Area students were among those honored at Resource Training & Solutions 20th annual Students of Excellence Banquet May 2 at St. Cloud Civic Center. More than 600 people attended the event, honoring the area’s top 167 high school seniors. These seniors are in the final weeks of their high school careers and come from 43 schools in the central Minnesota region. Honored from this area were: Kimball – Patrick Hancock, Jeffrey Hunt, Lindsey Ostby and Joelle Wysoski; Annandale – Faith Fretham, Michael Planer, Heather Schultz and Rebekah Schultz; Dassel-Cokato – Bryce Benda, Krystal Gatz, Rachel Keranen and Melissa Kraemer; Eden Valley-Watkins – Amy Bischof, Kerry Donnay, Joshua Eisenbacher and Patrick Notch; Holdingford – Kayla Calgaro, Chrita Kleinjan, Christa Prodzinski and Christina Scholz; Maple Lake – Sarah Latour, Samantha McClanahan, Shelly Neidenfeur and Ashton Schuster; and Cold Spring ROCORI – Steve Brown, Jessica Gertken, Mathew Hopfer and Travis Proshek. In giving the welcoming address, Dr. Rob Cavanna, executive director for Resource Training & Solutions, told the students “You will be the leaders and role models for tomorrow. Look to create community-focused societies in whatever you choose to do after you graduate.” Each student was presented with a certificate from Gov. Pawlenty and a plaque. Criteria for selection to the recognition event is at the discretion of each school and based upon recommended guidelines. Schools can choose two to four seniors and have the option to invite favorite teachers, coaches and administrators. Resource Training & Solutions and its member district has been sponsoring, coordinating and fiscally supporting the event since 1987.
