Marisa Gaetz, daughter of Rose and Rick Gaetz of St. Joseph, was recently named the District 20 regional recipient of the “Triple A (Academics, Arts and Athletics) Award” by the Minnesota State High School League. According to the MSHSL, the purpose of this program is to recognize and honor high school seniors who have excelled in the classroom, on the athletic field and in the fine arts. Gaetz received the recognition on Jan. 6 at the awards banquet in Paynesville, Minn.. She is now invited to attend another awards banquet in March where she will be eligible to receive a $1,000 scholarship from MSHSL.
Gaetz plays varsity soccer and softball. In addition to athletics, she is a state champion in Knowledge Bowl and plays percussion in the St. John’s Prep concert band, jazz band and pep band. For her future studies, Gaetz is deciding between the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Minnesota and the University of Chicago. She plans to major in pure mathematics, or mathematics with some physics.
“My favorite subjects are mathematics and physics,” Gaetz said. “I have really enjoyed taking college math courses and taking International Baccalaureate Physics. I have been able to manage academics, athletics and arts because I am very passionate about all three areas. Also, I try to pay attention to time management, organizing my time so I can dedicate enough time to each area.”
Criteria for the Triple A Award includes the following: Exhibit citizenship and be a respected individual in their home communities and school, have participated in a MSHSL-sponsored athletic program and fine-arts activity, maintain a grade-point average of 3.0 or higher , and comply with the MSHSL’s Student Code of Conduct.
Randy Rittenhouse was recently nominated for the Driver of the Year Award by the National Association of Small Trucking Cos. Rittenhouse drives for Brenny Specialized of St. Joseph.
The NASTC represents more than 6,000 trucking companies in the United States and Canada that employ more than 75,000 drivers collectively.
“As a nominee for the award, Rittenhouse joins a very elite group who represent the very best of our drivers,” said Buster Anderson, executive vice president of NASTC.
“Brenny Specialized is very proud of its drivers and should be very proud of themselves as well,” Anderson added. “It says a lot about a company when they can attract and keep employees of this caliber.”
Rittenhouse has driven for Brenny Specialized for more than seven years and has been a professional driver for more than 18 years, driving more than 2 million accident-free miles.
Gabrielle Langerud, St. Joseph, was named to the dean’s list for the fall semester at South Dakota State University’s College of Education and Human Science, Brookings. To earn this distinction, students must earn a minimum 3.5 grade-point average.
Thirteen St. Joseph students were recently named to the fall dean’s list at St. Cloud State University.
They and their majors are as follows: Jennifer Barg, elementary/K-6 education; Nathan Bedel, biomedical sciences; Adam Fettig, criminal justice studies; Seth Hennagir, chemistry professional ACS approved; Christian Jonas, English; Hannah Kalla, elementary/K-6 education; Payton Kalla, finance; Summer Knudsen, elementary education; Michelle Lahr, community psychology; Joshua Wallin, physics education; Richard Welch, accounting; Chloe Windahl, management; and Jeffrey Witthuhn, computer science.
To be eligible for the honor, students must earn a minimum 3.75 grade-point average.
The Central Minnesota Arts Board recently awarded $85,886 in support of 17 regional-arts projects. Three criteria are used in evaluating applications: artistic quality and merit; ability of the organization; and the needs of the community.
Applicants may request up to $7,000 with a 30-percent match required for any one project or combined projects totaling no more than $7,000 in any one grant round. Funding for these CMAB Grants is provided through an appropriation from the Minnesota State Legislature with money from the state’s general fund, and its Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund created by the voters of Minnesota.
- Boys and Girls Club of Central Minnesota, $3,262, to provide Learning and Literacy through the Arts programming for nine hours during 12 weeks focused on providing academic gains as wells as increasing engagement in the arts both in the club and community.
- Central Minnesota Youth Orchestra, $5,632, for German Expressions educational program and concert offered to grade-school-age students in the spring of 2016. The student concert will be comprised of three ensembles that will perform German pieces from many eras at St. Cloud State University in April.
- Chamber Music Society of St. Cloud, $7,000, Calmus, a German vocal quintet, will conduct community outreach programs for students and adults and a concert on April 9 at St. Mary’s Cathedral, St. Cloud.
- Great River Educational Arts Theatre, $7,000, for the production of Mary Poppins featuring breathtaking dance numbers, astonishing special effects and musical hits Jan. 15-24 at Escher Auditorium, Benedicta Art Center in St. Joseph.
- Minnesota Center Chorale, $4,293, Postcards from Minnesota concert with guests St. Johns Boys’ Choir Sunday, Feb. 21 at the Paramount Theatre in St. Cloud.
- Minnesota Dance Ensemble, $7,000, In These Shoes modern-dance production on April 29 at the Paramount Theatre in St. Cloud.
- Oak Ridge Elementary School-Sartell-St. Stephen School District, $5,114, MathsmARTs program using dance and visual arts to improve the attitude and proficiency of students in both math and the arts, February through May 2016 at Pine Meadow and Oak Ridge Elementary.
- Paramount Arts Resource Trust, $7,000, Requiem for the Living concert that will perform a brand new 45-minute choral and orchestral music work prepared by the Youth Chorale of Central Minnesota in April 2016 at the Paramount Theatre in St. Cloud.
- St. Cloud Symphony Orchestra, $7,000, to perform a concert entitled The Anniversary that will feature the 2016 Young Performer Competition winner and Great River Chorale, at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 19 in Ritsche Auditorium at SCSU.
- St. John’s University – Fine Arts, $7,000, Red Baraat performances and workshops Jan. 22-Feb. 22. Red Baraat will perform for the St. Cloud Veterans’ Affairs Health Systems, lead a range of music workshops for college students as well as youth at the St. Cloud Children’s Home and provide a public performance at Stephen B. Humphrey Theater, College of Saint Benedict, Collegeville in February.
- The St. John’s Boys’ Choir, $4,917, KidSing festival that consists of gathering more than 200 area students for a day of singing, socializing and a public performance Jan. 9 at Sauk Rapids-Rice High School Performing Arts Center in Sauk Rapids.
- Visual Arts Minnesota, $5,226, 36th annual High School Exhibition and Competition that will feature the art works of students from Central Minnesota high schools in the Paramount Theatre Lobby, St. Cloud March 22-April 18.
- Wirth Center for the Performing Arts, $7,000, School of Rock summer camp is for students in grades 6-12 to learn the art of being a musician in a rock band. Camp consists of six three-hour sessions in which the students interact and learn from professional musicians and perform a public concert in August at the Paramount Theatre in St. Cloud.
- Youth Chorale of Central Minnesota, $4,157, Youth Sing Out concert featuring more than 200 Central Minnesota singers from the Youth Choral of Central Minnesota Mixed and Women’s Chorales, St. John’s Boys’ Choir Junior Varsity and Concert Choir, and Cantabile Girls’ Choristers and Concert Choir May 1 at Ritsche Auditorium, SCSU.