The District Insider
Volume 7, Issue 11 | June 2020
Trevor Lennon, a business education teacher at Grand Forks Central High School, has been selected as Grand Forks Public Schools’ 2019-2020 Teacher of the Year.
Since joining Grand Forks Public Schools in 2014, Lennon has quickly made his mark at Grand Forks Central High School.
Lennon currently teaches video production I and II, web design, multimedia (Adobe Photoshop), and Microsoft Office. He also serves as chair of the business education department.
Lennon is an advisor for the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) and Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) chapters Grand Forks Central.
In a nomination, student Gabriel Randall wrote, “Mr. Lennon holds workshops after school for students to come in and work on FBLA projects or school assignments. He always brings a funny and whimsical attitude to his classes which brightens up everyone's day.”
In his many accomplishments, Lennon has guided scores of students in becoming Microsoft Office Certified through Certiport. He also increased membership of the FBLA chapter and participation in the state and national conferences. The Grand Forks Central FBLA chapter was recently recognized with a number of awards, including the Dorothy L. Travis Outstanding Chapter award, as well as earning second place at the state leadership conference.
Lennon is also a varsity assistant coach, junior varsity head coach, conditioning coordinator, and assistant summer strength coach for Knight football. He was the C squad basketball coach for several years, a site supervisor for the Junior Grand Am basketball tournament, and a youth coach for Grand Forks Fastbreak Camp.
In another nomination, a parent wrote, “I don’t know Mr. Lennon personally outside of work, but am so thankful my son is one of his students and in his extracurricular activities. I am a single mother battling cancer and know with everything he does for the kids, that I had one less thing to worry about. He truly cares, wants to make a difference in their lives, and is ALWAYS available if someone is in need. This in itself is a commendable quality of a teacher outside work hours.”
Lennon volunteers his time in a number of roles, including Grand Forks Central graduation ceremonies, Through the Decades project (Grand Forks Central’s centennial celebration), and videographer for school plays and Hall of Fame.
Lennon holds a bachelor’s degree in business education, business administration, with a concentration in entrepreneurship, from the University of Mary (Bismarck, N.D.), and will graduate with a master’s degree in educational leadership from the University of North Dakota this month. He also holds a secondary principal credential.
Gareth (Gary) Wu, a senior at Grand Forks Central High School, has been named a 2020 U.S. Presidential Scholar in Career and Technical Education (CTE), one of only 20 students nationwide to receive the honor in the CTE category.
Wu joins Hanna Johnson (Richland High School) and Jacob Shelver (Fargo North High School) as the three North Dakotans selected as U.S. Presidential Scholars this year.
“Gary embodies the outstanding student leaders we have within CTE,” said Eric Ripley, executive director of CTE at Grand Forks Public Schools. “As a local and state DECA officer, member of FBLA and the National Technical Honor Society, Gary has been actively involved in his CTE programs. To be one of 20 students nationwide to be recognized in the CTE category is well deserved for Gary's remarkable accomplishments, but also a credit to the high-quality CTE students and staff we are fortunate to have within Grand Forks Public Schools.”
The White House Commission on Presidential Scholars selects honored scholars annually based on their academic success, essays, school evaluations and transcripts, as well as evidence of community service, leadership, and demonstrated commitment to high ideals.
“Gary represents the best of the best of students and is an inspiring young adult leader in our community,” said Dr. Terry Brenner, superintendent of Grand Forks Public Schools. “When COVID-19 suspended our face-to-face school year, Gary rallied student last and adults alike to spread Grand Forks Public Schools’ positivity on Twitter. He leads by example.”
The students are among approximately 160 nationwide selected as Presidential Scholars. The Presidential Scholars Class of 2020 will be recognized for their outstanding achievement this summer as public health circumstances permit.
“Gary's years at Grand Forks Central have been spent not only taking a diverse and challenging array of courses, but he is also a student leader in many ways, most notably in extracurricular activities,” said Jon Strandell, principal at Grand Forks Central High School. “His energetic and positive personality combined with his drive to better himself and those around him, make him the consummate scholar, community member, and role model for younger students. His is a portrait of what we strive for in all Central students and we are proud of his accomplishments, especially being named a U.S. Presidential Scholar in Career and Technical Education.”
