By Merlin Zimmerman
The first quarter of 2001-2002 has been an exciting one in Mini-School. Several students have graduated during the first few weeks of school: Josh Reisgies, Andy Sheats, James O’Day, Tyson Haeg and Matt Prich. It feels good to be a part of Mini-School, a place where so many people find their goals within reach. I hear over and over from students how graduating from high school is an accomplishment that they are proud of. Many of our students get a chance to go on a wilderness trip in the last few months of their high school career too, and that makes the accomplishment all that much more satisfying.
This year started with a healthy number of our newer students going to Grantsburg, Wisconsin, to spend a couple of days with Mark Warren. Mark, a naturalist who has dedicated his life to teaching a simpler, cleaner way of life, came up to Wisconsin from his school in Georgia to meet with our group. We thank him again for his commitment to teaching. The students he worked with this year were: Kristin Schneider, Jake Rutstein, Joe Morseth, Jamie Garrett, Noah Bystrom, Jenny Blankenship, Andrew Bernstein, Jenna Bergmann, Andrew Beddor, Stein Thorbeck, Amanda Sheats, John Shannon, Alaina Mielke, Kelly Meyers, Dustin Mencel, Tom Mason, Lindsay Klug, and Jessica Johnson.
Students that helped with preparation and clean-up are greatly appreciated. They are: Tyson Haeg, Matt Prich, Jake Rutstein, Josh Zelazny, Andrew Bernstein, James Froemming, Teanna Gutzke, Lindsay Klug, Alissa Kuder, Andy Sheats, and Amanda Wegler.
Paul Gerten went to northern Minnesota to hike along the Superior Hiking trail with a group of Mini-Schoolers in September. They returned with several great pictures of the great scenery of the North Shore. The group consisted of: Andrew Beddor, Monica Duperre, Natalie Evans, Katie Juneau, Chris Korolchuck, Dustin Mencel, Alaina Mielke, Joe Morseth, John Shannon, and Stein Thorbeck.
Two very popular day trips this fall were Pauline Engleby and Ramona Anderson’s trips to the Arboretum and the Minnesota Science Museum. The students who spent the morning in the great outdoors were: Sarah Beegle, Jenna Bergmann, Jenny Blankenship, Noah Bystrom, Greg Charlson, Jamie Garrett, Billy Knight, Dan Osmonson, Josh Peet, KristinSchneider, Jake Stumme, Monica Williams, and David Zernechel. Those who visited the science museum were: Jared Yount, Jake Stumme, Hadiyyah-Lah Sa’id, Matt Prich, Josh Peet, Alex Peden, Dan Osmonson, Kate Muir, Katie Juneau, Tyson Haeg, Jamie Garrett, Natalie Evans, Andrew Bernstein, Jenna Bergmann, Jeremy Appollo, and Joe Allen.
Doug Berg, one of the founders of Mini-School once again contributed his experience to the trips program this fall. Doug worked with Paul on preparing and guiding the Superior Hiking Trail. He also helped me with the huge Grantsburg Hike by taking care of much of the equipment and food preparation, and then hiking along with us. (You can read about that trip in a later issue of Com-Mini-Cations.) He has also been working hard at promoting and coordinating our Minnesota Weatherguide Calendar sale this year. His commitment to Mini-School has always been a great asset. Thanks, again Doug!
Support Mini-School with Your Target Guest Card
This Fall, Mini-School received another check from Target. This time Target donated $93.26 to Mini-School by contributing a percentage of the money from participating Target Guest Card purchases. Community members who participate in the target “Take Charge of Education” program can indicate Mini-School as their beneficiary school. The chosen school receives 1% of all purchases made on-line at target.com, and 12% of all purchases made elsewhere. All you need to do to take part is apply for a Target Guest Card, and designate Mini-School as your school of choice.
Minnesota Weather Guide Calendars are still on sale at the Mini-School office!
The official sale came to an end on December 12. Doug has helped us with the sale this year by leading the students on selling trips, and cheering them on with incentives galore! However, we still have a couple calendars lying around, and we will be happy to sell you one if you have not yet had the opportunity to see one of our student salespeople. Give us a call and make your purchase today, before the holidays. We will fill you in on the final numbers of our sale this year in a future issue.
Alumni News
What’s happening with Mini-School alumni?
Pat McNutt
- Graduate of 1999
Pat has spent 2 years in the U.S. Navy, stationed in Norfolk, Virginia. He said he has taken some college classes and enjoys the service very much. He spends a lot of time in Europe and the Middle East while in the service. We wish him safety during this time of war.
Elissa Johnson
- Graduate of 1999
Elissa has been working as a manager at Petite Sophisticate at the Mall of America. She says she is doing well and would like people to come visit her at the store. That’s a good manager!
Jessica Juneau
- Attended 1996-99
Jessica completed her GED in September of 2000. Congratulations to her! She then went on to give birth to Halie RaeAnn Juneau on December 20, 2000, her 6 lb. 13 oz. baby girl. Happy First Birthday to Halie this month.
Marcelle Dorenkamp
- Graduate of 1997
Marcelle is taking care of her own little girl as she attends the Art Institute International of Minnesota. She is studying Internal Design. Good luck with your studies, Marcelle.
Eliot Tan
- Graduate of 1993
After traveling extensively (he liked Key West the best), Eliot met Karen and they were married in the summer of 2001. In June, their daughter Kaija Aban Tan was born. Eliot is working as an electrical contractor and “things are wonderful.” He is writing piles of science fiction, and working on his writing discipline. We hope to read your published works some day, Eliot.
Drew Emmings
- Graduate of 1999
Drew has been attending Dunwoody Institute in the area of Electrical Construction. In the summers, though, he enjoys the finer things by working at ROW – River Odysseys West — in Idaho. He says he enjoys that a lot! We are pleased your Mini-School experience can be a part of your adult life, Drew.
Virgil Olson
- Graduate of 1999
Virgil is attending Minneapolis Community Technical College and working at A-1 Rental. He is still very interested in law enforcement, and stays active with local civilian police work. He also spends time riding horses and training dogs in Kansas. He says he’s enjoying life, and we wish him well.
If you attended Mini-School, and you want to update the community on what you have been up to, give us a call, we’ll talk, then we’ll tell everybody we know!