NJPA Honors Area High School Students as Rising Stars
Annual event celebrates students' tenacity and quiet leadership
STAPLES, Minn. (13 April 2017) - Forty-six students from 23 central Minnesota high schools were honored by National Joint Powers Alliance® at its 26th annual Student Recognition Banquet, Wednesday, April 12th at Madden's Resort in Brainerd.
The annual event celebrates area students as Rising Stars. Each was selected by his or her respective school staff, with the criteria they are “unsung heroes” of their district—the behind-the-scenes students with little, if any, recognition.
“It is a privilege and an honor to recognize area students for being persistent, being survivors, and providing quiet leadership to make a difference in their schools,” said NJPA Executive Director/CEO Dr. Chad Coauette. “I'm hopeful that the students honored as Rising Stars tonight can look back on this event and know they're supported and that they have what it takes to overcome future challenges and obstacles in their lives.”
Each student received a $375 scholarship from company and individual donations, plus had a chance to win door prizes. Four students received $1,000 scholarships from Central Lakes College and seven students received $500 scholarships from Minnesota State Community and Technical College in Wadena.
Honored students are from school districts within Region 5, an area served by NJPA, including Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison, Todd and Wadena counties.
2017 RISING STARS
SCHOOL | STUDENT |
Aitkin | Corrine Sanbeck |
Megan Host | |
Bertha-Hewitt | Jackson Fore |
^Keisha Bertram | |
Brainerd | *Breanna Voss |
Veronica Wynn | |
Browerville | Matthew May |
Yesica Ambriz | |
Cass Lake-Bena | Dillon Dahl |
Kristi Howard | |
Crosby-Ironton | *Jacob Sicora |
Michaela Reidell | |
Freshwater | Avery Judd |
^Missy Moore | |
Little Falls | Ebbany Thompson |
Jade Cram | |
Long Prairie-Grey Eagle | Daniel Garcia |
Kimberly Pachan | |
Menahga | ^Aspen Anderson |
^Egon Lake | |
Northland Community | Haley Welk |
Ravyn Gale | |
Pequot Lakes | Ben Nelson |
*Megan Ament | |
Pierz | Aaron Marshik |
Grace Osborne | |
Pillager | Chase Muller |
^Lacie Hines | |
Pine River-Backus | Sierra Tallman |
Tia Ford | |
Royalton | Thomas Fountain |
*Ty Held | |
Sebeka | Anna Huttunen |
Joe Lindroos | |
Staples-Motley | Jenna Trantina |
Taeleigh Marlowe | |
Swanville | Dylan Kottschade |
Travis Barthel | |
Upsala | ^Matt Herzog |
^Michael Welinski | |
Verndale | Dakota Buderus |
Jensyn Schluttner | |
Wadena-Deer Creek | Dacotah Mittag |
Nicole Iken | |
Walker-Hackensack-Akeley | Kristina Kelley |
Zachary Jordan |
*$1,000 CLC scholarship recipient
^$500 MState scholarship recipient
Sourcewell (formerly National Joint Powers Alliance) is a self-supporting government organization, partnering with education, government, and nonprofits to boost student and community success. Created in 1978 as one of Minnesota's nine service cooperatives, we offer training and shared services to our central-Minnesota members. Throughout North America, we offer a cooperative purchasing program with over 200 awarded vendors on contract. Sourcewell is driven by service and the ability to strategically reinvest in member communities.