Established in 1964, the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program recognizes and honors distinguished graduating seniors across the nation. In 1979, the program was extended to recognize students who demonstrate exceptional talent in the visual, creative, and performing arts. In 2015, the program was extended again to recognize students who demonstrate ability and accomplishment in career and technical education fields.
The program is sponsored by the White House Commission on Presidential Scholars and the U.S. Department of Education.
Evan Welsh (Grand Forks Central) was named a U.S. Presidential Scholar in CTE in 2017.
Aiden Krogh, a senior at Red River High School, has received a perfect score of 36 on the ACT college entrance exam.
The ACT assesses students in English, mathematics, science, and reading. The scores in each area are compiled together into a composite score, which has a range of 1 to 36.
Also receiving perfect ACT scores were Kali Bjornson (Devils Lake), Philip Dowdell (Fargo), Alexander Heiser (Bismarck), Sean Joyce (Bismarck), Joanna Lin (Fargo), Forrest Weintraub (Fargo), Allen Wu (Fargo), and Ellie Zentner (formerly of Bismarck).
State law requires North Dakota high school juniors to take the ACT or WorkKeys assessments. The ACT test can be taken more than once.
Last year, 7,254 North Dakota high school juniors took the ACT, registering an average composite score of 19.3.
“It is a rare event for a student to get the highest score possible on the ACT,” said Kirsten Baesler, North Dakota state school superintendent. “It takes study and hard work as well as intellectual gifts. We should be proud of the North Dakota students who were able to accomplish this. These nine students are truly among our best and brightest.”
Krogh will be attending Washington University in St. Louis, Mo. to study engineering.
Last school year, Red River High School graduate Millicent Schwartz received a perfect score on the ACT exam.
Alex Schweigert, a junior at Red River High School, has been named the North Dakota champion of the Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) Word 2016 certification exam and selected to compete in Certiport’s MOS U.S. National Championship.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 event has been canceled. Schweigert has been invited to the 2021 national championship, to be held in Orlando from June 21-23, 2021.
Schweigert scored 981 points out of a possible 1,000. He holds the highest score for students at Red River High School.
“Alex was always a standout at getting assignments done quickly, but also done with accuracy,” said Theresa Ostgarden, business education teacher at Red River High School.
“The best thing about Alex is that he is always willing to help others when needed and never complained. He’s a good student, but also a great kid. He will accomplish great things in his future!”
Also receiving high scores were Alexander Okerson and Lauren Anderson. Schweigert, Okerson, and Anderson hold the top three scores at Red River High School.
“All of my Microsoft World students this year did really well with their testing and passed their certification on the first time. Red River High School had three students score above 95% on their test, which looking at past scores is impressive,” said Ostgarden.
The Taube Museum of Art has announced the 2019-2020 winners of the North Dakota Juried Student Art Show.
Each spring, students across North Dakota submit art pieces to be juried at the museum. This year, 408 entries were submitted.
Jurors selected three pieces for the Governor’s Award, four for the State of the Arts Award, sponsored by Senator Kevin Cramer, four for the Northern Visions Award, sponsored by Senator John Hoeven, and five for the Congressional Art Award, sponsored by Representative Kelly Armstrong.
Prairie Prevalence by Shaelyn Johnson (Red River High School) was selected for a Congressional Art Award, while O’Really’s by Irene Zeng (Grand Forks Central High School) and Sunset by Katie Evans (South Middle School) were selected for Northern Visions awards.
Good Boring Days by Olivia Dorsher (Grand Forks Central High School) and Eagle by Matthew Upton (South Middle School) received State of the Arts awards.
An additional 100 selections were selected as award winners in a variety of categories and will become a traveling exhibit for the following year.
Bubbly by Johnson and Fox by Ella McMullin (South Middle School) were selected as Taube Museum of Art award winners. Jessica Gilbertson’s (Grand Forks Central High School) piece Doctor Not In received a Spotlight Award.
