haskamp, Ellie Hedlund, Cailey Henderson, Brooklyn Hermanson, Jackson Hinz, Phat Ho, Grace Hol, Kyle Holstein, Danielle Hoppe, Keely Hughes, Sophia Husnik, Emily Jablonski, Kathryn Jewett, Amy Johnson, Keenan Johnson, Madison Johnson, Courtney Johnston, Carly Jones, Eva Jones, Garmai Jones, Eric Judge, Lauren Jullie, Chet Jurrens, Wesley Kaeter, Elizabeth Kelzer, Anna Kiffmeyer, Kaelyn Kimmick, Claire Kirscht, Kyle Langer, Christian Larson, Cole Larson, Kaitlyn LaVine, Marissa LeClaire, Cassidy Lehrke, Paetyn Levis, Evan Lindquist, Hannah Loukusa, Casey Lynch, Kelley Lynch, Marisa Maddox, Kali Manning, Briana Manthey, Cailyn Matthews, Lauren Mattson, Lauren Matzke, Grace Maurer, Victoria Meersman, MacKenzie Meier, Reece Meskimen, Cassaundra Miller, Michael Mittelstaedt, Emily Morse, Anna Nelson, Abigail Nylin, Olivia Odegard, Samantha Orth, Megan Otten, Anna Paepke, Jenna Parliament, Jenna Patterson, Brenden Pearson, Emma Peterson, Kenneth Peterson, Megan Phinney, Nathan Puetz, Carlie Ripley, Mackenzie Roberts, Emily Rokke, Brennan Rosenthal, Carson Sabinash, Madison Sandberg, Mathew Schaeffer, Meghan Schaeffer, Andrew Schatzke, Karla Scherber, Logan Schindhelm, Morgan Schmidt, Cole Schwerin, Eric Simon, Kali Smisek, Emily Spaniol, Colby St Gelais, Lindsey Stockamp, Kayla Strumstad, Claire Swan, Talia Sylvester, Hannah Teasdale, Hyrum Teasdale, Kylee Timperley, Ethan Tjeerdsma, John Torresani, Mckenna Wain, Jada Wald, Josie Waldron, Bramlee Watson, Rachel Westemeier, Nathaniel Wicklund, Bret Wilson, and Vincent Zimmer

GRADE 12

Skye Alpert, Coral Anderson, Conner Armstrong, Katherine Baker, Kaitlyn Benz, Colton Bluhm, Kendra Bolster, Samantha Braesch, Dylan Brunetti, Melea Bruns, Taylor Burke, Alec Camarote, Nicholas Camarote, Madison Chapman, Grace Clark, Kyleigh Correll, Allison Cuabo, Peter Day, Jack DeMarais, Anne Domanus, Ellie Feilen, Zoe Fezler, Haylee Fingalsen, Samantha Fitzpatrick, Emma Frantzen, Collin Franz, Lauren Getz, Inga Golovatyy, Jacob Gordon, Alexis Grauf, Miana Greene, Brady Groenewold, Nicholas Gustafson, Emily Hacker, Hanna Hagberg, Briana Hecker, Kate Heimer, Emily Hostvedt, Katelyn Ibe, Sarah Janckila, Megan Jasicki, Brady Johnson, Elizabeth Johnson, Kayla Jordan, Karisa Justen, Emma Kangas, Katherine Kapsner, Julianna Kiesner, Savannah Klein, Reed Kolles, Anna Koshiol, Lauren Kriegshauser, Benjamin Lazowski, Tyler Lee, Sydney Lemcke, Elizabeth Liebert, Jessica Livingston, Kaitlynn Lloyd, Ellie Lucas, Skylar Lund, Jared Lundberg, Kalista Lynde, Julia Malark, Paige Marrs, Isabella Matejka, Brandon Maurer, Tanner Meadows, Collin Melcher, Katelyn Meleen, Kaleb Middleton, James Miller, Sarah Mills, Isabella Mitchell, Jake Moss, Nolan Murray, Nicole Nardini, Emma Navratil, Gavin Nordberg, Ireland O’Gara, Mary Okematti, Mercedes Olson, Mitchell Osland, Zachary Ostman, Tanner Palm, Kyle Paris, Tanner Paul, Jacob Pawlowski, Lauren Polzin, Damon Prow, John Reiter, Morgan Rgnonti, Laura Roberge, Mary Rooney, Lindsey Running, Erik Saxton, Benjamin Schaupp, Olivia Schutte, Megan Secrist, Sidney Seiwert, Emily Sinton, Allie Smith, Felicia Smith, Heather Smith, Alannah Sperr, Mitchell Spilles, Chanz St Vincent, Hannah Stolba, Hayden Stuhlsatz, Matthew Ternus, Cecelia Thole, Rachael Thomas, Ashlee Trochlil, Denver Vacek, Abigail Voronyak, Morgan Wallmow, Justine Welcome, Lindsey Wenum, Michael Young, and Maleia Ysteboe

