Nimo Abdi, Distinguished Young Woman of St. Joseph, will participate at the Class of 2022 Distinguished Young Woman State Finals Program seeking out cash and college granted scholarships. Her interests and honors are the following: student council, tech equity leadership, Big Brothers and Big Sisters, WE ACT, youth mentor at SCIS, PSEO at St. Cloud Technical and Community College, Ted Talks Scholarships, St Cloud Hospital volunteer. Abdi’ talent presentation for the state program is a self-written spoken- word poetry selection. Abdi is a St. Cloud Tech High School student.
St. Cloud Apollo High School has hired Michaela Laudenbach as the new varsity volleyball head coach. Laudenbach is a 2017 graduate of St. Cloud Tech High School where she was a four-year varsity volleyball player. She is a 2020 graduate of Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall and is employed by CentraCare as an exercise physiologist. Laudenbach coached Marshall (Minnesota)Junior Olympic 10s and 13s in 2018/2019. With St. Cloud’s MW Power Volleyball Club (formerly OMG Athlete), she has been the head coach for 16s Rec, 15-16s Fall League and most recently for 16’s Elite.
Katherine Gerads, child of Cheryl and Shawn Gerads of St. Joseph, recently received a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the College of St. Benedict.
Brenna Skahen, child of Jennifer and Sean Skahen of St. Joseph, recently earned a bachelor’ss degree in psychology from College of St. Benedict.
Three St. Joseph residents graduated from St. Cloud State University: Muataz Alkhawaher, liberal studies; Ashley Grise, graphic design; Isaac Holthaus, nursing; and Heather Kirchner, elementary/K-6 education.
Brady Birch of St. Joseph graduated magna cum laude from the University of Jamestown in North Dakota with a bachelor’s degree in physical education teacher education.
Four St. Joseph students recently graduated from St. John’s University
They are the following: Jaren Martin, child of Craig and Valerie Martin, bachelor’s degree in biology, magna cum laude honors, which signifies a minimum grade point average of 3.75; Erik Hennigs, child of Mark and DeAnn, bachelor’s degree in psychology; Adam Lepinski, child of Lois and Al Lepinski, bachelor’s degree in communication; Cole Pfannenstein, child of Patrick and Joan Pfannenstein, bachelor’s degree in computer science, magna cum laude honors, which signifies a minimum grade point average of 3.75.
Noel Teigen of St. Joseph was named to the spring dean’s list at the University of Sioux Falls in South Dakota. Teigen is majoring in nursing and earned a GPA of 3.5 or greater.
Abigail Thomas, daughter of Geri and Bill Thomas of St. Joseph, recently graduated from the University of Minnesota Duluth with a bachelor’s degree in social work. She is now completing her master’s degree.