Camlyn Bakke (Grand Forks Central High School) received a People’s Choice Award for Scandalous Confidence, while Emma Nash (Valley Middle School) received the award for Hello.
The following students were named Traveling Award winners in grades 9-12:
- Colin Borgen, Grand Forks Central High School, Hope
- Danielle Boushee, Grand Forks Central High School, Vintage Cruizin
- Mckenzie Carriere, Grand Forks Central High School, Pink Outside the Box
- Keely Davidson, Grand Forks Central High School, Itsy Bitsy Lake Memory
- Renee’ Hubbs, Grand Forks Central High School, Caged
- Katie Hysjulien, Grand Forks Central High School, Dad’s Old Truck
- Zoelle Kempenich, Red River High School, Childish Dreaming
- Hannah Kinneberg, Red River High School, Sunday Morning
- Maddy Ly, Red River High School, Avaricious
- Samantha Martens, Red River High School, Nola’s Nifties and Piece by Piece
- Lowell Miller, Grand Forks Central High School, Garden Trophies and Touched
- Marriannah Perez, Grand Forks Central High School, Seating Reality
- Erika Tinjum, Grand Forks Central High School, Fond Memory
The following students were named Traveling Award winners in grades 7-8:
- Cheryl Brown, Valley Middle School, In the Grass
- Erin Brown, Valley Middle School, Shy Girl
- Shylah Fettig, Valley Middle School, Error: File “Masquerade Ball” Incomplete
- Lauryn Mason, South Middle School, Robert the Rabbit and Self Portrait
- Dylan Muder, Valley Middle School, Citrus
- Gavin Voth, South Middle School, Great Dane
Elizabeth Bartholomew (South Middle School) was named a Traveling Award winner in grades K-6 for her piece Dragon Eye.
Instructors are Nicole Arnold (Red River High School), Angela Byzewski (South Middle School), Nancy Greenwood (Grand Forks Central High School), Kati Larson (Grand Forks Central High School), Dr. Betsy Thaden (Red River High School), Cassandra Thomte (South Middle School), and Jillian Westrum (Valley Middle School).
The competition is sponsored by the Lillian and Coleman Taube Museum of Art in Minot.
Congratulations to the Red River High School Girls Go CyberStart team! They were one of seven North Dakota high schools to qualify for the national championship. Following the two-day competition, they were named the top-scoring team in the state of North Dakota! The Red River students who competed were Alexis Crane, Nina Jiang, Angelica Knudsen, and Narria Neubert. Also completing challenges to help the team qualify for the national championship were Meghan Byrd, Madeleine Sandberg, Raegan Salgado, and Heather Schwartz. Paul Zettler is the advisor of the program.
Grand Forks Public Schools has received a community investment grant from Enbridge, a local energy transportation company. The $7,302 grant will be used to support the VEX IQ Robotics program at Grand Forks Public Schools. VEX Robotics is an innovative robotics design platform that transforms STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) learning for students and their teachers. Students create and program robots to operate both by remote control and autonomously. The VEX IQ Robotics program is designed for students in grades 4-8.
Grand Forks Public Schools received funding this spring from Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota’s (BCBSND) Caring Foundation to support Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA). With the funds provided, the school system will be able to conduct eight YMHFA classes for parents/ guardians and four classes for school employees by the end of 2020.
Certified Staff
- Library Media Specialist - Phoenix Elementary
- Kindergarten Teacher - Phoenix Elementary School
- Art Teacher - South Middle School
- Kindergarten Teacher - Wilder Elementary School
- Literacy Coach - high school
- World Languages Teacher - Nathan Twining Elementary & Middle School
- Literacy Coach - middle school
- Special Education Teacher - West/Discovery elementary schools
- English Teacher - Grand Forks Central High School
- School Psychologist Intern
- Dyslexia Strategist - Elementary
- School Psychologist
- Secondary Summer School Teacher
- Create a Teacher Application
Support Staff
Custodian (part-time) - Nathan Twining Elementary & Middle School
Coaching
- Head Boys' Hockey Coach - Red River High School
- June 8 - Grand Forks School Board Meeting
The Little Read Reading Bus Information
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