“B” Honor Roll

(GPA 3.00 – 3.50)

GRADE 9

Anthony Alberts, Logan Alford, Dominic Anderson-Conlon, Lily Bandy, Codi Banks, Robert Bjorgan, Miranda Bjorklund, Wesley Butkovich, Panharithik Chan, Jacob Chase, Ella Chenvert, Madelyn Claseman, Joseph Clauson, Samuel Climaco, Slade Dalzell, Jared Deelstra, Nicole Dusenka, Elizabeth Earlewine, Olivia Eggers, Samuel Essendrup, Erika Farmer, Connor Folik, Tyler Francis, Trey Frederickson, Rachel Geist, Hunter Green, Madalyn Gries, Ian Groe, Adam Gunderson, Justin Hagel, Belle Hamilton, Julia Harder, Allison Hatcher, Emma Havel, Grace Heideman, Jacob Hemann, Tariq Henry, William Hensel, Luke Holdren, Anthony Hoppenyan, Grace Hromadko, Jordan Johnson, Emma Judy, Kaitlyn Kellar, Logan Kimbler, Frederick Kirschman, Hannah Knutson, Ritvik Kosuri, Ethan Kriesel, Isabelle Lacroix, Hannah Lamberger, Jessica Landry, Natalie Langston, Emerson Lewis, Peyton Lewis, Maximus Lien, Ekbandith Littana, Brandon Lubke, Rachael Mackowick, Abigail Manthei, Deanna Mantsevich, Jayleigh Mateuszczyk, Jonah Maurer, Garrett McLaughlin, Whitney Meyer, Ashley Michoma, Vincent Mindrum, Makayla Mohs, Anthony Mootz, Leah Mork, Ashley Najarro, Beth Nielsen, Beckett Olson, Lucas Oswskey, Marshall Packer, Nathan Pawlowski, Alex Pearson, Jack Peluf, Alexander Prahl, Jada Primus, Jessie Proell, Luke Quale, Max Quintavalle, Sarah Randall, Carter Remer, Joseph Reshetar, Alison Reust, MacKenzie Richardson, Andrew Rocheford, Riley Roden, Thomas Russell, Jacob Scharber, Connor Schulz, Kalena Silas-Booker, Ryan Skoog, Nicholas Smegal, Isabella Smetana, Adrian Smiles, Joshua Sommerstad, Darien St Gelais, Breyden Stolski, Benjamin Surprenant, Kennedy Thomas, Megan Thomas, Isaiah Toth, Kaitlyn Tripp, Megan Trombley, Mia Umerski, Megan VonDeLinde, Jacob Wanner, Brady Watters, Emily Welch, Alexis Wertzler, Jenna Wilson, Elizabeth Wilson-Sandberg, Braden Wolf, Chauncey Yaidoo, and Sophia Zachman

