Kimball Area High School (KAHS) students Cole Loewen, Carl Stein, Nick Stein and Jenna Stenger were among 158 students honored at the 17th annual Students of Excellence Banquet sponsored by Resource Training and Solutions. In his opening remarks, Dr. Robert Cavanna, Executive Director of Resource Training and Solutions said, “Thoughts are a dime a dozen – the person that puts them into practice is priceless.” Presiding superintendent at the banquet was Jim Lee, Superintendent of St. Cloud Public Schools. Lee encouraged students to continue to challenge themselves as they take their next steps. Resource Board of Directors chairman Robert Ziegler also brought greetings and congratulations. Ziegler made special reference to the support parents give students from kindergarten throughout their school careers. Keynote speaker for the evening was Walter Bond, former NBA basketball player. Bond spoke about the difference between confidence and arrogance. “When I arrived at the University of Minnesota to attend college and play basketball I just knew I was going to turn the team around. I was just certain that because I had been an ‘All State’ high school basketball player in Illinois, I was going to change that losing record. “I had crossed the line from confidence to arrogance. [Bond quickly learned that] if I was going to change anything, it had to be how hard I worked. You see, I was comfortable being All State. Arrogant people stop growing because they think they have arrived.” Bond went on to say that high achievers are lifelong learners who never get comfortable. They set goals, try new things and work to make things happen. Students recognized at the banquet are chosen at the discretion of their respective schools. Each school can choose two to four seniors and have the option to invite a favorite teacher, coach and/or administrators. Resource Training and Solutions has sponsored, coordinated and fiscally supported the event since 1987.
