I AM 742: Mark Weimer

Weimer and his father in Alaska

Mark Weimer, technology education teacher at Apollo High School, comes from a family of teachers, the majority of them teaching math and English. However, growing up, becoming a high school teacher was the furthest thing from his mind. Weimer’s father, a previous industrial arts teacher, became his math teacher in seventh grade. “He [my dad] would … Read more

Robotics: Girl Power

Robotics Team with Baby Bot

This year, girls at Apollo High School hit the VEX Robotics team by storm after senior Arnold Rodriguez was the only person to sign up for the team. That’s when advisor and CTE Tech teacher, Dr. Matt Keil stepped in. Keil noticed Madeleine Schoenecker hanging out in the hallway after school. He approached her and … Read more

I AM 742: Alumna Jessica Backes

Jessica Backes in dress blues with her flute

Music is in her blood. For 2014 Tech High School graduate, Jessica Backes, music is a way to connect with people. Backes just visited South Junior High School, her former middle school, to talk to students about music, but more importantly, to stop and say hello and thank you to her old band director, Anita … Read more

McKinley Celebrates 25 Years With the VA

McKinley students serve Thanksgiving cookies to vets.

McKinley-ALC students gather in the early morning at the St. Cloud Veterans Hospital sporting their volunteer shirts and name tags. They venture to the Veterans Affairs Hospital (VA) twice a month to reconnect with veterans, some whom they now call friends. Kathy Lyerly and Mike Myers-Schleif, McKinley service learning project supervisors, await the students. They laugh … Read more

Diving into a New Record

Matchinsky adjusts the fulcrum.

It’s time. It’s her turn. She walks along the tiled floor, her feet splatting on the wet tiles. She takes the first step on the ladder to the diving board, and the crowd dies down so low that she can hear the hum of the air units in the Tech High School pool. “Deep breaths,” she … Read more