GRADE 10

Breonna Abuya, Ashley Anderson, Brianna Anderson, Jedidiah Bandy, Eathan Betzler, Nicole Beutz, Bethel Biniam, Lucas Bistodeau, Kaylee Blasko, Joseph Bohlsen, Amanda Bohnsack, Emma Bresin, Sophia Broz, Gabriel Campbell, MacKenzi Carlson, Bjorn Charles, Cailin Conrad, Rachel Davidson, Tyler Davis, Tristen Dean, Presley Dobitz, Luke Edstrom, Meghan Ellingson, Nolan Erickson, Kayla Fischer, Jonah Fisher, Ryan Fordahl, Aislinn Gigante, Julianne Gillman, Elijah Grabowsky, Kylie Grauf, Natalya Grudanov, Oksana Grudanov, Kira Haeveker, Ryan Hamann, Mikaylee Hannu, Dylan Hathcock, Angelina Hathy, Nicholas Helgestad, Peyton Hennen, Aydan Hinnenkamp, Maxwell Hopkins, Chloe Japs, Dylan Johnson, Katherine Johnson, Allison Jullie, Abigale Kaehler, Ryan Kasper, Derrick Kolhoff, Jadie Koop, Kaitlyn Kubinski, Luke LaChance, Sarah Lazowski, Matthew Lithgow, Chloe Lundberg, Josephine Lynde, Payton Maki, Kiara Malone, Colton Matthews, Ryan Maurer, Caleb Meadows, Kennedy Meyer, Dani Michels, Ashlee Miller, Braedon Mittelstaedt, Evan Naziri, Luke Nelson, Meaka Nowak, Jahir Nunez-Martinez, David Okematti, Sarah Olson, Connor O’Neal, Ian Orina, Lucas Pearson, Jonathan Perego, Persephoney Petersen, Roselyn Phengmany, Lia Piazza, Carley Pimiskern, Lauren Pojar, AnaLea Poppe, Christina Quinn, Kalina Ranallo, Laura Randall, Madison Rapacz, Amber Remmen, Brooke Rognstad, Camilla Rose, Allie Rother, Jessica Schermeister, Aaron Schmidt, Jadon Schneider, Jada Schreiner, Zander Schultz, Connor Seemann, Graham Seminari, Gavin Sims, Eli Smith, Joshua Sola, Ben Solem, Mikayla Streit, Lauren Sylvester, Nathan Thelen, Wyatt Thelen, Arabella Thomas, Madalyn Thompson, Chelsea Timmerman, Taylor Tong, Julie Torresani, Jacob Trask, Nina Van Ess, Cassandra VanDenBerg, Chase VanHeel, Pacey Vylasek, Alana Walters, Austin Warden, Leila Weah, Jack Wheeler, Grace Wilson, Emily Wolfbauer, Margaret Wuollet, and Autumn Yelich

GRADE 11

Kyle Amundson, Nikita Anderson, Stacy Anderson, Weston Anton, Maxwell Arrell, Briana Bailie, Tyler Basel, Cole Beck, Matthew Braun, Benjamin Buechler, Gunnar Carlson, Molly Carnes, Gwendolyn Cox, Madison Culliver, Taylor Culliver, Tanner Donnay, Olivia Durbin, Hannah Eide, William Eshleman, Colton Falkman, Krysta Felber, Joseph Fodstad, Tadum Foss, Parker Gleason, Andrea Goble, Mark Grabowsky, Alexis Griffin, Katelyn Hagel, Tyler Hagert, Jenna Hatcher, Cara Hess, Chloe Hilden, Luke Hinrichs, Brandon Hintz, Peter Hoffman, Autumn Iwanok, Brynn Jasicki, Carter Jenkins, Nathan Jensen, Cole Johnson, Carlie Katzenberger, Braxton Kerr, Emily Kilby, Nicholas Kleven, Jonathan Krumsieg, Michael LaCock, Mitchell Lamers, Ross Lanman, Taylor Ley, Sydney Lofgren, Trever Madsen, David Mantsevich, Morgan Manz, Justin Martin, Ethan McDonald, Emma McKeon, Megan Minikus, Collin Murray, Megan Nelson, Mark Neu, Tricia Niznik, Gabriel Olajonlu, Grace Omann, Jacob Orwoll, MacKenzie Otkin, Garett Pawlak, Taylor Peterson, Olivia Ringate, Sebastian Rodriguez, Emily Rosati, Caitlin Ruckle, Lexis Schmidt, Haley Shingledecker, Allison Skinner, Charles Skoog, Zachary Smisek, Gabriella Sobiech, Elijah Solberg, Jackson Spanier, Briley Stang, Logan Stensrud, Lilly Stockamp, Allison Stone, Matthew Sultany, Noah Swanson, Mason Sweet, Amy Theis, Emma Throldahl, Samuel Throldahl, Michael VanStelten, Brandon Vazquez, Seth Vestal, Alexander Wadzink, Carlee Watters, Samantha Weidenbach, Zachary West, Jonathan Willemssen, and Kacie Wood

