Two Sartell students recently graduated from University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. They and their majors are the following: Frederick Bidinger, bachelor’s degree in business and management; and Christopher Buell, bachelor’s degree in business and information systems.
Meghan Carey of Sartell recently graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a bachelor’s degree in nursing.
Madison Thompson of Sartell was recently named to the spring semester president’s list at Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa. Students must achieve a grade-point average of 4.0 to receive this honor.
Thomas Gerberding of Sartell recently earned a doctorate degree in law from the University of Iowa, Iowa City.
St. Cloud State moves up in Forbes’ ‘Top Colleges’ list
St. Cloud State University remains in the top 5 percent of the most affordable colleges in Forbes Magazine’s “America’s Top Colleges” list for 2013 and improved from 611 to 504 in the overall ranking.
SCSU’s increase points to a statistical trend for public schools in the “Top Colleges” rankings this year. State schools offer an excellent education for much lower tuition bills than their average private counterparts, according to the Forbes’ article.
The 650-school ranking features just four Minnesota public universities: University of Minnesota (109), University of Minnesota-Morris (386), St. Cloud State (504) and Minnesota State University-Mankato (595).
The “America’s Top Colleges” rankings include an elite 24 percent of U.S. colleges and universities based on five criteria: student satisfaction, post-graduate success, student debt, graduation rate and nationally competitive awards.
SCSU earned five nationally competitive awards in 2012-13, including the Simon, Heiskell and HEED Awards for international efforts, the Hobey Baker Award and Innovative Program of the Year Award.
Forbes promotes its 2013 ranking with the taglines “The Only Schools That Matter. The best years of life are also among the most expensive. Choose with care.” Only 23 of “America’s Top Colleges” cost less than SCSU, on an annual basis. That puts SCSU among the top 4 percent of most affordable colleges.
Abounding Joy Lutheran Church purchases land for future home
Abounding Joy Lutheran Church recently purchased 8.5 acres of land on CR 120 (one half mile west of Fitness Evolution) on the boundary of Sartell and St. Cloud. It plans to construct a church facility there in the next 12-18 months. While the majority of Abounding Joy’s members live in Sartell, it draws from across the St. Cloud area. The congregation currently holds Sunday services in the community room at the Boy Scout Headquarters on north Pine Cone Road in Sartell. It’s a member of Lutheran Congregation in Mission for Christ and has been served by Pastor Tom Wright since January, 2011. The church’s website is www.aboundingjoylcmc.org.
Former Sartell City Administrator Patti Gartland receives Distinguished Rural Leadership Award from CGMC
Patti Gartland, former Sartell city administrator and current Sartell resident, was recognized for her distinguished rural leadership in Minnesota July 25 by the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities during its three-day summer conference in Bemidji. The Bob Filson Award for Distinguished Rural Leadership is given upon retirement to CGMC city managers/administrators who have displayed sound judgment in rural policy matters throughout their careers and made significant contributions to the CGMC.
Though she did not retire from public service, Gartland recently left city government to take a position as president of the Greater St. Cloud Development Corp. During her tenure with the city of Sartell, Gartland was very involved with the CGMC. She was a long-time member of the CGMC board of directors, most recently serving as co-chair of the Annexation and Land Use Committee. She also testified on behalf of the CGMC many times at the State Capitol and represented the CGMC on the Municipal Boundary Adjustment Task Force from 2007-09.
Patti has worked tirelessly in support of Greater Minnesota causes for more than 20 years,†said Bruce Ahlgren, president of the CGMC and mayor of Cloquet. “Her wonderful contributions to the CGMC organization and its efforts will be missed.â€
CGMC is a nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy organization representing 85 cities outside of the Twin Cities metropolitan area. The Coalition educates legislators about issues important to Greater Minnesota.
Sartell recently won the Tier B 5th- and 6th-grade Central Minnesota Youth Baseball League Tournament held at Pine Cone Central Park in Sartell. The team posted wins against Princeton Orange, Sauk Rapids Gray, Princeton Black and another Sartell team in a close championship game; 27 teams competed in three divisions at Pine Cone Central Park during the weekend of July 19-21. Team members include: (front row, left to right) Chandler Kenning, Case Leach, Colin O’Leary, Eddie Hamilton, Kendrick Sindt, and Callan Markey; (middle row) Nolan Lund, Tyler Erickson, Cameron Nelson, Brandon Beek, Alex Moritz, Jacob Miller, and Dylan Gerdesl; and (back row) Coaches Kevin O’Leary, Jeff Miller, Trevor Moritz and Bill Lund
PineCone Vision doctors attend industry-wide conference
PineCone Vision Center Drs. Nicholas Colatrella and Stacy Hinkemeyer and Practice Administrator Jennifer Novak recently attended the 116th annual American Optometric Association Congress and 43rd annual American Optometric Student Association Conference: Optometry’s Meeting held June 26-30 in San Diego. The conference included more than 200 hours of educational programming. Course content was concentrated around clinical optometry and ocular disease and management. In addition to providing continuing education, the conference offers an introduction to new ophthalmic techniques and products, features networking and influence-building opportunities and represents the voice of optometry through the American Optometric Association House of Delegates. PineCone Vision Center is a state-of-the-art comprehensive eye care provider with a team of vision-care specialists and a professional staff providing the best eye-care solutions available.
