by Dennis Dalman
A woman who grew up happily in St. Joseph, Karrie (Kolodjeski) Fredrickson, was recently honored with a prestigious national/regional award for her extraordinary dedication to promoting student activities, leadership, mentoring and sharing of knowledge with others.
She is one of four regional recipients of the Earl Reum Award from the National Association for Student Activities. Fredrickson was chosen as “Best” from the Central Region of the United States. The other three regional award winners are from the East, the South and the West. The four, including Fredrickson, are now eligible for the national award that will be announced sometime in December in Memphis, Tenn.
For 30 years, Fredrickson has been a social-studies teacher at Sartell High School.
In an interview with the Newsleaders, Fredrickson waxed rhapsodic about her formative years in St. Joseph.
“We (she and her young friends) biked everywhere in St. Joseph and knew everybody,” she said. “We biked to the pool at St. Ben’s (College of St. Benedict) that we were allowed to use for free. We took swimming lessons there, and free-swim times were open two times a day. We loved to swim!”
Not surprisingly, Fredrickson was later on the swim team as a student at Apollo High School.
Born at the St. Cloud Hospital in 1971, she is the daughter of Patricia and Harvey Kolodjeski who raised her from birth in St. Joseph. The family lived during that time at 730 Callaway Drive near Seventh Avenue S.
She earned a degree in social science secondary education from the College of St. Benedict, then a master’s degree in education from St. Mary’s University.
In 1997, she married Dale Fredrickson, who is an employee of the Social Security Administration.
“We have no children, but I do have six wonderful nieces I love to spoil,” she said.
When she learned of her award, she felt honored but humbled.
“It’s an honor but humbling even to be nominated,” she said, “but I feel this award is not just for me but also for all the people who have been part of my journey – the people at the division level, the regional level and the ones who attend events for national purposes. There are so many people in that long journey who deserve recognition.”
Besides having taught social studies for 30 years in Sartell, Fredrickson has also served as an advisor to both the SHS Minnesota Honor Society and the Sartell Student Council. She is currently an advisor to the Minnesota Association of Honor Societies. There she works monthly with the state student-executive board at the state Minnesota Association of Secondary School Principals office. She also provides advisor training throughout the year at conferences.
The Earl Reum Award honors those who are dedicated to promoting student activities and leadership throughout the nation. The award criteria include experience working with student activities, leadership, mentoring and sharing that knowledge with others – qualities Fredrickson has demonstrated time and again throughout her years in St. Stephen-Sartell School District #748.
Karrie Fredrickson