GRADE 12

Zachary Aanerud, Logan Adair, Nathan Andersen, Nicholas Andersen, Braiden Arradizadeh, Nicholas Atallian, Matthew Becker, Dylan Belisle, James Berg, Wyatt Bloom, Emily Bond, Kolby Bowlin, Owen Brewer, Joshua Bridell, Anthony Buckingham, Tyler Bunnell, Kevin Buschkowsky, Brady Capouch, Ethan Cassidy, Erin Cecil, Eric Chamlongsong, Nicholas Chyrklund, Kyra Cleveland, Kaylie Conlin, Abby Conn, Wesley Cooper, McKone Corkery, Angela Dancer, Hunter Derouin, Calista Dorholt, Graham Durbin, Aaron Eenhuis, Abigail Ellis, Jack Erdahl, Benjamin Fife, Alexander Finstad, Jordan Fischer, Erik Fordahl, Gage Fournier, Riley Frolik, Samantha Gould, Karlie Hall, Lindsey Havel, Abigail Havrilla, Logan Heinecke, Cody Hines, Aaron Hippen, Jennifernhu Hoang, Ethan Holland, Angela Hoppenyan, Kaylee Husarik, Christina Jairam, Kirsten Johnson, Kylee Juul, Jack Kammers, Courtney Kirby, Mariah Klemesrud, Cameron Kline, Madison Knox, Austin Kollos, Timothy Konyuk, Jinnae Koop, Emma Kuchaes, Cody Laven, Gabrielle Lien, Kyle Lithgow, Sean Maciej, Nicole Manning, Thomas Martin, Jac Mateja, Calista Mateuszczyk, Hannah Meseck, Justin Mork, Reid Morris, Isabella Moua, Joseph Mulcare, Mitchell Nelson, Jenna Nevonen, Victoria Nyland-Foley, Matthew O’Connor, Wyatt Oldenburg, Matthew Olson, Parker Olson, Haley Pawlak, Marijane Petersen, Maithtyo Phengmany, Gerald Piazza, Ellie Pitts, Alexis Polister, Veronica Porter, Anna Priebe, Eliot Pulling, Anthony Quale, Dalton Roehl, Blake Samlaska, Kevin Lee Santiago-Martinez, Sarah Schaenzer, Alexis Scharlepp, Elaina Seemann, Carly Segulia, Nicholas Soppeland, Ashley Spah, Madeline Springer, Wyatt Thurber, Jeana Tomlinson, Ellyssa Tran, Kristina Trombley, Jamie Turnquist, Brennan Unruh, Kordell Wager, Olivia Wageman, Angela Wagner, Abby Wenz, Pauline Weyer, Brittany Wood, and Riley Zimmerman

The Minnesota Department of the American Legion Auxiliary is hosting the 71st annual Girls State event June 11-17 at Bethel University in St. Paul. The Elk River American Legion Post Auxiliary is providing funding to send selected junior girls from the Elk River area to this program in citizenship and Americanism. The purpose of this program is to:
•Develop leadership and pride as American citizens.
•Educate citizens about the American system of government.
•Instill a greater understanding of Americanism.
•Stimulate a desire to maintain democratic government processes.
This is achieved by establishing city, county and state government using mock campaigns, caucusing, debating, voting and parliamentary procedures. Other activities include a day at the Capitol, well-known speakers, patriotic ceremonies and a judicial court system.
Contact Sylvia Frolik, Girls State chairperson at the Elk River American Legion Auxiliary, for more information about the program and application forms at sylviafrolik@gmail.com. Applications must be returned to Frolik by Monday, April 3.

Below is a slideshow of events from Zimmerman High School’s Pepfest.

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Snow Week Queen nominees left to right: Emily VanWyhe, Shekinah Early, McKenna Butau, and Makayla Schweiger

by Rachel Minske
Contributing Writer
The Elk River Area School Board awarded bids for the internal construction of the new district office building that formerly belonged to the Minnesota School of Business.

In a unanimous vote, the board awarded bids for 11 different packages to the lowest bidders during a meeting Feb. 27. School Board Director Gregg Peppin was absent from the meeting.

Despite two opposing votes, the School Board voted in February 2016 to purchase the building. Board Member Holly Thompson and former Member Jane Bunting voted against the purchase. Those in favor of the purchase argued the building would consolidate administrative functions under one roof.

