Four MHS students among those cited at banquet
Posted 5/30/02

"I had a friend back in high school who had several goals written down in an ordinary spiral notebook," began Keith Nord, keynote speaker at the 15th annual Students of Excellence Banquet. "He wrote things like new car before I graduate from high school, track scholarship for college, etc. The rest of us thought that was way too corny. But, when he began checking these off, even before heíd left high school, it made us take notice.

"Now, Iím not saying we jumped on board and did the same thing. Actually, I wished I had. But, it took several more years for me to understand that simple concept - by putting the goals on paper, I would find opportunities to achieve them. They became real and I began achieving them."

The banquet, which was held May 1 at the St. Cloud Civic Center and hosted by Resource Training & Solutions, honored 168 high school seniors from 42 high schools in the Central Minnesota region. Welcoming over 680 students, parents/guardians, teachers, administrators and invited guests was Dr. Rob Cavanna, executive director for Resource Training & Solutions.

Four students from Milaca were among those honored. They were Emma Kittok, Kristine Norberg, Rose Keimig and Luke Karels.

"Self esteem comes from understanding who we are and what we stand for," said Nord, who played football at St. Cloud State University and the Minnesota Vikings.

He listed four decisions that could serve to guide students. The first one is to have some spiritual component in their lives. A belief that there is something larger and more powerful than just what we see around us. The second decision is about friends and lifelong relationships. Nord said to choose carefully and thoughtfully who you spend time with and how you spend that time.

Linda Partridge, Foley Public School District, who served as the presiding superintendent at the banquet, spoke of the large circle of people gathered at the banquet all deserving congratulations for support, encouragement, goal setting and requiring students to put forth their best.

Nordís next statement discussed how you choose to live, what sort of promises you make to yourself, the strength of your integrity. He questioned, "Do we do the right thing when the right thing costs us?" It may mean costing us money, friends, or power. These choices are sometimes difficult choices but it is where we draw the line in the sand and choose to cross or not to cross.

Dr. Christine Jax, Commissioner of Education from the Minnesota Department of Children, Families and Learning, brought greetings and congratulations from the governor and commissioner of education. "There is a myth that high school is the best years of your life. Iím suggesting to you that the best years are yet to come. The founders of our country were in their 20s. You have the power to do great things," Jax said.

Jeanette Kester, from the Resource Training & Solutions board of directors, extended congratulations to the students and presented the plaques and certificates from the governor.

Nord challenged the honorees to find their passion, "Ask yourself, ëWhat am I living my life for?í Then deliberately seek out those desires."

Nord closed his keynote with a scene from the movie "A League of Their Own." Tom Hanks is chiding Geena Davis because she wants to quit playing professional ball. "Of course it is hard. If it was easy everyone could do it. The hard is what makes it good," Hanks says.

"Some decisions you make will be easy, no brainers. But the decisions that are hard are the ones that will shape you, reflect who you are and what you stand for. Donít shy away from the hard choices. The hard is what makes life good," Nord concluded.