The district bought the building for $4.2 million.

“We have been thrilled to have the use of the building,” said Interim Superintendent Bruce Watkins.

District officials have used the new building for a number of things, including a handful of board meetings, community input sessions and, most recently, for the search of the next superintendent for the Elk River Area School District.

“We are very anxious; we think it will be a delightful upgrade for us,” Watkins said.

Representatives from Rogers-based Terra General Contractors and Wold Architects and Engineers of St. Paul coordinated the bid process for the district relocation project.

The awarded base bid packages include:
•$47,800 to Ebert Inc., Corcoran, for selective demolition.
•$188,400 to Ebert Inc. for carpentry.
•$47,600 to Capital City Glass Inc., Blaine, for aluminum entrances and glazing.
•$93,269 to RTL Construction, Shakopee, for gypsum board.
•$11,596 to Mid-State Title Co. Inc., St. Cloud, for tile.
•$23,450 to Twin City Acoustics, Plymouth, for acoustical ceilings and wall panels.
•$87,500 to MCI Inc., Waite Park, for hard-surface flooring and carpet.
•$30,870 to Color Works Painting, Fridley, for painting.
•$15,040 to Summit Companies, St. Paul, for fire suppression.
•$153,000 to Sun Mechanical, Elk River, for plumbing and HVAC.
•$112,000 to Rum River Electric, Onamia, for electrical.

Additionally, Wold Architects and Engineers recommended the board approve one of two addendums to the lowest bidders for work regarding an entryway.

Under the addendum, $2,270 would be awarded to Ebert Inc. for selective demolition, $44,100 also to Ebert Inc. for carpentry and $4,050 to RTL Construction for gypsum board.

Construction is scheduled to be substantially completed by June 2 with employees moved into the new space by Aug. 1.

All but two rooms in the new space have been designated, said Executive Director of Business Greg Hein. Compass, a transition program for 18- to 21-year-old students with development disabilities, will also be housed in the new district office space, Hein said.

by Rachel Minske
Contributing Writer
The Elk River Area School District is gearing up to submit another three-year plan for the state’s Achievement and Integration for Minnesota program.

The program aims to pursue racial and economic integration, increase student achievement, create equitable educational opportunities and reduce academic disparities in Minnesota public schools, according to the Minnesota Department of Education.

There are currently 124 school districts that receive funding from the program and participation is determined by the number of protected-class students – or a group of people with a common characteristic who are legally protected from discrimination and harassment based on that characteristic – relative to the number of protected-class students in adjoining districts or schools based on enrollment.

“This isn’t just beneficial to the student, it’s beneficial to the entire country,” said Patricia Sanford, a curriculum specialist with the district. Sanford presented the plan to the Elk River Area School Board Feb. 27.

All eligible districts must submit a three-year plan to the state, Sanford said. District 728 would be eligible for more than $1 million in funding and has participated in the program for at least the last nine years, she said.

To prepare the 2018 plan, Sanford said a team of directors completed dozens of classroom visits and 36 building walk-throughs. Additionally, the team received survey responses from 513 parents and caregivers.

About the research
The results of the research were boiled down into categories like climate, environment and resources, leadership and governance and family and community partnerships.

Each category identified district strengths, but also areas of growth. For example, under the instruction and assessment category, strengths included a variety of instructional modes and the use of formative assessment and feedback within the district. However, an area of growth included a need for more student-centered instruction, as 35 percent of classrooms observed did not utilize the practice, according to Sanford’s presentation.

Under the environment and resources category, adequate buildings and facilities within the district were identified as strengths. An area of growth included a lack of positive representations of diverse people and cultures and a lack of diversity in staff. The Achievement and Integration plan team recommended the district increase how often diversity appears in schools, materials and textbooks.

The team proposed nine different interventions as part of the plan, including the continuation of magnet schools at Rogers Elementary School and Salk Middle School, partnerships within the preschool program and the possible expansion of AVID, a program dedicated to helping students attend college.

The plan also uses themes from World’s Best Workforce, a bill passed in 2013 to ensure every Minnesota school district is making strides to increase student performance.
The timeline for completing the plan is as follows:
•March 6: Final plan and budget submitted to School Board.
•March 13: Board approves plan.
•March 15: Submit plan to Minnesota Department of Education.

“For me, it sounds amazing, but I still have a lot of questions,” said School Board Vice Chair Jamie Plantenberg-Selbitschka.

Shane Steinbrecher, chair of the board, echoed her sentiments, adding he was concerned if the board would have enough time to study the plan before submitting it to the Minnesota Department of Education.
“I just want to make sure everyone is ready to make a decision and (everyone) has all the information,” he said.
School Board Director Gregg Peppin was absent from the Feb. 27 meeting.

by Paul Rignell
Contributing Writer
A new era has started for Zimmerman students in the fine arts.

Resulting from a bond referendum that school district voters approved two years ago, Zimmerman’s high school and middle school campus has grown with new classrooms but also more notably with a performance stage and auditorium – the first such space for this community.

Before this winter, including as recently as late 2016, Zimmerman’s music and theater programs needed to use other area venues for presenting their public concerts and performances. For example, choir director Amy Herfindahl and her students crossed Fourth Street each December to present their holiday concerts in the sanctuary at Christ Our Light Catholic Church. In addition this past December, theater students from Zimmerman’s high school and middle school and also Westwood Elementary School worked together on a production of “A Christmas Carol” but they needed to move their sets 10 miles south to Zabee Theater at Elk River High School.

More frequently through the years, Zimmerman’s student bands, choirs and other groups welcomed the public to performances in the same room where students eat their lunches each day – the “cafetorium,” as it was known.

Zimmerman’s real auditorium is now finally open for rehearsals and performances. One major upcoming show will be the high school production of “The King and I” with presentations set for Friday, April 28, through Sunday, April 30.

Some community members attended a grand opening event for the Zimmerman auditorium March 2, where they enjoyed a short preview of some music from “The King and I” along with other band and choral music and a bit of comedy.

After those previews, three Zimmerman faculty members who have given many hours to teaching these students in the fine arts spoke with joy about the new auditorium.

The directors expect that their audiences will be significantly larger. The auditorium certainly has the seating to accommodate big crowds.

Supportive friends and family members always showed up for performances in the “cafetorium” but it was common for as many as 150 guests to have to stand throughout a concert, said middle school band director Shannon Curtis.

“It was always very uncomfortable,” he said, adding that an audience never got the best sound experience in that room due to its poor acoustics. “Our students are always well-prepared,” Curtis added. “It just wasn’t fair to them and their accomplishments to perform there. … A surprising number of schools still operate in similar conditions.”

Theater director Jon Palashewski says public attendance could have been larger in the converted lunch space for shows, but frankly the seating problems kept some interested people on their couches at home.

“We have had community people state that they would not attend because of the poor seating, sound and lights (there),” Palashewski said.

Those were not the room’s only concerns.

“Because we have not had a real stage, we (did) have … issues with securing sets properly and have had set pieces falling,” he added.

The future is brighter, along with the lights in the new auditorium.

“We have assigned areas where students can build and design set pieces, props and costumes,” Palashewski said. “We have a playing space with excellent acoustics and sound and lights in which to enhance our performances.”

Herfindahl said guests will find the sound and visuals to be infinitely better in the auditorium.

“We have a space that reflects the pride we take in our fine arts … here at Zimmerman,” she said. “We train our (students) to perform at their utmost levels and we finally have a performance venue that aptly shows that to the audience.”

“All of the sound and lighting technology is top of the line,” Curtis agreed. “We are fitted with equipment that will serve us well and last a very long time.

“As a community we are so lucky to have this equipment and to be supported as we are,” he added.

Bond money from the referendum in 2014 also funded a new auditorium in the southern end of the district at Rogers.

“The voters in our district who supported these builds and upgrades … have made a colossal impact on our students,” Curtis said. “Our students are constantly inspired and excited to get on stage and just to come to our (also new) band room every day.”

“I am so thankful that our community is supporting students in the arts so that they can learn, grow and prepare for their futures in this way,” said Palashewski, who is deep into rehearsals with his cast for “The King and I.”

“I really hope much of the community can come and experience our dramatic productions to get just a taste of what this means to our present and future students,” he said.

Other spring events in the new auditorium will feature public concerts on three consecutive Mondays including a middle school and high school choir concert May 8, a middle school band concert May 15 and a high school band concert May 22.